Tag: postmodernism

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‘less’ table

Jean Nouvel (Fr. 1945- now)

‘Less’ Table. Molteni / France. 1990s

Steel plate. 190 x 90 x 72.5 cm high

A rare first steel edition of the ‘Less’ table by Jean Nouvel (later editions were in aluminium and lighter). The table was originally designed for Foundation Cartier office in Paris.

The top has a distinctive sunken underside, not seen when viewed from above – the result is the illusion of a wafer thin top supported by four thin legs.

Original lacquered surface in anthracite metallic grey/silver colour. In good condition – some minor scratches. The legs can be unscrewed from the top.

Price: 2,750 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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easylight

Philippe Starck (Fr. 1949-now)

Rare ‘easylight’ Electrorama, Circa 1980.

Floor-neon lamp. Designed around 1977, the edition was for Starck Product or Electrorama circa 1980. Stamped ‘Starck Product’.

Makrolon, polyurethane and fluorescent tube H: 142 cm. (56 inches); D: 6,7cm.(2 3/8in.). The lamp has an inbuilt mercury tilt switch (the lamp lights up when its position is slightly altered)

This lamp was most likely purchased in the Netherlands at De Bijenkorf, circa 1980. Bibliography: J.-F. Grunfeld, M.-L. Jousset, Lumières Je Pense à Vous, exhibition catalog, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, June 3-August 5, 1985, p. 158, n. 282 C. Colin, Starck, Ed Pierre Mardaga, Liège, 1988, p. 274, 278, 296

Price: 5.800 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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Martin Visser table

Martin Visser (Nl. 1922-2009)

Enamelled steel and aluminium. 244 x 85 x 75cm

’t Spectrum Bergeyk 1988. Model TE20. Aluminium and lacquered steel.

Rare modernist table designed by Martin Visser and Joke van der Heyden. This particular table appears to come from a small test series (or one of a series of prototypes whereby Visser was still experimenting with the design – there are some quite primitive connections and test holes where you can see Visser grappling with the design).

These first tables have a slightly different build than the later production tables; they do not have the rubber connections between the top and leg structures that the later tables had – Instead the illusion of the top floating above the base is created by incorporating a slight gap between the top and base sections. The same illusion is created at the base of the legs where a single rubber beyond view creates the illusion of the whole table floating slightly above the floor.

The booklet entitled ‘Martin Visser, collected work‘ contains a full description of the creation of the TE20.

Price: 7,650 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com