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c. 1980 – Breccia Marble and Chrome Coffee Table – France
€1,190
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Product description
A refined interplay of noble materials and minimalist lines, this coffee table captures the understated elegance of late-1970s Parisian interiors. A slab of brecciated marble appears to float atop a chromed steel frame with delicately chamfered edges — a rare find, designed for discerning spaces. Effortlessly elegant, quietly striking, it seamlessly blends the timeless luxury of marble with the architectural precision of a millimeter-perfect metal structure.
The rectangular top (110 x 50 cm) is cut from a stunning slab of Breccia Pernice — a geological rarity quarried on the hillsides near Verona, Italy, and shaped over millions of years beneath the Venetian Alps. Highly sought after today for its rich and layered palette — cocoa, ivory, deep wine, and flashes of emerald green — this marble has been polished to a mirror finish and crystallized by hand. The surface reveals a near-liquid depth, with each fragment seemingly suspended just beneath the surface.
Compact enough for a city apartment yet generous enough to host art books and champagne flutes, the top rests on a demountable chrome-plated steel base (5 mm thick), composed of four legs bolted into a horizontal apron. The internal welds, discreet yet solid, suggest craftsmanship closer to artisanal than industrial. There is no play, no flex — the structure offers impeccable stability. This type of assembly can be found in certain Roche Bobois collections released around the early 1980s. While no stamp allows for formal attribution, the detailing, hardware, proportions, and chrome treatment all point toward a production commissioned by or for the French editor, most likely crafted in Belgium or France as part of a small, carefully controlled series.
Neither a one-off prototype nor a mass-produced piece, this table occupies that rare in-between: the realm of small-series editions entrusted to skilled workshops, quietly distributed in a handful of Parisian apartments or coastal homes before vanishing from catalogues.
It may not have the name recognition of iconic, heavily publicized designs — but it offers something subtler, and arguably more enduring: the quiet clarity of good design. Its elegance is self-assured, the kind that gently commands attention without ever asking for it. Its rarity lies not in a signature, but in the gradual, near-organic disappearance of objects made this well. To acquire it is to hold a fragment of an era when luxury meant material excellence paired with simplicity of line — a discreet privilege, reserved for those who understand that true refinement is defined by what cannot be replaced.
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Dimensions (cm): 34 (H) x 110 (W) x 50 (D)
Weight: 38.5 kg
Origin & Period: Likely French or Belgian “contract” production for Roche Bobois, circa 1978–1985 (full technical dossier supporting this attribution available upon request)
Condition: Very good original condition. A few discreet micro-pits; a slight area of surface greying on one segment of the apron, with minimal visual impact. Marble top is glossy, without cracks or chips; all edges are sharp and consistent.
Condition: Very good original condition. A few discreet micro-pits; a slight area of surface greying on one segment of the apron, with minimal visual impact. Marble top is glossy, without cracks or chips; all edges are sharp and consistent.
Condition: Very good original condition. A few discreet micro-pits; a slight area of surface greying on one segment of the apron, with minimal visual impact. Marble top is glossy, without cracks or chips; all edges are sharp and consistent.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsBrown, SilverMaterialChrome, MarbleNumber of items1Height34 cmWidth110 cmDepth50 cmSigns of usageRust
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Saint-Martin-Lestra, FranceOn Whoppah since November 2024 • 3 sales