Charlotte Perriand pinewood coffee table, France, late 1960s

Low pinewood coffee table, French craftsmanship from the late 1960s, designed by Charlotte Perriand for the Les Arcs 1600 ski station residence.

This table features geometric lines, a perfect circle supported by four cylinders. It encapsulates the essence of Charlotte Perriand's style, a pivotal figure in 20th-century design who asserted her unique aesthetic vision. From the beginning of her career, she stood out in a predominantly male field. Unfortunately, few women have received the recognition they deserve in the history of design, often overshadowed by their male counterparts, especially in the early 20th century. Born in 1903 in the luminous Paris of the Belle Epoque, Perriand's career took off after her studies and some early works that garnered attention, leading to collaborations with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret.

Her successful projects with these designers laid the groundwork for her subsequent professional and personal emancipation. Perriand broke away from the norms of her time, both as a woman and as a designer. She was lively, curious, and possessed an enviable tenacity that led her on numerous travels and continuous experimentation. She made elegantly anarchic statements, such as shaving her head and wearing jewelry she created from ball bearings and other mechanical components.

Perriand traveled to Germany and the Soviet Union, visited Japan during tumultuous historical times, and was stranded there due to the country's entry into the war with the United States. Only after a series of complex circumstances did she manage to return to France. From these personal experiences and her observations of cosmopolitan realities, Perriand drew inspiration for her work. Eastern influences, Bauhaus elements, and her deep human and emotional connection to mountain landscapes converge in her creations.

Each piece of furniture she designed reflects a unique sensitivity. Examining the presented table, one can discern industrial suggestions in its form—round like a mechanism's wheel—an Eastern influence in its proportions, fitting perfectly on a floor mat, and the enchantment of the mountains in the simplicity of its construction and the proud modesty of its materials. Few objects like this can still communicate so familiarly and effectively with contemporary audiences.

The table has been carefully restored to preserve its original finish and authenticity.

Dimensions: 101 cm diameter x 33 cm height.