Gio Ponti low table made of African walnut wood and glass, Italy, 1950s

Low table made of African walnut wood and glass, Italian craftsmanship, designed by Gio Ponti, 1950s.

The coffee table, an indispensable piece in the living room, has always been a testing ground for designers. By its very nature, it lends itself to being molded according to the current style and to embody a precise and recognizable design concept. This is evident in the coffee table designed by Gio Ponti in the 1950s, featuring a glass top supported by a mahogany frame. The glass, free on the sides, imparts a sense of lightness and elegance to the entire piece. This feeling harmonizes perfectly with the shape of the four legs: slightly splayed, they give a sense of movement to the entire design. Thus: lightness and movement. These two characteristics can be found as constants throughout Ponti's work, from the Superleggera chair, an archetype of all chairs, to the dynamic lines and convex shapes of many other Ponti seats.

If we want to find the perfect coexistence of lightness and movement, which we have chosen to interpret Ponti's work, we must not overlook his entire production of ceramics. In these works, both attributes are clear and recognizable: the fragility of the object/manufactured piece inspires lightness, while the delicate figures depicted on them—always stylized and recognizable for their dreamy perplexity, as if from a distant place—are presented to the observer in dynamic poses, poised in the tension of movement. Whether they are dancers, harvesters, or fantastical animals ready to leap, the rules of the game that great designers invite us to play are these: to stand before an object and try to feel what they feel. Whether it’s a majestic piece of architecture or a small piece of furniture capable of conveying something beyond its simple function, this table has been professionally restored and retains its original glass top from the period.

Dimensions:
Overall: 86 w x 45.5 d x 47 h cm
Inner top: 64 w x 40 d cm