Gilles Derain pair of metal coffee tables Lumen edition 1986

Pair of Agathe coffee tables designed by Gilles Derain for Lumen Center designed and produced in 1986. As the company's artistic director during this period, Derain pushed the boundaries of French Postmodernism through a sculptural and rigorously balanced formal vocabulary. Entirely crafted in matte black lacquered metal, the design is defined by carefully considered proportions and a complete absence of ornamentation, allowing the interplay of solid and void to become the central expressive element. The monochromatic finish reinforces the architectural quality of the composition, while the cantilevered top appears to float above two sculptural lateral volumes that simultaneously serve as supports and counterweights. The resulting silhouette achieves a striking balance between mass and lightness, creating a subtle dialogue between shadow and light. Fully restored in our workshop and presented in excellent overall condition.
Gilles Derain is a French designer and graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts, widely regarded as one of the leading figures of French Postmodernism during the 1980s. In 1976, he co-founded Lumen Center, where he later served as artistic director. Originally an art dealer, Derain developed his singular eye through years of sourcing and studying historic works, becoming one of the first dealers to champion the designers of the Union des Artistes Modernes (UAM). Drawing inspiration from figures such as Pierre Chareau, Robert Mallet-Stevens and Jacques Adnet, he developed a distinctive body of work that brings together the principles of French Modernism, the Bauhaus and Japanese aesthetics. His furniture is distinguished by its sculptural presence and architectural clarity, giving material an almost organic quality while maintaining exceptional formal precision. His MCP (Merci Pierre Chareau) floor lamp, one of his most celebrated designs, is held in the permanent collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, confirming his singular contribution to the history of European Postmodern design.
Literature : François Mathey, Au bonheur des formes. Design français 1945–1992, Éditions du Regard, Paris, 1992, page 150.