Coffee table and base by Ado Châle (1928-2025)
Belgium, circa 1970
The tabletop has an organic shape, typical of the biomorphic style often used in design in the 1960s and 1970s, which references nature, such as a stone or a puddle of water.
Three black lacquered metal legs with geometric and robust lines contrast sharply with the top, both in terms of material and shape. The highly structured appearance of the legs anchors the table in a modernist, even brutalist aesthetic. This style is typical of Belgian design in the 1960s and 1970s, which combines nature and sophistication.
Black resin tabletop with a central inlay of wood fossil, typical of Châle's formal vocabulary. This meticulous inlay work evokes the technique of precious wood marquetry. The glossy black tabletop and matte black legs lend a sober elegance. The centre, coloured in red, ochre, gold, black and grey, catches the eye as a visual focal point of the room. This central spot, almost pictorial, is reminiscent of an abstract work of art and reinforces the aspect of a work of art beyond furniture.
This coffee table by Ado Châle is more than just a piece of furniture; it is a functional sculpture. It embodies an encounter between art, design and nature.
Calligraphic signature in gold on the edge of the tablet: ‘Ado Chale’
Dimensions: 126 x 100 x 34.5 cm.