Table
1931 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This table makes innovative use of industrial glass and metal fittings. The metal fittings are of a type more commonly used in shop fitting. In the late 1920s the British designer Denham MacLaren undertook display and exhibition work for the interior decorator Arundell Clarke. This experience possibly led him to experiment with glass as a material for furniture.
There was little margin for error for the designer of these minimalist, modern furnishings. The total exposure of the table base beneath the clear glass top meant that it had to appear flawlessly constructed. Three S-curved pieces of chromium-plated metal tubing and three blocks of black-painted wood comprise the base. The ends of the metal pieces are secured to each block by simple chromium disks on the other side. These disks break the monotony of the other side of the black gloss-finish blocks, creating a design feature out of a necessity of construction.
There was little margin for error for the designer of these minimalist, modern furnishings. The total exposure of the table base beneath the clear glass top meant that it had to appear flawlessly constructed. Three S-curved pieces of chromium-plated metal tubing and three blocks of black-painted wood comprise the base. The ends of the metal pieces are secured to each block by simple chromium disks on the other side. These disks break the monotony of the other side of the black gloss-finish blocks, creating a design feature out of a necessity of construction.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | glass, painted wood and chromium plated metal |
| Brief description | Table, glass top, painted wood and chromium steel base |
| Physical description | Round glass-topped table with base of three painted wood blocks connected by 3 S-shaped curvatures of chromium-plated metal |
| Style | |
| Summary | This table makes innovative use of industrial glass and metal fittings. The metal fittings are of a type more commonly used in shop fitting. In the late 1920s the British designer Denham MacLaren undertook display and exhibition work for the interior decorator Arundell Clarke. This experience possibly led him to experiment with glass as a material for furniture. There was little margin for error for the designer of these minimalist, modern furnishings. The total exposure of the table base beneath the clear glass top meant that it had to appear flawlessly constructed. Three S-curved pieces of chromium-plated metal tubing and three blocks of black-painted wood comprise the base. The ends of the metal pieces are secured to each block by simple chromium disks on the other side. These disks break the monotony of the other side of the black gloss-finish blocks, creating a design feature out of a necessity of construction. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.24-1979 |
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| Record created | December 21, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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