This early and important one-of-a-kind coffee table was designed by Paul Laszlo in the late 1930s, commissioned for a private residence. At just over 5 feet across, this monumental table is impressive from top to bottom: it is crafted from solid old-growth California redwood, expertly constructed without any screws or hardware. Thick rosewood veneer covers the legs and exterior, and the top of the table is inset with bronze which has been treated with some sort of gold application similar to gold-leaf. The center of the table features the original, hand hammered copper planter which insets flush with the table top, and a rosewood trim borders the copper bowl. The legs, which are flat and flush on the exterior, ingeniously curve on the back side to create a semi-circular form.
While the construction is undoubtedly impressive, the truest beauty of this piece is portrayed in the patina. The table's nearly 100-year life graces the bronze top and copper planter, and to us, that is the most spectacular feature. While the bronze is perfectly supple and smooth to the touch, left behind for us is the whole history of the table narrated through faded cup rings, soft scratches, and enviable patina. When you sit around this piece, you can truly feel the spirit of it.
Design a room around this table. It is meant to be used. It is not fragile; the heirloom construction will survive another 100 years of daily use. Use the planter however you wish...put a plant in it, leave it empty, fill it with Werther's caramels...the sky is the limit. As this is the only example of this table, you will never see another one like it, so don't miss out on an opportunity to own this investment worthy table, made by one of California's most important modernist designers.
The table has been very gently restored: the rosewood has been lovingly refinished. The top has been cleaned but left totally original, as has the copper bowl, which shows incredible verdigris patina.
A later version of this table was made in 1942 for the Joan Harrison House in Beverly Hills (see last photo). A decade later, a similar table was produced by Herman Miller for a very short period and featured a glass top and black lacquered base.
Dimensions: 61"W x 61"D x 14"H