Is it art? Is it furniture? Is there a distinction? These are questions designer Brian Thoreen answers in his provocative work, which ranges from curved glass tables, weighed down by cast bronze blocks, to blown glass “melted” over angular handcrafted metalwork. Sometimes his designs are obviously quite functional and categorical, other times artistic merit outweighs function. Either way, his works highlight and draw on the power inherent in his chosen materials, and Thoreen thrives in the spaces in between.
Thoreen had explored a range of disciplines and mediums before committing to furniture design. He filled his 20s with experimentation with painting, fabrication, building, welding, architecture and fashion — but he always came back to making furniture. Thoreen studied painting in community college, though much of his talent in design is a culmination of experience he amassed through jobs along the way. He worked as an art installer at Kayne Griffin Gallery, a carpenter at Southern California architecture firm Marmol Radziner and also founded his own gallery MASA and experimental glassmaking collective, VISSIO.
While Thoreen has found a renewed vigor since relocating to Mexico in 2017, the 1960s and '70s Los Angeles art scene informs much of his work. Thoreen learned firsthand from many artists of the era including James Turrell, Ed Ruscha, Larry Bell and Robert Irwin. These visual artists, who were associated with the period's Light and Space movement, explored light in relation to geometric abstraction and minimalism, which resurface as themes in Thoreen’s furniture.
Thoreen’s Cantilever tables and Reaching Console in his sculptural Unsettled collection, which was exhibited at Patrick Parrish’s gallery in New York City in 2017, feature a sublime marriage of marble, smoked glass and cast bronze, and the components are not held together by the typical hardware associated with these kinds of structures — none of the pieces use fasteners of any kind.
With his prioritization of minimalism and the honesty of the materials, Thoreen endeavored to ensure that his pieces wouldn’t need any fasteners secured by screws to stand on their own, relying instead on what he knew about mass and space (a set of bronze counterweights is doing the heavy lifting on the collection's Console). As such, like each of the designer’s works, they’re striking statement pieces in any space — “unsettled” or not.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Brian Thoreen decorative objects, storage case pieces and lighting.
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Block Table
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Side table by Los Angeles based designer Brian Thoreen. Made of curved grey glass and weighted upright by a cast bronze block. Also available in bronze glass. Edition of 8 + II AP.
Bronze
Price Upon Request
Brian Thoreen Cantilever Tables
By Brian Thoreen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cantilever tables by Los Angeles based designer Brian Thoreen. Made of marble, bronze glass, cast bronze. Custom material combinations available - inc...
Marble, Bronze
$1,600
H 17.5 in Dm 12 in
Midcentury Postmodern Clear Glass Block End Table or Side Table after Sottsass
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very cool architectural design from the 1980s. It features heavy solid glass block construction with thick clear glass top.
Glass
Mechanical Disk Table
By Milo Baughman
Located in New York, NY
Disk form table which opens to a two tier expanded coffee table size. Brass plated metal frame, with glass tops. Dimensions in listing are for the table in closed position, open L is...
Metal
S Table
Located in Ridgewood, NY
The S table is a simple concept for a simple table, though defined more by our commitment to sustainability of ingredients (and quality) than just its simple v...
Mahogany
$6,176 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 15.75 in
Small Table, Side Table, End table Samu Made of Solid Wood by NONO
By Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Introducing the Samu Collection by NONO, where simplicity meets elegance in the form of sculptural stools, side tables, and plinths. Each piece in this collection boasts a gently dom...
Hardwood
Maison Bagues Rectangular Side Table
By Maison Baguès
Located in Miami, FL
Maison Bagues rectangular side table 2 tiers, 1st tiers height: 8 in Bronze ans brass, gold cloudy mirror.
Brass, Bronze
End Table from USA
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A handcrafted, sculptural side table having a patinated biomorphic bronze top floating atop an undulating wrought iron base.
Bronze, Iron
Original Glass Block Cocktail Table, Made to Order
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A bronze studio-made cocktail table, having a square banded apron holding a glass tile that rests on four faceted legs.
Bronze
Cupola Rectangular Table Black Stain
By Ricardo Velasquez
Located in Oakland Park, FL
Black stained Conacaste wood hollow center for weight in base and solid wood top. Part of Labrica's Arco collection was inspired by Spanish Colonial Architecture found in Antigua Guatemala. We played with architectural elements such as arches and cupolas to create the different pieces. The different size tables allow us to have many different type of configurations and uses, such as coffee table in a small space or a cluster of tables...
Wood
$1,495 / set
H 16.25 in W 50 in D 24 in
Vintage Organic Modern Rattan Coffee Table & Side Table Style Ficks Reed, Pair
By Ficks Reed
Located in Topeka, KS
Fantastic vintage Organic Modern rattan coffee table and side table in the style of Ficks Reed. We are selling these as a pair. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. We have found no outstanding flaws. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century. NOTE: We have a matching chair & ottoman listed for sale as well if they are still available. Twice the Tropical Island Paradise!! This is a gorgeous vintage Organic Modern style coffee table...
Rattan, Glass
$2,995
H 34 in W 27.5 in D 27.5 in
Vintage Swedish Butcher Block Side Table with Geometric Skirt and Angular Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A vintage Swedish butcher block table. This square shaped butcher block table features a thick butcher block top over a single, large drawer. The...
Metal
Duo Side Table Contemporary
Located in Westport, CT
Elegant and intricate, this side table is made of polished and blackened bronze. Can be customized. The larger part of the table is 17" x 14" x 20"H. The smaller part of the table ...
Bronze
$3,600 / item
H 18.5 in W 9 in D 9 in
Glass Block' Side Table in Patinated Bronze with Faceted Legs, Made to Order
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A WYETH Original, framed glass block cocktail / side table on faceted legs with forged feet in patinated bronze.
Bronze