By Jean Claude Mahey
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind and exquisite table clearly embodies the spirit of high-end French design from the 1970s and 1980s, characteristic of Jean-Claude Mahey. Its precise geometry and lacquer finish evoke an aesthetic that fuses Art Deco, reinterpreted with modern glamour.
The octagonal shape of the tabletop is particularly striking. This formal choice breaks with rectangular or circular tradition, providing dynamism and sophistication. The golden brass lines, which divide the surface into triangular planes, reinforce the compositional structure and allude to a sense of almost architectural order. These golden lines function not only as decorative accents but also as visual guides that direct the eye toward the center, generating visual balance. Jean Claude Mahey often used this contrast between polished lacquer and shiny metals to highlight geometric shapes.
The ivory or cream lacquer finish provides a polished surface, typical of Mahey's style, which amplifies the sense of luxury and modernity. This type of finish is often associated with Hollywood-inspired interior design and the refined opulence of the mid-20th century.
The square-sectioned, also lacquered base presents itself as a solid, geometric volume, generating an elegant tension between the visual mass of the base and the lightness of the tabletop. The gilded metal profiles that frame the edges of the base reinforce the idea of geometric luxury and add stylistic continuity with the design of the tabletop. The table is extendable. Its basic shape is square, but the two extensions (which fold in half) are hidden within the base and fit into rails that are concealed beneath the tabletop.
Overall, this table is a paradigmatic example of Jean Claude Mahey's style: refined, geometric, glamorous, and deeply linked to an artistic vision of furniture as functional sculpture.
Jean-Claude Mahey (Mayenne, France, 1944–)
Jean-Claude Mahey is a French designer famous for his burlwood furniture...
Category
1970s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Jean Claude Mahey Tables