Aluminum Nut Cracker by Pierre Mandel, France, 1970s

A Pierre Vandel coffee table is a striking statement piece. High-contrast and unmistakably stylish, Vandel’s tables are sophisticated and opulent, with the visual power that Hollywood Regency and mid-century modern furnishings bring to a modern space.

Vandel was born in 1939 in Roubaix, France. He graduated around 1957 with a focus on industrial assembly and design and became part of the research teams at Ponts et Chaussées and Arts et Métiers, two respected engineering and research schools in Paris. Before entering the world of furniture, Vandel worked on projects that satisfied his curiosity and drive for experimentation, including a vertical aquarium and hi-fi systems.

Vandel’s breakthrough in furniture came a few years later. In 1969, the Marais International company bought 5,000 units of Vandel’s side tables and offered a meeting with French fashion and furniture designer Pierre Cardin. Becoming a friend and advisor, Cardin offered his support and connected Vandel to an affluent market that swooned over his glamorous designs.

Vandel’s glass coffee tables — often accented with brass frames or lacquered wood — remain among his most in-demand work. His Vertèbre chair from 1972 is one of his more elusive designs. With only 800 ever produced, half with armrests and half without, this lounge chair is coveted not only for its rarity but also for its unique spine-like frame.

Vandel’s furniture continues to be recognized for its imaginative forms and is prized by collectors as a piece of design history.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Pierre Vandel tables, seating, storage pieces and more.