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Rare Early Edition Martin Visser 'Bumper' Center or Dining Table in Metal
$22,000
£16,805.83
€19,308.21
CA$31,455.27
A$34,656.38
CHF 17,940.24
MX$417,271.80
NOK 227,166.85
SEK 213,408.89
DKK 144,172.51
About the Item
Martin Visser for 't Spectrum, center or dining table, model 'Bumper' / 'TE 11 7 M', marble, chrome-plated steel, rubber, the Netherlands, design 1965/66, produced 1965-1969
Martin Visser (1922–2009) earned his reputation as one of the leading Dutch furniture designers through his designs marked by understated tubular frames and clean lines. With this table, though, he explored a very different design language. Designed in 1965 for the Dutch furniture company ‘t Spectrum, the table has been called by several names, yet it is the name ‘Bumper’ that has endured. The striking visual impact of the table lies primarily in the treatment of the base, which dominates the design.
The Bumper table owes its name to the rounded bumper of the Volkswagen Beetle. Its base is built from three identical sections of chromed steel, bolted together to form a solid, three-dimensional column core with striking apertures. With its three supports, the table is planted firmly on the ground, while the central structure is entirely rigid. The design is symmetrical in every direction: at one end it presses into the floor, at the other it carries a circular marble top. In the first edition from the 1960s, the black feet were made of cast rubber, as in this particular example.
When ’t Spectrum sought to bring the design into production, the Bumper table proved just how complex that ambition could be. This model belongs to the very first series of ten tables, all painstakingly hand-hammered in the mid-1960s by Nebato, a specialist metalworking company. Machine production had turned out to be virtually impossible. Nebato, known for producing works for artists such as Sol LeWitt and Carel Visser (Martin Visser’s brother) was uniquely suited to the challenge. The legs had to be pressed symmetrically in two directions and at precisely the right angle. If not, the screw holes would not align, and the parts could not be assembled. The pressing process also carried the risk of cracks or surface irregularities. At the time, no press existed that could shape the steel panels at the required 120-degree angle so that, together, they would form a perfectly stable 360-degree base. The execution turned out to be very labor-intensive since it had to be carried out by hand. ’t Spectrum refused to compromise: the furniture had to be flawless. For that reason, the Bumper table was never put into full consumer production and was ultimately withdrawn from the first-established collection in 1969.
The design held a special place in Visser’s heart. According to a former colleague at ’t Spectrum who witnessed the process firsthand, Visser himself often remarked in conversation that he considered the Bumper table to be among his finest creations.
- Creator:Martin Visser (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.94 in (73.5 cm)Width: 53.15 in (135 cm)Depth: 53.15 in (135 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Every item Morentz offers is checked by our team of 30 craftspeople in our in-house workshop. Special restoration or reupholstery requests can be done. Check ‘About the item’ or ask our design specialists for detailed information on the condition.
- Seller Location:Waalwijk, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: 450139581stDibs: LU933146910902
Martin Visser
Martin Visser was a Dutch furniture-designer and art-collector. Visser started designing at a young age, but most of all he was an art collector. His collection contains works of a cobra, Anselm Kiefer and Keith Haring. His focus was on young and promising artists. The Kröller-Müller museum accommodates over 400 works of Vissers art-collection. Vissers's career as a designer started at department store De Bijenkorf. From 1955, he became head of production and design of ’t Spectrum. For this company, Visser designed numerous items, including the table.
About the Seller
4.9
Established in 2006, Morentz has a team of approximately 55 restorers, upholsterers, interior advisers and art historians, making it a gallery, workshop and upholstery studio, all in one. Every day, a carefully selected array of 20th-century furniture arrives from all over the world at the firm’s warehouse, where the team thoroughly examines each piece to determine what, if any, work needs to be done. Whether that means new upholstery or a complete restoration, Morentz's aim is always to honor the designer’s intention while fulfilling the wishes of the client. The team is up to any challenge, from restoring a single piece to its original glory to furnishing a large-scale hotel project.
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