A restrained piece of Dutch furniture in which the material itself provides the decoration. This Amsterdam School side table combines a compact architectural base with a circular top, bringing together geometry, storage and the expressive grain of coromandel.

Design

Produced in the Netherlands, most likely during the 1930s, the table belongs to the later period of the Amsterdam School, when the movement’s expressive vocabulary increasingly met the cleaner geometry associated with Dutch Art Deco. 

Its circular top is finished in coromandel veneer, laid in a carefully composed geometric pattern. Sections of veneer turn through successive right angles towards the centre, creating a concentric square motif within the round outline. Rather than adding ornament to the surface, the maker has used the naturally alternating dark and amber grain of the wood to create movement.

Below, two broad veneered side panels form an architectural base, joined by a recessed back and an open shelf. This construction gives the table a substantial appearance from the sides and a lighter character when viewed from the front. A black-finished shelf and narrow dark elements along the feet introduce contrast and connect visually with the darker lines in the coromandel.

Resting directly above the veneered top is a circular glass plate. Its transparent surface protects the decorative veneer without obscuring the pattern underneath, and gives the table a practical surface for daily use.

Compact in scale yet visually considered from every angle, this table works equally well beside a lounge chair or sofa, or as a small occasional table within an interior. The concentric veneer pattern gives the otherwise sober construction its distinct identity.

Condition

The side table remains in good vintage condition, showing signs of age and use. Minor wear is visible to the veneer, edges and black-finished shelf; the glass top is intact.