Pair of side tables in ebonized wood. Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro for a private commission in Copacabana, Brazil, circa 1950. Dimensions are for a single table.
Made for the interior of a Rio de Janeiro apartment, these side tables were part of a commissioned interior by Tenreiro, where bespoke designs furnished every room. The quality of the tables lies in their simplicity: originally, they framed a large sofa against a colored glass partition, but on their own, they can be arranged in varied configurations and work as functional sculptures. A single surface acts as foot and top, almost mimicking the gesture of a brushstroke. A remarkable characteristic ofTenreiro's practice that is often overlooked is his mastery of various materials and techniques, showcased here by an experiment in bent wood.