Coffee Table in Steel and Glass from Warren Platner, 1962

The legendary coffee table designed in 1958 by Warren Platner for Knoll International is an absolute icon of 1960s American modernism. The base is a sculptural interweaving of hand-bent steel rods, individually welded to form a sort of transparent and luminous chalice. Each rod is nickel-plated or bronzed steel, here in a precious light bronze finish verging on platinum. The top is a large 15 mm extra-clear crystal disc, ground and beveled on the edge, which appears suspended in midair. The structure, despite being composed of hundreds of elements, appears extremely light, almost ethereal. A masterpiece of decorative engineering that transforms steel into modernist lace. Still produced by Knoll today, this table is among the most recognizable and imitated pieces of the 20th century. The perfect centerpiece for a sophisticated living room, it reflects light like a jewel and captures the eye from every angle. An object that never goes out of fashion and which, after more than sixty years, remains irresistibly contemporary. It shows wear consistent with age and use.