Pair of coffee tables by Mado Jolain & René Legrand, circa 1955

Ceramicist trained at the School of Decorative Arts, Mado Jolain set up her workshop in Montrouge in the 1950s, where she collaborated closely with her husband René Legrand. He designed the metal bases for their joint creations, combining structural rigor with artistic freedom. This pair of side tables is a characteristic illustration of their work. Each table rests on a fine structure made of black lacquered iron, supporting a removable top composed of enamelled stoneware tiles in bright yellow tones. The deliberately irregular mosaic composition plays with rhythm and colour vibration, a signature of Jolain's work. These are emblematic pieces from the production of the Atelier Jolain, at the intersection of artistic ceramics and post-war decorative furniture. Ateliers Mado Jolain, France, circa 1955.