Vitra Guéridon Bas Coffee Table

Jean Prouvé favored wood as a featured material in his furniture designs. Often, as in this low, round coffee table, elegant wood elements were supported by metal frameworks. Its solid oak top rests on a folded sheet metal triangle terminating in a trio of fin-like oak legs. Available in natural oak, smoked oak, or walnut, it makes an unassuming centerpiece for any living space. Made in Germany by Vitra, a manufacturer of iconic modern furnishings that’s widely represented in the Museum’s collection.

Jean Prouvé was trained as a metal artisan before expanding his work to include the full panoply of design—from letter openers to lighting to prefabricated houses. His designs encompass nearly everything that lends itself to industrial fabrication. He opened his first workshop in 1924 and, by 1947, had his own factory. Prouvé is also known for serving as the chairman of the committee that selected Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers’ design for the Centre Pompidou in 1971. Ten examples of Prouvé’s work are included in MoMA’s collection.