Brazilian Modern “Pétala” Coffee Table in Rosewood by Jorge Zalszupin for L’Atelier, Brazil, 1959 — Lot 875

Description

Designed in the late 1950s by Jorge Zalszupin, the Pétala coffee table stands among the most ambitious and sculptural works of Brazilian modern furniture. Conceived during Zalszupin’s most experimental period at L’Atelier, the table reflects his pursuit of expressive form through advanced woodworking techniques rarely attempted in Brazil at the time.

This example represents the eight-petal version of the design, composed of eight radially arranged, bent rosewood elements converging toward a central point. The precise symmetry and continuity of grain across each petal underscore the table’s technical sophistication and sculptural intent. This construction places the Pétala alongside Zalszupin’s Romana table as one of his most demanding designs. Bent wood furniture of this complexity proved highly vulnerable to humidity, material fatigue, and time—explaining why only a small number of original examples, particularly in the eight-petal configuration, have survived intact. Even with Zalszupin’s mastery of the technique, production was limited and attrition significant.

This table is further distinguished by its exceptional, indisputable provenance. It was acquired directly from the family who purchased it over sixty years ago for a private residence in Rio de Janeiro, a house designed and fully furnished by L’Atelier. Remarkably, the original architectural floor plan survives and explicitly features the Pétala coffee table at the center of the living space, confirming its intended role as the compositional and spatial anchor of the interior.

Supporting archival material will be shared, and a detailed video presentation examining the table’s construction, eight-petal structure, and provenance will be released shortly.

More than a coffee table, the Pétala is a sculptural manifesto—an object where architecture, craft, and modern living converge. For collectors, this represents not merely ownership of a design icon, but custodianship of a rare and foundational chapter in Brazilian modern history.