Dining Table in Hardwood and Iron, att. to Carlo Hauner, 1950s - Lot 328

Description

Attributed to Carlo Hauner, Brazil, c. 1950s. This table distils a mid-century proposition in which modest industrial means are disciplined into a refined domestic object: a white surface set within a carefully resolved hardwood surround, elevated on a minimal, tubular iron support that gives the composition an unexpected lightness.

Formally spare, the design hinges on proportion and detail. The rectangular top is lightly chamfered with softened corners, its horizontal calm balanced by the vertical rhythm of four hairpin-style iron legs. The legs are bent with economy and clarity, the pairings of straight rise and U-turn creating a taut silhouette that reads as both structural logic and visual device; the top appears to float slightly above the base, producing an elegant, airy presence appropriate to both dining and occasional use.

Materials and craftsmanship are foremost. The table retains its original white Formica surface—preserved as the defining planar field—set within a hardwood frame that has been sympathetically refinished to a warm, satin-matte tone. The iron legs have been repainted a deep black to harmonize with the top. Execution favors honest joinery and pared detailing: the hardwood surround is carefully proportioned, edgework refined, and the iron is neatly formed and finished so that material integrity remains the primary expressive device.

Function is integrated with form: the durable Formica surface provides a practical, low-maintenance plane while the slender iron legs allow generous knee clearance and visual openness. Condition: in excellent vintage condition. The hardwood has been professionally refinished and the original Formica preserved; the iron legs have been repainted. Age-appropriate marks are minor and confined to undersides and edges; restoration has been conservative and transparent.