"effilé" Coffee Table, Henri Pouenat, France, 1960s–1970s

"Effilé" coffee table, attributed to Henri Pouenat (1934–1987), a leading figure in French artistic metalwork and design of the 1960s and 1970s. Trained under Gilbert Poillerat, Pouenat developed a refined style of metalwork that straddled the line between exceptional craftsmanship and modernist design.

The structure, made of steel gilded with copper leaf, rests on four tapered, slender legs, accented by fine, ring-shaped moldings reminiscent of stylized bamboo. The legs are connected by a low, curved crossbar, whose two arches meet at the center on a square sleeve that highlights the precision of the metalwork. The glass top rests on the upper rim of the base.

The lines are clean and sleek, striking a balance between geometric precision and decorative elegance—hallmarks of Pouenat’s style. The gilding, weathered by time, shows slight scuffs and chips that attest to its authenticity and age, without detracting from the overall elegance of the piece.

Dimensions: L 110 × W 55 × H 38 cm
Weight: 24 kg