Low Laccio Kiga coffee table, designed by Marcel Breuer, Gavina, Italy, 1960s

Description

Low Laccio Kiga coffee table, designed by Marcel Breuer, Gavina, Italy, 1960s

A design icon. The low Kiga coffee table is a post-war interpretation of the iconic Laccio table designed by Marcel Breuer in 1924 as part of his experiments with bent steel tubing. Laccio was part of a groundbreaking furniture collection in which Breuer used chromed steel and a simple, geometric form to create a remarkably visually light yet robust construction. The table’s minimalist design reflects the Bauhaus philosophy – form follows function – and is still regarded as an icon of modernism today. The example presented here was produced by Gavina, further enhancing its collectible value and placing it within the history of reinterpretations of classic Bauhaus designs. After 1962, the Italian manufacturer Gavina began producing this table under an official licence, bearing the label “GAVINA reg trademark KIGA SpA. Made in Italy”, and selling it as part of the Breuer for Gavina collection. The table quickly became a symbol of avant-garde 20th-century design, combining functionality with minimalist elegance. Its monochromatic white tabletop exudes simplicity and elegance, while the chrome-plated legs lend the structure a timeless sophistication and subtle lightness. The whole forms a harmonious, minimalist composition that fits perfectly into modern interiors, combining Breuer’s historical legacy with current interior design trends. This is a timeless piece of furniture in which simplicity of form meets masterful craftsmanship.

This example was produced by Gavina, guaranteeing high-quality workmanship and fidelity to the historical principles of the design. It is not merely a functional piece of furniture, but also an investment in a timeless design icon that gains value and prestige over the years.

This table is a choice for connoisseurs – for those seeking distinctive, original solutions and wishing to introduce an element of the history of international design into their interiors.

Marcel Breuer was born in Hungary in 1902. He was an architect and designer. In 1920, he received a scholarship to study painting and sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, but soon withdrew and applied to the Bauhaus school in Weimar, Germany. After completing the preliminary courses there, he trained in the Bauhaus furniture workshop from 1921 to 1924. He subsequently ran the furniture workshop in Dessau, where he created the first tubular-steel armchair (1925–1926), presented in 1927 as the B3 Club Steel Chair, later renamed Wassily in honour of Bauhaus teacher Wassily Kandinsky. As his career developed, he began to focus more on architectural projects. In addition to tubular-steel furniture and plywood elements for Isokon, he was recognised for residences, shop interiors and numerous competition entries. Breuer designed more than seventy private houses, as well as many university and office buildings. In 1948, the Museum of Modern Art in New York organised a travelling exhibition of his work. In 1953, he designed the UNESCO headquarters in Paris with Pier Luigi Nervi and Bernard Zehrfuss, and in 1963 he designed the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

Gavina was a key Italian design manufacturer. It combined innovation with reinterpretations of classical designs, including Bauhaus works, in a spirit of high aesthetic standards and industrial precision. It produced furniture by many influential Italian modernists, including the Castiglioni brothers, Carlo and Tobia Scarpa, Cini Boeri, Roberto Sebastian Matta, Vico Magistretti and Mario Bellini. In 1968, it was acquired by Knoll. Knoll Studio was founded in 1946 by Hans Knoll, the son of a German furniture manufacturer, and his wife Florence Knoll. Florence was responsible for the company’s move away from Scandinavian design and for directing the collection towards the International style, which can be seen today, for example, in the designs of Tobia and Afra Scarpa.

The table has been preserved in its original vintage condition. It has minor marks on the tabletop consistent with its age.

The colours of the products shown in the photographs may differ slightly from the actual colours. This is due to individual monitor settings and the type of lighting – the photographs were taken in artificial light, which may affect the perception of shades. We nevertheless make every effort to ensure that the photographs reflect the actual appearance of the product as accurately as possible. The listing may include photographs of the item shown in an interior setting. These are for illustrative purposes only.