Organic-shaped executive desk, Netherlands, 1960s

Description

Organic-shaped executive desk, Netherlands, 1960s

An executive desk with a rare, organic shape. The piece comes from the Netherlands, where it was produced in the 1960s. It has a distinctive form reminiscent of a boomerang or a kidney bean. It is made entirely of refined and luxurious wenge wood with regular, linear, fine grain. The rounded desktop is edged with wooden banding featuring a stronger, tiger-like grain—known as the tangential surface of the wood—which accentuates the simple, understated finish of the whole piece. The desktop surface has been sanded radially, along the radii. Beneath the desktop are two drawers with concave fronts, shaped to follow the desk’s construction. The key serves as a handle. The desk stands on turned, slender legs mounted diagonally towards the inside of the frame, thereby enclosing the form within the outline traced by the distinctive shape of the desktop. The legs terminate in brass ferrules. The back of the desk is finished in wood, allowing it to be placed in the centre of a room.

This is an exceptionally well-considered and precisely crafted construction. This elegant executive desk is a so-called custom piece, probably made to order for a highly demanding client. It is a rare find on the market. Its perfect lines are the quintessence of Mid-Century Modern design and a unique element of the design world.

The desk has been restored and is in very good vintage condition, with its original patina and minor signs of age, as befits a piece of furniture of this age.