A remarkably rare triangular side table designed by Anton Lucas, dating from the 1920s. The model is documented in an original period publication (see last image)
The design is wonderfully unconventional. Rather than simply placing a triangular top on three legs, Lucas carries the triangular geometry through virtually every element of the construction. The top is veneered in three triangular fields, with the direction of the oak grain reinforcing the geometry and drawing the eye towards the centre.
Below, the triangular lower tier is divided by three vertical panels into three open compartments, each facing a different direction. Together with the tall, gently shaped corner uprights, this creates an intriguing composition of solid planes, open spaces and intersecting lines.
Particularly distinctive are the three sculpted, spindle-shaped feet, carved fully in the round and gently swelling through the centre before tapering towards the floor. Their unusual three-dimensional form introduces a subtle organic counterpoint to the otherwise strongly architectural construction and gives the table an unexpected sense of lightness.
One of the most appealing aspects of the design is how completely it changes character depending on the angle from which it is viewed. There is effectively no single front. From one side it appears open and relatively symmetrical; from another, the panels overlap and the triangular planes become much more pronounced.
Executed in oak and oak veneer, the table combines the expressive geometry and craftsmanship associated with Dutch Art Deco and the Amsterdam School with an unusually modern sense of abstraction.
Anton Lucas was a Dutch furniture designer and manufacturer associated with N.V. Meubelkunst in Leiden. During the 1920s, the company produced distinctive modern furniture combining traditional cabinetmaking with the increasingly geometric and expressive vocabulary of Dutch design.
The table has been expertly restored and is in very good condition, retaining the warm character of the oak and a beautiful period appearance.
A rare, documented and particularly sculptural example of Dutch Art Deco furniture from the 1920s.
Creator
Anton Lucas
Design Period
1920s
Production Period
1920s
Country of Manufacture
Netherlands
Identifying Marks
No
Style
Dutch Art Deco, Amsterdam School, Amsterdamse School, Arts & Crafts
