Pia Manu, coffee table, pyrite mineral, Ammonite, iron, burnished concrete, Belgium, 1960s

This rare, handmade coffee table made from a rather surprising juxtaposition of natural materials is designed in the workshop of Pia Manu. What makes this particular center table so special and one of a kind, is the presence of real preserved imprints of nature and its history. These spiral fossils, called Ammonite, originate from squid species that went extinct about 65 million years ago. Against a dark and grey background, pyrite minerals are scattered over the surface, which embody a shimmering, golden texture. The round base of the top consists of burnished concrete that possess a rough and uneven layer. The centre of the top carries an asymmetrical construction of metal rods that meet in the middle. The base consists of a pentagon frame realized by five rectangular-shaped legs that are interconnected via cut iron beams. The natural process of corrosion, as is the case with this table, occupies a prominent place in the final character of the table: naturalistic, robust and raw.

Pia Manu is a workshop from Ingelmunster, Belgium. Here, amongst others, Jules Dewaele and his son Koen Dewaele designed several design pieces during the 60s. Pia Manu is still working along similar lines, with natural materials such as stone and travertine combined with ceramics.

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