José Zanine Caldas. Dining table. Brazil, 1977.

JOSÉ ZANINE CALDAS (Brazil, 1919–2001).
Dining table. Brazil, 1977.
Solid jackfruit wood, hand-carved with an axe and adze.
With a certificate of authenticity issued by Euclides Zanine Caldas Neto.
In good condition.
Measurements: 142 cm tabletop width; 12 cm tabletop thickness; base measuring 42 × 42 cm; leg height: 67 cm.

In keeping with the spirit of José Zanine Caldas’s “móveis-denúncia,” the dining table now up for auction embodies a design philosophy committed to forest conservation and the preservation of traditional Brazilian crafts. In these creations, wood takes on a prominence that transcends its structural function: its shapes and irregularities highlight the value of the tree and the artisanal expertise of those who work with it.

The thick solid jackfruit wood tabletop retains its natural contours, grain, knots, and fissures, while the prismatic central leg, carved with angular planes, provides a geometric and sculptural counterpoint.

The piece belongs to Zanine Caldas’s most recognizable period, marked by the use of large tropical woods and a deeply ethical and sensory approach to design. His furniture from the 1970s celebrates the structural beauty of wood, but also reflects a pioneering awareness of the responsible use of natural resources, working with logs, scraps, and sections that preserve the memory of the tree.

José Zanine Caldas was a self-taught architect, designer, sculptor, and landscape architect, known as the “Master of Wood.” His work, admired by architects such as Oscar Niemeyer and Lucio Costa, constitutes a unique synthesis of traditional Brazilian craftsmanship and modern techniques. His works are represented in major international collections, including the Centre Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.