Knut Hesterberg for Ronald Schmitt.

KNUT HESTERBERG (Germany, 1941–2016) for Ronald Schmitt.
“Snake” coffee table, c. 1960.
Aluminum and glass.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Measurements: 39 x 110 x 110 cm.
A sculptural coffee table designed by Knut Hesterberg in the mid-1960s for the German firm Ronald Schmitt. The piece stands out for its distinctive aluminum base, formed by curvilinear elements that intertwine in a continuous motion, evoking the sinuous silhouette of a snake. A glass top rests on this structure, lending visual lightness and allowing the metal composition to be fully appreciated.
Knut Hesterberg was a German sculptor and designer whose work lies at the intersection of Constructivist sculpture and furniture design. Initially trained in his family’s metal foundry, he studied at the Basel School of Applied Arts. During the 1960s, he developed his most renowned designs for the German firm Ronald Schmitt, including the Snake and Propeller coffee tables. At the same time, Hesterberg created monumental sculptures for public spaces in Germany, establishing a career in which art and design remained closely intertwined. His work was documented in the monograph *Knut Hesterberg: Skulptur + Design*, published in 1983.