Wolfgang Laubersheimer for Gruppe Pentagon, “Seerose”

WOLFGANG LAUBERSHEIMER (Bad Kreuznach, Germany, 1955) for Gruppe Pentagon, Cologne.
“Seerose” console table, 1987.
Patinated steel, wood, and natural stone.
Interior divided by three shelves and two suspended drawers.
Reference: Beatrix Schomberg (ed.), Pentagon. Informal Design, Benedikt Taschen Verlag, Cologne, 1990, p. 75.
In very good condition, with a patina consistent with the piece’s age.
A rare piece, hard to find.
Measurements: 110 x 97 x 46 cm.

Created in 1987 and referenced in the historical literature on Gruppe Pentagon, “Seerose” is a particularly representative example of New German Design from the 1980s. In contrast to functionalist orthodoxy and the principle of Gute Form, the Cologne-based collective developed furniture with a strong sculptural presence, constructed through deliberately contrasting combinations of steel, stone, wood, and other materials. The piece also dates to a pivotal year for Pentagon, when the group presented the Café Casino project at documenta 8 in Kassel.

Here, Laubersheimer contrasts the industrial austerity of patinated steel with the irregularity and visual weight of the thick stone slab on top. The unit is enclosed by two doors with stepped profiles and two front drawers integrated into the upper section, flanked by tubular uprights that reinforce the structure’s verticality. Inside, three wooden shelves create a fully functional layout, deliberately concealed behind the abstract boldness of the exterior.

The title “Seerose”—“water lily” in German—refers to the recess carved into the stone top, designed to hold water and aquatic plants. The incorporation of this natural element transforms the top of the cabinet into a sort of small pond and alters the conventional typology of storage furniture. This fusion of storage, domestic architecture, and nature encapsulates Pentagon’s interest in reimagining everyday functions through unexpected material combinations.

“Seerose” is a rare piece with strong collector’s appeal, seldom seen on the market. Its unique design, combined with its connection to the central period of Gruppe Pentagon and its presence in specialized literature, places it among Wolfgang Laubersheimer’s most recognizable designs.

Wolfgang Laubersheimer studied metal sculpture in Cologne. In 1982, he helped found the furniture manufacturer Unikate, and in 1985, he was one of the founders of Gruppe Pentagon, a collective at the forefront of the radical renewal of German design during that decade. He later pursued an extensive teaching career as a professor of Production Technology at the Köln International School of Design. In 2020, the MAKK in Cologne dedicated a monographic exhibition to the group, accompanied by a corresponding catalog.