Heinz Lilienthal

HEINZ LILIENTHAL (Germany, 1927-2006).
Sculptural coffee table, 1960s.
Wood and steel.
Measurements: 43,5 x 110 cm.
In the 1960s, some German designers moved away from the strict codes of modernism to explore a freer, almost experimental approach to furniture. This sculptural coffee table signed by Heinz Lilienthal is a remarkable illustration of this. The square steel top features elaborate surface work, obtained through a process of etching and controlled oxidation. The sheet metal has been textured and chemically treated to reveal variations in tone and organic motifs, close to a mineral cartography. The lines that structure the composition appear to have been incised or reserved before treatment, creating a slight relief perceptible to the touch and accentuating the depth of the design. Each envelope thus develops a unique motif, the result of a controlled reaction between the metal and oxidizing agents. The dark-stained solid wood base adopts a sober and graphic architecture, whose vertical volumes contrast with the expressive richness of the envelope. The balance between structural rigor and an almost pictorial surface gives the whole a strong sculptural presence. It is a unique and rare piece.
Heinz Lilienthal (1927-2006), German designer and craftsman whose work is characterized by the fusion between constructive rationality and artistic experimentation. Trained in the post-war context, Lilienthal developed a practice that oscillated between functional design, mural art and applied sculpture, exploring the expressive possibilities of materials such as metal, stone and wood. From the 1960s onwards, his work achieved international recognition for his sculptural treatment of surfaces and his ability to give everyday objects a symbolic and sensorial dimension.