Large Brutalist Coffee Table by Paul Kingma, Netherlands 1984

Created in 1984, this exceptional coffee table by Dutch artist and sculptor Paul Kingma is a particularly elegant example of his highly individual approach to furniture as functional art. Measuring an impressive 140 × 78 cm, the elongated rectangular format gives Kingma considerably more room to develop his composition than on many of his smaller tables.

At first glance, the table appears unusually serene. Large fields of pale natural stone form an almost architectural landscape, divided by subtle lines and interrupted by carefully positioned fragments of stone, brass and warm terracotta-coloured elements. Look closer, however, and the composition becomes increasingly intricate.

Beginning quietly at one end, small inlays form a visual path across the pale stone surface. Circles, fragments and geometric forms appear almost like markers along a route. Near the centre, the composition becomes more concentrated, culminating in a striking brass sun-like element before continuing through the stone.

Whether Kingma intended it as a landscape, a journey or simply an abstract composition is impossible to know—and that ambiguity is precisely what makes his work so compelling. Kingma did not create anonymous decorative surfaces. He assembled stone, metal and found materials intuitively, allowing each table to develop its own rhythm and identity. The result is somewhere between sculpture, mosaic and furniture.

The restrained palette makes this 1984 example especially versatile. Cream, ivory and warm sand-coloured stones are contrasted by small accents of brass and reddish stone, giving the table warmth without overpowering an interior. Its substantial dimensions make it an ideal centrepiece in front of a large sofa, while the relatively low 38 cm height gives it the relaxed proportions associated with sophisticated 1970s and 1980s interiors.

The top currently rests on a black metal base. For an interior requiring a lighter, more tonal appearance, the metal base could easily be professionally repainted in an off-white, cream or another colour. We would personally retain the black: its visual weight creates a strong architectural counterpoint to the exceptionally light stone composition above.

As with all authentic Kingma tables, the attraction lies in the fact that there is no second one. The individual stones, objects and metals were selected and positioned by hand, turning an everyday piece of furniture into a permanent composition.

More than forty years after it was made, it remains remarkably contemporary.

Designer: Paul Kingma
Origin: The Netherlands
Year: 1984
Type: One-of-a-kind sculptural coffee table
Materials: Natural stone, mixed stone and mineral inlays, brass and metal details
Base: Black painted metal
Dimensions: W 140 × D 78 × H 38 cm

Please note: The AI-generated interior images are intended solely to illustrate how the lamp can be styled in a contemporary interior. Minor deviations from the original may occur. All other photographs show the actual lamp offered for sale. Additional photos, videos or a live viewing at our showroom are available upon request.