Brutalist Square Slate Stone Ammonite Coffee Table by Paul Kingma 1994

Paul Kingma Brutalist Coffee Table — A Family Story in Stone, Brass & Time

This remarkable Paul Kingma coffee table was not simply designed as a piece of furniture. It was commissioned as a portrait of a family — translated into stone, brass and objects collected from nature.

Created in the Netherlands in 1994, the table was designed for a client who asked Kingma to incorporate his family into the composition. Rather than representing them literally, Kingma used circles as a recurring symbol of connection, continuity and the generations of a family.

One group of circles represents the family of their son Hans, his wife Johanna, and their two children, Willem and Lotte. Another represents their daughter Amy, her husband Tom, and their daughter Emily. Separate lives and individual personalities, yet all connected within the same composition — much like the stones and metals embedded throughout the tabletop.

At the heart of the story is the ammonite fossil.
It was personally selected by the mother of the family, who believed the ancient spiral represented growth, transformation and eternal life. It is an especially fitting symbol for a table about generations: an object formed millions of years ago, its spiral continuing outward while always remaining connected to its origin.
The ammonite therefore becomes more than a decorative element. It can be read as the emotional centre of the table — a reminder that a family changes, expands and creates new branches, while its history remains embedded within it.

Seen from above, the tabletop almost resembles a personal map. Brass circles, slate, gemstones, fossils and fragments of different materials appear individually distinct, yet Kingma brings them together into a single composition. A family captured in material rather than in a photograph.
Signed Paul Kingma ’94, it is a unique work with a story that could never be exactly reproduced.

Paul Kingma, The Netherlands, 1994
Brutalist square coffee table designed and handmade by renowned Dutch sculptor Paul Kingma (1931–2013) in the Netherlands in 1994.
Kingma's tables occupy a fascinating space between furniture, sculpture and architecture. Each was individually composed, with materials carefully selected and embedded by hand. Kingma travelled extensively in search of unusual natural and industrial materials, and his tables frequently incorporate stones, fossils, metals and objects carrying a particular significance.

No two Kingma tables are identical.

This example combines slate, concrete, gemstones, brass, metal and the prominent ammonite fossil in a richly textured architectural composition. Different colours and structures interrupt the surface, while the brass details introduce a warmer graphic element among the natural stone.
The substantial 4 cm thick tabletop rests on two black-lacquered metal sheet supports. The restrained base allows the extraordinary surface to remain the focal point and gives the table its characteristic Brutalist presence.

Kingma's use of concrete and slate gives the piece a raw architectural quality, while the carefully arranged brass, stones and fossil prevent it from ever feeling purely industrial. From a distance it reads as a powerful geometric coffee table; viewed closely, an entirely different world of textures, materials and personal details emerges.

Despite being created in 1994, the table works exceptionally well within contemporary interiors. Its combination of natural materials, restrained geometry and hand-crafted irregularity makes it particularly compelling alongside warm minimalism, Brutalism, modernist furniture or a refined Japandi interior.

More importantly, this is not simply another vintage Kingma table. Its family symbolism gives the composition an unusually intimate dimension: a functional sculpture conceived to preserve the idea of family across generations.

Please note: the interior photograph has been generated using AI and may therefore show minor deviations from the original table. The other product photographs should be used as the reference for its exact appearance and condition.
Details
Designer: Paul Kingma
Manufacturer: Paul Kingma
Origin: The Netherlands
Year: 1994
Materials: slate, concrete, brass, metal, gemstones and ammonite fossil  
Dimensions:
Height: 38 cm
Width: 100.5 cm
Depth: 100.5 cm  
Tabletop thickness: 4 cm
Approx. weight tabletop: 90 kg
Approx. weight base: 20 kg  

Condition: Very good original vintage condition, with minimal wear consistent with age and use. No chips to the sides.

Every Paul Kingma table is unique and one of a kind — but few tell their story quite as literally as this one.

Price excluding shipping:
Please contact us for more information and/or a none-profit shipping quote. Once the shipping quote is authorized, we can securely activate the product for purchase through the website.

Please note that our FOUND ICONS are vintage and will never be in ‘NEW’ condition. All pieces will be subject to signs of aging and general wear, this is also reflected in our prices. They remain however fully functional, but it might show signs of age through scuffs, dings, faded finishes, minimal upholstery defects, or visible repairs. Please contact our team with any questions prior to purchase. We are happy to help!