1960's Smoke Glass Maison Jansen Style Brass Coffee Table

Details

Description

A superb solid brass coffee table dating to the 1960s, designed in the sophisticated French neoclassical manner closely associated with … Read more A superb solid brass coffee table dating to the 1960s, designed in the sophisticated French neoclassical manner closely associated with Maison Jansen. Elegant yet restrained, the table combines classical architectural references with the glamorous materials and clean proportions that made Jansen-inspired furniture so desirable during the mid-20th century. Comparable 1960s tables are described with brass construction, glass tops, fluted legs, and symmetrical demi-lune stretchers.

The long rectangular top is framed in solid brass and fitted with a dark smoked-glass surface, creating a handsome contrast between the reflective golden metal and nearly black glass. Four slender legs support the top, each beautifully detailed with fluting, turned baluster elements, and tapered feet. The brass has acquired a mellow patina that enhances the table's vintage character.

Especially distinctive is the elaborate stretcher arrangement beneath the top. Graceful demi-lune curved stretchers extend inward from either end and are joined by a long, fluted central crossbar terminating in decorative finials. This architectural construction gives the table visual interest while maintaining an airy, almost weightless appearance.

The design reflects the Neoclassical and Empire influences frequently associated with Maison Jansen: symmetry, fluted columns, classical proportions, brass surfaces, and refined decorative details interpreted for a fashionable 20th-century interior. Documented Jansen furniture from the mid-century period likewise combined brass with glass and other luxurious materials.

Maison Jansen was not an individual designer but one of the great international decorating houses of the 20th century. Founded in Paris in 1880 by Dutch-born Jean-Henri Jansen, the firm became internationally renowned for sophisticated interiors that combined French 18th- and early-19th-century traditions with contemporary glamour. At its height, Jansen maintained studios in major international cities and worked for aristocratic, royal, and wealthy private clients. Under celebrated director Stéphane Boudin, the firm became particularly influential; Jansen was also involved in Jacqueline Kennedy's celebrated White House interiors.

With its solid brass construction, smoked glass, elegant fluted legs, and sculptural neoclassical stretcher, this circa-1960 coffee table strongly evokes the Maison Jansen vocabulary. Without a maker's mark or documented provenance, however, the most accurate attribution would be “in the style of Maison Jansen” or “possibly Maison Jansen,” rather than definitively identifying it as a Jansen production.



Dimensions: 16.5 inches high x 39.75 inches wide x 20 inches deep See less