Ado Chale Black Resin Coffee Table Inlayed with Malachite

Ado Chale, coffee table, resin, malachite, lacquered steel, Belgium, circa 1975

This coffee table, in black resin and inlayed malachite, is a beautiful work by the Belgian autodidact artist Ado Chale, dating back to around 1975. The design stands as a testament to his use of precious materials and impeccable craftsmanship. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Chale's artistic vision transcends mere aesthetics, incorporating the very essence of nature into his creations. A significant portion of his body of work comprises objects and furniture adorned with semi-precious stones and rare materials, endowing each piece with an enigmatic and refined allure.

The table features a rectangular top in black resin with one side of the surface inlayed with strikingly green malachite, a semi-precious gemstone that Chale transformed into a mesmerizing mosaic. Meticulously reworked and thoughtfully placed, the stones are casted in epoxy resin, wherein polished to achieve a smooth, lustrous texture. The stones showcase an array of green hues, each embracing its unique grain pattern. Each stone is arranged in an organic, irregular manner, drawing the viewer's gaze to the vibrant surface. The table’s sturdy black legs provide essential support, yet their unassuming presence subtly shift the viewer’s attention to the decorative top. This juxtaposition underscores a hallmark of Chale’s tables: while the top embraces uniqueness and individuality, the legs maintain a consistent design. The base is characterized by two large, rectangular columns connected by equally substantial horizontal supports. All in, this piece epitomizes Chale's approach to furniture-making – a master craftsman infusing his creations with an aura of exclusivity and exceptional artisanship.

Biography

Ado Chale, the Belgium-based artist born as Adolphe Pelsener in Brussels in 1928, embarked on a journey that blended his expertise in mineralogy and blacksmithing with his innate creativity. In 1960, alongside his wife Huguette Schaal (1929-2011), a gemologist, he established a boutique in Brussels named "Chale". Here, he showcased extensive collections of precious minerals while delving into the art of crafting decorative jewelry and tabletops using semi-precious stones and rare materials. Rather than merely designing, Chale approached furniture-making with the precision of a craftsman, infusing each piece with an aura of exclusivity. Together, Ado Chale and his wife traveled the world in pursuit of the search of rare materials, like turquoise, malachite, amethyst, and agate, but also petrified wood and ivory, to name just a few, spanning continents such as Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia.

Throughout his 50-year career, Chale crafted a myriad of bespoke interior objects, establishing himself among the forefront of interior decorators who emerged during the 1960s. Designers such as Gabriella Crespi (1922-2017) and Maria Pergay (1930-2023) contributed to the creation of exclusive interior objects that blurred the lines between fine and applied art, infusing 20th-century interiors with a heightened sense of glamour and spectacle.

Central to Chale's oeuvre are his meticulously crafted tables adorned with gemstones, employing a self-developed technique akin to mosaic and terrazzo. In this case, the materials undergo meticulous reworking before being cast in epoxy resin, after which the entire piece is polished and finalized. At a later stage, he also includes solid cast metal like aluminum and bronze. His creations, radiant and refined, epitomize exclusivity, as he delicately employs rare and delicate materials to craft singular masterpieces.

Chale's body of work has garnered widespread acclaim, with his pieces gracing prestigious museums, to private and public spaces alike. Chale's creations have captivated discerning clientele, including members of global aristocracies and esteemed fashion houses such as Chanel, Dior, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton. By consistently pursuing innovation and employing precious materials adeptly, Ado Chale’s work has left an indelible mark on the world of craftsmanship, transcending mere furniture art or design to create timeless treasures that represent a painstaking and irreplicable work of craftsmanship.

Kindly note that this tabletop is handmade and inlaid with semi-precious stones. As such, it is not perfectly straight. This table is a unique creation, crafted as a decorative masterpiece.

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