Jules Wabbes Early Versatile Free-Standing Corner Desk in Wengé

Jules Wabbes, two-part corner writing desk, teak, coated steel, wengé, chrome, Belgium, 1960s

This exceptional free-standing corner desk was crafted by the renowned designer Jules Wabbes during the 1960s. The desk is composed of two distinct tables, each with its own chest of drawers, constructed independently in varying heights. This innovative design enables the two parts to be arranged together to form a seamless corner desk or used independently as two distinct tables. The black lacquered wengé tabletop is a stunning complement to the black-coated steel frame, while the teak drawers and chrome runners at the side add a touch of warmth and luxury to the piece. The drawers feature the characteristic handles that are synonymous with Wabbes' work, each one carefully engraved with his name, a mark of authenticity and craftsmanship. The design is a testament to Jules Wabbes' keen eye for detail and his ability to seamlessly blend form and function. Its clean lines and precise proportions make it a true masterpiece of modernist furniture design, which remains as relevant today as it was when it was first conceived.
Jules Wabbes (1919-1974) was one of the leading Belgian furniture designers and interior architects of the Postwar period. Born in Brussels in 1919, he began his career as an actor. However, after several other professions, he eventually started to become interested in antiques. When Wabbes was 24, he opened an antiques shop where some of the furniture needed restoration. Therefore, he created a small workshop where he taught himself how to restore furniture. Therefore, In contrast to many of his contemporaries, he wasn't trained as a designer or architect but learned the craft of designing furniture by sheer necessity. Alongside restoration, he also started to design furniture. Because of the success of his ventures, it led to Wabbes designing many interiors for his clients. In 1971, Wabbes became professor at the Sint-Lucasinstituut in Brussels. Unfortunately, Wabbes died at an early age in 1974 due to cancer. Overall, his work is aristocratic and modest, and characterized by a sensual use of materials and a clear, almost architectural tectonics. Wabbes developed a line and idiom of its own, averse to the playful and swinging style of many other furniture designs of the Postwar period. Wabbes, influenced by American designers such as Edward Wormley, chose to build his furniture with solid wood giving his designs not only a luxurious appearance but also honest, timeless and sophisticated aesthetics.

Measurements return:
120 W x 52 D x 66 H cm.
       
Please note that this item is in good, used condition.

VAT within the EU: When buying or delivering an item within the EU, VAT usually applies and will be added.