Vitra EM Table in Veneer Oak
Jean Prouvé EM Table from the Vitra Collection

Designer: Jean Prouvé
Manufacturer: Vitra

Vitra EM Table with solid wooden table top in Veneer Oak by Jean Prouvé. The French architect, designer and engineer Jean Prouvé developed the EM Table around 1950 for the project 'Maison Tropicale'. Adhering to the aesthetics of necessity, even the details of this table are determined by its construction. The canted legs of the EM Table are connected by a crossbar, illustrating the structural forces and flow of stresses in a way that is typically seen only in engineering structures. With every single detail dictated by its construction, Jean Prouvé's EM table follows the aesthetics of necessity - the beauty of this table comes from the 'function over form' ethos of the design with familiar cues in the context of civil engineering works of the time. The solid wood table tops in natural solid oak, oak core smoked or American walnut lend the EM Table an aura of elegance and bring pleasure with their appealing tactile qualities. This stunning icon of 20th century French industrial design naturally compliments any interior setting. The Jean Prouvé designed EM table makes a great dining table or conference table. Made by Vitra in Europe.

Jean Prouvé's EM Table (1950) exhibits a dynamic relationship between the base and tabletop, following in the footsteps of such iconic designs as the Parsons table, the Eames Round Table and Le Corbusier's glass-topped table. Made of sheet metal, each tapered leg is turned out and angled on a diagonal slant to distribute the downward flow of energy on the table, making an incredibly sturdy surface for working or dining. The tabletop is finished in smooth oak veneer and lends a warm counterpoint to the table's mechanical efficiency. Reproduced to exacting standards by Vitra.

As one of modernism's early great practitioners, and one of the finest designers France has produced, Jean Prouvé (1901-1984) bridged the gap between industrial production and aesthetic grace. Though he worked as an architect and designer, one can't open a glossy design magazine without seeing his iconic cafeteria chairs and dining tables. Unlike the production of the Bauhaus, which favored tubular steel, Prouve worked largely with sheet metal, bending and working it to suit his needs. And his early training as a metal smith informed not just his own prodcution as a furniture designer and architect, but caused him to establish a number of workshops over the course of his career. His buildings include the Maison du Peuple in Clichy, France, his own home in Nancy, and a series of gas stations, one of which now sits amidst the starchitect outpouring at the Vitra campus in southern Germany. Perpetually reworking his designs, experimenting with new materials, and generally pushing forward the use of metals like aluminum in the design process, Prouve is done a certain injustice if remembered only as a designer. Though his work rightly stands at the apex of 20th century modernism, his work as a lover of industry, of making and producing, deserves equal exploration.

> Download Vitra EM Table fact sheet PDF file

Collection: Vitra
Vitra Product Codes: 212033-037/75
Material Structure: powder coated steel
Material Top: natural solid oak, oiled
Use: indoor, living room, office
Product Category: furniture, tables
Style: modern, mid-century modern
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