Exceptionally Rare Christian Krekels Coffee Table in Artisanal Brass Patchwork

Christian Krekels, coffee table, brass, lacquered steel, Belgium, 1970s

This exceptionally rare coffee table exemplifies the artistic vision of Belgian sculptor and metal artist Christian Krekels. Renowned for his mastery of metal and for creating furniture that transcends conventional design, Krekels approached functional objects with the sensibility of a sculptor.

The circular tabletop is dominated by a rich, patinated brass surface, interrupted by a fluid organic composition that appears to emerge naturally from the edge. This sculptural intervention reveals the artist's intuitive handling of form. Equally remarkable is the meticulously crafted rim, where individually cut brass plates have been assembled in a rhythmic patchwork pattern. Their subtle variations in colour, from warm golden tones to deep brown patinas, create a lively surface that changes with the surrounding light. Visible rows of press-stamped rivet marks further emphasize the artisanal production process.

The table bears the signature “Christian Krekels”.

Christian Krekels (1942-) is an expressive Belgian sculptor. Following his studies at the Institut des Arts Saint-Luc in Tournai, Krekels firstly focused his work on diamonds. Later in his career he shifted his oeuvre to sculptures. He worked on figurative and abstract sculptures as well as artistic coffee tables with characteristic tabletops. Krekels mainly works with different metals and like in this case, treated the brass tabletop in an unparalleled manner.