Ado Chale Early and Rare 'Relief d'Agate' Coffee Table in Bronze Mosaic

Ado Chale, 'Relief d'Agate' coffee table, bronze, lacquered steel, Belgium, ca. 1980

The 'Relief d'Agate' coffee table epitomizes Chale's approach to furniture-making; a master craftsman infusing his creations with an aura of exclusivity and exceptional artisanship.


An Early Relief d’Agate

This Relief d'Agate coffee table (ca. 1980) is a very rare and early piece within this line by Ado Chale, and showcases exceptional patina that enhances the depth and character of its sculptural surface. It is exemplary for Chale's exceptional talent in creating interior objects that seamlessly blur the lines between fine and applied art.


A Sculptural Surface

The table features an oval top slightly free-form with rounded contours, its surface adorned with strikingly bronze mosaic. Meticulously reworked and thoughtfully placed, the bronze pieces form a gentle relief reminiscent of pebble stones, imbuing the piece with an organic allure.


Between Ornament and Structure

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 rectangular tripod columns connected by equally substantial horizontal supports.

The table is signed “Chale”, along the rim of the top.



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.