Jean Prouvé

The present dining table, “S.A.M. Tropique,” is a finalized version of a design derived from multiple iterations developed over the course of fifteen years. It is a testament to Jean Prouvé’s design ingenuity and his dedication to technical progress. The French architect and furniture designer devised a dining table in 1939 where the legs proved less intrusive to the users through the use of a centrally positioned structure and slanted legs. The first prototypes included a wooden top and an all-metal base, comprising a double-Y crossmember with fixed legs. Due to the shortage of metal during World War II, Prouvé introduced a version with solid wooden legs. Following the war and after various modifications to the assembly components and the shape and angle of the legs, the table was named S.A.M. and sold on the domestic market. One version, the TS11 with a solid wooden top and legs, received a “Meubles de France” design award in 1947. The table was sold as a kit and delivered in parts with a diagram and instructions for assembly.

In 1951 the “S.A.M. Tropique” dining table was introduced as an all-metal version with an aluminum top and lacquered steel crossmember and legs. The table is presumably named as such for its use of metal and rejection of wood elements which allowed for better durability in tropical climates. Just like the wooden version, the table was demountable and could be sent as a kit. This was more space efficient, theoretically allowing the table to be more affordable and shipped longer distances. The earliest versions were lacquered in contrasting colors, such as the tan legs and dark top of the present offering. This table is a superb example of Prouvé’s dedication to innovation in standardization and prefabrication and is a tribute to the designer's pioneering spirit.