Eugène Printz

The present table-bibliothèque may very well be one of Eugene Printz’s most versatile and ingenious designs. Easily adjustable and consisting of five diamond-shaped shelving units connected together on either end, the emphasis here is on functionality and practicality, given that the piece can indeed be used simultaneously as a low table and a bookshelf. The nobility of its materials—a superb palmwood surface enhanced with brass hardware—further adds a luxurious dimension to the object. This example from the Perelman Collection is particularly rare as it includes five elements instead of three, as more commonly found. Period photography demonstrates the variety of uses for the table across interiors, seen in various configurations depending on the space. In its closed state, the table acts as a coffee table onto which are placed ornaments such as small boxes and bouquets of flowers; in its open configuration, the table acts as a screen separating an open layout interior. An essential component of the designer’s oeuvre, the form constitutes one of Eugene Printz’s most celebrated creations, the present example of which represents a particularly rare iteration.