Two slate tables from Trélazé Slate

Slate.
France.
Early 20th century.
75 x 68 x 68 cm (29.5 × 26.8 × 26.8 in).

These two small slate tables originate from the vernacular production of the Trélazé region in western France, an area long shaped by slate quarrying.

Each is composed of a slate top resting on a two-part interlocking base. This method of construction reflects the practical ingenuity of Trélazé’s quarry workers, who occasionally applied their stone-cutting skills to their own domestic needs.

The restrained, almost naïve yet sturdy design of these tables places them within a broader tradition of European folk art. Though initially intended for utilitarian use in modest settings, these pieces — products of a still scarcely industrialised France — have resonated with modern design sensibilities, as architects and designers throughout the 20th century sought to reconnect with the origins of architecture and craft.

There are a few marks and cracks on the pedestal tables, as well as a small hole on one of the tops. They can be sold as a pair or separately.