Belgian Ebonized Oak Sideboard by Jean Batenburg for Mi, 1970s
A Belgian ebonized oak sideboard by Jean Batenburg for Mi, designed in the 1970s with an emphasis on proportion, precision, and restraint.
Long and monolithic, the form sits quietly within a room, allowing material and craftsmanship to define its presence. The deeply ebonized oak softens the scale, while the rhythmic geometric pattern across the façade catches light with subtle variation, revealing the natural grain beneath the dark finish.
What first appears as a continuous architectural surface conceals a thoughtfully resolved interior. The drawers and cabinet doors are worked seamlessly into the profile, their openings nearly invisible until revealed. Three cabinets provide generous shelving for storage, balanced by a column of four stacked drawers, the upper fitted with felt-lined compartments for organising smaller objects. Three original keys accompany the piece, preserving both its function and authenticity.
Jean Batenburg (1906-1990) was a Belgian painter, etcher, watercolorist, and furniture designer whose multidisciplinary practice bridged fine art and modern design. After studying interior architecture at the academies in Brussels and Schaarbeek, he applied his architectural training to create furniture distinguished by clean lines, balanced proportions, and a strong sense of functionality.
In the 1960s, Batenburg and his wife established a furniture business in Kortenberg, first under the name E.M.Y. and later MI, producing high-quality modernist furnishings. His designs combined artistic sensitivity with practical craftsmanship, reflecting the restrained elegance and thoughtful innovation that helped define Belgian modernism.
DIMENSIONS: 88.25"W x 21.5"D x 21.5"H
ORIGIN: Belgium
PERIOD: 1970s
MATERIALS: Oak
CONDITION:
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