Rare Belgian Brass + Smoked Glass Coffee Table by Nadie Jenatzy

A rare Belgian coffee table from the 1980s by Nadie Jenatzy, whose work occupies a distinctive place within the modernist design landscape. Jenatzy, spouse of Belgian designer Armand Jonckers, created pieces that balance sculptural form with a strong material presence.

The table is defined by its broad octagonal smoked glass top, its dark surface allowing the brass structure beneath to remain visible while giving the piece an understated, architectural quality. At the center, an etched brass plate introduces a quieter point of ornament, its geometric pattern set into the glass like a decorative inlay.

Solid and exceptionally heavy, the table has a grounded presence. The substantial brass base supports the wide, low profile of the top, creating a composition that feels less like a conventional coffee table and more like a sculptural object designed for the room.

A rare example of Jenatzy’s work, chosen as much for its physical presence as for its design. At the center of a living room, it establishes a strong architectural anchor, while the smoked glass allows the surrounding space to remain visible through and around the form.

About Nadie Jenatzy

Nadie Jenatzy (1943–2004) was a Belgian artist and the wife and creative collaborator of sculptor, engraver, antiquarian, mineralogist, and decorator Armand Jonckers (b. 1939). Together and independently, they developed a distinctive approach to decorative arts that combined found objects, antique materials, and an eclectic sensibility. Jonckers studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lausanne, graduating in 1957, and soon established his own workshop.

His diverse interests in antiques, mineralogy, gemstones, and interior decoration led to commissions ranging from the Parisian boutique Lollipop and the club Le Fashion to two Saudi Arabian palaces. These experiences eventually informed his furniture designs, often incorporating vintage objects and materials into exuberant, sculptural forms. Characterized by a baroque spirit tempered with wit and humor, the work of Jenatzy and Jonckers remains highly sought after, particularly their monumental tables and coffee tables created for grand hotel interiors.

Their son, Emmanuel Jonckers, was also shaped by this artistic environment. He worked alongside his parents and learned metal engraving from his father and drawing and pattern-making from his mother. He later established his own atelier, continuing the family’s tradition of highly crafted, sculptural furniture and decorative arts.