Strauss & co - 11 November 2013, Johannesburg

110 181 Ado CHALE belgian 1928– Mayan Sun – Droplet, circular table circa 1980 signed bronze and metal diameter: 150,5 cm; height: 72 cm R200 000–300 000 provenance Purchased from the artists studio and thence by descent International Art notes Since the opening of his Belgian studio in the mid-1960s, Ado Chale has steadily built on his reputation as an artist producing limited edition sculptural furniture. Chale came to the attention of the international collecting community when one of his dining tables reached the then unheard of figure of £84 500 at Sotheby’s, London, in 2007. This was compounded when the newly decorated Christian Dior boutique situated on Rue de Montaigne in Paris opened its doors to the public, with a Chale table centre-stage. Furthermore, architect Peter Marino installed one of Chale’s marcasite-and-black-resin tables between a pair of bouclé-clad chairs in Chanel’s luxurious Singapore flagship store. Chale and his studio assistants can take upwards of eight weeks to complete a single piece of furniture. Chale’s designs evolve from his passion for mineralogy and his love of textures. His inventive pieces combine functionality with natural elements. Set atop a criss-crossing patinated steel base, the cast bronze top of this table was crafted to simulate a single drop of water rippling across the surface. Titled Mayan Sun – Droplet, this table was completed circa 1980.