Marquetry Console
Manufactured by Maria Pergay
France, 2005
Hand-cast bronze, macassar, bone, ebony, stainless steel, palm wood

Measurements
150 x 40 x 125h cm
59,1 x 15,7 x 49,2h in

Provenance
Private collection

Edition
Edition of 8

Literature
Suzanne Demisch and Stephane Danant, Maria Pergay: Complete Works 1957–2010, Damiani, 2011, pp. 231–232, similar example reproduced, no. 132.

About
This Marquetry Console from 2005 exemplifies Maria Pergay’s mastery in combining exotic materials and refined metalwork into sculptural, highly crafted furniture. The piece features a harmonious yet unexpected blend of hand-cast bronze with macassar wood, bone, ebony, stainless steel, and palm wood—materials that reflect both opulence and meticulous technique.
As with much of Pergay’s work, the console merges minimalist form with rich surface treatments, resulting in a piece that feels simultaneously architectural and ornamental. Its bold presence is grounded in Pergay’s signature approach: sculptural elegance shaped by technical rigor and poetic restraint.
Produced in a limited edition of eight, this console exemplifies the designer’s continued innovation into the 21st century, building upon a legacy established in the 1960s as a pioneer of stainless steel furniture in France.

Biography
Maria Pergay (b. 1930) is a pioneering French designer known for her innovative use of stainless steel and luxurious materials in furniture design. Born in Moldova and raised in Paris, Pergay began her career designing silverware before transitioning to furniture in the late 1950s. Her breakthrough came in 1968 with a solo exhibition at Galerie Maison et Jardin in Paris, where she debuted a series of stainless steel pieces that immediately garnered critical acclaim.
Throughout her career, Pergay has remained committed to exploring the sculptural possibilities of furniture, often blending industrial materials with exotic woods, lacquer, mother-of-pearl, and bronze. Her signature style—defined by sensual curves, technical precision, and an elegant austerity—challenges traditional distinctions between art and design.
Working well into her later years, Pergay continued to produce bold, experimental works, many of them limited editions or unique commissions for private collectors and institutions. Her designs are held in major collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, and she is widely celebrated as one of the most important figures in postwar and contemporary French design.