Space Age Coffee Table in Wenge with Glass Insert

There is a particular strain of 1970s design that looked forward and backward simultaneously — embracing the Space Age fascination with technology and futurism while grounding it in warm, natural materials. This coffee table is a perfect example of that duality.

The sleek formica surface provides a durable, unmistakably retro plane, punctuated at its centre by a round glass insert that floats like a porthole — an invitation to peer through to new design horizons. Below and around, the deep, rich tones of wenge wood provide an earthy counterpoint to the cool, glossy formica and the crisp clarity of the glass. The material combination is bold and surprisingly harmonious.

The table is in good original condition with all materials intact. The formica surface is clean and functional, the glass insert is free from chips, and the wenge wood retains its characteristic dark grain. At 90 centimetres square and 30 centimetres tall, it offers a generous, low-profile surface that suits both formal and casual seating arrangements.

Wenge, sourced primarily from the tropical forests of Central Africa, was a prized material in 1970s European furniture design. Its extremely dark colour and pronounced grain made it a natural choice for designers seeking visual drama and material warmth in equal measure. Combined with formica — the era's favourite synthetic surface — and glass, it created pieces that felt simultaneously futuristic and grounded.

In a living room with a mid-century or retro aesthetic, this coffee table becomes an instant focal point. It carries the optimism and experimental spirit of 1970s design while remaining thoroughly practical — the kind of piece that sparks curiosity and conversation every time someone sees it for the first time.