Doric Coffee Tables

The Doric Coffee Table by GamFratesi takes its name from the Doric order of ancient Greek – and later Roman – architecture. The oldest and least ornamental of the three Classical orders, Doric architecture is characterized by restraint, symmetry, and simplicity, with decorative features generally limited to the vertical fluting that is so closely associated with the Doric column.

A FINE BALANCE
The defining feature of the Doric Table is the inward curve of the legs, the result of material subtraction from a simple shape. What could have been a monolithic, hard-edged profile is given an unexpected and alluring lightness and softness by carving into each of its four legs – a contemporary reinterpretation of the fluted detailing often found in the Doric column.

CLASSICAL MEETS CONTEMPORARY
By recontextualizing this single architectural detail in a piece of furniture, GamFratesi succeed in imbuing the design with a sense of history that counterbalances its unmistakably modern appearance. While the table’s surface showcases the natural beauty of the stone, its legs demonstrate the sculptural quality of the piece, and emphasize the level of craftsmanship that has gone into its creation.

DESIGN OF DUALITIES
Like the Danish-Italian pairing that informs GamFratesi as a practice, the Doric Table is a design of dualities, contrasts and harmonies, synthesizing seemingly opposing characteristics into a single coherent expression.

As well as balancing the historic and the contemporary, the table is both curved and geometric, hard and soft, with the rectangular form of the tabletop counterbalanced by its gently rounded corners and the decorative contours of the carved legs. In the same way, it is solid and monumental, but it also has a delicacy to it, a lightness of presence and a sculptural quality that enriches its aesthetic expression while enhancing its versatility as a piece of furniture.

UNIQUE CHARACTER
The table is available in two types of natural stone, each with its own distinctive color. The travertine version is a beautifully nuanced Neutral White; whereas the limestone is a vivacious Electric Gray, which has a more dramatic pattern. Every piece produced in these stones is unique, the ancient history of the Earth written into its surface.

The Doric Table is available in two sizes: a square version, ideal for cozy corners, and a larger oblong variant, which pairs well with longer seats and sofas.