Pair of Smoked Lucite Tray Tables on Folding Chrome Bases, France circa 1970

This pair of occasional side tables exemplifies the sophisticated chic of French decorative design in the early 1970s, combining the period’s fascination with translucent synthetic materials with the timeless practicality of the campaign-style tray table. Each piece consists of a deep-lipped rectangular tray in smoked blue-grey lucite, its edges neatly framed in chrome-plated metal, resting atop an elegant folding X-frame base of polished chrome-plated steel rod.

The trays, with their generous proportions of 55.5 by 35 centimetres, possess a sculptural presence in their own right: the translucency of the lucite catches the light differently at every angle, shifting from near-opaque charcoal to a luminous slate blue. The chrome-rimmed tray edge provides both structural rigidity and a refined finish that bridges the gap between the industrial and the decorative.

The folding X-frame bases are a masterpiece of elegant engineering — the scissoring chrome rods open to a height of 69.5 centimetres, creating a stable and well-balanced stance. The folding mechanism makes these tables highly practical for occasional use, easily repositioned around a room or stored away when not needed, a quality particularly valued in the open-plan interiors of the period.

Sold as a pair, in excellent vintage condition with bright, strong chrome and lucite retaining its characteristic depth of colour. A highly desirable and decorative set, equally at home in a modernist, minimalist or eclectic interior.