Trapèze
Made by Vitra
Designed by Jean Prouvé
Jean Prouvé conceived the Trapèze in the early 1950s for the Cité Universitaire in Antony, outside Paris. The commission demanded furniture that could hold its own within an architectural context, and Prouvé answered with a table that reads as a small building in its own right.
The name comes directly from the form: trapezoidal legs bent from sheet steel, the same industrial vocabulary Prouvé applied to his prefabricated houses and school buildings of the same era. Structure is never concealed here. It is the point.
- Legs formed from powder-coated bent sheet steel
- Solid tabletop in high-pressure laminate with a matte black surface
- Thick, beveled edges that give the top a sculptural weight
- Proportions drawn from the original Cité Universitaire commission
Vitra has produced the Trapèze in close dialogue with the Prouvé estate, preserving the dimensional integrity of the original while meeting contemporary production standards. The result is a piece that carries the full authority of its postwar origins.
Typically ships in 12-14 weeks.
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Trapèze
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Shipping & Returns
Please refer to our shipping and return & exchange policy.
Warranty
Luminaire is an authorized retailer of Vitra. The product comes with a full manufacturer warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Vitra Trapèze Table and when?
Jean Prouvé designed the Trapèze in the early 1950s for the Cité Universitaire in Antony, France. Vitra reissues it faithfully from his original drawings, preserving the bent sheet steel leg geometry and beveled laminate top.
What makes the Trapèze Table's leg design distinctive?
The legs are formed from bent sheet steel into a trapezoidal profile, angling outward rather than dropping vertically. This reflects Prouvé's structural engineering sensibility, the form is a direct consequence of how the table carries and distributes its load.
Is the Trapèze Table suitable for use as an office desk?
Yes. Prouvé originally designed it for an institutional setting, and its proportions translate naturally to a working desk or studio table. The laminate surface is durable under daily use, and the base provides generous legroom.
What materials and finishes does the Vitra Trapèze come in?
The base is powder-coated bent sheet steel, and the top is a high-pressure laminate with a beveled edge. Vitra offers the piece in a focused range of finishes consistent with Prouvé's original palette.
How does Jean Prouvé's furniture relate to his architecture?
Prouvé trained as a metalworker and approached furniture with the same structural logic he applied to prefabricated buildings. His pieces are resolved through material behavior and load-bearing geometry rather than purely aesthetic decisions, which is why they remain convincing decades after their original design.
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