Louis van Teeffelen Reversible Coffee Table with Mosaic-Print Laminate Top and Teak Cane Shelf, Netherlands 1960s
A striking mid-century coffee table, Model No. 9 by Louis van Teeffelen, featuring a clever reversible tabletop: one side finished in solid teak with a book-matched grain and a small mosaic-effect laminate inlay in the corner, the other side fully covered in a mosaic-patterned laminate in shades of teal, green and terracotta red, printed to imitate a hand-laid tile surface. This dual-sided design lets the owner switch between a warm, minimal teak look and a bold, graphic mosaic-print surface depending on mood or interior.
The table stands on tapered teak legs with turned wooden knobs marking the reversible top's mounting points, and the lower shelf is woven in a plaited cane (pitriet) pattern, typical of Dutch design from this era. Model No. 9 is one of several reversible-top designs van Teeffelen produced during the 1960s, a device that offered practicality and versatility without the cost or weight of true tile or stone.
A characterful piece with genuine vintage patina, well suited as a functional coffee table that also doubles as a visual centerpiece.
Information
A rare mid-century coffee table, Model No. 9 by Dutch designer Louis van Teeffelen, dating from the 1960s. This piece is best known for its reversible tabletop: one side in solid teak with a book-matched grain and a small mosaic-effect laminate inlay in the corner, the other side fully finished in a mosaic-patterned laminate in teal, green and terracotta red tones, printed to imitate a hand-laid tile surface. The two-sided design allows the table to be flipped depending on interior style or mood, from a warm, minimalist teak look to a bold, graphic mosaic-print surface.
The frame is crafted in solid teak, with elegant tapered legs and turned wooden knobs marking the reversible top's mounting points, allowing it to be lifted and turned by hand. Beneath the tabletop sits a woven cane (pitriet) shelf in a plaited pattern, a detail commonly found in Dutch and Scandinavian-influenced furniture design of the period, adding both visual lightness and practical storage space for magazines, books or decorative objects.
With a length of 120 cm, this table comfortably seats in front of a three-seater sofa, while its moderate depth of 48 cm keeps it well-proportioned for smaller living rooms as well as larger interiors. At 44 cm in height, it sits at a standard coffee table level, ideal for everyday use alongside most seating heights.
Louis van Teeffelen is recognized for his innovative use of mixed materials during the 1950s and 60s, and reversible or convertible tabletops such as this Model No. 9 remain a sought-after feature among collectors of Dutch mid-century design. The dual-material construction was originally intended to offer versatility and practicality without the cost or weight of true tile or stone, while giving each table a distinctive graphic presence.
This example shows honest vintage wear consistent with age and use — a small crack is visible in the teak frame beneath the tabletop, in keeping with the natural movement of solid wood over six decades, and does not affect the table's structural stability. The cane shelf, teak frame and laminate top all present in good original condition overall.
A characterful piece with genuine vintage patina, well suited as a functional coffee table that also doubles as a visual centerpiece in any mid-century or eclectic interior.
Details:
- Designer: Louis van Teeffelen
- Model: No. 9
- Origin: The Netherlands
- Period: 1960s, Mid-century modern
- Materials: Teak, mosaic-print laminate, cane (pitriet)
- Feature: Reversible tabletop (teak / mosaic-print laminate)
- Dimensions: L 120 cm x D 48 cm x H 44 cm (L 47.2 in x D 18.9 in x H 17.3 in)