When the Table Solvay was created during World War II by Jean Prouvé, there was a metal shortage and so the table legs were made of wood. During the years of 1941 and 1942, Jean Prouvé's studio planned and realised various interior design products for the chemical company Solvay. Among his many designs of this time, there was also a wooden table that is a prime example of Prouvé's creations: the necessities of statics and the force path are clearly reflected in his design details. The solid oiled wood give Table Solvay a high-quality homely feel and compensate for its cool design.
Jean Prouve was born into an artistic family in Nancy, France. Prouve trained as a metalsmith before attending engineering school in Nancy, and his intimate knowledge of metal remained the foundation of his work and career.
After opening his own workshop in 1923, Prouve began producing modern metal furniture of his own design as well as collaborating with some of the best-known French designers of the day, including Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand.