MARIA PERGAY (B. 1930)

Known for her minimalist furniture designs in stainless steel, Pergay drew inspiration from antiquity, Japanese art and most notably from the innate nature of her materials. Her ability to transform an industrial material into an elegant, sensuous and exquisite object made her a pioneer in the field of modern design. Her experiments in shaping and manipulating stainless steel and inserting cast-bronze skulls, fossils and semiprecious stones created futuristic works that were entirely original and forward thinking.

Maria Pergay began her career designing iron and silver objects for leading luxury brands, including Hermès and Dior. She soon received commissions from them to design small silver objects, from cigarette cases to jewelry boxes. As her career grew she forged relationships with local craftsmen and in 1967 the French steelmaker Ugine-Gueugnon asked her to use its product, Uginox, the company's brand of stainless steel to cultivate interest in using the material for interior design and decoration. The invitation afforded her the opportunity to transition from making small silver items to furniture and the rest is history. Her renowned stainless steel designs led to private commissions ranging from Europe’s high society to royal families in Saudi Arabia. The works in this collection exemplify Pergay’s fascination for metal as a medium for artistic expression.