Slice of Jupiter: A Stellar Fusion of Art and Function

Alexia Mintsouli's Award-Winning Coffee Table Design

The 'Slice of Jupiter' is a product of Mintsouli's personal bond with marble and her drive to experiment with its versatility, uniqueness, and naturalness. The design features a round, sumptuous, hand-crafted coffee table, combining the genuine black of Nero Marquina Marble from Spain and the mesmerizing green of Verde Guatemala Marble from India, divided by a Gold Metal Leaf. The table rests on a solid brushed bronze base, adding to its elegance and charm.

This design stands out for its careful selection of raw marble, which transfigures into a contemporary design piece through a semi-handmade process. The natural attributes of marble, combined with fine craftsmanship, ensure that each 'Slice of Jupiter' is like no other. In that sense, users possess a truly unique piece of furniture.

The 'Slice of Jupiter' was designed as part of the Collection "01", between September and November 2017. Production followed shortly after, and selected items, including 'Slice of Jupiter', have been exhibited at prestigious events such as Maison & Objet and IMM, as well as Good Design Greece. The design has also been published in Elle Deco (Middle East), issue 22.

Years of professional architectural experience, meshed with sound technical and aesthetical understanding of marble, were employed to address material combination, geometry, furniture, and product design. The research behind 'Slice of Jupiter' was carried out more as a part of a journey to a personal design identity. The findings were further confirmed by full-scale models, which in turn ascertained the final product specifications.

In terms of furniture design, the abundance of style variations and expressions, as well as the limitations posed by functionality and material attributes, staying true and literal to producing unique items, presents a significant challenge. Mintsouli addressed this challenge by selecting the inherently unique marble as the primal raw material. Other material and color combinations, as well as the overall handmade process, further enhance uniqueness and originality.

The 'Slice of Jupiter' was awarded Silver in A' Furniture Design Award in 2020. The award is rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.