Above: The ‘Boomerang Desk’ designed by artist and designer Maurice Calka and produced by Leleu Deshays Leleu Deshays of France in 1969. Photo: Phillips
There are many notable works by sculptor and designer Maurice Calka. Born in Poland and raised in Lille in northern France he began studying art at the age of 16 and by his early 20’s passed the Paris Fine Arts School’s competitive examination. As Calka’s work was gaining recognition his career was halted during the Second World War when he fought under General Charles de Gaulle as part of the French Resistance against the Nazis.
The 'Boomerang Desk' designed by Maurice Calka and produced by Leleu Deshays in 1969. Click on image for full size and caption.
After the war Calka returned to art and was awarded several sculpture commissions but by the 1960’s his interest turned to design and new materials like plastic and fiberglass. Of his designs from this period none are more recognizable than his ‘Boomerang’ desk. Produced in 1969 by French studio Leleu Deshays, and offered in a few different variations and colors, the desk was a smooth – almost edge-free – and evocative form. And while popular with many international luminaries, not many of Calka’s desks were made and of the models that were available the ‘PDG’ – with an attached seat – is the rarest. One such model of the PDG sold at Christies in 2008 for $480,000.
Plaster models of the Boomerang Desk. Click on image for full size.
With a sculptor’s approach a plaster model created by Maurice Calka of his ‘Boomerang Desk’. Photo: Courtesy of Serge Calka / www.ateliercalka.net
The soft, evocative form is well shown in this plaster model created by Maurice Calka of his ‘Boomerang Desk’. Photo: Courtesy of Serge Calka / www.ateliercalka.net
The 'Boomerang Desk' designed by Maurice Calka and produced by Leleu Deshays of France in 1969. Click on the image for full view and caption.
For collectors of the ‘Space Age’ and Pop style the a Maurice Calka desk is a bit of a Holy Grail item but with dealer and auction prices starting around $50,000 it not within reach of most mortals.
Chairs with foot stool designed by Maurice Calka and produced by Leleu Deshays of France in the late 1960’s. Photo: Phillips
The Boomerang Desk – when the world went pop! Photo: Maurizio Cattelan / Pieropaolo Ferrari
Sculpture, Designer, and Urbanist Maurice Calka (1921 – 1999)
Click here to see the ‘Cool Stuff’ archive!
Click Here to see more great Spage Age / Pop design!
Check out these great books!
