A long, low coffee table in imbuia, designed and made by EE Meyer for Binnehuis in the 1960s. The form is straightforward and confident — a generous rectangular top raised on four slender tapered legs — and it is precisely this restraint that makes it work so well in a contemporary interior. Nothing is superfluous. The imbuia does the talking.
The top presents a rich, even grain with the depth of colour that only decades of careful use and natural ageing can produce.
EE Meyer for Binnehuis
A true treasure that encapsulates the essence of South Africa's most sought-after mid-century furniture manufacturer. With a legacy rooted in timeless craftsmanship and iconic design, EE Meyer creations are highly collectible. Owning an EE Meyer piece means not only acquiring a beautiful work of art but also preserving a valuable piece of South African design history.
EE Meyer was directed by Gerhardt Meyer from 1966 — the South African master of understated mid-century elegance. His designs became synonymous with a distinctly South African interpretation of modernist furniture: sober, clean, and generous in their use of solid imbuia.
Imbuia — sometimes called African walnut — is a hardwood native to the forests of southern Brazil and historically used extensively in South African cabinetmaking. Deeply figured, warm in tone, and extraordinarily durable, it is the material that defines the EE Meyer aesthetic.
The Binnehuis furniture stores were located in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Newlands, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, owned by Dutch businessman and his wife, Mr and Mrs van Ewijck, who moved between South Africa and the Netherlands. They were most prolific during the 1960s.
EE Meyer for Binnehuis pieces are among the most collectible examples of South African mid-century design.
Imbuia is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Vintage pieces from before 1992 are legally permitted for sale.
EE Meyer for Binnehuis — Imbuia Coffee Table, c.1960s–1970s
Designer: Gerhardt Meyer
Manufacturer: EE Meyer for Binnehuis
Country: South Africa
Period: circa 1960s -1970’s
Materials: Solid imbuia and imbuia veneer
Dimensions: W 168 cm · D 61 cm · H 39 cm
Condition: Professionally restored in-house. The top presented with areas of historic veneer wear, carefully repaired and refinished to blend as sympathetically as possible. The wood has been cleaned and gently refinished, displaying a warm, even tone. Structurally sound throughout.
As with all authentic mid-century pieces, gentle signs of age remain and are considered part of their character.
Gentle signs of age consistent with authentic vintage provenance.
Photographed in natural light in our studio.
Like many well-made mid-century pieces, this one combines solid wood with a quality veneer — a considered choice of the era, used to showcase the finest grain while ensuring the piece moves and settles as the timber intends.
We photograph every piece honestly — what you see is what you'll receive. Before dispatch, each item is cleaned and finished with Osmo Polyx®-Oil so it arrives looking its best.
