Design Notebook: Noguchi Coffee Table

Ah…the Coffee Table by Isamu Noguchi; is there any other piece more iconic of mid-century modern furniture design than this?  Well…yes, but only a handful of others can lay claim to that.  Like the best of mid-century modern design, the Noguchi Coffee Table holds up to the test of time and looks as chic in contemporarily-decorated apartments as it does in the retro ranch houses of 50-60 years ago.

The table was designed in 1948 by Noguchi, a sculptor, who believed that, “Everything is sculpture, any material, any idea without hindrance born into space, I consider sculpture.”  You can see, how organic, sculptural and fluid the design is.  It is easily one of my favorite pieces from this design era.

Here: a smorgasbord, a smattering, a cornucopia of Isamu Noguchi’s Coffee  Table in my Design Notebook Series.  Enjoy!

image via europebynet.com

image via modernclassic.cn

image via joel_pirela (flickr)

Wow, I’ve never seen such an…interesting…chair.  It looks like it’s made of red velvet Post-It notes.

From a NY Times article on high-end decorating after you have little people (children).  Child- proofing the edges of your Noguchi Coffee Table may be necessary for some of the clumsier among us adults…

Here is a very retro, mid-century modern, decorated home.  Love the color palette and of course the Noguchi Coffee Table.

Here is an instance where the decor borders on shabby-chic, yet the table still works really well.

Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed your Design Notebook today.  If you feel the need to go out and buy (well…online anyways) a Noguchi Coffee Table, congratulations.  Go vintage, via 1stDibs.com.  or you could buy a reissue of the design, which will cost you anywhere from $1300-$1400.  For something a bit more reasonable, buy one of my replicas, available in a dark walnut or natural finish.  They’re on sale now, for only $339.

BTW, I know you guys saw that shameless self-promotion from a mile away.

Tags: coffee table, isamu noguchi, mid-modern furniture