Decorating
Iconic Designs: Isamu Noguchi’s Coffee Table
Designer, architect, artist and sculptor Isamu Noguchi brought sculptural form to his furniture design, especially his elegant coffee table
Isamu Noguchi, an influential Japanese American designer, architect and sculptor, was born in Los Angeles in 1904 and led a life of artistic exploration and experimentation. He designed the Noguchi coffee table in the 1940s, and it was introduced in 1947 by Herman Miller. It is an important piece of modernist furniture, and is regarded as a design classic. Noguchi himself said ‘everything is sculpture. Any material, any idea without hindrance born into space, I consider sculpture,’ and his table proves that furniture certainly can be.
His travels
Noguchi found work through commissions and through attending avant-garde shows. In 1926, he was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship, which permitted him to spend a year in Paris learning to work with stone and wood, and then travel through Asia for a year. In fact, he stayed in Paris for two years, working under talented stone sculptors, before travelling to India.
In 1929 he returned to New York, where he was able to exhibit his sculptures and earn significant money through collaborations and commissions. He left in 1930 again to travel across China and Japan, and lived in London for a period.
Noguchi found work through commissions and through attending avant-garde shows. In 1926, he was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship, which permitted him to spend a year in Paris learning to work with stone and wood, and then travel through Asia for a year. In fact, he stayed in Paris for two years, working under talented stone sculptors, before travelling to India.
In 1929 he returned to New York, where he was able to exhibit his sculptures and earn significant money through collaborations and commissions. He left in 1930 again to travel across China and Japan, and lived in London for a period.
His return to New York
In 1937, Noguchi again returned to New York, where he began work in a studio in Greenwich Village. He produced numerous pieces of art, sculpture and public works and cemented his reputation on the New York art scene.
In 1939 Noguchi designed a rosewood and glass table for the president of the Museum of Modern Art, and the Noguchi table evolved from that design.
In 1937, Noguchi again returned to New York, where he began work in a studio in Greenwich Village. He produced numerous pieces of art, sculpture and public works and cemented his reputation on the New York art scene.
In 1939 Noguchi designed a rosewood and glass table for the president of the Museum of Modern Art, and the Noguchi table evolved from that design.
Teaming up with Herman Miller
Furniture manufacturing company Herman Miller was impressed by the rosewood and glass table, so recruited Noguchi to design a similar, smaller table. The company introduced the Noguchi coffee table in 1947.
Furniture manufacturing company Herman Miller was impressed by the rosewood and glass table, so recruited Noguchi to design a similar, smaller table. The company introduced the Noguchi coffee table in 1947.
Production of the table
After being introduced by Herman Miller in 1947, production was pulled in 1973, which raised the profile of the table to collectable status. Herman Miller reintroduced a limited edition in 1980, before reissuing it in 1984, and it has been in production ever since.
Check out the story behind the Arco lamp
After being introduced by Herman Miller in 1947, production was pulled in 1973, which raised the profile of the table to collectable status. Herman Miller reintroduced a limited edition in 1980, before reissuing it in 1984, and it has been in production ever since.
Check out the story behind the Arco lamp
The earlier versions
The very first tables were produced in birch, walnut and cherry by Herman Miller. The earlier tables are rare and can be very valuable. It is now manufactured by Herman Miller in natural cherry, walnut, black and white ash bases, and by Vitra in maple, walnut and black ash.
The very first tables were produced in birch, walnut and cherry by Herman Miller. The earlier tables are rare and can be very valuable. It is now manufactured by Herman Miller in natural cherry, walnut, black and white ash bases, and by Vitra in maple, walnut and black ash.
Furniture as sculpture
The Noguchi table rests somewhere between the worlds of sculpture and furniture design. It is made up of two curved pieces of wood topped by a plate of heavy glass. It uses biomorphism – a 20th century art movement that aims to replicate natural patterns in design – in its organic curves and freeform shape.
See how to choose the perfect coffee table
The Noguchi table rests somewhere between the worlds of sculpture and furniture design. It is made up of two curved pieces of wood topped by a plate of heavy glass. It uses biomorphism – a 20th century art movement that aims to replicate natural patterns in design – in its organic curves and freeform shape.
See how to choose the perfect coffee table
The table is sturdy and highly practical, but remains an interesting and delicate piece of furniture. Its organic form is beautiful and understated, making it an elegant addition to any room.
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TELL US…
Do you like the Noguchi coffee table? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Despite being born in the US, Noguchi lived in Japan until the age of 13 before moving to Indiana. Following encouragement and financial aid from Dr Edward Rumely (something of a benefactor), he enrolled in pre-medicine at Columbia University in New York in 1922, but took night classes at the Leonardo da Vinci Art School. There he deeply impressed the head of the school, who allowed Noguchi to put on his first exhibition in plaster and terracotta just three months after starting classes. Shortly after, Noguchi dropped out of Columbia to pursue a career in the arts.