You’ve seen it 100,000 times. The Noguchi Coffee Table is one of the best-known icons of 20th century design. It has been copied, imitated and become so ubiquitous it approaches design cliche (like the Barcelona chair).
Nevertheless, Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) is a fascinating and talented artist/furniture designer who deserves recognition beyond this single table. Like many great 20th century furniture designers, their biggest “hits” often overshadow their other accomplishments. So Caviar20’s first Friday Five is dedicated to Noguchi, both his design icons (like the Cyclone Table) and other lesser-known but highly sought after collector’s pieces like his radio and “Chess Table”. Noguchi’s work, mostly in metal, stone and occasionally wood, was realized with a very austere palette including lots of black. For more on Noguchi, we recommend visiting the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City (minutes from Manhattan) or exploring their handsome website. For today’s Friday Five we’ll introduce Noguchi with a selection of his most famous, fantastic and coveted design pieces.
1. Noguchi coffee table, designed in 1948. Manufactured by Herman Miller.
Image: Herman Miller
2. Cyclone Table, designed in 1953. Manufactured by Knoll.
Image: Knoll
3. Noguchi Radio Nurse, designed in 1937. Manufactured by Zenith.
Image: Live Auctioneers
4. Chess table, designed in 1947. Manufactured by Herman Miller.
Image: Noguchi Museum
5. Rudder Table, designed in 1945. Manufactured by Herman Miller.
Image: icollector
Dear Readers: Do not adjust your computer screens. Troy is taking over White Cabana this week and, as you can see, he’s really shaken things up around here! Enjoy. – Jordana
