Noguchi Coffee Table: the sculpture and its counterfeits
Two identical pieces of wood, a 19 mm glass top: the 1944 table is an edited sculpture. Its copies give themselves away at the glass and the base.
1 MIN · 5 OBJECTS IDENTIFIEDIsamu Noguchi considered his Coffee Table, 1944, a sculpture in its own right. Produced by Vitra in Europe and Herman Miller in the United States, it rests on an idea of perfect economy: two identical pieces of wood, inverted, pivoted — and a sheet of glass set on top.
The glass
The authorised edition uses a top 19 mm thick, with polished edges, in a precise organic shape that is neither an oval nor a generic kidney bean. The copies drop to 12 or 15 mm: the table looks thin, rings differently, scratches quickly.
The base
Solid walnut, cherry or blackened ash; the two elements are rigorously identical and articulate on a discreet pivot. The copies use veneers, approximate shapes, feet that overlap badly. Noguchi's signature is engraved on the edge of the top in recent editions, with a medallion on the base.
The prices
Expect 2,000-3,000 € new, 1,000-2,000 € vintage depending on the state of the glass — which cannot be replaced like for like at a glazier's. The copies are listed between 300 and 700 €.
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The pieces, at your budget.
Every piece mentioned, with its alternatives — from vintage to dupe.
Where to find Vitra
At the house itself, or at the retailer that stocks it.
Gallery
4 images
