The Story of the Noguchi Coffee Table: A Mid-Century Design Icon

Our Noguchi Coffee Table seen in Jacob's Cottage, Beara, Ireland.

The Noguchi Coffee Table is one of those rare designs that feels just as relevant today as it did when it was first created almost 80 years ago. Elegant, sculptural and instantly recognisable, it has become one of the defining pieces of Mid-Century Modern design and continues to inspire furniture lovers, designers and homeowners around the world.

Who designed the Noguchi Coffee Table?

The Noguchi Coffee Table was designed in 1947 by Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese-American artist, landscape designer and sculptor.

Unlike many furniture designers of his era, Noguchi approached the table as an artist first. Rather than creating a traditional coffee table, he wanted to design a functional sculpture - a piece that could exist as both art and furniture within the home.

His design combined two beautifully curved wooden supports with a thick freeform glass top that appeared to float effortlessly above the base. The result was unlike anything else available at the time.

Today, the Noguchi Coffee Table is considered one of the most important furniture designs of the twentieth century.

Noguchi Style Coffee Table seen in home design Griffith Avenue by Courtney McDonnell 

Why is the Noguchi Coffee Table so popular?

There is something uniquely timeless about the design.

The organic shape feels soft and natural, while the glass top allows light to pass through, helping the piece feel light and airy within a room.

Unlike many furniture trends that become dated, the Noguchi Coffee Table works effortlessly across a variety of interiors, from Mid-Century Modern homes to contemporary, minimalist and Scandinavian-inspired spaces.

Its popularity can also be attributed to its versatility. It serves as a practical coffee table while simultaneously acting as a sculptural centrepiece.

Few pieces of furniture manage to achieve both so successfully.

A true Mid-Century classic

The post-war years saw a shift towards furniture that was functional, accessible and beautifully designed.

The Noguchi Coffee Table embodied these ideals perfectly.

Its clean lines, organic forms and focus on craftsmanship made it a defining example of Mid-Century Modern design, a style that remains hugely influential today.

Nearly eight decades later, it continues to appear in architecture magazines, interior design books and some of the world's most beautiful homes.

The Noguchi Style Coffee Table seen in the home, 'How Stella Got Her House Back'

Why we love it at CA Design

At CA Design, we've always had a soft spot for pieces with a story behind them.

The Noguchi Coffee Table is one of those designs that consistently captures people's attention. Visitors often stop to admire it, ask about its history or comment on how contemporary it still feels.

It's proof that great design never really goes out of style.

While the original Noguchi Coffee Table remains an icon, we also love how its influence continues to inspire modern furniture makers today.

Our Noguchi Style Coffee table seen here with our Eames Style Lounge Chair in our showroom on the Longmile Road in Dublin.

Our Mid-Century inspired coffee table

Inspired by the timeless elegance of Noguchi's original design, our Mid-Century Coffee Table captures the same sculptural quality and organic form that made the original so beloved.

Featuring a beautifully curved wooden base and elegant glass top, it brings a sense of lightness and sophistication to both contemporary and Mid-Century inspired interiors.

Whether styled with design books, fresh flowers or simply left to speak for itself, it's a piece that naturally becomes the focal point of a room.

Explore our Mid-Century Coffee Table and discover why this iconic design continues to inspire homes nearly 80 years after it was first created.