Marbelous: A Table That's Lost Its Marbles

Playing with your food at the dinner table is a thing of the past once you've seen this Marbelous table from Ontwerpduo. No longer will you yearn to fling peas or start a mashed potato war, but instead, take a time out and and play with the table itself. Check out the video of this crazy feat of woodworking in action, after the jump!

Making a table is hard enough, but making one that has secret marble passageways is a while new level of thinking. Through the top and down the legs, the balls stay in motion until choosing one of three paths to find their final resting place. The table was built to bridge the gap between children's toys and adult furniture and has won several awards for its function and beauty. Check out more on this great piece over at ontwerpduo.

(Images: Lisa Klappe, Video: Robert Andriessen)

Comments (8)

Its so crazy it's cool

posted by bepsf on July 30th 2009 at 1:00pm
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I've got enough cleaning with marble catching/finding not being an extra chore I would look forward to doing!

posted by Doris loves art! on July 30th 2009 at 1:54pm
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Well, it beats having humungo kids' toys on the floor, and it's much better looking than a lot of activity sets. I'd be worried, though, that by the time the kiddos were able to reach the top of the table (and not put marbles in their mouths), the novelty might be lost. Also, what happens when your kid tries to hide his broccoli in the marble slots? Ew.

posted by whytephoenix on July 30th 2009 at 2:27pm
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Where was this when I was a child?! My parent's dining table had metal trough-like things underneath that I used to roll marbles down, but this is clearly superior.

posted by Kay McCurley on July 30th 2009 at 2:33pm
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So wonderful and fun!

Emily

posted by Emily Sneds on July 30th 2009 at 3:50pm
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I am with you Emily (sorry whytephoenix). I adore it. I think everyone would want to be my friend if I had this table- but I am domestically disinterested as far as cleaning is concerned...

posted by Edinburgher on July 30th 2009 at 5:06pm
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Is this design-ideas for litigation day on AT? :) Again, cool looking but everyone who slips on your marbles will sue your pants off...

posted by mvdiaz9 on July 30th 2009 at 5:20pm
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Mvdiaz and whytephoenix, good points. I hadn't thought of what kids might stuff down the chutes.
But, too - wouldn't your dinner get cold while you were preoccupied with the marbles? I'd totally forget the food if I had something to play with at the table. Perhaps I'd need a glass top during supper.

posted by eaevansmd on July 31st 2009 at 1:25pm
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