Diana Halbeisen's Table Without Tabletop

Stripped bare. Diana Halbeisen's Table Without Tabletop makes a table out of as little means possible...

A discussion about the functions of a table. What tasks does a table fulfil? It serves, for instance, as a surface on which dishes are placed; it separates the food from the floor and allows objects to be within gripping distance when seated etc. Can these activities be performed without the familiar flat surface?

It looks like the "prongs" can be folded down when the table's not in use, making the concept *possibly* *somewhat* practical for small-space dwellers. Maybe.

Comments (27)

This is the silliest thing I have ever seen, except if the idea can be adapted for, say, a car

also, the odds of dropping food on my lap, or poking myself on those prongs things are pretty high.

Hmmm, my kitchen table is pretty multi purpose. I SOOO could not set my sewing machine on that. Not to mention set up the kids' art supplies. Yeesh!

This relates directly to Rob Walker's recent "Consumed" column in NYT Mag: Timeless Object. On his Murketing blog, he also talks about the rocking bookshelf I posted last week! Both worthy reads!

But ... where do I put my elbows?

After a couple of glasses of wine, I would be certain to impale myself on the prongs. This is a table for teetotallers.

My mom always said if you've got nothing nice to say...but, I'm sorry, this is REALLY stupid.

Hack this into a laundry rack.

Useless.

The worst of being different for the sake of being different.

Great articles, aaron, particularly the final paragraph of Murketing.

Deconstructionist design is so five minutes ago, though...

totally unappealing

silly willy.

I think it's great! Not the table itself, except for a (pardon the pun) 'niche' market, but I'm glad people are spending time inventing new things, even if some of the results are preposterous. If they added sharpened spikes to the prongs, I think a lot of anti-social people like myself would consider buying it if for no other reason than to scare off dinner guests early...I'm being a bit facetious, but I'm hesitant to criticize an effort at the redefinition of a traditional object....think the effort is to be commended.

Sarah
www.howardhallfarm.com

Give me a break! The only place I can see this working would be in a museum or in a huge bathroom as a towel/toothbrush rack (even there it would be scary looking).
JetSetBaby
2ciaos

Very funny concept, interesting conversation piece but hardly practical.

Yeah. No. It's ugly too. I feel there is some danger involved here.

I like the idea of creating a conversation about everyday items like tables and chairs.

But I refuse to believe this is actually meant for people to use in their homes; if it is, it's ridiculous.

I agree with Howard Hall Farm. I don't really see this as a table that's intended for actual use, but more as something that's supposed to make you think. Is a kitchen table supposed to be meant just for keeping food off the floor? My kitchen table is used to keep all SORTS of things off the floor. What if I found homes for all those things and used it for what it was really for? It's just a concept that's supposed to get you to think. At least that's my interpretation, and I do appreciate it for that!

I'm pretty sure this is art, not an actual product. It belongs in exactly one place: a gallery. (And, IMO, it's good art.)

not very appealing...

This design is clever, functional, and ALMOST as unaffected and comforting as hiring 3 midget wrestlers to hold your plate, glass and napkin directly in front of you while you eat.

- The one with the napkin can clench a square dish between his teeth to hold your silverware.
- The one in the middle can wear a small sombrero holding your salt/pepper shakers and butter dish. (Cut a hole in the sombrero and you've got a great place for a flower arrangement!)
- And for more formal dining occasions, the two "little people" on the ends can strap candelabras on their heads!

Brilliant!

It does bring to mind how and where you actually eat - like in the car with your drink stuck into a cup holder (at best), which sometimes doesn't fit right, or with food balanced on your lap. Pretty ridiculous sometimes. Here in DC, food is illegal in the subway, but it used to be allowed in NYC (is it still?) Another eating venue.

Food is not allowed in the NYC subways, but I haven't noticed that it ever stopped anyone.

I sense a lot of soup splattered laps in someone's future.

I like it. It made me laugh and question my assumption about what a table is. Looks like its a TV dinner table.

Reminds me of a scene in a Chaplin movie, Modern Times, I think.