Ins-table

This object is a careful sleight of hand work: the table purposely creates the impression of being uncomfortably unstable, to the point where its “unsupported” table top looks like it’s going to fall to the slightest touch. Its heavy wooden table top seems to be the only reason the delicate metallic supports won’t slide forward at any moment. The way the legs articulate themselves to the table top gives the impression that there is no contact whatsoever between the two surfaces other than a thin tangency line. Although it is a familiar object to the distracted eye, (table = tabletop + legs), the careful observation draws inevitable curiosity and surprise: how does it stand? Is the tabletop merely resting over the legs? Can we move it without any danger?

The technical drawings are as revealing as X-rays (or anatomy drawings) and give away the magic: the supports are solidly fixed (solded) though a rigid and concealed internal structure. This is possible because of a subtle move that makes use of the thinnest and most resistent metallic profiles and strategic cuts and setbacks of the internal frame, which are concealed because of the limited perspective caused by the object’s dimensions. The tabletop is free and loose, simply resting on the “invisible” structure, and can be easily removed and exchanged for other tabletops with different finishings. Initially thought as a 200×80 table, it looks better with bigger dimensions (120 x 250 or even 140 x 280).