The ubiquitous coffee table is one of the most functional pieces of furniture in a home. It becomes a dinner table if there's something on TV you want to watch, plus it's a handy dumping ground for an assortment of half-read books and magazines, DVD covers, and of course, coffee cups.
In fact, there aren't many living rooms without a coffee table, with even ardent minimalists giving themselves permission to own one. Of all the coffee tables in the world, arguably the best known is the one designed by Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi.
The Noguchi coffee table (right), as it has become known, is characterised by a perfect harmony of timber and glass. The table is an organic piece of furniture that demonstrates a balance of sculptural form and durable function. It has been an understated and elegant addition to homes and offices since its introduction in 1947.
Noguchi was born in Los Angeles in 1904, and throughout his life travelled back and forth to Japan to see his father, the poet Yone Noguchi. It was in Japan that he undertook an apprenticeship with a carpenter and developed an appreciation of natural materials.
After studying medicine in New York, Noguchi turned his attention to art, concentrating on sculpture. One of his teachers told him: 'You'll never be a sculptor.' Noguchi was to prove him wrong.
Indeed, Noguchi saw a more practical use for sculpture, believing that most existing sculpture was far too removed from life and utility. He sought to redress the balance. 'Everything is sculpture,' he once said. 'Any material, any idea without hindrance born into space, I consider sculpture.'