A Bauhaus classic, the Nesting Tables by Josef Albers, a designer represented in MoMA's collection, are considered groundbreaking for their incorporation of pure and vibrant colors in furniture design. As a result of his background as a carpenter and contractor, Albers prized great craftsmanship, and he designed these functional and elegant tables with meticulous and rich simplicity. Josef Albers approached the nesting tables as a system: four elements with one clear logic, capable of multiple arrangements without losing order.
Used individually, each table becomes a precise side surface. Combined, the set reads like a structured composition: geometry first, then color. Josef Albers's "Nesting Tables" is a set of 4 stepped nesting side tables based on an original design from 1926-27.
Josef Albers Nesting Tables - Bauhaus Movement – Original Design Icons
Albers designed the original set while teaching at the Bauhaus and always intended them as utilitarian, domestic objects. His incorporation of brightly colored glass tops is due to his consistent interest in color theory which he investigated throughout his career in a variety of. Josef Albers (1888-1976) designed this set of four solid oak and colored glass nesting tables in 1926/27.
The original set was created for the Moellenhoff family's apartment in Berlin during the years of Bauhaus when Albers, among other things, was the artistic director of the furniture workshop. Check out the Josef Albers's Nesting Tables in Coffee & Side Tables, Furniture from MoMA Store for 2100.00. Nesting Tables combines the distinct geometric shapes and colors from Josef Albers' artistic palette, which includes paintings, graphics, glass works, decorations in various techniques.
Josef Albers Nesting Tables - Bauhaus Movement – Original Design Icons
A great example of this is found in a set of nesting tables designed by Josef Albers in 1926. Each table featured a different-colored glass top, black aprons, and oak legs. In revisiting these tables nearly 100 years later, I wanted to challenge myself to execute Albers' clean and precise geometry, while swapping in a few different techniques.
As well as teaching, Albers designed furniture, cutlery and crockery, including for example the occasional tables now known as Nesting Tables (1926/27). Shop our albers nesting tables selection from top sellers and makers around the world. Global shipping available.
Albers Nesting Tables – MoMA Design Store
The Nesting Tables powerfully combine clear geometric shapes with colours from Josef Albers' painterly oeuvre.
