The Endless Table – MVSEVM 789 – A Singular Expression of Kiesler’s Vision

Designed by visionary architect and artist Frederick Kiesler, Coffee Table 789 stands as a rare and iconic example of pre-war modernist design. Originally conceived in 1935 for the New York apartment of textile designer Alma Mergentine, this sculptural piece reflects Kiesler’s radical design philosophy—one that challenged the rigid constraints of functionalism.

A 1935 drawing confirms the original configuration: two conjoined nesting tops supported by sharply tapered conical legs. Though the exact construction date remains uncertain, the table is believed to have been realized either later that year or in early 1936. By the time Philip Johnson and John D. Rockefeller II toured the Mergentine apartment in 1936, the table was reportedly in place.

Today, only one original example of this table is known to exist, held in a private collection.

Design Philosophy – “Function Follows Vision”

Frederick Kiesler rejected the dominant Bauhaus mantra that “form follows function.” Instead, he proposed a new approach:

“Form does not follow function. Function follows vision. Vision follows reality.”

This philosophy, rooted in his concept of “endlessness” and spatial continuity, guided his work across disciplines—from experimental architecture to furniture and set design. Coffee Table 789 is a physical manifestation of this idea: a fluid, dynamic, and non-linear composition meant not just to serve, but to provoke and inspire.

Features & Materials:

• Materials: Cast aluminum base (brushed finish), lacquered by request

• Configuration: Dual nesting tabletops

• Dimensions:

  • Large table: 90 x 64 x 24.5 cm

  • Small table: 64 x 41 x 24.5 cm

While Kiesler was never commercially prolific, his impact on 20th-century design remains profound. A peer to many leading artists and thinkers of his era, Kiesler was known for:

• Designing the first functional theatre in the round (Vienna, 1924)

• Creating the Film Guild Cinema in 1929—among the earliest purpose-built cinemas

• Co-designing the Shrine of the Book (1959–1965), a sanctuary for the Dead Sea Scrolls in Jerusalem

Coffee Table 789 is more than a furnishing—it's a living artifact of Kiesler's interdisciplinary genius.

Availability: Special Order (12 to 14 weeks)