A coffee table based on the "restraint and detailing" of a bentwood box associated with Shaker folklife has launched at Maison&Objet, which begins today in Paris.
London design studio Pinch designed the Rodan coffee table using a single material formed into a simple shape.

The table is based on boxes historically used by the Shaker religious sect to store kitchen ingredients and other small items.
"The Rodan coffee table is inspired by the restraint and detailing of the iconic Shaker box," said Pinch. "In line with the Pinch signature style, Rodan celebrates simplicity, whilst delivering on the detail."

The table has a solid wood base and tabletop. The top features a lipped edge, secured using the swallowtail technique, which gives it an overlapping, tapered join. The Shakers developed the technique to allow the wood to expand and contract. Rodan comes in three finishes ? black American walnut, white oiled oak and black-stained ash.

Shaker furniture ? which was made by a religious sect founded in England in the 18th century ? is known for its minimal appearance, with the ladder-backed chair becoming a particularly notable design.
The process of making was considered an act of prayer, and the furniture was intended as part of a simple lifestyle.

Shaker-inspired furniture seems to be undergoing something of a resurgence in popularity, with New York hosting an exhibition of 32 designs shown next to the original artefacts they reference.
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