In Greek mythology Atlas, along with other Titans, was defeated in a war against the Olympian gods. As punishment he was sentenced to carry the heavens (NOT the earth, as the popular misconception goes) on his shoulders for all time, to prevent the sky and the ground from coming into contact with each other. While the Atlas coffee table may not be suitable for carrying such a burden, at least it can bear the weight of the food and drinks ordered by guests who come to your café or restaurant.

Designed by Nencini & Brothers, the Atlas coffee table has a steel base that is varnished in anthracite, silver, white or black. The table top is made of clear glass. As you can see from the picture, it is set extremely low – close to the floor. The perfect height for a coffee table to be paired with sofas or other commercial café furniture on which your guests can lean back or lounge as they sip their mocha lattes or espressos.

I like the design of the steel base; even though it goes without saying that its purpose is to support the table top, its configuration and the way it curves seem to emphasize that it indeed is bearing a bit of weight, calling to mind the Atlas legend. The whole thing is pleasing to the eye. Not only that, it looks more than sturdy enough to be situated in a commercial setting such as a restaurant, café, or bar.

The Atlas Coffee Table is available in several sizes. You can also choose from square, rectangular, round or oval table tops. For more images and technical information about this café furniture item, visit the web site of Cattelan Italia.