Carrots. That’s the first word that came to my mind when I saw the Oskar Table by Isao Hosoe. Not very sophisticated of me, I know, especially after reading up on it a bit more. But I can’t help it, the legs just look like carrots to me. Not that I don’t think it’s an attractive table, because I do.

It was designed by Hosoe in 1991 and is manufactured by Cassina. The materials used are metal, polyurethane, leather, nylon, and glass. The legs are made of metal and polyurethane and upholstered in leather, while the supports attaching the legs to the table are of black painted molten metal. The crystal table top comes in several sizes and shapes: rectangular, square, round, and scalene triangle shape.

In a commercial setting, the Oskar Table can be used just about anywhere given its modern look (notwithstanding the legs’ resemblance to carrots). Maybe pair it with reception seating furniture in a restaurant or hotel? There are many possibilities.

According to Hosoe’s web site, the table is a result of a dialectic relationship between geometric and biological shapes. (Ah, so maybe the biological part is where the carrots come from.) It is named after Oskar Schlemmer, a German artist and designer associated prominently with the Bauhaus style of modern architecture and design – which focused on the rational and functional rather than the fanciful. I still think this table has a bit of the fanciful in it, not that that’s a bad thing.

Hosoe was born in Japan, where he also acquired his educational background in science and aerospace engineering. He has been living in Italy since 1967, where he has won numerous awards for his product designs, many of which look as interesting or intriguing as his Oskar Table.