I remember going to a certain art exhibit a long, long time ago, where one of the pieces that made an impression on me was a sculpture made entirely of glass shards of various colors. It was positioned in such a way that whenever sunlight hit it, it would seem like it was emitting beams of all colors of the rainbow. The Brasilia table designed by Fernando and Humberto Campana reminded me of this memory that I thought I’d forgotten.

I came across this table over at Plushpod, and I totally agree with their observation that it looks more like a piece of modern sculpture than just furniture. But it’s really great that it’s actually both. The unconventional shape of the table and the pieces of glass adorning the surface do not take away from the fact that it’s a fully functional item of furniture that fulfills its intended function – and manages to look very attractive as well. The only concern I could possibly have is whether the table’s uneven surface could inadvertently cause accidents like a drink spilling because of my glass tipping over. And that isn’t a quality I’d like my local wine bar furniture to have.

The Brasilia tables are available in several sizes, ranging from 23 inches to 106 inches wide, and in various colors too. The shards of glass adorning the table top, though seemingly random, are actually a metaphor for something. Come to think of it, quite a few pieces of furniture by noted designers stand for something. In this case, those slivers of glass stand for Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil. Or more specifically, they represent the stones on which the city was built. I’m just glad the designers decided to transliterate this idea into glass and not stones!