The product of Swiss company Karl Andersson & Söner and Swedish-Japanese designer Dan Sunaga (born in Stockholm, raised in Japan, educated in both), the Itomaki folding coffee table unifies the storied design aesthetic of two countries and traditions in one ingenious little table.

Constructed of dozens of lengths of interlinked wood-each piece joined to the next with steel dowels-the Itomaki’s base seems quintessentially Japanese, recalling ancient engineering techniques that allowed objects made exclusively of wood (like the famed Karakuri dolls) to move on their own or to change shape with a simple human touch. The Itomaki is no different. Just a bit of pressure causes the base to widen, thus reaching the right circumference to support the glass top. As with much of the pieces by Karl Andersson, the character of the wood is owed to the Swedish tradition. Headquartered in Huskvarna (from which the reknowned chainsaw company takes its name, so you have to believe they know wood), Karl Andersson & Söner is celebrated world-wide for finely crafted wooden furniture, though the contemporary line highlights the integration of wood with other materials like steel and rigid foam.

Itomaki Folding Coffee Table. Designed by Dan Sunaga. Manufactured by Karl Andersson & Söner.

Karl Andersson offers several options for the Itomaki: it comes in four sizes (different height/circumference combinations), as well as a choice of woods (oak, birch, walnut, black or brown stained oak, white stained birch). Like much contemporary furniture these days, the Itomaki is made with an eye to an evolving lifestyle; its fold-away functionality allows you to use it as you see fit. Need extra seating but can't stomach the thought of exposing your guests to the horrendous dirt brown folding table hidden in your garage? Try the Itomaki. Need a functional yet beautiful coffee table to help complete an oddly-shaped room? The Itomaki is your answer. With its fusion of design elements from two distinct yet complementary cultures, this clever hideaway table is a truly a table height for every occasion.