And here I thought "rising and furling" was limited to vampires and vampire bats… along comes the Rising and Furling Table by David Fletcher of UK-based db fletcher design. The expandable, shrinkable, adjustable and portable table sent me off to the dictionary to confirm/dispel my notions about the term, where I discovered that "furling" means "to gather into a compact roll and bind securely, as a sail against a spar or a flag against its staff." The previous imagery thus jibes with the functions of the R&F Table in the sense that-like a bat or a pale-faced, robbed and fanged denizen of the damned-the piece not only furls but "unfurls" as well, coming back to its full-fledged circumference with the same flourish it retreats from it.

Rising and Furling Table. Designed by David Fletcher.

Adjustable Leaves Make a High-Table Low

The leaves in this case don't resemble the familiar inserts that extend the length of a traditional rectangular table, but are rather paired trapezoidal segments, joined together with a hinged central shaft. As demonstrated in this video, the 12 pairs easily fold together, then drop down, "hanging easily just like bats asleep." A telescoping central shaft then takes over, the entire table dropping down to your preferred height. The metamorphic qualities of the Rising and Furling Table would certainly be enough to recommend it, as it's ideal for "smaller dining areas, patios, balconies or yacht decks," but the signature beauty of db fletcher's handcrafted design certainly seals the deal.

About the Manufacturer: DB Fletcher design of 6 Beck Head, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, UK has more to recommend them than the sonorous appeal of their location's address. The company has served a select clientele for many years, satisfying every variety of bespoke request, from "small pieces to large installations and full dining suites." Favoring a look that tends toward traditional English, the firm-helmed by designer David Fletcher-will nevertheless take on any challenge, however modern or contemporary. DB Fletcher's portfolio illustrates this wonderfully diverse range of aesthetic accomplishment: a gorgeous center island in dark wood topped with a milky slab of aquamarine glass; a floor to ceiling expanse of handcrafted bookshelves; a wonderfully ornate four post bed. DB Fletcher is recognized internationally for their innovative collection of Capstan Expanding Tables.