The bentwood technique perfected by Michael Thonet was a source of inspiration for Marcel Breuer’s experiments with bent tubular steel. The four-piece set of nesting tables B 9 were developed based on this idea. The small tables can be used in a variety of ways – as side tables in seating groups, as practical storage surfaces or as the perfect place for a vase with fresh flowers. After using the tables, they can be easily pushed beneath one another in a space-saving way. The special feature of this range is its functional simplicity – the table set consist only of chrome-plated, bent tubular steel and rectangular panels.   

During his time at the Bauhaus, Marcel Breuer experimented with steel and tubular steel, a new and promising material for furniture. Breuer was in close contact with the aircraft manufacturer Junkers in Dessau, which accelerated the development process. His first designs included the nesting tables B 9 as well as various shelves and pieces of side furniture. The Thonet card catalogue from 1930/31 included the complete product range. Breuer originally designed the B 9 for the cafeteria of the Bauhaus building in Dessau. The small, versatile table was also used extensively in Walter Gropius’s student apartments and the Masters' Houses.

Side and nestling table
Tabletop thickness 21 mm
Tabletop size 34 x 35 cm
20 x 2 mm tubular steel frame
Total dimension 45 x 45 x 39 cm