The image of Baghdad shown by the media in recent years hasn’t been pretty, especially since the wars of the late 20^th century. It shows a city in Iraq that is torn apart by war and civil unrest, and it’s easy to forget that it has a rich culture and history. Still, it was the inspiration for furniture created by Israeli designer Ezri Tarazi for something that is simply called the Baghdad table, which I saw over on Plushpod.

There’s nothing simple about this table, though. Each aluminum item among the thousands (or so it seems) that make up the surface of the table stands for something specific. Collectively, it shows an aerial map view of the city. It kind of reminds me of Google Maps. This is not a sentimental-looking table. On the contrary, it looks a bit industrial. But it’s a highly symbolic creation because it stands for many of the identities that make up the city in terms of ethnicity, religion, and cultures.

Priced at almost $40,000 each, the Baghdad tables are probably a bit too steep to be used as bistro tables in casual establishments. They are manufactured by the Italian firm Edra and are hand-made to order. It is available in two sizes: the smaller one measures 63 inches long, 78.7 inches high and 13.8 or 29 inches high while the larger one measures 39.3 inches long, 118 inches wide and 13.8 or 29 inches high.

As mentioned earlier, Tarazi used industrial aluminum components to create the table top. The contours are skillfully welded together, creating a level surface and needing no prop structure. Its visual aesthetics may be industrial, but it is still a work of art. And it’s one that can be used for its intended purpose, if you don’t mind the price tag!