Liquid Table
A sculptural dining table in high-gloss black steel, no wood. The legs flow out of the top like poured metal and taper to fine points at the floor. Eight feet of high-gloss sculpture, built to order in our Chicago workshop.
Built in Chicago
Lifetime warranty
Final approval before delivery
Nationwide white-glove installation
The Piece
The Liquid Table is the piece where we set the wood aside. There is no walnut here, no oak, no slab. Liquid is entirely steel, worked into a form that looks less built than poured: a table caught in the moment metal became liquid and started to move.
The Form
The top is thin and flat, its corners softened, and from each one a leg flows out and down. There is no seam to catch the eye. The legs are worked into the top and the transitions ground and shaped by hand until nothing remains but the curve, so the table reads as one gesture, one surface stretched and pulled into four supports. It has joints, as any steel piece of this size must; the finished object simply does not reveal them.
The Steel
Liquid is made entirely of steel, finished in a deep, high-gloss black that turns the whole surface into a mirror. The gloss is what makes the form read: light runs along the curve of each leg, pooling where the metal is broad and sharpening where it narrows, so the table catches and bends the room around it. Where our wood pieces absorb light and warm a space, Liquid reflects it. It is the most sculptural thing we build, and at eight feet it holds a room the way a piece of art does.
The Engineering
A form this slender is a structural problem before it is a beautiful one. The legs taper to points that look too fine to carry a dining table, and making that work, keeping the table rigid and stable while the steel narrows to almost nothing, is the real craft of the piece. Each point carries a discreet floor protector built into the foot, so the table can be planted anywhere without marking the floor. The drama is in how little there appears to be holding it up.
The Construction
Liquid is fabricated in house from steel in sections, cut, welded together, and then ground, filled, and shaped by hand until the separate parts read as a single continuous surface. The craft is in erasing the evidence of the build, working the seams until they disappear beneath the final coat. Across the eight foot span the structure is engineered to keep the visible top thin while holding the table rigid.
The Finish
Every Liquid Table is built to order in our Chicago workshop. The high-gloss black shown is a 2K polyurethane, sprayed over the steel by a specialist finisher for a hard, deep, reflective surface, the same durable coating we use on our wood tables. The same finish is available in a range of colors and metallics beyond black, including high-gloss gold and silver, so Liquid can be built to sit quietly or to command the room. Whatever the color, its glossy, reflective surface rewards a little care: placemats, trivets, and a soft cloth keep it looking its best.
Meet the designer and builder
Jerry Rodman
Jerry Rodman founded Statement Chicago and designs every piece we make. He left a corporate career to build furniture, and for years he built each commission himself. Today Jerry and his team of four build every piece by hand in our Chicago workshop, and he leads each project from the first conversation to the day it is delivered.
More about Jerry
Jerry started the business eleven years ago in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, first as Bucktown Built and now as Statement Chicago. The shop is known for large dining tables and complex custom furniture.
Every commission begins with how you live and the room the piece will live in. Jerry presents three design options, refines the one you choose, and stays involved through delivery.
WGN featured his Ancient Kauri Dining Table, a ten foot table made from New Zealand kauri that was growing about two thousand years ago.
Built Around You
Every Liquid Table is built to order. The piece shown is one interpretation. The size and finish can be adjusted to your room, while the flowing, poured form stays the same.
The Form
The sculptural flowing form shown is the essence of the piece, the legs worked seamlessly into the top and tapered to points. It is built as shown, sized to the room.
Size
The piece shown is eight feet long by forty inches wide, seating eight. Custom lengths and widths are available, engineered so the tapering legs stay stable at any scale.
Finish
High-gloss black as shown, a 2K polyurethane sprayed over the steel. Also available in a range of colors and metallics, including high-gloss gold and silver, among others.
Available In
Client Experience
“I can’t say enough about the quality, craftsmanship, and creativity that he puts behind all his pieces. They are in a class of their own.”
Custom furniture client, Chicago
Before you order
What is the Liquid Table made from?
Steel, entirely. There is no wood in the Liquid Table. The top and legs are fabricated and finished to read as one continuous steel form, with the welds and transitions concealed beneath the final surface. It is the sculptural, metal counterpoint to the wood pieces in our collection.
How much does the Liquid Table cost?
The Liquid Table starts at $14,700. Final pricing depends on the overall dimensions, the steel fabrication, the surface preparation, and the finish selected. The seamless appearance takes extensive welding, grinding, shaping, and coating, so every table is quoted around its final scale and finish.
What are the dimensions and how many does it seat?
The table shown is eight feet long, forty inches wide, and thirty inches tall, seating eight. Custom sizes are available, engineered so the form stays stable at any scale.
How much does the Liquid Table weigh?
The eight foot table weighs roughly 400 pounds. It is a solid, substantial piece, which is part of why it feels planted in a room, and it is delivered and set in place by white glove partners who handle furniture of this weight.
Can the Liquid Table be used for everyday dining?
Yes. The finish is a 2K polyurethane, the same hard, durable coating we spray on our wood tables, so it stands up to daily use. Because the surface is glossy and reflective, placemats, trivets, and a soft cloth are recommended to keep it looking its best and protect the shine.
Are the legs really that thin, and is it stable?
Yes. The legs taper to fine points where they meet the floor, and keeping the table rigid and stable as the steel narrows is the central engineering of the piece. At roughly 400 pounds it sits firmly planted, and the drama is in how little appears to be holding it up.
Will the pointed legs damage the floor?
No. Each foot has a floor protector built into the point, so the table rests on the floor without marking or scratching it.
What finishes are available?
The signature finish is a high-gloss black 2K polyurethane, sprayed over the steel for a hard, deep, reflective surface, as shown. The same finish is available in a range of colors and metallics beyond black, including high-gloss gold and silver, so Liquid can be built to sit quietly in a room or to command it.
How do I care for a high-gloss steel table?
The 2K polyurethane finish is hard and durable, but the gloss is best kept with a soft, dry or lightly damp cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners and scouring pads, which can dull the shine. Because the surface is reflective, it shows dust and fingerprints more readily than a matte finish, and a quick wipe keeps it looking its best.
Can the Liquid Table be built in a custom size?
Yes. Length and width are built to your room, and the tapering leg form is re-engineered so the table stays stable at whatever scale it is built.
How long does it take to build?
Lead time is 10 to 12 weeks from the time your commission is confirmed and deposit is received. This includes fabrication, finishing, and quality review before the piece leaves our Chicago workshop.
Who builds the Liquid Table?
Liquid is fabricated in house by Jerry Rodman, a maker who has been in business for 11 years, and his team in our workshop on Chicago's north side. The steel is cut, welded, and shaped in the shop, and the high-gloss 2K polyurethane is sprayed by a specialist finisher we work with. When you commission a piece, you work directly with the people who build it, from the first conversation to the day it arrives in your home.
Delivery
Every piece is built to order in our Chicago workshop, and delivery is coordinated directly with you once it is finished. We build and ship nationwide. Our white glove delivery partners review the access path, handle any assembly and set the piece in place in your home.
Care
Care depends on the finish. A 2K polyurethane finish needs little more than a soft, damp cloth; avoid harsh chemical cleaners. A hand rubbed oil finish benefits from a light coat of Odie's Universal Oil once a year, or whenever the surface looks dry. With either finish, use trivets under hot dishes, wipe up standing water and keep the piece out of prolonged direct sunlight.
Lifetime warranty
Every piece is covered against manufacturing defects for the life of the piece. We stand behind what we build.
Order yours
Tell us about your room.
Share the size you need, the wood you love, and how you will use the piece. We will size and quote it for your space and guide every step from there.