Dining table 'Judas'

Designed by Finn Juhl for Niels Vodder

Denmark, 1948

Named for its discreet silver inlays, Finn Juhl’s so-called “Judas” table is one of the most intriguing works of Danish modern furniture. Set into the richly grained wooden top are thirty small silver discs, a quiet allusion to the thirty pieces of silver in the biblical story of Judas’ betrayal. Rather than serving as mere ornament, these inlays are positioned around the perimeter to indicate individual place settings, transforming a moral tale into a subtle guide for how the table is used.

The result is a dining table that unites narrative, symbolism and function with great restraint. The slim, rounded edge of the top and the elegantly tapered legs give the piece a light, almost floating presence, characteristic of Scandinavian design at its finest.

Finn Juhl, a central figure in mid-century Danish modernism, often explored how furniture could shape atmosphere as much as space. In the “Judas” table he achieves precisely that: an exclusive, thoughtfully detailed centrepiece that invites close observation while remaining eminently practical for everyday dining and conversation.