Atra Agave

The work of architecture and design studio ATRA seamlessly blends the minimalist appeal of Scandinavian modernism with bold Mexican brutalism. Forever seeking to innovate, ATRA founder and creative director Alexander Díaz Andersson continues to embrace woodworking traditions while also working with marble, brass, travertine and more in the design of the studio’s side tables, desks, chairs and other furnishings.

Díaz Andersson was born and raised in Sweden. His Mexican mother and Swedish paternal grandparents worked in the furniture industry. He was naturally drawn to furniture design and architecture and was inspired by the Bauhaus, the clean lines attributed to the work of Finnish furniture designer Alvar Aalto, Italian architect-designer Carlo Scarpa’s building projects and the abstract creations of American sculptor Richard Serra. 

After studying design at the European Institute of Design in Spain, Díaz Andersson moved to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula — where he became fascinated with the local history of woodworking. Impressed with the workmanship and drawn to Mexican furniture, he began to envision a way to marry their traditional construction techniques with modern furniture production technology. 

Díaz Andersson opened ATRA in 2009 in Mexico City. The company’s first architectural commission was to design the Hejal —  the holy Torah scrolls’ storage cabinet/altar — for the Birkat Itzjak Synagogue in Mexico City. The design was critically acclaimed and was the company’s watershed project, which launched their success as a prominent player in the design space.

ATRA’s Flow chair won a Gold A’Design Award in 2019. The studio has been featured in several design and architecture magazines, including Wallpaper, Architectural Digest and Surface.

On 1stDibs, find ATRA seating, tables, garden elements and more.

No matter your furniture style of choice, a shared meal is one of life’s true rewards. Why not treat your family and friends to a luxurious dining experience? Browse our top picks to find the perfect antique, new or vintage dining room table for this important occasion.

Modern furniture design borrows significantly from the trends of yore, and this is especially apparent in dining tables. Ancient Egyptians made practical use of the earliest four-legged tables of wood and rock — their models bear striking similarity to the dining tables of today — while common large medieval dining room tables in England were made of oak or elm. Romans and Greeks, renowned for big banquets that involved entertainment as well as good food, used early dining room tables made of marble or wood and metals such as bronze for meals. 

On 1stDibs, find a range of dining room tables that offers no shortage of options to accommodate modest interiors, midsize family homes and even lavish banquets (entertainment not included).

Beginning in the mid-19th century, more American homes featured dining rooms, where families could gather specifically for a meal together. In the States, upper-class families were the first to enjoy dining room tables, which were the centerpiece of the dining room. 

Dining room tables of the Victorian era were created in a range of revivalist styles inspired by neoclassical, Renaissance, Gothic and other traditions. Furnishings of the period were made of various woods, including oak, rosewood and mahogany, and referenced a variety of decorative arts and architectural motifs. Some dining room tables finished in the Rococo style feature gorgeous inlaid marble tabletops or other ornamental flourishes handcrafted by Parisian furniture makers of the 18th century.

In many modern spaces, there often isn’t a dining room separate from the kitchen — instead, they frequently share real estate in a single area. Mid-century modern dining room tables, specifically those created by designers such as Osvaldo Borsani, Edward Wormley and Alvar Aalto, are typically clean and uncomplicated designs for a dining area that’s adjacent to where the cooking is done. Furniture of this era hasn’t lost its allure for those who opt for a casual and contemporary aesthetic.

If you’re of the modern mindset that making and sharing meals should be one in the same — and perhaps large antique dining tables don’t mesh well with your style — consider a popular alternative. Working with a tighter space may mean that a round or oval dining room table, a design that references the festive meals of the medieval era, may be a better fit. Round dining room tables, particularly those that originated in the Art Deco period, still endure as a popular contemporary substitute for traditional rectangular dining tables. Giovanni Offredi’s Paracarro table for Saporiti Italia is a striking round table option that showcases the magnificent Italian industrial design of the 1970s.

Find a collection of antique, new and vintage dining tables on 1stDibs.