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Glass has long been used in furniture design, in products such as tables, stands, and even chairs. While it may not be as common as wood or plastic, glass furniture has an iconic and classic appearance that has made it a favourite of many people around the world. The glass table is perhaps the most common item of glass furniture, with a number of examples being manufactured around the world. Glass tables come in all shapes and sizes, from small coffee tables and bedside tables right through to large functional dining tables and kitchen tables. Perhaps the most famous glass table in modern times is the Noguchi table, a piece of furniture introduced by Herman Miller back in 1947. The Noguchi table has inspired a number of other glass table designs since this time, with many designers also inspired by this table to produce alternative glass furniture products.

Glass has a long history of use around the world, with the first signs of man made glass going back to a time over 4500 years ago. In about 1500 BC, the Egyptian people made glass jars, glass beads, and other small glass products, using them for trade and ornamentation. Glass has continued to be used since this time, spreading throughout Asia and all over Europe in the centuries that followed. However, glass was always a fairly fragile product which had a mainly ornate purpose, and using it for furniture would have been unthinkable. This all changed in the late 1600s however, when the French developed plate glass that could be used for glass tables and windows. Since this time, there has been a lot of improvement in the construction of plate glass, making it stronger and much more transparent in its appearance.

In many ways, the materials that are used during a time period help to define a particular era. The use of glass in furniture items during the 20th century has helped to define modern furniture design in some fashion, with the glass table in particular offering a clear example of iconic modern design. It is possible to purchase a wide range of glass tables today, including circular tables, square tables, and rectangular tables. Glass is often mixed with solid wood and metal in modern furniture design, to create a look that is functional, beautiful, and inspiring.