Essay is a dining table series in solid wood designed by Danish designer Cecilie Manz for Fritz Hansen. The design is structured around three elements — a tabletop and two bases — each crafted in a simple, natural form that prioritises material honesty and precise proportion over decorative elaboration. Manz's approach reflects her broader design philosophy: an interest in objects that achieve their effect through the quality of their making and the clarity of their concept rather than through visual complexity.

The CM27 comfortably accommodates eight chairs and is available in an extendable version that expands the table's capacity for larger gatherings — a practical consideration that is integrated into the design without compromising its clean profile. The solid wood construction gives the Essay a material warmth and tactile quality that distinguishes it from tables of equivalent scale in veneer or laminate finishes.

The Essay is well suited to residential dining rooms and open living spaces where a solid wood dining table of genuine craft quality is the priority. Its considered proportions and restrained detailing make it adaptable to a range of interior directions, from paired-back Scandinavian schemes to warmer, more eclectic residential settings.

Available as a 2D DWG drawing, 3D model, Revit file and ArchiCAD file.