A sculptor, painter, ceramicist and furniture and lighting designer, Isamu Noguchi was one of the most prolific and protean creative forces of the 20th century and a key figure in the development of organic modernism. Noguchi’s sculptures and designs — his chairs and tables as well as his timeless Akari lamp and other lighting fixtures — share a common spirit: one of lyrical abstraction, tempo and flow and harmonious balance.
Noguchi was born in Los Angeles to an American mother and Japanese father, and spent most of his childhood in Japan. He returned to the United States at age 13, went to high school in Indiana and enrolled at Columbia University to study medicine. At the same time, he took night courses in sculpture.
Within three months, Noguchi left college to pursue art full time. Noguchi was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1927 and traveled to Paris to work under Constantin Brancusi. It marked a turning point. Inspired by Brancusi, Noguchi embraced abstraction and began to sculpt in the expressive, rhythmic style that would be the hallmark of his work.
Once back in New York, Noguchi was introduced to design by what would become a lifelong collaboration creating sets for choreographer Martha Graham. His first industrial designs were in Bakelite: the sleek Measured Time kitchen timer created circa 1932, and his famed Zenith Radio Nurse intercom, from 1937.
Ten years later, Herman Miller introduced Noguchi’s now-iconic glass-topped coffee table with an articulated wooden base. His washi paper and bamboo Akari light sculptures, handmade in Japan, debuted in 1951. In the late 1950s, Noguchi designed for Knoll, creating such pieces as his dynamic Cyclone table and rocking stool.
For collectors, Noguchi’s furniture and lighting designs remain his most accessible work — they have the same power and presence that Noguchi brought to his art.
Find vintage Isamu Noguchi floor lamps, table lamps, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Freeform Sofa by Isamu Noguchi, Wood and Fabric, Vitra, Germany, 2002
By Isamu Noguchi, Vitra
Located in Roma, IT
Freeform Sofa is a design item realized by Isamu Noguchi Produced by Vitra. Wood and fabric sofa. Vitra original label and plate with reference number 0977. Good condition but wi...
Fabric, Wood
Freeform Sofa and Ottoman by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra Design Museum
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Freeform Sofa and Ottoman Designer: Isamu Noguchi Design Year: 1946 Isamu Noguchi’s Freeform Sofa and Ottoman blends sculpture and function in a fluid, organic form. Inspired by na...
Beech, Maple
$6,240Sale Price|20% Off
Freeform Sofa by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra Design Museum
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Freeform Sofa Designer: Isamu Noguchi Design Year: 1946 Isamu Noguchi’s Freeform Sofa blends sculpture and function in a fluid, organic form. Inspired by natural shapes, its asymme...
Beech, Maple
Freeform Sofa by Isamu Noguchi, Wood and Fabric, Vitra, Germany, 2002
By Isamu Noguchi, Vitra
Located in Roma, IT
Freeform Sofa is a design item realized by Isamu Noguchi Produced by Vitra. Wood and fabric sofa. Vitra original label and plate with reference number 0841 Good condition. Origin...
Fabric, Wood
Isamu Noguchi Freeform Sofa & Ottoman – Vitra, Raf Simons for Kvadrat Vidar 4
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Dronten, NL
Few designs balance art and function as seamlessly as Isamu Noguchi’s Freeform Sofa. Originally conceived in 1946 and produced in very limited numbers today by Vitra, this is not jus...
Wool, Ash
Freeform Ottoman by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra Design Museum
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Freeform Ottoman Designer: Isamu Noguchi Design Year: 1946 Isamu Noguchi’s Freeform Ottoman blends sculpture and function in a fluid, organic form. Inspired by natural shapes, its ...
Beech, Maple
$80,159 / set
H 25.6 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Camaleonda Sofa 8 modules + Ottoman by M. Bellini for C&B Italia, Italy 1970s
By C&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Roma, IT
Mario Bellini, Camaleonda Sofa Set 8 modules+ottoman, realized for C&B, first series 1970 ca. Original C&B Label. Wood, Metal and Leather Height: 65cm Width: 95cm Depth: 95 cm ...
Leather
$17,780 / set
H 26 in W 37.75 in D 37.75 in
Mario Bellini for B&B Italia Camaleonda Sofa and Ottoman - Set of 4
By Mario Bellini
Located in New York, NY
Vintage authentic Mario Bellini for B&B Italia Camaleonda sofa; a designer classic. Modular design includes three seating pieces and one ottoman. The ottoman was reconstructed to match the existing original seating modules. Includes three spherical pillows. Total reupholstery required. 3 Seat Sections, dimensions per piece: D: 37.75" H: 26" W: 37.75" Arm height: 21" Seat height: 15.75 Overall width of three seat sections together: 113" 1 Ottoman Section...
Bouclé
Corner Sofa Blond Wood and Fabric, Italy, 1950's
By Ico Parisi
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Corner sofa in blond wood and fabric,, Italy, 1950's What stands out most in this low corner bench are the recesses in the framework and the 9 straight, tapered, squared stiletto legs that are so typical for that period in Italy. As you can see the backrest is optional and was probably designed later to give it some extra comfort. Back in the days these sofas were mostly used for very practical purposes like a quick coffee or pasta. This sofa would work very well in a corner of course but strangely enough this rectangular sofa also works very well in the middle of a room for example with a round table and two chairs...
Fabric, Wood
$12,966
H 27.56 in W 66.93 in D 35.44 in
Le Bambole sofa 2 seats designed by Mario Bellini for B&b Italia 1972
By Mario Bellini
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Le Bambole 2 seats sofa designed by Mario Bellini for B&b Italia. Polyurethane padding, grained cowhide. The Bambole series won the Compasso d'Oro award in 1979, Le ...
Animal Skin
$4,125
H 27.56 in W 63 in D 31.5 in
Maralunga sofa designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, Italy1973
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Firenze, FI
Maralunga two-seat sofa for Cassina, designed by Vico Magistretti in 1973. It features enveloping shapes, curved armrests folded toward the seat, and an elegant brown corduroy uphols...
Velvet
Italian Freeform Curved Sofa in Light Blue Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, fabric, iron, brass, Italy, 1950s This eccentric sofa features an interesting composition. The seating area and the backrest are organically sha...
Brass, Iron
Edward Wormley Model 4907 sofa and Ottoman for Dunbar Mid Century
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, the Model 4907 sofa exemplifies the designer’s masterful balance of modern restraint and traditional comfort. Introduced in the mid-20th centur...
Upholstery
$4,361
H 32.68 in W 87.01 in D 39.77 in
Baisity sofa designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1980s.
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Athens, Attiki
Baisity sofa designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1980s. Original fabric with extraordinary paisley pattern and leather. Excellent condition
Leather, Fabric, Silk
$4,125
H 27.56 in W 63 in D 31.5 in
Maralunga sofa designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, Italy 1973
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Firenze, FI
Maralunga two-seat sofa for Cassina, designed by Vico Magistretti in 1973. It features enveloping shapes, curved armrests folded toward the seat, and an elegant brown corduroy uphols...
Velvet
$2,205 / item
H 33.4 in W 70.8 in D 33.6 in
"MT2" Sculptural Monobloc Sofa Designed by Ron Arad for Driade
By Driade, Ron Arad
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"MT2" is an iconic sculptural polyethylene monobloc sofa, designed by Ron Arad and manufactured by Driade, sand white colored outside and red, lilac, black or violet colored inside. ...
Plastic
Isamu Kenmochi Sofa
By Isamu Kenmochi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Isamu Kenmochi rosewood and leather sofa, for Tendo Mokko, 1967.
Leather, Rosewood
Freeform Sofa by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra
By Vitra, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 2000s. Organic shape freeform sofa with wood legs. Upholstered in Maharam fabric.
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 28.5 in W 112.5 in D 49.75 in
2010s Isamu Noguchi for Vitra Cloud Freeform Sofa and Ottoman in Fabric
By Isamu Noguchi, Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Freeform Sofa and Ottoman, originally designed by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra in 1946. This particular example was produced in the 2010s. The sofa and ottoman are comprised of ...
Beech, Maple, Fabric, Foam
Sold
H 28.25 in W 118 in D 51.25 in
Signed Vitra Isamu Noguchi Freeform Cloud Large Biomorphic Sofa & Ottoman
By Vitra, Isamu Noguchi
Located in West Hartford, CT
Isamu Noguchi's biomorphic, organic shaped "Cloud" Freeform Sofa is a direct extension of the artist's sculptural aesthetic and it effortlessly blurs distinctions between design and ...
Fabric, Textile, Wool, Wood, Maple
Isamu Noguchi Freeform Sofa and Ottoman for Vitra, 2000s
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Coronado, CA
A sublime Freeform sofa by Isamu Noguchi, produced by Vitra circa 2002. This is a very early production example: the 33rd piece produced...
Beech, Maple
Vitra Freeform Sofa + Ottoman '2007' by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Vitra
Located in CULEMBORG, GE
Designed in 1946 and completely different from other designs of the same period, the Freeform Sofa embodies the poetic quality in Isamu Noguchi’s designs. Brochures and magazines tal...
Upholstery, Walnut
Freeform Sofa and Ottoman by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Dronten, NL
The sculptural quality of Noguchi's design vocabulary finds expression in the Freeform Sofa: it is entirely different from other designs of the same per...
Wool, Walnut
Modern Sculptural Freeform Cloud Sofa and Ottoman by Isamu Noguchi
By Vitra, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Houston, TX
Sculptural freeform cloud sofa and ottoman by Isamu Noguchi for Virta. The velvet is a light pink color with walnut legs. Ottoman measurements: H 16 in. x W 45.5 in. x D 26 in.
Velvet, Walnut
Freeform Sofa by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Vitra
Located in Westport, CT
Rare freeform sculptural sofa designed by Isamu Noguchi. Newly upholstered in cotton velvet by Holly Hunt. Walnut legs fully restored.
Velvet, Walnut
Palazzetti Noguchi Cloud Sofa
By Palazzetti, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Dallas, TX
The Noguchi sofa is no longer offered by Palazzetti. This one is executued Naugahyde. About Palazetti: Palazzetti created access to the public for the ...
Upholstery, Wood
Modern Isamu Noguchi Free-Form Cloud Sofa
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Japanese-American designer Isamu Noguchi's "Cloud" sofa's curves will add a bit of whimsy to any space.
Wool, Wood
Freeform Sofa in Green Wool by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Dronten, NL
"Thanks to its organic shape and the natural colored wool fabric, Isamu Noguchi's large free-form sofa has a light and elegant feel." Vitra Design Museum Collection. The faded green ...
Wood, Wool
Freeform sofa by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Dronten, NL
"Thanks to its organic shape and the natural colored wool fabric, Isamu Noguchi's large Freeform sofa has a light and elegant feel". Vitra Design Museum...
Wood, Wool