Full Moon Jar in Black Lacquer by Robert kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Full moon jar Black lacquer (60 coats) Copper base Hand repousse Lacquer is a laborious and time-consuming process. After it is tapped from the trees, lacquer needs to be boil...
Copper
Tree Trunk Lamp in Red Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tree trunk design table lamp Red lacquer Copper base Hand repoussé Silk shade Limited edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These...
Copper
Jie Jarlet Lamp, Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jie Jarlet lamp Cream lacquer Hand repousse Copper base Silk shade Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Sh...
Copper
Contemporary Tear Drop Cloisonné Vase in Verde Grass Design by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The technique reached China around the 12th-13th century. In the 1980s, Robert Kuo began his repertoire with cloisonné and introduced flowing designs without compromising on the tech...
Copper, Enamel
Cream Lacquer Square Seat w/ Woodgrain Design by Robert Kuo, Set of 2
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
After the hammering of the sheet metal to form a shape or decorative relief, each layer of lacquer is applied with a curing period of 24 hours in between so that it can dry. Robert K...
Copper
Three-Tier Faceted Lamp with Stand by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three-tier faceted lamp with stand. Hand-carved bai jade peking glass. Hand repoussé copper with antique finish. Natural silk shade. Shade dimensions: 13" diameter top x 11 1/2...
Copper
Contemporary Black & Cream Lacquer Penguin w/ Head Down Sculpture by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Penguin w/ head down Black lacquer Crean lacquer Antique copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional ar...
Copper
Contemporary Block Vase w/ Pleats Design in Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Block vase w/ pleats design Black lacquer Antique copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. Th...
Copper
Contemporary Red Lacquer 4 Petal Pot by Robert Kuo, Hand Repoussé, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
4 petal pot Red lacquer Hand Repoussé Copper base Contemporary Limited edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces ...
Copper
Le Verre Table with Black Lacquer Top by Robert Kuo, Hand Repoussé, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Le Verre table with black lacquer top Antique copper Black lacquer Hand repousse Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repousse´ is ...
Copper
Le Verre Table with Cream Lacquer Top by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Le Verre table with cream lacquer top Antique copper Cream lacquer Hand repousse Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repousse´ is the traditiona...
Copper
Tall Cocoon Table Lamp, Red Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tall cocoon table lamp Red lacquer Hand repousse Copper base Silk shade Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to t...
Copper
2-Panel Black Lacquer Screen with Cream Pear by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
2-panel screen Black lacquer Cream lacquer Hand repousse Copper base Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the...
Copper
Fluted Goblet Vase in Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition Hand Repoussé
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
After the hammering of the sheet metal to form a shape or decorative relief, each layer of lacquer is applied with a curing period of 24 hours in between so that it can dry. Robert K...
Copper
Contemporary Hand Carved Cream Lacquer Cloud Design Chest on Chest by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cloud Design Chest on Chest Set Cream Lacquer Elmwood Hand Carved Lacquered Wood Copper Contemporary Limited Edition Top Chest: 24"H Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Sh...
Copper
Contemporary Silver Plated Rocco Cube Table Lamp by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rocco cube table lamp Silver plated Copper base Hand repoussé Limited edition Natural linen shade Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditiona...
Silver Plate, Copper
Contemporary 24K Gold Plated Oval Fei Tian Wen Lamp by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oval Fei Tian Wen lamp 24K gold plated Hand Repoussé Copper base Natural linen shade Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the tradi...
Gold Plate, Copper
Tall Cocoon Table Lamp, Mila Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tall cocoon table lamp Mila lacquer Hand repousse Limited edition Measures: Natural silk pongee shade (19" diameter x 12" height) Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the...
Copper
Contemporary Hand Repoussé Ji Guan Hua Vase in Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ji Guan Hua Vase Cream Lacquer Hand Repoussé Copper Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto s...
Copper
Nesting Tables w/ Pleats Design in Red Lacquer (Set of 2) by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nesting Tables with Pleats Design Red Lacquer Copper Base Hand Repoussé One of a Kind Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-ham...
Copper
Contemporary "O" Table Lamp in 24K Gold Plate by Robert Kuo, Hand Repoussé
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"O" Table Lamp 24K Gold Plated Hand Repoussé Copper Base Limited Edition Natural Silk Pongee Shade Wired with US plug Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative r...
Gold, Copper
Contemporary Ripple Bowl in Red and Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ripple bowl Red Lacquer Black Lacquer Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. This technique invol...
Copper
Gold Tang Design Pot, 24-Karat Gold Plate by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gold tang design pot 24-karat gold plate Hand repousse Copper base Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repousse´ is the traditional art of hand-...
Gold Plate, Copper
Copper Wood Grain Top with Brass Base Side Table by Rober Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood grain design copper top. Brass base. Antique copper finish. Hand repoussé. Limited Edition. Customizable. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief on...
Copper, Brass
Contemporary Camphorwood Trunk w/ Repoussé Antiqued Copper Woodgrain Design Lid
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Woodgrain Design Camphorwood Trunk Antiqued Copper Hand Repoussé Camphor Wood Hand Made Contemporary Can be used as seating Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repo...
Copper
$12,300 / item
Temple Bell Pot with Copper Band and Black Lacquer
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique copper finish on copper band Hand repousse´ Black lacquer Contemporary Limited Edition Chinese lacquer is a highly regarded art form and the earliest example dates back to ...
Copper
1980s Limited Edition Black Lacquer and Copper Table by Robert Kuo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Limited edition lacquer and repousse' table/ bench by Robert Kuo for Maguire.
Copper
Chinese artist and designer Robert Kuo is known worldwide for his modern furniture and objets d’art that merge ancient tradition and popular decorative styles such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau.
Born in Beijing, Kuo moved with his family to Taiwan in 1947. While he never received a formal art education, Kuo gained technical expertise working as an apprentice at his father’s cloisonné workshop from the age of 15.
In 1973, Kuo emigrated to the U.S. and opened his own cloisonné studio in Beverly Hills, California. There, he utilized the time-honored skills he learned with his father for a wide range of uniquely striking vases, sculptures and bowls. His Goldfish bowl — a technical masterpiece of vibrant colors and cloisonné designs that appear to float against a black enamel background — was acquired by the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for its permanent collection.
In 1984, Kuo opened a showroom in West Hollywood, where it became a favorite among interior designers for the sculptural and often whimsical coffee tables, stools and table lamps on offer. A year later, Kuo shifted his attention toward repoussé — a technique that sees decorative reliefs hammered onto the surface of metals. Examples of Kuo’s repoussé pieces include his black lacquer Cloud chair and Oval coffee table in antique copper.
In 2014, a retrospective exhibition celebrating Kuo’s 30th anniversary as a designer was held at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles and his New York studio. In 2016, he also hosted an exhibition in his New York studio titled “Robert Kuo Selects: Los Angeles Studio Made, Found and Represented Artists,” showcasing his works as well as pieces by prominent L.A. designers Blackman Cruz, Dana John and JF Chen. In 2019, Italian artist Mattia Biagi’s L.A. exhibition “Metropolitan Sets” included Kuo’s Back Rest chair and brass Facet Seat.
Today, Kuo’s works can be seen at the National History Museum in Taipei, Singapore Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco’s Hotel Palomar, the Las Vegas MGM Grand and the Four Seasons in New York.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Robert Kuo decorative objects, seating, lighting and more.