Brian Holcombe is a woodworker specializing in handmade, one-of-a-kind furniture influenced by Japanese sashimono techniques and furniture of the Chinese Ming Dynasty. All of Holcombe’s woodwork is joined together without the use of fasteners, nails or screws, and units like his credenzas and cabinets often feature shoji — traditional Japanese sliding doors or screens. His work is mid-century modern in style but thoughtfully traditional in construction as it draws on the materials and techniques once favored by the Samurai and wealthy merchants of Asia.
His studio, where he builds elegant bookcases, daybeds, benches and other pieces, is in Princeton, New Jersey. By creating his furniture by hand, Holcombe intimately understands the nature of each material he uses. While much of his work is made of wood, the use of various types, including ash, walnut and mahogany, gives a sophisticated variation to the furniture, with brass accents furthering the depth of its design. Holcombe uses mulberry paper for his sliding door pieces and offers a live edge on some products, like his dining room tables.
In addition to producing beautiful furniture, Holcombe teaches woodworking classes both in person and online, including workshops on hand tools, interlocking techniques and shoji doors. Publications such as Fine Woodworking and Handwork Magazine have featured his expert work.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Brian Holcombe seating, tables, storage case pieces and more.
$4,500 / item
Tea House Chair in Mahogany
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this chair I took cues from both Japanese sashimono and English windsor chairs, seeking a outwardly simple aesthetic which gives way to more elaborate detail upon a clos...
Mahogany
$2,200 / item
Henry the Armchair in Walnut
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Henry the armchair is an original design by Brian Holcombe. Ergonomically designed around the human proportion this chair accommodates comfortable seating. These chairs are individu...
Walnut
$2,600 / item
Henry Counter Stool in White Ash
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Henry the armchair is an original design by Brian Holcombe. Ergonomically designed around the human proportion this chair accommodates comfortable seating. These chairs are indivi...
Ash, Walnut
$2,250 / item
Henry the Armchair in Walnut with Upholstered Seat
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Henry the armchair is an original design by Brian Holcombe. Ergonomically designed around the human proportion this chair accommodates comfortable seating. These chairs are indivi...
Walnut
'Henry the Armchair' in Walnut with Leather Upholstery by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Henry the armchair is an original design by Brian Holcombe. Ergonomically designed around the human proportion this chair accommodates comfortable seating. These chairs are indivi...
Walnut
$2,200 / item
Henry the Armchair in White Ash
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Henry the armchair is an original design by Brian Holcombe. Ergonomically designed around the human proportion this chair accommodates comfortable seating. These chairs are individu...
Ash, Walnut
'Henry the Armchair' in Walnut with Leather Upholstery by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Henry the armchair is an original design by Brian Holcombe. Ergonomically designed around the human proportion this chair accommodates comfortable seating. These chairs are indivi...
Walnut
$3,450 / set
H 31.89 in W 22.64 in D 19.69 in
Ton Set of Six Armchairs in Bentwood with Red Upholstery
By TON a.s.
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ton, set of six armchairs, fabric, bentwood beech, Czech Republic, 1960s This elegant set of dining chairs, manufactured by Ton, features a wonderful bentwood frame. The round shape...
Fabric, Beech
$2,000 / item
H 33.5 in W 21 in D 24 in
Modern White Oak Dining Chair with Ebony Finish and Upholstered Seat
By The Tailored Home, Jhon Ortiz
Located in Greenwich, CT
A dining chair constructed of white oak with an ebony finish, shown in cut velvet upholstery. The upholstered seat and structured frame provide support suited for dining and hospital...
Oak
$1,620 / item
H 33.86 in W 18.9 in D 14.57 in
Moooi The Golden Chair in Black Steel Frame with Vesper, Bronze Upholstery
By Moooi, Nika Zupanc
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Under a mysterious magic spell, a retro-looking school chair is dipped in enchanted golden nectar, which washes away its austerity and crows it with a shi...
Steel
$3,743 / set
H 38.59 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Set of Four Dining Chairs in Walnut in the Style of Scarpa, Italy 1970s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Hellouw, NL
These dining chairs share great similarities with the designs of Afra and Tobia Scarpa and Mobil Girgi. This is a playful design that follows the rule of a dining chair. Meaning that...
Leather, Walnut
$2,975 / item
H 40 in W 18.5 in D 19.5 in
Reeves Swivel Bar or Counter Stool W/ Ash stained Walnut legs & Brass Finish.
Located in Westport, CT
Swivel bar stool with Ash legs stained Walnut #2 and satin brass finish accents. Seat and back shown upholstered in green leather. Available in bar height (30" seat height), counter ...
Metal
$6,784
H 26.5 in W 23 in D 20.25 in
Contemporary Occasional Chair Upholstered Seat, Walnut & Bronze Detail COM
By Baker Hesseldenz Studio
Located in Tucson, AZ
COM OR COL ONLY The meticulously handcrafted Dudley dining or occasional chair, with its woven bronze back detail and plush seat cushion will provide for hours of dinner conversati...
Bronze
$796Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 20.87 in D 21.26 in
Contemporary Chair in Solid Wood, Upholstered in Leather or Textiles with Arms
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
Dry chair collection. The Dry chair concept is to work in a mixture of distinct references resulting in a modern classic in a dance between the retro and the modern. A heavy and i...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Laminate, Hardwood
$2,900 / item
H 31.5 in W 18 in D 19.63 in
UNA Dining Chair in Black Stained Ash with Upholstered Seat by Estudio Persona
By Estudio Persona
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The UNA chair combines a curved wooden seat and legs with a leather-upholstered cylindrical back, creating a balance between comfort and simple geometry. Its design highlights the na...
Leather, Oak
From $1,207 / item
+ 6 moreH 33.08 in W 16.93 in D 19.69 in
Pelleossa Chair in Black Wood, Upholstered Seat, by Francesco Faccin
By Francesco Faccin, Miniforms
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Pellerossa chair is shown here without an armrest, in black aniline wood with nine upholstery seating fabrics to select from. The upholstery options include leather, vegetable leather or sponge fabric. The Pellerossa's chair structure is also available in beech, Canaletto walnut or oakwood, as well as with an armrests, and in stool form. If you are interested in the Pelleossa chair...
Upholstery, Wood
$1,882 / item
H 32 in W 20.75 in D 22.25 in
Ewa Dining Chair, Walnut with Natural Fiber Rush Woven Seat and Backrest
By Jake Whillans
Located in HAMILTON, ON
This updated nod to a classic adds bucolic spirit and rich texture to any dining setting. Exploring time-honored craft traditions, the Ewa dining chair...
Papercord, Rush, Rope, Wood, Oak
$7,450 / set
H 31.89 in W 22.64 in D 19.69 in
Ton Set of Twelve Armchairs in Bentwood with Red Upholstery
By TON a.s.
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ton, set of twelve armchairs, bentwood, fabric upholstery, beech, Czech Republic, 1960s This elegant set of dining chairs, manufactured by Ton, features a wonderful bentwood frame. ...
Fabric, Beech
Luc Counter Stool in Solid Wood, Brass and Upholstered Seat
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
When it comes to Luc counter stool, the playing field is the cross-section where functional design and craftsmanship of the highest quality meet art. This chair is made of solid wood...
Brass