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.
Spindle Back Dining Chair in White Ash by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this chair I wanted to best utilize the best and most practical aspects of the classical Windsor chair and apply them in contemporary proportion. The genius of the class...
Ash
$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
'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
$2,250 / 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
Spindle Back Dining Chair in Ebonized Oak by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this chair I wanted to best utilize the best and most practical aspects of the classical Windsor chair and apply them in contemporary proportion. The genius of the class...
Oak
$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
$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 Nika Zupanc, Moooi
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
$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
$3,821 / 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
$3,800 / set
H 37.5 in W 21 in D 22 in
Seven Robsjohn-Gibbings Style Spindle Back Walnut Dining Chairs
Located in Hanover, MA
Seven sinewy curved walnut spindle-back dining chairs; 2 arm chairs and 5 side chairs, exceptionally well made (note cross-stretchers and tightness of joints, curved swan-like arms, hex blocks and bowed spindle rails). Maker unknown but clearly in the style of Robsjohn-Gibbings. Solid quality Mid-Century Modern dining chairs that feel good to the touch. Measure: Arm height 26.5 Sold only as a set of seven. We recovered two chairs in an ivory moire...
Walnut
Modern Upholstered Dining Chair with Cubed Seat on Casters
By The Tailored Home, Jhon Ortiz
Located in Greenwich, CT
This modern dining chair features a clean, tailored silhouette with a distinctive cubed seat and gently curved back. Shown upholstered in an ecru linen fabri...
Linen
$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
$2,900 / 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
$2,654 / item
H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 22.45 in
Modern Dining Chair Gropius CS2 by Noom, Ash Wood Legs, Fluffy, Faux Fur, White
By Kateryna Sokolova, NOOM
Located in Paris, FR
New Noom furniture collection is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus School in Germany. Ideas of functionalism and conciseness, the combination of craft...
Fur, Fabric, Wool, Faux Fur, Ash
From $1,610 / item
+ 2 moreH 29.25 in W 22.25 in D 21.38 in
Spindle Chair in Solid, Carved White Ash and Steel Designed by Craig Bassam
By BassamFellows
Located in Ridgefield, CT
Since its release, the Spindle Chair’s distinctive Silhouette has appeared in a vast array of celebrated commercial and residential interiors. The phenomenally successful piece was inspired by a visit to Louis Kahn’s Exeter Library. Designer Craig Bassam’s imagination was ignited when he noticed the traditional utilitarian chair juxtaposed against the powerful geometry of Kahn’s building. Seduced by its elemental simplicity, Bassam realized an updated spindle back chair would fit perfectly within the BassamFellows ‘Craftsman Modern’ aesthetic. The BassamFellows Spindle Chair offers a new take on the classic piece, a descendent of the classic English Windsor Chair. One first notices its weightless quality, which Bassam achieved by using metal for the chair’s legs and spindles, giving the illusion of two floating surfaces. This contemporary reboot makes the spindles less prominent, evoking a less rustic, 21st century setting for the chair. A counterpoint to the metal spindles is the chair’s timber elements, including an ultra-comfortable ergonomic seat carved from solid wood. Given its updated minimal Silhouette, ultra-light materiality and concern for comfort, it’s the kind of chair you can envision in many contexts. The Spindle Collection includes counter and barstool...
Steel
$2,193Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 30.71 in W 24.22 in D 24.02 in
Walnut Wood Essex Armchair with Brown Velvet Upholstery, Modern Design
Located in New York, NY
The Essex Armchair is defined by its balance of warmth, precision, and understated luxury. Crafted from solid walnut and upholstered in refined velvet, it is designed to deliver bot...
Suede, Wood, Walnut
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
$1,550 / item
H 34 in W 21 in D 20 in
SHAKER Armchair by AMBROZIA, Cowhide & Leather, Black Steel & Walnut
By AMBROZIA
Located in Drummondville, Quebec
The Shaker modern armchair is handmade to order from our unique Ambrozia black textured steel frame. Very comfy and appreciated from our clients. They ...
Steel