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.
Walnut Media Console Room Divider with Sliding Shoji Doors
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Walnut cabinet made by hand and featuring sliding shoji doors and shelves. This cabinet is constructed utilizing time honored joinery techniques featured in...
Walnut
$8,750 / item
Walnut Credenza with Sliding Shoji Doors
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Walnut credenza made by hand and featuring sliding shoji doors and a shelf. This cabinet is constructed utilizing time honored joinery techniques featured in Japanese temple carpentr...
Walnut
$25,000 / item
Butler's Desk or Walnut Secretary
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
A contemporary take on the butler's desk. A butler's desk is a cabinet that converts into a desk, concealing its function. A desk, standing on its own looks out of place without an accompanying chair and lamp, but a cabinet that functions as a desk looks fine all by itself. This is entirely handmade, down to the desk hardware...
Brass
$12,500 / item
Walnut Media Cabinet with Shoji Doors
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Walnut cabinet made by hand and featuring shoji doors and shelves. This cabinet is constructed utilizing time honored joinery techniques featured in Japanes...
Walnut
$18,000 / item
Walnut Bookcase with Shoji
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Handmade bookcase in oiled walnut featuring abstract pattern shoji. This bookcase is made of solid, quarter sawn walnut and constructed utilizing timber joinery methods to allow long...
Walnut
$8,750 / item
Walnut Credenza with Sliding Shoji Doors
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Walnut credenza made by hand and featuring sliding shoji doors and a shelf. This cabinet is constructed utilizing time honored joinery techniques featured i...
Walnut
$12,500 / item
Walnut Media Cabinet Room Divider with Shoji Doors
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Walnut cabinet made by hand and featuring shoji doors and shelves. This cabinet is constructed utilizing time honored joinery techniques featured in Japanes...
Walnut
$11,800 / item
Walnut Bookcase with Brass Hardware
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Handmade bookcase in oiled walnut featuring brass hardware. This bookcase is made of solid walnut and constructed utilizing traditional joinery methods. The uprights are created uti...
Brass
Bar Cart in Cherry with Brass Casters and Shoji Sliding Doors
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Blending my influence of sashimono craftsmen and that of finely finished and carefully machined brass hardware to create a bar cart which is built using traditional handmade wood joi...
Cherry
$8,250 / item
Hikido Credenza in Black Cherry
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
The credenza is made of American black cherry - the case is finished in blonde shellac and the Stand stained black. The secondary wood is American oak which lines the drawers. Detail...
Cherry, Walnut
$9,500 / item
Walnut hall Cabinet with Shoji Doors
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Walnut cabinet made by hand and featuring shoji doors and shelves. This cabinet is constructed utilizing time honored joinery techniques featured in Japanese temple carpentry in addi...
Walnut
$1,800 / item
Standing Shelves in Quartersawn Ebonized Oak
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
These standing shelves are created utilizing traditional interlocking joinery to form a lightweight, strong and durable structure. Offsets are planned...
Oak
Mid-Century Modern Early Knoll Walnut 2-Door Credenza
By Florence Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Diminutive credenza from the early 1950s. Walnut top is new veneer replacing worn Formica. Leather pulls a signature Florence Knoll design mark. Two sliding doors open to reveal two ...
Steel
1960s cabinet with sliding doors
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Sliding door cabinet made of mahogany veneer and smoked glass, profiles are brass-plated aluminum.
Aluminum
$4,700
H 33 in W 53 in D 22 in
Borge Mogensen Cabinet Credenza with Sliding Doors Scandinavian Modern Oak Teak
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Chicago, IL
Borge Mogensen chest of drawers. Oak and Teak. Measures: 33"H x 53"W x 22"D Two sliding doors The interior on one side has three removable treys, the other side contains two shel...
Steel
$10,163 / item
H 33.08 in W 83.08 in D 21.26 in
Morelato Joyce Sideboard, in Ashwood with Straw Doors and brass handless
By Morelato
Located in Salizzole, IT
Contemporary style Joyce sideboard made of ashwood Two central doors with Vienna straw and two side sliding doors with handmade brass handles. The top ...
Brass
$2,695
H 82 in W 36 in D 18.5 in
Henredon Georgian Walnut Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Georgian or Queen Anne style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top By Henredon USA, Circa 1980s Gorgeous figured walnut, with original bra...
Brass
Pair Sheraton Bookcases - Walnut Low Open Front Bookcase
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Viewings possible in our Hertfordshire warehouse - please contact for an appointment Gorgeous pair of English Sheraton style low openfront bookcases hand crafted from walnut Hand cra...
Walnut
$1,949
H 31.5 in W 60 in D 18.75 in
1950's Mid-Century Modern Knoll Style Walnut Sliding Door Credenza
By Herman Miller, George Nelson, Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Burbank, CA
Vintage original Mid century Modern sliding door credenza for sale. It has two sliding doors that open up to an adjustable shelf on both sides, and is really well made. It's made of ...
Walnut, Formica
$3,295
H 88.75 in W 46.63 in D 21.25 in
Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Carved walnut, with original brass har...
Brass
French Walnut Bookcase
Located in Swadlincote, GB
Excellent quality French walnut bookcase, four adjustable shelves, wonderful steel hinge, working key, in overall excellent condition with a lovely colour. 55" high 26.5" wide 15" d...
Walnut
Swedish 3 Door Cabinet - Nordens Flora Illustrations
By Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Stockholm, SE
A Swedish three-door sideboard or cabinet, circa 1950s. The cabinet features clean lines and a balanced interior layout behind two doors, opening to separate compartments. One compar...
Birch, Paper
Rare Mid-Century Modern Tambor Door Cabinet by Greta Grossman
By Greta Magnusson Grossman
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare Mid-Century Modern Tambor door cabinet by Greta Grossman, nice original condition. Features two tambor doors over pullout / pull-out shelf and...
Iron
American Solid Walnut 1970's Versatile Bookcase with Dovetail Joints
Located in San Diego, CA
American solid walnut 1" thick beautiful simple elegant small bookcase, circa 1970's, we have completly refinished the piece , sand it and oil it solid sturdy well built incredible c...
Walnut