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.
$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
Walnut bookcase, Italy 1955
Located in Catonvielle, FR
4-post bookcase in oak and walnut, Italy 1955. Only surviving example of a furniture set created for Italy's first apartment hotel in Ventimiglia. Brass slides are embedded in the bl...
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
Walnut Louis XV Bookcase with Glass Doors, circa 1890
Located in Evergreen, CO
Elegant in every way, this late-19th century, Louis XV bookcase is as stunning as it is practical. The beautiful, tight grain of walnut, finished in a medium stain is showcased on th...
Glass, Walnut, Oak
Walnut Open Bookcase, Regency Inlay Bookcases Study Interiors
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous Regency style open front bookcase in walnut Great thing about this piece is the size, plenty of width for all your books and tomes Hand crafted from walnut with satinwood ...
Walnut
Antique Burr Walnut Bookcase
Located in London, GB
A lovely antique burr walnut bookcase in the Georgian style. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1930’s. It is of very good quality and has lovely proportions; it is ...
Glass, Walnut
Antique Burr Walnut Open Bookcase
Located in London, GB
A lovely antique burr walnut open bookcase in the Victorian style. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1950’s. The quality is outstanding, this is a great size with p...
Walnut
Antique Walnut Open Bookcase
Located in London, GB
A lovely antique walnut open bookcase in the Victorian style. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1920’s. The quality is outstanding, this is a great size with plenty...
Walnut
Biedermeier Bookcase, 1810-20, walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique antique Biedermeier library cabinet dates back to the early Biedermeier period 1810-20 and comes from Germany. It features a walnut and mahogany veneer on softwood. The t...
Walnut, Mahogany
Antique Burr Walnut Bookcase
Located in London, GB
A lovely antique burr walnut bookcase in the Georgian style. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1930’s. It is of very good quality and has lovely proportions, with l...
Glass, Walnut
English Walnut Stepback Bookcase
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful English Walnut Stepback Bookcase / Cupboard. Burled door details with in-set detail at doors, carved crown with crest-like detail, original g...
Walnut
Walnut Bookcase, Single Sheraton Regency Open Bookcases
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Viewings possible in our Hertfordshire warehouse Gorgeous English Sheraton style openfront bookcase in walnut Intricate inlay work to the top includes classic Sheraton motifs - gar...
Walnut
Walnut Tour Bookcase
Located in Paris, FR
Bookcase walnut tour all in solid walnut wood made of pinned vertical slats that slot in the circular shelves 5 difference levels, with rotating base 360° use. Wood treated with nat...
Walnut