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.
$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
$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
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
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
$13,950
H 102.75 in W 81.875 in D 24.125 in
Italian 19th Century Walnut Bookcase with Architectural Design
Located in Atlanta, GA
A handsome Italian 19th century walnut bookcase of exceptional scale and architectural presence, crafted in two parts with a beautifully ...
Wood
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
Walnut Open Bookcase - Sheraton Regency Bookcases Open Front
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are looking at a single English Sheraton style openfront bookcase hand crafted from the finest walnut This piece is made to order bespoke - turnaround time 2-4 weeks and measurem...
Walnut
Late Victorian Walnut Open Bookcase with Adjustable Shelves
Located in High Peak, GB
k0668 A late Victorian English bookcase crafted from high-quality solid walnut, featuring solid walnut sides and a figured walnut oversailing top. Below the top, a panelled frieze is...
Walnut
$3,500
H 66 in W 34.5 in D 12.5 in
Antique Oak Four Stack Barrister Bookcase with Original Brass Hardware
By Globe Wernicke
Located in Freehold, NJ
This antique barrister bookcase by Gunn Bookcase Company features hardwood construction, mahogany veneer with original finish, four removable boxes with glass door and brass hardware...
Brass
Burr Walnut Breakfront Open Bookcase
Located in Cheshire, GB
A substantial and finely crafted open bookcase of classical inspiration, executed in richly figured burr walnut veneers and of shallow breakfront form, the central section projecting...
Walnut
$3,142Sale Price|70% Off
H 51.19 in W 92.52 in D 25.6 in
Contemporary Bookcase in Walnut Wood and Brushed Brass, In Stock
By EMOTIONAL OBJECTS, João Faria
Located in Vila Nova Famalicão, PT
This sculptural bookcase is handcrafted in Portugal and combines walnut wood shelves with a brushed brass structure. Designed by Joao Faria, the bookcase reflects his approach to con...
Metal, Brass
Walnut inlaid breakfront bookcase
Located in Cheshire, GB
Walnut bookcase, the large rectangular breakfront top with ebonised line detail enclosed by moulded edge. to the large central panelled doors with foliated inlay opening to reveal sh...
Walnut
Walnut Narrow Bookcase
Located in Cheshire, GB
Walnut narrow bookcase of narrow proportions. The carved cornice above a pair of leaded stained glass door enclosing adjustable shelved interior...
Walnut
Scandinavian walnut bookcase, 1960s
Located in Brescia, IT
Walnut unit with adjustable shelves of various sizes that allow for highly flexible organization of the space. Scandinavian production, 1960s. The asymmetrical arrangement of the sh...
Nutwood