Today, Dakota Jackson’s luxury chairs, sofas, tables and other pieces are known for their stylish and expressive forms, so it’s perhaps not a surprise that the American contemporary furniture designer has spent a lifetime immersed in the arts.
Born to a family of professional magicians, Jackson was raised in a household that had a flair for the dramatic. A young Dakota moved to Manhattan and mingled with the bustling creative scene. There, he studied minimalist dance at multiple companies, performed with an experimental theater group and worked in special effects. His fascination with illusion and drama seeped into his creative inclinations, especially when he decided to shift his artistic energy toward furniture.
Jackson’s foray into design began in the 1970s when he got his hands dirty during the build-out of his loft apartment in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood back when lofts weren’t quite the heavenly residences of today. He constructed his own walls and bathroom fixtures and worked with a variety of materials that included lacquered wood, leather and chrome-plated steel, crafting intriguing seating and case pieces that would later end up in museums. (His famed Library chair is part of the collection at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.)
Jackson’s work became so well known throughout the buzzing art scene that he garnered the attention of reputable antique dealers who enlisted him to restore their own pieces of furniture. In 1974, Yoko Ono became a client. She commissioned Jackson to design a desk for John Lennon’s birthday. After he finished the former Beatle’s custom piece — an unconventional Art Deco–style writing desk that mirrored a Chinese puzzle box with secret compartments and hidden drawers — celebrities flocked to Jackson like bees to honey, and his name became synonymous with immaculate craftsmanship as well as the era’s radical American Art Furniture movement, which drew on Surrealism, Pop art and other traditions.
Even Belgian fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg asked Jackson to create the now-famous Eclipse bed, a sensual, striking structure framed in glossy cherrywood and upholstered in satin. In 1978, the lifelong arts lover paired a piano factory with his furniture manufacturing company and collaborated with Steinway & Sons on the design of several limited-edition pianos over the years. Today, Dakota Jackson, Inc., counts massive corporations among his clients and continues to design new collections.
Find a collection of Dakota Jackson furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid Century Modern Rosewood Sideboard Buffet, Large Credenza by Dakota Jackson
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning mid-century modern buffet, credenza, or sideboard is designed by Dakota Jackson. Excellent craftsmanship that exemplifies the best of American modern design with hints of ...
Rosewood, Sycamore
$3,840Sale Price|40% Off
7' Foot Tall Dakota Jackson "Ocean" Espresso Oak Bookcase Display Cabinet
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Large 7' foot tall "Ocean" espresso oak bookcase/display cabinet by Dakota Jackson. The cabinet features Faceted geometric lines with doors in grain oak frames with glass panels and ...
Glass, Wood
Modern Burl Buffet Sideboard
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern burl buffet sideboard with four doors framed by a beveled edge, with interior drawers and shelves and finished in a lightly distressed rustic warm h...
Wood
Skovby Mobelfabrik Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Sideboard Credenza
By Skovby Møbelfabrik A/S 1
Located in Germantown, MD
A beautiful Midcentury Modern buffet or server that would work well as a TV console and is signed "Skovby.. it features gorgeous and genuine rosewood Original varnish has been clean...
Rosewood
$2,970Sale Price|24% Off
H 61.5 in W 50.5 in D 10 in
Midcentury Blonde Oak Barrister's Bookcase Display Cabinet
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Well constructed blonde oak barrister in good condition with brass knobs and sound mechanism. Dismantles easily on raised base, nice size. Shows beautifu...
Oak
Modern Black Cerused Oak Sideboard Buffet
Located in North York, ON
Modern black cerused oak sideboard buffet. Featuring a dark ebonized black ceruse finish with contrasting white grains. Doors open with sleek pus...
Oak
Walnut 2 door French bookcase /display cabinet
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Very good quality late 19th century solid walnut 2 door bookcase French circa 1880's with 4 fully adjustable shelves ( we have made new plywood shelves lipped with walnut ) the beaut...
Walnut
$55,000
H 31.75 in W 63.5 in D 20 in
French Mid-Century Modern "Croissilon" Sideboard / Credenza Attr. to Andre Arbus
By André Arbus
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Elegant French Mid-Century Modern Neoclassical sideboard, credenza or cabinet circa 1940-1950 attributed to Andre Arbus. The sideboard is a masterpiece of form and materials. It combines modern simplicity and purity with neoclassical cross...
Rattan, Cherry
$4,831
H 68.12 in W 109.06 in D 19.3 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Mahogany Sideboard with Mirror by Osvaldo Borsani
By Fratelli Turri, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian mahogany sideboard with onyx top and mirror by Osvaldo Borsani for "Mobilificio Fratelli Turri", 1950s The mirro...
Brass
$6,350
H 85.75 in W 50.25 in D 20.5 in
Tall Carved Oak Bookcase Display Cabinet, Germany circa 1880-1890
Located in Round Top, TX
Impressive Oak Renaissance Revival bookcase heavily carved with 2 glass doors and adjustable shelves. Barley twist columns, carved embellishments along crown, drawer, panels and thro...
Glass, Oak
$2,720Sale Price|20% Off
H 84.5 in W 46.5 in D 20 in
Antique American Victorian Oak Stepback Hutch Display China Cabinet Bookcase 85"
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful Victorian stepback hutch. Features a naturally weathered, distressed and paneled oak frame. The upper hutch has semi-arched doors with applied carved foliate and opens t...
Oak
$8,330
H 32.29 in W 78.15 in D 20.08 in
Rare Mid-Century Modern Edmond J Spence Checkerboard Sideboard Chest of Drawers
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable Edmond J Spence Checkerboard sideboard in light walnut circa 1960's Edmond J. Spence This very interes...
Walnut
Italian Modern Rosewood Sideboard after Osaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This large-scale Mid-Century sideboard features rich Italian rosewood construction, wide grain cabinet front doors, and unique brass finish trim. Exquisi...
Brass
Large Art Deco Cerused Oak Display Cabinet Bookcase circa 1940
Located in Shippensburg, PA
ART DECO CERUSED AND EBONIZED OAK DISPLAY CABINET WITH FLANKING BLIND BOOKSHELVES Probably German, as the locks are of German origin executed circa 1940 with chromed steel accents throughout Item # 401QGP02S A fabulous Art Deco era display cabinet, the substantial case piece features a glazed central door flanked by two blind-doors on either side. These open to reveal an adjustably shelved interior, the oak bars on the side allowing the 3/8" thick glass shelves to be flexibly changed to suit the books stored within. The central door features a chromed rim around the glass door that cohesively ties in with the chrome-plated keyhole escutcheons and the chrome base molding on the bottom of the cabinet. It was probably made in Germany, as one of the locks bears markings of German manufacture, though the craftsman may have simply had a preference for this locking mechanism and imported it. Note the high-grade of cabinet work throughout - all surfaces have been carefully veneered with a cerused and ebonized oak, the interior of the center display area with a red-stained cerused oak and the interior of each flanking cabinet space lined with mahogany veneers. Importantly, despite the incredibly spacious proportions, the entire cabinet can be disassembled for safe transport. The top is removed with bolts on the inside corners...
Chrome
Sold
H 84 in W 42 in D 18 in
7' Foot Tall Dakota Jackson "Ocean" Espresso Oak Bookcase Display Cabinet
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Large 7' foot tall "Ocean" espresso oak bookcase/display cabinet by Dakota Jackson. The cabinet features Faceted geometric lines with doors in grain oak frames with glass panels and ...
Glass, Wood
Dakota Jackson Art Furniture Credenza
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Astoria, NY
Dakota Jackson (American, b. 1949) Postmodern Art Furniture credenza, 1980s, with rectangular ash top above four drawers shaped by a rounded turquoise-enameled spandrel support above...
Enamel
Monumental Credenza Sideboard by Dakota Jackson
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Manhasset, NY
Monumental 10 feet long sideboard by Dakota Jackson. Intelion French polished Macassar credenza of modernist form. Four-door bowed front cabinet si...
Dakota Jackson Style Lacquered Chest
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Manhasset, NY
A fine white lacquered chest bearing label Dakota Jackson. Having six drawers with decorative grey designed fronts. Matching nightstands sold separately.
Sold
H 34 in W 78 in L 34 in
Hollywood Regency Style Dakota Jackson Ebony and Celeste Blue Panel Sideboard
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Manhasset, NY
Dakota Jackson Ebony and Celeste Blu panel sideboard. This fine decorator sideboard comes from one of the finest homes along with several other Jackson pieces. Bearing the maker name...
Bentwood
Dakota Jackson Heraldic Bowfront Console in Bird's-Eye Maple
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a gorgeous console by Dakota Jackson. Called the Heraldic Bowfront cabinet. It is in Birdseye maple with a granite top. Beautiful mitered X ve...
Dakota Jackson Desk, circa 2000s
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Miami, FL
Single-sided desk with full modesty panel in makore veneer with high gloss finish, two pedestals, one with three drawers, the other, with shelves. Polished stainless steel feet. Poli...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
"Cuba" High Cabinet by Dakota Jackson
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Wilton, CT
The name of the series this cabinet is from references not only the "Cube" shape, but the Cubist Art that influenced the designer in much of his phenomenal body of work. Polished pol...
Dakota Jackson Nuevo Tango Bar Cabinet
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Hanover, MA
PRICE REDUCED FOR 1STDIBS SATURDAY SALE ONE WEEK ONLY. Late 20th century edition Nuevo Tango bar cabinet by Dakota Jackson. Natural mahogany satin open grain finish with ebonized ...
Dakota Jackson Executive Desk
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Hanover, MA
Monumental executive desk by Dakota Jackson. Inset dove grey leather top with bowed front supported by arched lacquered mahogany sides. Blue lacquered floating cabinets on left and ...