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.
Dakota Jackson "Monaco" Sculptural Dining Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Monaco Collection is one of regal opulence, named after the European principality of Monaco. Dakota Jackson (born August 24, 1949) is an American furniture designer known for hi...
Maple
Honduran Mahogany "Ocean" Dining Table by Dakota Jackson
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Dakota Jackson "Ocean" Dining table with hand-sculpted knife-shaped legs in solid Honduran mahogany supports a Honduran mahogany top with a sculpted slope edge. Its design draws insp...
Wood
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 36 in D 72 in
Sculptural Travertine Dining Table - Light Travertine Stone Table
Located in İnegöl, TR
TRAVERTINE MARBLE DINING TABLE Type of Marble: Travertine Dimensions: 72" x 36" Leg Model: Travertine Customizable: Available! Production Time: 3-4 Weeks Shipping Cost: Free! Packa...
Travertine, Marble
Custom Round Sunburst Mahogany Dining Table by Carrocel
By Carrocel
Located in North York, ON
Custom Round Sunburst Mahogany Dining Table by Carrocel. Outstanding round sunburst flame mahogany top hand polished to a mirror finish in a rich mahogany tone. Perched on two custom...
Metal, Brass
Sculptural Rosso Levanto Dining Table - Red Marble Dining Table
Located in İnegöl, TR
ROSSO LEVANTO MARBLE DINING TABLE Type of Marble: Rosso Levanto Dimensions: 72" x 36" Leg Model: Rosso Levanto Customizable: Available! Production Time: 3-4 Weeks Shipping Cost: Fr...
Travertine, Marble
Elegant Modern Dining Table attributed to Dakota Jackson
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant Modern Dining Table, attributed to Dakota Jackson, unsigned, American, circa 1990s. It measures 54" length and can expand to an impressive 90" length with both of it's two le...
Wood
“Lock D” Sculptural Bamboo Dining Table, 'Base'
By Jan Paul
Located in Maastricht, NL
“LOCK” sculptural bamboo dining table is designed out of the qualities, possibilities and characteristics of its material: bamboo. The frame is build up from pressed layers of flexible bamboo. The shape is formed by the bamboo’s natural bending curve. The layers of bamboo curve through each other and entwine, locking each other in place. Two different color-tones are used: natural and caramel bamboo. This “layer cake”enhances the curves ,flow and shape of the table. End result is a mix of nature and mathematics, of possible and impossible. A strong dynamic shape that looks different watched from different viewing points...
Bamboo, Glass
Modern Sunburst Pedestal Dining Table with Leaf
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Chicago, IL
Sleek and sophisticated, this modern dining table brings an elegant simplicity to contemporary interiors. A custom design attributed to the Dakota Jackson Heraldic Collection, the ta...
Wood, Oak
Parsons Dining Table - Mahogany Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Parsons Dining Table - Mahogany Finish. This expandable dining table with an easy to open ratchet system has two self-storing leaves, has a warm country mahogany wood tone finish wit...
Wood
Elegant Georgian Mahogany Dining Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
An elegant Georgian dining table to seat eight comfortably, having a wonderful solid mahogany top in four sections, with the end sections with rounded corners and thumb molded edges ...
Mahogany
Regency Style Mahogany Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A fine Regency style mahogany and flame veneered extending dining table, the rectangular reeded edge top with rounded corners crossbanded in chestnut burl and morado, with two additi...
Brass
English Style Mahogany Dining Table
Located in Annville, PA
This English Style Mahogany Dining Table from Niagara Furniture has a lot of great features that combine to make it a favorite. The Mahogany Dining table features numerous outside ba...
Mahogany
Regency Extension Mahogany Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
An English Regency style figured mahogany veneered dining table, the rectangular reeded edge and satinwood banded top extending to accommodate one additional leaf, on two gun-barrel ...
Brass
Quality Mahogany Drop Leaf Dining Table By Brandt
By Brandt
Located in Bridgeport, CT
CA. 1950's. With the Maryland company label and genuine mahogany label. An elegant classical style mahogany dining table with deep leaves. The frieze and square tapering legs are str...
Mahogany
Honduran Mahogany "Ocean" Dining Table by Dakota Jackson
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Dakota Jackson "ocean" Dining table with hand-carved legs in solid Honduran mahogany support Honduran mahogany top with stepped edge detail. Measurements: Height: 30" X Width: 90" X...
Wood
Dakota Jackson "Monaco" Sculptural Dining Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Monaco Collection is one of regal opulence, named after the European principality of Monaco. Dakota Jackson (born August 24, 1949) is an American furniture designer known for hi...
Maple
Dakota Jackson Epoch Mahogany Dining Table with Leaves
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental mahogany dining table having two 18" extending leaves measuring 11 feet long with the leaves installed. The Epoch dining table was designed by Dakota Jackson and features ...
Mahogany
Dakota Jackson Macassar Ebony Grand Dining Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Spectacular Macassar ebony veneered grand dining table with two extending leaves designed by Dakota Jackson. This large table measures 85 inches wide and has two 18 inch extending le...
Steel
Sold
H 30 in W 60 in D 60 in
Contemporary Modern Massive Dakota Jackson Geometric Wood Cube Base Dining Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a magnificent and massive dining table, with a geometric patterned cube wood base and a square glass top, by Dakota Jackson, circa the 1990s. In very good c...
Wood
Sold
H 29.5 in W 120 in D 48.5 in
Heraldic Dakota Jackson Australian Lacewood Dining or Conference Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern style Heraldic Dakota Jackson Australian Lacewood dining or conference table. Arched aprons and tapered trapezoidal legs. This table is in very nice condition with...
Wood
Dakota Jackson Exotic Wood Art Deco Styled Dining Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This incredible exotic woods dining table, which would also make an amazing conference table, by luxury design superstar Dakota Jackson featur...
Satinwood, Wood
Designer Dakota Jackson Postmodern Exotic Wood Dining Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Las Vegas, NV
From the Aspen Colorado estate of the late Steve Fossett this magnificent 60" round dining table with an optional use Lazy-Susan center. This is a work of Postmodern art. Turquoise enamel center and trim edge with gorgeous African Movingui veneer top and matching turquoise enamel banded Purple heart...
Satinwood
Sold
H 29.5 in W 120 in D 48.5 in
Heraldic Dakota Jackson Australian Lacewood Dining or Conference Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern Style Heraldic Dakota Jackson Australian Lacewood dining or conference table. Arched aprons and tapered trapezoidal legs. This table is in very nice condition with...
Wood
Sold
H 29 in W 72 in D 72 in
Dakota Jackson African Satinwood Postmodern Convertible Lazy-Susan Dining Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This incredible Postmodern 72"-diameter dining table which would also make an amazing conference table by luxury design superstar Dakota Jackson features a circular African Satinwood top with two ebony inlaid stripes, adjustable rotating central rising platform in purple lacquered wood over four round lacquered cherrywood legs with contrasting purple enameled bands. The Original purchase price on this magnificent dining table was nearly $25,000 and thats in the early 1990s! Imagine what that cost would be today. This incredibly high quality table is built with exotic materials and mechanics and is monumental in size. The mixture of African Satinwood and Ebony Inlay combined with enameled wood is nothing short of extraordinary. The contrasting purple from the circular Lazy-Susan top, to edge banding and legs detail add a splash of 1980s Postmodern Memphis style. Buy this rare table for yourself or your client before someone else does - the amount of value in materials and craftsmanship is unbelievable. To operate the height adjustable central platform Lazy-Susan simple move the lever located under the table and voila! Now you can spin the central platform and entertain your guests while they amaze themselves with vintage technology...
Satinwood, Wood
Sold
H 29 in W 96 in D 48 in
Dakota Jackson Ariel Hollywood Regency Style Dining Room or Conference Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Stamford, CT
A fine custom quality Dakota Jackson "Ariel" Hollywood Regency style dining room or conference Table. Having adjustable table bases that can be viewed straight on or on an angle, as photographed, this versatile dining or conference table has recently been refinished and the tabletop is in excellent condition. Mitered pattern veneers with Black Lacquer accents, bowed edges on a pedestal base with recessed, scored details on this high lacquered dining table...
Wood
Heraldic Dakota Jackson Australian Lacewood Dining / Conference Table
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern Style Heraldic Dakota Jackson Australian Lacewood dining or conference table. Arched aprons and tapered trapezoidal legs. This table is in very nice condition with...