A master woodworker and M.I.T.-trained architect, George Nakashima was the leading light of the American Studio furniture movement. Along with Wharton Esherick, Sam Maloof and Wendell Castle, Nakashima was an artisan who disdained industrial methods and materials in favor of a personal, craft-based approach to the design of chairs, coffee tables and other pieces. What sets Nakashima apart is the poetic style of his work, his reverence for wood and the belief that his furniture could evince — as he put it in the title of his 1981 memoir — The Soul of a Tree.
Born in Spokane, Washington, to Japanese immigrants, Nakashima traveled widely after college, working and studying in Paris, Japan and India, and at every stop he absorbed both modernist and traditional design influences.
The turning point in Nakashima’s career development came in the United States in 1942, when he was placed in an internment camp for Asian-Americans in Idaho. There, Nakashima met a master woodcarver who tutored him in Japanese crafting techniques. A former employer won Nakashima’s release and brought him to bucolic New Hope, Pennsylvania, where Nakashima set up a studio and worked for the rest of his life. (Master craftsperson Mira Nakashima keeps her father’s legacy alive at the George Nakashima Studio in New Hope today. She has been the artistic director of George Nakashima Woodworkers since her father's death, in 1990.)
Nakashima’s singular aesthetic is best captured in his custom-made tables and benches — pieces that show off the grain, burls and whorls in a plank of wood. He left the “free edge,” or natural contour, of the slab un-planed, and reinforced fissures in the wood with “butterfly” joints.
Almost all Nakashima seating pieces have smooth, milled edges. Nakashima also contracted with large-scale manufacturers to produce carefully supervised editions of his designs. Knoll has offered his Straight chair — a modern take on the spindle-backed Windsor chair — since 1946; the now-defunct firm Widdicomb-Mueller, the result of a merger between Widdicomb and Mueller Furniture, issued the Shaker-inspired Origins collection in the 1950s.
Nelson Rockefeller in 1973 gave Nakashima his single largest commission: a 200-piece suite for his suburban New York estate. Today, Nakashima furniture is collected by both the staid and the fashionable: his work sits in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution, as well as in the homes of Steven Spielberg, Brad Pitt, Diane von Furstenberg and the late Steve Jobs.
Find George Nakashima Studio furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
George Nakashima Set of Four 'Conoid' Chairs in Walnut
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for Nakashima Studio, set of four 'Conoid' chairs, walnut, hickory, United States, 1962 This stunning set of four Conoid dining chairs are designed by woodwork mast...
Hickory, Walnut
Exceptionally Rare Set of Eight George Nakashima 'Grass-seated Chairs'
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima, set of eight 'Grass-seated Chairs', American black walnut, sea grass cord, United States, early 1960s Through its pure form, thoughtful use of materials, and exqui...
Seagrass, Walnut
George Nakashima Set of Six 'New' Dining Chairs in Walnut and Hickory
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, set of six ‘New’ dining chairs, walnut, hickory, United States, 1976 and 1977 With its sturdy form, thoughtful material choices, and re...
Hickory, Walnut
Vintage George Nakashima Solid Walnut New Lounge Chair Rocker with Arms
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in San Jose, CA
New lounge rocking chair with arms in solid walnut by George Nakashima circa 1966. This piece features signature detailed joinery and displays well from all angles. Signed on the und...
Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Leather Stool
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stool from American mid-century craftsman George Nakashima. The stool crafted of black walnut, c.1960, features a leather wrapped seat and splayed legs. The underside of the seat is ...
Leather, Seagrass, Walnut
George Nakashima, Walnut and Hickory Spindle Back Lounge Chair with Arm, 1977
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
George Nakashima Lounge Chair with Right Arm made in the Nakashima Studio, 1977 American black walnut with hickory spindles, single slab arm with one free edge and single slab seat ...
Hickory, Walnut
George Nakashima 'New' Armchair in Walnut and Hickory
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, ‘New’ armchair, walnut, hickory, United States, 1976 With its sturdy form, thoughtful material choices, and refined joinery, this custo...
Hickory, Walnut
Mira Chairs by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in New York, NY
The Mira chair made of American black walnut embodies Nakashima’s belief that furniture should be lived with, carrying the wears of everyday interaction. The design is based on a mod...
Walnut
$2,362 / set
H 33.08 in W 19.3 in D 21.26 in
Set of Six Vintage Italian Midcentury Walnut Dining Chairs
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and elegant set of six vintage Italian midcentury walnut dining chairs. They date from around the 1950’s. The quality is excellent, they are beautifully designed and are...
Fabric, Walnut
$3,742 / set
H 38.59 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Set of Four Dining Chairs in Walnut in the Style of Scarpa, Italy 1970s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Hellouw, NL
These dining chairs share great similarities with the designs of Afra and Tobia Scarpa and Mobil Girgi. This is a playful design that follows the rule of a dining chair. Meaning that...
Leather, Walnut
$5,600 / set
H 30 in W 19.5 in D 21.5 in
Set of Six George Nelson for Herman Miller Walnut Dining Chairs
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
George Nelson for Herman Miller teak and upholstered dining chairs. We also have the matching dining table, please inquire for details. All items ar...
Teak
$2,788
H 42.52 in W 25.01 in D 33.47 in
Antique Rocking Chair, English, Walnut, Armchair, Rocker, Victorian, Circa 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique rocking chair. An English, walnut framed armchair rocker, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880. Relax and soothe the day...
Textile, Walnut
George Nakashima Straight Chair for Knoll
By Knoll, George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by master craftsman George Nakashima for Knoll in 1946, the N19 chair was intended as a mass-produced counterpoint to the Nakashima Studio’s popular “Straight Chair...
Walnut
Nakashima Style, Mid-Century Modern, Studio Made Stools, 1970s
By George Nakashima
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair Mid-Century Modern Nakashima Style Organic Wooden Two Stools / Side Tables Organic form wooden stools from the 20th Century. American studio made, solid wood. These pieces can also work as low profile side tables...
Wood
$875Sale Price|30% Off
H 38.5 in W 22.5 in D 41.5 in
Bentwood Walnut Rocking Chair Cane Rattan Seat Back Rocker
Located in Dayton, OH
Bentwood rocking chair, circa mid 20th century. Made from walnut in classic bentwood styling with rattan back and seat. Dimensions: 41.5" x 22.5" x 38.5", seat 18.5" to 13.5"
Rattan, Walnut
Set of Six Period 18th Century George II Walnut Dining Chairs
Located in Essex, MA
Set of six period English walnut George II side chairs Six period Georgian side chairs in transitional form moving from Queen Anne to Ge...
Walnut
$2,400
H 30 in W 22.5 in D 18 in
Early Mid-Century Modern Spindle Back George Nakashima Straight Chair for Knoll
By George Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A classic & very early George Nakashima design, the spindle back straight chair. This 1940's example is made of solid Birch with signature saddle seat. Probably refinished at some po...
Wood
George Nakashima Mira Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George Nakashima Walnut Mira Chair Original Surface Marked Showroom on underside of Chair Seat
Walnut
Set of Eight English Ladderback Rush-Seat Chairs
Located in Austin, TX
A fine set of eight English ladder-back wooden chairs with handsome woven rush seats. Featuring nicely-turned legs and supports, slight variation from chair to chair. A classic rus...
Rush, Wood
$2,950
H 29.25 in W 16 in D 17.5 in
George Nakashima Studio Straight Back Chair Mid Century American Craft
By George Nakashima
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vintage Original "Straight Back" Model Chair, made by George Nakashima Studio, American, circa 1961. The chair features a multi-plank seat. Signed with client name to underside ‘Gelf...
Hickory, Walnut
George Nakashima, Early Walnut Bench with Spindle Back, 1958
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
George Nakashima Bench with Spindle Back Nakashima Studio, USA 1958 American black walnut, hickory, rosewood 78.5cm high, 158cm wide, 65cm deep single slab seat with one rosewood but...
Hickory, Rosewood, Walnut
Sold
H 30.52 in W 29.93 in D 34.26 in
George Nakashima 'Cushion' Spindleback Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Walnut
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for Nakashima Studio, 'Cushion' lounge chair and ottoman, American black walnut, fabric Pierre Frey “Chupa” Vegetale, United States, 1960s This quintessential Cus...
Fabric, Walnut
Sold
H 30.75 in W 48 in D 30.5 in
Pair of George Nakashima Studio Settee Sofas in Cherry and Knoll fabric
By George Nakashima Studio
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A 1960s George Nakashima Studios armless sofa settee couch in Solid cherry. Elegant slat back with a wide variation of cherry colors that puts off a beautiful array. Poised on 4 tape...
Cherry
George Nakashima Grass Seat Stool
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in San Diego, CA
Grass-seated stool circa 1960s production in black walnut by George Nakashima. This stool was purchased from the family who owned them originally. Purchased from the grandson whose grandparents ordered them from new from George Naskashima. This stool was in a home with the set of 6Mira Chairs, Trestle table and 2 Grass seats. All the other pieces are in separate listings. *Price is or the stool only, not for the chair* Dimensions: 18 w x 16 d x 12.5 H Grass About the Designer: A master woodworker and M.I.T.-trained architect, George Nakashima was the leading light of the American Studio furniture...
Seagrass, Walnut
Set of Grass Seated Chairs and Stool by George Nakashima, Circa 1960s
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in San Diego, CA
Grass-seated circa 1960s production in black walnut by George Nakashima with original seagrass seats. Also priced individually in other listings. Price is for the two chairs and stoo...
Seagrass, Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Grass Seated Chair
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Grass-seated chair from circa 1950s production in black walnut by George Nakashima for Nakashima Studios with original seagrass seat. Dimensions 24" width x 19" depth x 27.5" height...
Walnut, Seagrass
Sold
H 33.13 in W 31.5 in D 30 in
1975 George Nakashima Studio Lounge Chair with Free Form Arm Walnut and Hickory
By George Nakashima Studio
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
An original George Nakashima Right arm plank lounge chair. Gorgeous form with a live edge plank for resting a book or a drink. The char includes hand sculpted spindles that attach t...
Hickory, Walnut
Sold
H 27.17 in W 18.12 in D 16.93 in
George Nakashima, Original Mira Chair, 1963, American Black Walnut (3 available)
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
George Nakashima (1905-1990), Four Mira Chairs, in American Black Walnut, produced in 1963 ** One now sold, three still available ** PLEASE NOTE, PRICE IS PER CHAIR Each chair with...
Walnut
George Nakashima Settee with American Bison Hide Cushions
By George Nakashima Studio
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
Nakashima's settee is a design lover's dream. Simple wood craftmanship at its finest. The cushions are custom and crafted of thick and soft bison hide. Each is generously filled with feathers for a most comfortable seat. We love how the chocolate brown bison hide complements the American cherry wood. This two-seat settee is incredibly handsome and destined for an equally beautiful room. Details Manufacturer Nakashima Studio, USA Date 1954 Dimensions 48 W × 35 D × 30.75 H x 15 SH in Material Cherry, American Bison...
Fur, Cherry
George Nakashima Special Conoid Desk with Two Free Edges
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Chicago, IL
George Nakashima Special Conoid Desk with Two Free Edges Top in intense-grained English Walnut, Selected by George with walnut cross-leg support and a thre...
Walnut
Greenrock Ottoman by George Nakashima, US 2021
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Berlin, DE
Nakashima Greenrock ottoman with Japanese indigo fabric. One piece available.
Fabric, Wood, Walnut
Mira Nakashima Conoid Bench in Black Walnut, 2001
By George Nakashima Studio, Mira Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
Exquisitely crafted black walnut conoid bench with hand-tooled hickory spindles and a solid rosewood butterfly joint fabricated in the George Nakashima studio by his daughter and pro...
Hickory, Walnut