George Nakashima Furniture
American, 1905-1990
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. 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.
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 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.
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Creator: George Nakashima
George Nakashima Dining Armchair for Widdicomb
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Black walnut dining armchair by George Nakashima for Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company Widdicomb, c.1960s for their "Origins" collection. This rare dining chair, is one of the few...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Solid Oiled Walnut George Nakashima Slab-Arm Lounge Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modernsolid oiled walnut George Nakashima slab-arm lounge chair.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima Origins Headboard by Widdicomb
By George Nakashima
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nakashima design headboard for a king or queen sized bed for his Origins series by Widdicomb, 1959. Constructed of East Indian Laurel wood in the original Sundra finish, clean...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Elm
Pair of Conoid Lounge Chairs by Mira Nakashima after a George Nakashima design
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Conoid lounge chairs in American black walnut with hickory spindles by Mira Nakashima based on a design by George Nakashima. Photo is just an e...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Walnut
George Nakashima, Coffee Table, American Black Walnut, New Hope, USA, 1982
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in High Point, NC
An American black walnut coffee table designed by George Nakashima and produced by Nakashima Studio, New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States, 1...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima Slab-Arm Lounge Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine example of this form.
The client requested an extra wide slab-arm, as is noted by the artist.
Signed with the clients name.
Category
1960s American Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima, Freeform Coffee Table, English Walnut, Studio USA 1971
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in High Point, NC
A unique and sizable coffee / cocktail table in the "sled-shape" style. Produced by Nakashima Studio, New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States. Dated 1971
Executed in English Walnut...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
1940s Straight Chair by George Nakashima
By Knoll, George Nakashima
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An early production straight chair with spindles and a shaped seat on four splayed, tapered dowel legs.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Hickory
George Nakashima "Origins" Tall Chest
By George Nakashima
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nakashima "Origins" tall chest for Widdicomb. Rare example with a figured burl door and drawers for every necescity rising on a splayed base, newly refinished and ready to install. Massive amounts of clothing storage...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Brass
George Nakashima Walnut Sideboard, 1961
By George Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
A walnut sideboard 60" in width, straight edge top, wood doors, sub sap streak top and sides, 4 drawers on left and shelves on right. Documentation included.
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima Origins Dresser for Widdicomb
By George Nakashima
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nakashima design dresser for his Origins line by Widdicomb, 1959. Dramatic wood grain figuring throughout the body of the case and trapezoidal shape top extending to 105"in. w...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Brass
1960s Walnut Stool by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A walnut barstool designed by American Craftsman Master George Nakashima with hand-hewn spindles supporting a thin backrest, a shaped seat on four spl...
Category
1960s American American Craftsman Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Rare Early Pair of George Nakashima "New Chairs"
By George Nakashima
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An iconic pair of early circa 1952 George Nakashima "New Chairs" masterfully constructed out of walnut. Letter of authenticity included.
Category
1950s American American Craftsman Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Magnificent George Nakashima Widdicomb Kingsize Headboard Bed Origins Collection
By George Nakashima
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent George Nakashima for Widdicomb king size headboard, circa 1960s. The headboard features a dramatic, sweeping form that is regal and elegant. Surface is incredibly clean, ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima Walnut Coffee Table, Two Side Drawers, “Origins Series", 1960's
By George Nakashima
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
A highly sought after coffee table by George Nakashima for Widdicomb, 1963. Beautiful condition, professionally restored.
George Nakashima worked for Widdicomb, from the mid-1950s...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Free Edge George Nakashima 2-Door Cabinet
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early cabinet consisting of 2 sliding doors concealing 4 drawers and a shelf.
George Nakshima sliding door cabinet
Open shelf on 1 side, 4 drawers...
Category
1960s North American Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
1950s George Nakashima English Walnut Shark Tooth Live Free Edge Table Wepman
By George Nakashima
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Original unmolested finish. George Nakashima walnut studio table, accompanied by authentication paperwork from the Nakashima Foundation.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Set of Four Captain Chairs by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Atlanta, GA
A wonderful set of four American black Walnut 'Captain" chairs handcrafted by George Nakashima in his New Hope Studio in 1976. These chairs were designed with creative exposed joints...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima Conoid Low Chairs
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George Nakashima Conoid low chairs. A rarely seen design from the studio.
Category
1980s American Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Walnut Sideboard with Top Shelf by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Atlanta, GA
A two-piece custom sideboard pr credenza handcrafted by George Nakashima, circa 1969 in his new hope studio. It is constructed with American black walnut with solid oak interiors. Th...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Oak
George Nakashima New Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in Miami, FL
Rare and early model 271 or New Chair, the iconic Windsor spindle back chair reimagined by Japanese-American Master Woodworker, George Nakashima in 1956. East Indian Laurel wood in t...
Category
1950s American American Craftsman Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Hickory, Walnut
Large George Nakashima Table Lamp 1964
By George Nakashima
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Beautiful tall George Nakashima table lamp in Black American walnut and Holly. Made in 1964 fo Mr.r Leo Roberg of Glencoe IL. Sold with a copy of ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima Wall-Mounted Sideboard in Walnut and Pandanus Cloth
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima, sliding-door wall-mounted cabinet, American black walnut, pandanus cloth, United States, 1963
With regard to its essential form, material use, and woodwork, this s...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima New Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in Miami, FL
Rare and early model 271 or New Chair, the iconic Windsor spindle back chair reimagined by Japanese-American Master Woodworker, George Nakashima in 1956. East Indian Laurel wood in t...
Category
1950s American American Craftsman Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Hickory, Walnut
George Nakashima 'Origins' Dresser or Sideboard for Widdicomb, c. 1960, Signed
By George Nakashima, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This gorgeous 'Sundra' twelve drawer dresser by George Nakashima for Widdicomb, circa 1960, features beautiful Indian Laurel wood and dramatic large brass handles, which is a much more rare and sought-after variation of this design. Refinished and ready for immediate use.
Signed in three places on this cabinet, 'Sundra' stamped underneath the solid wood top, Widdicomb label in one drawer, and "George Nakashima' stamped signature in one drawer.
Incredible and rare option for design enthusiasts, and art and design investors and collectors but also ideal for interior designers looking to add some sophisticated refinement into an interior project.
Nakashima designed the Origins Collection for Widdicomb in 1959 featuring rare woods such as Carpathian Elm, Indian Laurel wood, Walnut and Rosewood and was noted for the fine craftsmanship and attention to the natural beauty of the wood.
Nakashima and Widdicomb described the collection as “a subtle elimination of straight lines; almost all pieces have edges that are beveled back ten degrees; many tops overhang substantially more than is usual; and upholstered pieces achieve a “forward thrust” due to the canting of the legs.” The only finish offered on the Indian Laurel wood in the collection was the Sundra finish, sanskrit for “thing of beauty,” a nod to Nakashima’s time in India.
This gorgeous George Nakashima 'Sundra' chest of drawers or side board cabinet...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of George Nakashima New Chairs
By George Nakashima
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of rare and early model 271 or New Chairs, the iconic Windsor spindle back chairs reimagined by Japanese-American Master Woodworker, George Nakashima in 1956. East Indian Laurel wood...
Category
1950s American American Craftsman Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Hickory, Walnut
Signed Mira Nakashima Poster "the Soul of a Tree - George Nakashima" 1993
By George Nakashima
Located in New York, NY
Signed Mira Nakashima Poster "The Soul of a Tree - George Nakashima" 1993. The original lithograph from an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, Toyama. This poster has a black lac...
Category
1990s Mid-Century Modern George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Paper
George Nakashima Set of 4 Chairs
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Set of 4 George Nakashima chairs
Matched Set
Cleaned and Re-Oiled surface.
Category
1960s American Vintage George Nakashima Furniture
Materials
Walnut
George Nakashima furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
George Nakashima furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of George Nakashima furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 136 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 16 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by George Nakashima were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Frank Lloyd Wright, Warren Platner, and Selig. Prices for George Nakashima furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $295 and can go as high as $184,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $25,500.
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Questions About George Nakashima Furniture
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022George Nakashima is perhaps best known for developing the butterfly joint. This construction method involves connecting pieces with a third piece of wood shaped like a butterfly. The joint forms a strong, sturdy connection and stabilizes pieces to fight the effects of wood expansion. On 1stDibs, shop a range of George Nakashima furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022No, George Nakashima didn’t usually sign the majority of his works. Instead, he normally added the name of the client to the timber selected to start the project. The writing usually appears in simple black marker. On 1stDibs, find a variety of George Nakashima furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To identify George Nakashima furniture, start by looking for the name of the original client written in black marker. He usually wrote the name on the underside of a piece of furniture. Order cards and shop drawings can also help authenticate his work. On 1stDibs, find a selection of expertly vetted George Nakashima furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To address wood expansion, George Nakashima pioneered the butterfly joint. This technique uses a butterfly-shaped piece of wood as an anchor. When wood expands, the butterfly joint prevents the pieces from splitting apart. Butterfly joints are strong and increase the overall durability of his wood furniture. On 1stDibs, find a collection of George Nakashima.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Which chair is best for a George Nakashima Origins for Widdicomb desk is largely a matter of preference. George Nakashima chairs with Shaker-inspired spindle backs like the Mira and Conoid tend to complement the lines of the desks in the collection. However, you can mix and match styles to create an eclectic look. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of George Nakashima desks and chairs.
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