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 vintage George Nakashima furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
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 "Captain's Chairs" Pair, Walnut, Stendig Provenance, 1970s
By George Nakashima
Located in New York, NY
George Nakashima "Captain's Chairs" Pair, Walnut, Stendig Provenance, 1970s. Pair of black walnut Nakashima armchairs in good un-restored original condition. Both chairs are signed o...
Walnut
$23,000 / set
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...
Walnut
Set of Two Walnut Captain Chairs by George Nakashima, 1962
By George Nakashima
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) American Walnut Captain's Armchairs, 1962, with spindle backs on turned wood legs. 28.25" H x 23.5" W x 17.5" D; seat: 17.25" H. Pr...
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Armchairs by George Nakashima, Walnut, USA, 1962
By George Nakashima
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) American Walnut Captain's Armchairs, 1962, with spindle backs on turned wood legs. 28.25" H x 23.5" W x 17.5" D; seat: 17.25" H. Pr...
Walnut
Set of Two Walnut Captain Chairs by George Nakashima, 1962
By George Nakashima
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) American Walnut Captain's Armchairs, 1962, with spindle backs on turned wood legs. 28.25" H x 23.5" W x 17.5" D; seat: 17.25" H. Pr...
Walnut
George Nakashima Walnut Captain's Armchairs, Pair
By George Nakashima
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) American Walnut Captain's Armchairs, 1962, with spindle backs on turned wood legs. 28.25" H x 23.5" W x 17.5" D; seat: 17.25" H. Pr...
Walnut
$3,000
H 30 in W 22 in D 19.5 in
George Nakashima N19 Side Chair for Knoll, Walnut, Mid-Century Modern
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
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 Four English Birch Tavern Chairs
Located in Southampton, NY
Set of four English birch tavern chairs. Lovely worn rounded seat back chairs with beautifully turned spindles and legs, and a fantastic patina only time...
Birch
$158,000 / set
H 27.56 in W 22.84 in D 20.08 in
Exceptionally Rare Set of Eight George Nakashima 'Grass-seated Chairs' in American Black Walnut
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
$48,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 34 in D 34.5 in
George Nakashima Conoid Lounge Chairs, Walnut & Hickory, 1980s
By George Nakashima, Sakura Seisakusho
Located in Dallas, TX
Experience timeless elegance with this beautiful pair of Conoid Lounge chairs by George Nakashima, crafted by the only authorized manufacturer of Nakashima furniture outside of the United States, Sakura Seisakusho in Takamatsu, Japan...
Upholstery, Hickory, Walnut
$16,263 / set
H 30.71 in W 22.84 in D 24.02 in
Very Rare Set of Six Eton College Victorian Walnut Captains Chairs Carved EC
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and important suite of six original Victorian Walnut Eton College captains chairs each one carved with EC in the back rest A substantial find, I have never seen one of these let alone a suite of six, perfect for a gentleman’s club or the perfect height for luxury dining chairs In terms of the condition they are circa 1860, hand carved from solid slabs of walnut, they have traces of the original varnish which has worn away over the decades to reveal the glorious timber patina. They have various small repairs here and there as you would expect Dimensions Height 78cm, seat height 41cm Width 58cm Depth 61cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point Eton college has been attended by some important people over the years to include Hugh Laurie, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. ... Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex...
Walnut
$2,698Sale Price|60% Off
H 30.71 in W 25.99 in D 32.68 in
Set of Two Reconstruction Walnut Armchairs, 1940s, France
By Francis Jourdain, Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Captivating Set of Two French Reconstruction Walnut Armchairs with Colonial Inspiration - Preserved Authentic Patina Presenting a stunning set of two French Reconstruction armchairs...
Cane, Walnut
$2,400 / set
H 31.5 in W 22.5 in D 24 in
Set of Four Mid-Century Milo Baughman Style Cantilever Chairs
By Milo Baughman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This gorgeous set of four vintage modern chairs feature a heavy cantilever chrome frame with padded armrests. A sleek design with an overstuffed seat and backrest ensuring optimal co...
Chrome
$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 Conoid Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George Nakashima Conoid Chair Walnut Construction An early example (1964) Signed with original Clients name, copy of original order card ...
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Lounge Chair with Spindle Back, 1950s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This striking mid-century modern lounge chair showcases the timeless balance of sculptural form and functional comfort that defines the best of 1950s–1960s design. Crafted with a sol...
Fabric, Walnut
George Nakashima Captain's Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George Nakashima Captain's Chair Beautiful original Dark Surface wonderful spline details Clients name to underside of the chair
Walnut
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...
Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 39.5 in W 25.5 in D 26 in
George Nakashima, Armchair, White Bouclé, Walnut, for Widdicomb, America 1960s
By George Nakashima, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in High Point, NC
An arm chair / side chair, designed by George Nakashima, produced by Widdicomb Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, America, 1960s. Features finely turned walnut, overstuffe...
Bouclé, Walnut
Sold
H 39.5 in W 25.5 in D 26 in
George Nakashima, Armchair, White Bouclé, Walnut, for Widdicomb, America 1960s
By George Nakashima, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in High Point, NC
An arm chair / side chair, designed by George Nakashima, produced by Widdicomb Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, America, 1960s. Features finely turned walnut, overstuffe...
Bouclé, Walnut
George Nakashima Studio, Armchair, US, 2021
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Berlin, DE
George Nakashima studio, armchair US 2021 signed.
Walnut
Set of Four George Nakashima Black Walnut Captain's Chairs
By George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An accomplished set of four captain chairs from American midcentury craftsman George Nakashima. The black walnut chair has a curved, peaked backres...
Walnut
Sold
H 33.47 in W 33.08 in L 33.47 in
George Nakashima Walnut Lounge Chair, Sap, Arm Right 1975 with COA
By George Nakashima
Located in Uccle, BE
George Nakashima walnut lounge chair, Ordered by Hahn family in 1974 and supplied by George Nakashima in 1975. With a copy of original documents, invoice of the COA and COA signed ...
Wood
Sold
H 28.5 in W 23 in D 20 in
Early Set of Six Spindle Back Captain's Dining Chairs by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A lovely set of six captain's chairs designed and produced by George Nakashima from Nakashima studio in New Hope, PA. These feature solid black walnut with hickory spindles. Nice ear...
Hickory, Walnut
Sold
H 30 in W 22.5 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Spindle Back George Nakashima Straight Chair for Knoll
By George Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A classic George Nakashima design, the spindle back straight chair. This early 1960s example is made of cherry with signature saddle seat. Probably refinished at some point.
Wood
George Nakashima 'New' Armchair
By George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
One 'New' armchair by George Nakashima in walnut and hickory, 1970. Provenance: private family collection, acquired from George Nakashima 1970.
Hickory, Walnut
George Nakashima Captain Chair in Black Walnut
By George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An accomplished example from American midcentury craftsman George Nakashima. The black walnut Captain chair has a curved, peaked backrest atop carved spindles. The seat is sculpted f...
Walnut
George Nakashima Single Board Rocking Armchair
By George Nakashima
Located in Amarillo, TX
George Nakashima rocking armchair with single board seat New Hope, Pennsylvania USA, 1990 American black walnut, hickory Measures: 35 H x 26.5 ...
Hickory, Walnut
George Nakashima Grass Seat Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in Stockton, NJ
A George Nakashima grass seat chair in American black walnut walnut frame, 1959.
Walnut