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.
George Nakashima Walnut Two-Piece Sofa, Mid-Century Modern, USA, 1962
By George Nakashima
Located in Astoria, NY
George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990), American Walnut Two-Piece Sofa, 1962, with spindle back, turned wood legs, four green cushions and original drawing. Overall: 30.5" H x 112.5...
Textile, Walnut
1954 George Nakashima Studio 72 inch Three Seat Slatted Sofa / Settee
By George Nakashima Woodworkers, George Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a rare settee crafted by George Nakashima in 1954, acquired from the family of the original owners. This is an iconic example of the slatted series, which in many cases was i...
Fabric, Foam, 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 George Nakashima, Knoll
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
$18,340
H 35.44 in W 72.84 in D 41.34 in
Vintage George Smith Kilim Upholstered Three Seat Couch or Sofa Feather Cushions
By George Smith
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original George Smith three seat sofa with the period Kilim upholstery and feather filled cushions A stunning sofa which is one of G...
Upholstery
$13,585
H 34.65 in W 71.66 in D 39.38 in
STUNNING ViNTAGE GEORGE SMITH MADE FOR LIBERTY'S LONDON KILIM THREE SEAT SOFA
By George Smith
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning original George Smith three seat sofa with the period Kilim upholstery and feather filled cush...
Upholstery, Beech
Ole Wanscher Three-Seat Sofa
By France & Søn, Ole Wanscher
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ole Wanscher three-seat sofa new upholstered with light grey 100 % New Zealand Divina wool. Made of solid mahogany. Model Senator, made by France & Son.
Wool, Mahogany
$9,283
H 20.48 in W 82.68 in D 31.89 in
Studio Simon Minimalist Black Leather Three-Seater “Simone” Sofa, Italy, 1975
By Studio Simon
Located in Vicenza, IT
Three-seater “Simone” sofa, designed and manufactured by Studio Simon in 1975. The structure is made of black lacquered wood. A black leather big seat completes the sofa. The minim...
Leather, Foam, Beech
$2,995
H 31.5 in W 122 in D 39 in
Mid-Century Modern to Modern & Hollywood Regency 2 Piece Angled Sectional Sofa
Located in Topeka, KS
Stunning Mid-Century Modern to modern & Hollywood Regency white fabric two piece angled sectional sofa with square tapered wood legs. Beautiful c...
Fabric, Wood
Hans J. Wegner Three-Seat Sofa
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner three-seat sofa new upholstered with Hallingdal from Kvadrat. Original Epeda cushions. Frame in solid oak. Model 236/3, produced by GETAMA.
Wool, Oak
Joaquim Tenreiro Three-Seat Sofa, Brazil, 1954
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joaquim Tenreiro Three seats sofa Manufactured by Tenreiro Moveis e Decoraçaos Brazil, 1954 Jacaranda, upholstery From the archives of Side Gallery, Barcelona Measurements: ...
Fabric, Jacaranda
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 32 in W 86.5 in D 34.75 in
Mid-Century Modern "Cloud" Walnut Sofa by Adrian Pearsall
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Elevate your living space with this extraordinary vintage Cloud sofa, an iconic creation by celebrated architect and designer Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates. Handmade in the Un...
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Two-Seater Sofa by Jens Risom, Walnut Frame, 1955
By Jens Risom
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A small, vintage Mid-Century Modern American two seater sofa or settee with four pillows, designed and produced by Jens Risom Design, Model U-151, in good condition. The seat, back rest of the divano is slightly inclinated with a button-tufted back and two straight arms, supported by a hand crafted Walnut frame, standing of four small curved wooden feet. Newly upholstered in an orange velvet. Wear consistent with age and use, circa 1955, New York, United States. Seat: 18.5" H x 44.5" W x 19.5" D Pillows: 20" H x 20" W x 7" D Jens Risom was a Danish, American furniture designer born in 1916, in Copenhagen, Denmark and passed away in 2016, in New Canaan, United States. He finished his apprenticeship as a designer at the Copenhagen School...
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
Two-Piece Mid-Century Teak Sofa with New Sage Green Upholstery
Located in Germantown, MD
A newly reupholstered two-Piece Mid-Century modern teak sofa with New Sage Green Cushions. Comes with over 3 yards of upholstery textile. This mid century style sofa is crafted with...
Upholstery, Teak
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
Sold
H 31.5 in W 78.5 in D 35 in
George Nakashima “Cushion” three seat walnut sofa with arms, USA, 1961
By George Nakashima
Located in Skokie, IL
George Nakashima “Cushion” three seat walnut sofa with arms, USA, 1961 The sofa frame is in exceptional original condition free of repairs. The upho...
Steel
Nakashima Cushion Sofa or Settee
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
American black walnut and upholstery Original surface Provenance available to purchaser circa 1960.
Walnut
George Nakashima Cushion Sofa
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
American black walnut and upholstery. Original surface circa 1960.
Walnut
George Nakashima Walnut Sofa, 1961
By George Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
A walnut, one arm sofa by George Nakashima, 1961. Sold with a copy of the original receipt.
Walnut
George Nakashima Sofa for Widdicomb
By George Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare sofa designed by George Nakashima for Widdicomb. Newly upholstered in Holly Hunt fabric.
Walnut
Nakashima for Widdicomb Daybed
By George Nakashima
Located in New York, NY
Hard to find iconic design, daybed by George Nakashima for Widdicomb. This example is in original condition, it shows some minor cosmetic wear,...
Walnut
Conoid Bench by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Iconic 7ft. walnut Conoid bench by George Nakashima circa 1977. Seat with a Heart-cut slab with figured-grain, two free edges and large knot. Sold with a copy of the original order c...
Spindel Back Settee by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
A walnut spindle back sofa by George Nakashima. Sold with copy of original invoice. Matching chair also available.
George Nakashima Conoid Bench
By George Nakashima
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Iconic and finely detailed example of Nakashima's Conoid bench in American black walnut. The seat with a single rosewood butterfly, fissures, knots , free...
Hickory, Rosewood, Walnut
George Nakashima 1961 Sofa with Arms
By George Nakashima
Located in New York, NY
Sofa with arms in walnut, slatted back with loose cushions, with provenance.
Walnut
George Nakashima Plank Daybed
By George Nakashima
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Single-slab back with expressive sap grain, free edges and knot details atop a platform base with through-tenon joinery. Sold with copies of original drawings and correspondence from...
Upholstery, Walnut
Walnut armless settee sofa with cushions George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Atlanta, GA
A custom made armless settee purchased directly from George Nakashima Studio at New Hope PA. With two loose cushions newly recovered in an ivory color wool fabric "Classic Boucle" by...
Walnut, Foam, Fabric