Michael Coffey Seating
While he may not be as well known as the designers who influenced him, master woodworker Michael Coffey creates tables, case pieces and other hand-carved furnishings that are wholly sculptural and characterized by striking, unexpected forms — they’re provocative statement pieces in any interior.
Born in 1928 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — where like-minded designers Paul Evans, George Nakashima and Phillip Lloyd Powell shared a studio — Coffey loved working with his hands as a child. However, a sense of youthful idealism led him to pursue a master’s degree in social group work before he endeavored to design on a full-time basis. It wasn't until 1966, at the age of 38, that he started teaching himself woodworking. Coffey was inspired by innovative artisans in the furniture-making field such as Nakashima, Wharton Esherick and Wendell Castle, all of whom are credited as pioneers in the world of art furniture.
In 1972, Coffey earned his first major design commission in the form of a collection for Directional Furniture, a manufacturer that forged an enduring partnership with Paul Evans and a favorite brand of mid-century modern enthusiasts. He continued to collaborate with Directional, working in mahogany and rare Mozambique woods, and integrating abstract carving motifs in his cabinet fronts and table pedestals. Soon afterward, Coffey established a woodworking school and apprenticeships at his Vermont farm. In 1986, he moved to Massachusetts, and, in 1991, he founded a second woodworking school, this one much larger.
Coffey sold his successful Massachusetts school to his staff in 1997 in order to focus on his furniture, as his reputation and client base had grown considerably. His profile reached greater heights in 2003, when a rocking chair called Aphrodite that Coffey had designed more than two decades earlier sold at auction for nearly $50,000. The sale sparked the interest of buyers and collectors worldwide and resulted in a slew of new commissions. Today Coffey continues to make sculptural furniture with a team of woodworkers in his Massachusetts studio.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Michael Coffey tables, seating, bookcases and more.
Early 2000s American Modern Michael Coffey Seating
Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Michael Coffey Seating
Walnut
1970s American Organic Modern Vintage Michael Coffey Seating
Lucite, Plexiglass, Wood
1990s American Michael Coffey Seating
Aluminum, Steel
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Michael Coffey Seating
Walnut
1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Michael Coffey Seating
Cane, Birch
21st Century and Contemporary American Michael Coffey Seating
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Michael Coffey Seating
Wicker, Cane, Bentwood
2010s American Organic Modern Michael Coffey Seating
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Michael Coffey Seating
Linen, Birch
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Michael Coffey Seating
Leather, Wood, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Organic Modern Michael Coffey Seating
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Michael Coffey Seating
Bouclé, Walnut
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Michael Coffey Seating
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Michael Coffey Seating
Velvet, Walnut
