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.
Michael Coffey, Satan's Tongue, Side Table, United States, 1982
By Michael Coffey
Located in New York, NY
Michael Coffey blurs the line between carpenter and sculptor. A self-taught master with a career over fifty years in the making, Coffey has consistently broken the boundaries of styl...
Wood, Padouk
$5,149 / item
H 23.5 in Dm 16 in
"Jean-Michael Frank Attributed Burled Walnut Side Table, Modern Design"
By Jean-Michel Frank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Perfectly scaled and gorgeous in form, this burled walnut side table makes a statement wherever it is. The burled walnut veneer gives this ta...
Brass
$5,368 / item
H 20.08 in W 21.66 in D 15.75 in
United Side Table in Stainless Steel Brass and Brown Glass
Located in Paris, FR
Side table united in stainless steel with brown glass top with gold trim and gold plated tray. Four neat gold plated, glossy black legs with brass...
Gold Plate, Brass, Stainless Steel
Patinated Cast Iron Side Table, United States, 20th C
Located in New York City, NY
Solid cast iron side table with complex patination and unique texture variations.
Iron
$3,349
H 29.93 in W 31.89 in D 22.45 in
Michael Thonet, bentwood 19th century side table No. 1, Austria
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Michael Thonet
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
Elevate your living space with the exquisite charm of Michael Thonet’s 19th century side table No. 1, seamlessly blending Austrian craftsmanship with timeless elegance. Its intricate...
Bentwood
$1,234Sale Price|20% Off
H 27.17 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Thonet - by Michael Thonet - Side table - Beech
By Michael Thonet, Thonet
Located in Budapest, HU
Thonet - Michael Thonet - Side Table - Beech Austria, Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) - Circa 1900-1910 This beautiful side table, designed by the renowned Michael Thonet, exemplifies the ...
Beech
$1,295
H 22 in W 28 in D 28 in
Michael Taylor for Baker Chinoiserie Rosewood Cocktail Table or Side Table
By Michael Taylor, Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie two-tier cocktail table or occasional side table By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, "Far East" Collection USA, 1...
Rosewood, Walnut
Michael Aram “Enchanted Forest” Side Table
By Michael Aram
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An original "Enchanted Forest" side table by acclaimed American designer Michael Aram, crafted in 1993 from patinated aluminum. This evocative piece seamlessly blends fine craftsmans...
Metal
$1,494
H 12.21 in Dm 13 in
Mid-Century Tony Paul Stool or Side Table in Wicker, Wood, United States, 1950s
By Tony Paul
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous Tony Paul wicker stool or stylish side table, produced in the United States in the 50s. This iconic and sturdy stool is in fabulous condition and with a charming warm color...
Wicker, Rattan, Beech
$2,695 / set
H 14.25 in W 17.63 in D 17.63 in
Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie Side Tables
By Baker Furniture Company, Michael Taylor
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of mid-century modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie occasional side tables By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, "Far East Collection" USA, Circa 1960s Carved sol...
Elm, Burl
Kent Coffey Perspecta Mid Century Side Tables - Pair
By Kent-Coffey
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Kent Coffey Perspecta Mid Century Side Tables - Pair Each side table measures: 30 wide x 24.75 deep x 20.25 inches high Good Vintage Condition - Smalls Scratches and Nicks Througho...
Wood
Pair Midcentury Kent Coffey End Tables or Nightstands
By James Mont
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair Midcentury Kent Coffey End Tables or Nightstands, American, circa 1950s. They would look great in a black, white, or Chinese red color lacquer, or in your wood stain color of ch...
Brass
$5,000 / item
H 18 in W 16 in D 16 in
Metal Rock Blue Side Table/Table Base Aluminum Foam by Michael Young
By Michael Young
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The work is customizable in size, color and shape. About the designer: Michael Young was born in 1966 in Sunderland, a small industrial city in the North-East of England. He gra...
Aluminum