For nearly two decades, Mira Nakashima worked in the shadow of her legendary father, master woodworker George Nakashima. She never intended to follow in his footsteps, but she was persuaded to join him in his woodworking business after earning a graduate degree in architecture from Tokyo’s Waseda University.
“My father was an architect who went to Harvard, didn’t like it and switched to MIT,” Nakashima explains.
“I went to Harvard and loved it. He encouraged me to study architecture, so I did. I would rather have studied music. I was in a dance group and a choral group. After college, my godmother took me on a tour of Zen monasteries in Japan. I went to live there with an aunt to master Japanese, flower arranging and the tea ceremony. Then I went to Waseda University, learning architecture by the atelier system, where you actually build things. I married a fellow student and we began having children. After we moved to Pittsburgh and had more babies, my father asked me if I wanted to come ‘home,’ promising to build us a house near him. My husband liked the idea, so we went. I began to do part-time work for my father. It was just a job. Then my husband and I parted, so I went to work with Dad. It was never planned.”
That part-time position turned into a full-time job, and when George Nakashima died, in 1990, Mira was faced with a choice: continue the family legacy or shutter the business. As news of her father’s death spread, clients started canceling orders, fearing that the studio’s innovation would wane without him at the helm.
Skeptics proved wrong. Mira Nakashima continued to execute her father’s iconic designs — such as his Conoid chair — while also creating new ones of her own that take advantage of and highlight the unique characteristics and allure of her, and her father’s, favored material.
“Keisho means ‘continuation’ in Japanese,” she says. “I am just as interested in traditional lines, classic proportions and fine wood specimens, but I work out my designs differently. The boards tell you what they want to reveal.”
Shop authentic Mira Nakashima tables, case pieces and more on 1stDibs.
Pair Mira Nakashima Conoid Lounge Chairs After George Nakashima, 2000
By George Nakashima, Mira Nakashima
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair Mira Nakashima conoid lounge chairs after George Nakashima 2000.
Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Conoid Bench Signed Mira Nakashima, 1992
By George Nakashima, Mira Nakashima
Located in New York, NY
George Nakashima Studio Conoid bench signed Mira Nakashima 1992. The bench is walnut has hickory spindles and rosewood butterfly joints. This bench was commissioned for a private col...
Hickory, Walnut
Rocking Chair by Mira Nakashima
By Mira Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
A rocking chair in black walnut made be the Nakashima studio and signed / dated by Mira Nakashima, 1993.
Walnut
Mira Nakashima Mid Century Wooden Dining Chairs in Walnut Produced in USA, 1960s
By Mira Nakashima
Located in Stockholm, SE
A very rare and great set of four mid century wooden tripod dining chairs in American walnut by Mira Nakashima produced as a custom order by George Nakashima Woodworkers in Pennsylva...
Walnut
2001 Rare Set of Three Mira Nakashima Custom Counter Stools in Black Walnut 27in
By Mira Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a rare set of three American Black Walnut Counter Stools, designed and created by Mira Nakashima for a client in 2001. The wood for ...
$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
Reyes Counter Stool in Walnut with Black Leather
By Martell Woodworks
Located in Mendocino, CA
This is a walnut counter stool with a stretched leather seat and back. The frame is solid walnut with a gentle radius at the interior joints and ...
Brass
Modern Counter Stools in Walnut, Cicely Collection
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
These walnut counter height cicely stools are beautifully constructed from solid walnut in Ohio, USA. This stool was style-spotted ...
Walnut
Clarkester Counter Stool Walnut Black
Located in Cincinnati, US
A perfect mix of Scandinavian inspiration and industrial flare that cohesively come together to make a statement piece which embodies simplicity, functionality and elegance. The ...
Steel
Beachcomber Counter Stool in Walnut
By Greg Mitchell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Light and strong, the Beachcomber Counter Stool evokes the sight of an old wooden single hull; it's lean, sturdy mast together with the rigging worthy of the high seas. Constructed of hand shaped legs and stretchers, each piece is carefully fit and pinned with hardwood pegs and wedges to last for generations, much like the sea craft that inspire them. For every bar stool, we start with scrupulously chosen lumber; each board must consist of straight grain and have absolutely no defects. This is not just for aesthetics, the clear grain gives the stool its strength. The boards are then milled to dimension and shaped by hand using a combination of machines and time honored hand tools. They are then given a polish by taking thin shavings with well sharpened planes and spokeshaves; rarely is sandpaper used in our shop. Once assembled, the Beachcomber bar stool...
Maple, Walnut
$3,000 / item
H 38.5 in W 18.75 in D 21 in
Craftassociates Counter Stools, Cane Counter Height Stools, Walnut and Leather
By Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Craftassociates counter stools, cane counter height stools, walnut and leather, Craftassociates counter stools, cane counter height stools, walnut and l...
Walnut, Cane
Rocking Chair by Tendo Mokko Japan
By Tendo Mokko
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Heron rocking chair and matching footrest / ottoman designed by Mitsuwasa Sugasawa made of bent laminated oak and manufactured by Tendo Mokko Japan. Great example of Japanese mid century design...
Oak
$1,250
H 12 in W 44.5 in D 12 in
Vintage American Hand-Carved Live-Edge Studio Bench - Manner of George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Morristown, NJ
Beautifully sculptural live-edge bench, hand-crafted from a single solid slab of American white oak with an organically contoured seat and four splayed legs. The asymmetrical form ce...
Wood, Oak
$4,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30.75 in W 24 in D 27 in
Pair of Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Scoop Lounge Chairs
By Milo Baughman
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Pair of Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin scoop lounge chairs.
Chrome
$1,650 / set
H 27 in W 17 in D 13.5 in
Jasper Morrison Hi Pad Counter Stools for Cappellini - Set of Three
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Miami, FL
Set of Three Hi Pad counter stools with foot rests designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini. The Hi Pad stool features a seat in beech plywood padded with multi-density polyurethan...
Steel
Walnut Counter Height Cicely Stools
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
These Walnut Counter Height Cicely stools are beautifully constructed from solid walnut in Ohio, USA. This stool was style-spotted ...
Walnut
Set of 2 Contemporary Cane Back Counter Stool in Ebony
By Duistt
Located in New York, NY
With a hint of retro, the design of this stool is inspired from the 1950s and the modernist movement of that period. W 51cm 20” D 56,5cm 22” H 83cm 32.7” SH 60cm 23.6” Materials:...
Brass
Sold
H 27.5 in W 22.5 in D 18 in
2014 Set of Six Mira Nakashima Grass Seated Dining Chairs in Black Walnut
By Mira Nakashima, George Nakashima Woodworkers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of six Grass Seated Dining Chairs, originally designed by George Nakashima in the 1940s. These particular examples are signed by Mira Nakashima and dated with 2014 as p...
Seagrass, Walnut
Mira Nakashima, New Chair Rocker, 1991
By Mira Nakashima
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Mira Nakashima (born 1942) New Chair Rocker, Nakashima Studio, USA 1991 American black walnut and hickory 84cm high, 71cm deep, 47.5cm wide, seat height 39.5cm Signed and dated to un...
Hickory, Walnut
Sold
H 33.47 in W 85.04 in D 32.68 in
Mira Nakashima Studio Conoid Bench in Walnut and Hickory, Mira Nakashima 1995
By Mira Nakashima, George Nakashima
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Mira Nakashima, 1995 Conoid Bench American Black Walnut and Hickory signed and dated to underside 'Nakashima November 1995' 216cm wide, 85cm high, 83cm deep The Conoid bench was par...
Hickory, Walnut
Nakashima Studio Conoid Chairs
By Mira Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Nakashima Studio Conoid Chairs by Mira Nakashima A matched pair produced in 2000. clean original surface
Walnut
Nakashima Studio Conoid Chair
By Mira Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Nakashima studio Conoid Chair Produced in 2000 Signed and dated Clean original surface
Walnut
Grass Seated Dining Chairs by George Nakashima Studio, US, 2022
By Mira Nakashima, George Nakashima
Located in Berlin, DE
grass-seated chair, designed by George Nakashima and manufactured by George Nakashima Studio in the US. The square seat typically found in walnut and woven sea-grass. One chair is in...
Seagrass, Walnut
Nakashima Studios Slab Arm Rocker
By Mira Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Nakashima Studio Rocker dated Sept. 26,2000 below.
Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Chaise Lounge Long Chair
By Mira Nakashima, George Nakashima
Located in New York, NY
George Nakashima Studio chaise lounge long chair with free-form arm. The chair is walnut with sea grass details and woven webbing. Sold with a certificate of authenticity.
Seagrass, Walnut
Nakashima Studios Conoid Lounge Chair
By Mira Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The classic lounge chair from Nakashima Studios. Original surface and cushions. Signed and dated September 26 ,2000.
Walnut
Mira Nakashima Conoid Bench in Black Walnut, 2001
By George Nakashima Studio, Mira Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
Exquisitely crafted black walnut conoid bench with hand-tooled hickory spindles and a solid rosewood butterfly joint fabricated in the George Nakashima studio by his daughter and pro...
Hickory, Walnut
Sold
H 34.26 in W 21.66 in D 16.54 in
Pair of Nakashima Studio Mira Nakashima Mira Bar Stools in Walnut, US, 2021
By Mira Nakashima, George Nakashima
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Nakashima Studio Mira Nakashima Mira bar stools in walnut, US 2021 The chairs are in black walnut and signed.
Wood, Walnut
Sold
H 31.5 in W 82.68 in D 32.29 in
Conoid Bench by Mira Nakashima based on a design by George Nakashima, USA
By Mira Nakashima, George Nakashima
Located in Berlin, DE
Conoid bench in walnut, US 2021, by Mira Nakashima based on a George Nakashima design. The Bench is made in black walnut with hickory spindles and is s...
Wood, Walnut