Chinese artist and designer Robert Kuo is known worldwide for his modern furniture and objets d’art that merge ancient tradition and popular decorative styles such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau.
Born in Beijing, Kuo moved with his family to Taiwan in 1947. While he never received a formal art education, Kuo gained technical expertise working as an apprentice at his father’s cloisonné workshop from the age of 15.
In 1973, Kuo emigrated to the U.S. and opened his own cloisonné studio in Beverly Hills, California. There, he utilized the time-honored skills he learned with his father for a wide range of uniquely striking vases, sculptures and bowls. His Goldfish bowl — a technical masterpiece of vibrant colors and cloisonné designs that appear to float against a black enamel background — was acquired by the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for its permanent collection.
In 1984, Kuo opened a showroom in West Hollywood, where it became a favorite among interior designers for the sculptural and often whimsical coffee tables, stools and table lamps on offer. A year later, Kuo shifted his attention toward repoussé — a technique that sees decorative reliefs hammered onto the surface of metals. Examples of Kuo’s repoussé pieces include his black lacquer Cloud chair and Oval coffee table in antique copper.
In 2014, a retrospective exhibition celebrating Kuo’s 30th anniversary as a designer was held at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles and his New York studio. In 2016, he also hosted an exhibition in his New York studio titled “Robert Kuo Selects: Los Angeles Studio Made, Found and Represented Artists,” showcasing his works as well as pieces by prominent L.A. designers Blackman Cruz, Dana John and JF Chen. In 2019, Italian artist Mattia Biagi’s L.A. exhibition “Metropolitan Sets” included Kuo’s Back Rest chair and brass Facet Seat.
Today, Kuo’s works can be seen at the National History Museum in Taipei, Singapore Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco’s Hotel Palomar, the Las Vegas MGM Grand and the Four Seasons in New York.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Robert Kuo decorative objects, seating, lighting and more.
Contemporary Repousse Tomato Sculpture in Dark Antique Copper by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tomato sculpture Dark Antique Copper Hand Repoussé Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the tradition...
Copper
Contemporary Hand Carved Crystal Bi Sculpture w/ Steel Stand by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bi Sculpture on steel stand (medium) Crystal Hand carved Steel Contemporary sculpture Limited edition Crystal shapes and inclusions vary.
Crystal
Rounded Zong Sculpture, Nephrite Jade by Robert Kuo, Hand Carved, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rounded zong sculpture Nephrite jade Hand carved Stainless steel Hand repousse Limited edition Each individual jade vary in shapes and color Known as the “Stone of Heaven,” ...
Jade
Contemporary Black Lacquer Banana Leaf Sculpture by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Banana Leaf Sculpture/ Tray Black Lacquer Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang ...
Copper
Scholar Rock, Nephrite Jade by Robert Kuo, Hand Carved, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Scholar rock Nephrite jade Hand carved Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Jade color, size, shape and inclusions all vary. Known as the “Stone o...
Jade
Robert Kuo Red Tree Trunk Sculpture
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand blown glass and metal sculpture by Robert Kuo, c.2000s, USA. The globe was produced using the peking glass method which originated in China. The red colored glass is blown into ...
Metal, Silver Plate
Contemporary Double Ring Link Sculpture in Smoke Crystal by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Double Ring Link Sculpture Smoke Crystal Hand Carved Limited Edition Crystal Inclusions vary Carved using jade carving techniques. Each piece is individually crafted and is unique.
Crystal
Smoke Crystal Ice Sculpture by Rober Kuo, Hand Carved, in Stock
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Smoke crystal ice sculpture Smoke crystal Hand carved In stock.
Crystal
Standing Gourd Sculpture, Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Standing gourd Cream lacquer Copper Hand repousse Limited edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are made with at lea...
Copper
Cascade Design Grey Peking Glass Disc on Stand by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carved Cascade design disc on stand. Grey Peking glass hand carved brass base hand made Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Peking glass refers to the high-quality glass art produced by the imperial and commercial workshops in Beijing during the Ching Dynasty, China 1644-1911. Since then, ‘Peking glass’ has become synonymous with the Chinese technique of glassmaking. Robert Kuo glass...
Brass
Contemporary Hand Carved Jade Lima Bean Sculpture by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lima bean sculpture Nephrite Jade Hand carved Limited edition Known as the “Stone of Heaven,” Nephrite Jade is prized for both its aesthetic beaut...
Jade
Contemporary Long Han Gourd Sculpture in Cream Lacquer and Copper by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Long Han Gourd Sculpture Cream Lacquer Antique Copper Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-...
Copper
Contemporary Lima Bean Sculpture in Brass by Robert Kuo, Hand Repoussé, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lima bean sculpture Brass Hand Repoussé Limited edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. The ...
Brass
Zong Bi Sculpture in Han Bai Yu Stone on Steel Stand by Robert Kuo, Limited Ed
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Zong Bi sculpture on steel stand Han Bai Yu stone Hand carved Limited edition.
Stone
Contemporary Sitting Rabbit Sculpture in Antique Copper by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rabbit (Sitting) tabletop sculpture Dark antique copper Hand Repoussé Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. R...
Copper
$15,838
H 6.3 in W 14.57 in D 10.24 in
Torc, a limited edition patinated bronze sculpture by Vivienne Foley
By Vivienne Foley
Located in London, GB
'Torc' is a limited-edition (3 + 2AP) patinated bronze sculpture by the British artist Vivienne Foley. Two have been sold and so there is only one piece left from the edition. Vivie...
Bronze
$960Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.375 in W 5.5 in D 2 in
Antique Signed Japanese Articulated Crab Sculpture in Copper Jizai Okimono
Located in San Diego, CA
Antique signed Japanese articulated crab sculpture (Jizai OKimono) in copper, circa 1910s. The piece is well detailed and patinated.
Copper
Malachite Rock on Display Stand Chinese Scholar Stone
Located in Atlanta, GA
A malachite rock specimen with intense green and black colors fitted on a wood stand and displayed as a Chinese scholar stone. The gemstone in t...
Stone
Pair of Beautiful Carved Sculpture Lapis and Jade
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Pair of beautiful carved sculptures in Lapis and green Jade produced in China. Italian private collection.
Amethyst
Hand-Carved Indonesian Stone Sculpture on Metal Stand, Modern Design
Located in New York, NY
A tall stone sculpture hand-carved in Indonesia, mounted on a black metal cube stand. Narrow slate. The sculpture itself is 10" Wide x 5" deep x ...
Stone, Metal
$1,800 / item
H 27.5 in Dm 10 in
Standing Gourd Sculpture, Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Standing gourd Cream lacquer Copper Hand repousse Limited edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are made with at lea...
Copper
Lladró Goddess Lakshmi Sculpture, Limited Edition
By Lladro
Located in New York City, NY
Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu divinity of fortune and prosperity, is portrayed once again by Lladró artists, this time with a specific focus on the details. The wealth of the ornamentat...
Porcelain
$5,700
H 23 in Dm 20 in
Contemporary Apple w/ Worm Sculpture in Antique Copper and Brass by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Apple with worm sculpture Antique copper Brass Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammer...
Brass, Copper
$3,193
H 48.3 in W 11.7 in D 11.7 in
Antique Early 1900s Majestic Hand Carved Oak Display Sculpture Stand / Pedestal
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning classical style display column with a wonderful and warm patina. This marvelous piece of early 20th century workmanship is another fine example of the quality that was made in those days. All handcrafted out of oak and beautifully patinated from top to bottom this antique stand is a real eyecatcher and over the many decades the patina has only made this antique more attractive. This highly stylish, strong and very stable stand will easily take one of your heavier sculptures as well. The combination of the circular, heavy stem with its classical carvings and cannelures and the square base and table top make this stylish antique an absolute joy to own and look at. Apart from a few minor imperfections, this antique display stand...
Wood, Oak
Hand-Carved Marble Ring Sculpture on Stand, Organic Modern, Indonesia
Located in New York, NY
A hand-carved Indonesian marble ring on stand, contemporary. 10" Diameter, 14" High (mounted). Stand base: 7" W x 4" D
Marble
$2,400 / item
H 11 in W 14.5 in D 11.75 in
Bell Pepper, Red Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bell pepper Red lacquer Antique copper Hand repousse Limited Edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B....
Copper
Contemporary Nephrite Jade Double Ring Link Sculpture III by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Double Ring Link Sculpture Nephrite Jade Hand Carved Limited Edition Contemporary JADE LINK LABELED: JL12 Please note: Each individual jade vary in shapes and color please ...
Jade
Contemporary Nephrite Jade Double Ring Link Sculpture by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Double Ring Link Sculpture Nephrite Jade Hand Carved Limited Edition Contemporary JADE LINK LABELED: JL01 Please note: Each individual jade vary in shapes and color please ...
Jade
Crystal Sculpture by Robert Kuo, Hand-Carved, One of a Kind
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Crystal sculpture Crystal Hand-carved Steel base Repoussé One of a kind.
Crystal, Steel
Water Lily Leaf Sculpture by Robert Kuo, One of a Kind
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Water lily leaf sculpture. Cream lacquer. Antique copper finish on stem. Hand Repoussé. Lacquer over copper. One of a kind contemporary decorative sculpture/accessory. Repous...
Copper