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.
Arm Rest Chair, Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Arm rest chair Black lacquer Handmade Metal base Limited Edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. T...
Metal
Contemporary Arm Rest Chair in Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Arm rest chair Cream Lacquer Metal base Contemporary Hand made Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C...
Metal
1980s Limited Edition Black Lacquer and Copper Table by Robert Kuo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Limited edition lacquer and repousse' table/ bench by Robert Kuo for Maguire.
Copper
Marshan Rattan Arm Chair in Brown By Creel and Gow
By Creel and Gow
Located in New York, NY
Marshan rattan armchair by Creel and Gow, in brown: Measures: 22" x 21" x 37" H- Seat Height: 18" Introducing Creel and Gow's exclusive wicker and rattan collection, designed by Mar...
Wicker, Rattan
Valmont Arm Chair by Bourgeois Boheme Atelier. Art Deco Style
By Bourgeois Boheme Atelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic French 1940s Style Club Chairs. Large scale with a deep seat . Ideal to lounge with a large arm you can use as a side table for your lab top or magazine. The chairs have a ch...
Upholstery
Marshan Rattan Arm Chair in Green By Creel and Gow
By Creel and Gow
Located in New York, NY
Marshan rattan armchair by Creel and Gow, in Green: Measures: 22" x 21" x 37" H- Seat Height: 18" Introducing Creel and Gow's exclusive wicker and rattan collection, designed by Mar...
Wicker, Rattan
$55,967
H 36.23 in W 23.63 in D 18.51 in
20th Century black chair "Leda" by Salvador Dali spanish design limited edition
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
Located in Barcelona, ES
Armchairm model "Leda" by Salvador Dali Black edition MATERIALS AND FINISHES Structure in black patina cast brass without varnish. MEASUREMENTS 60 x 47 x h.92 cm Taken from Dalí’s painting “Femme...
Brass
$3,800 / set
H 35 in W 22 in D 23 in
Gorgeous Karl Springer Style Regency Armchairs in Cream Lacquer - 4 Available
By Karl Springer
Located in Atlanta, GA
Stunning, modern Regency armchairs in the style of Karl Springer. Restored in cream lacquer, cork fabric with distressed nail head detail. Total of four (4) are available. The price noted is for a pair.TOM ROBINSON MODERN...
Wood
$1,735 / item
H 32.2 in W 21.2 in D 20.8 in
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Sugiloo Chair in Black Lacquer
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Adolf Loos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The rigorous style of Michael Anastassiades defines the new SUGILOO bent wood chair with wood or upholstered seat, proposed with and without wooden bac...
Wood
Valmont Arm Chair by Bourgeois Boheme Atelier
By Bourgeois Boheme Atelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic French 1940s Style Club Chairs. Large scale with a deep seat . Ideal to lounge with a large arm you can use as a side table for your lab top or magazine. The chairs have a ch...
Upholstery
$6,693 / item
H 12.6 in W 22.05 in D 24.02 in
Marie Antoinette Chair in Cream Shagreen and Bronze-Patina Brass by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Marie Antoinette chair...
Brass
$2,633
H 29.93 in W 27.56 in D 21.66 in
Gaulino Easy Chair by Oscar Tysquets black lacquered ashwood, contemporary
By Oscar Tusquets Blanca
Located in Barcelona, ES
“The challenge was to design a light armchair, not too high, using wood and leather. At the beginning, it was going in a different direction, but after making various models, prototypes and considering BD’s design team’s different perspectives on the matter, the result has inevitably drawn toward what is now the Gaulino chair, which was designed nearly 30 years ago. We did not envision it so, but the ergonomics and the aesthetic coherence of this piece has taken us toward a solution much like the Gaulino chair, an heiress of Gaudí and Mollino, and have decided to conserve the name.” OSCAR TUSQUETS The Gaulino Easy Chair...
Hide, Ash
$1,736
H 32.68 in W 165.36 in D 20.48 in
Oscar Tusquets, Gaulinetta Chair, Black, Lacquered, LIMITED EDITION
By Oscar Tusquets Blanca
Located in Barcelona, ES
Inspired by Enzo Mari and his Tonietta chair, Oscar Tusquets created an adaptation of his Gaulino: The Gaulinetta. Tusquets’ reduction of the Gaulino armrests generates a sleek mode...
Hide, Ash
$2,790 / item
H 28.35 in W 21.26 in D 17.72 in
Avoa Chair • Handmade Edition • in Steel by Pedro Paulo-Venzon
By Pedro Paulo Venzon
Located in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina
The motivation for the development of the Avoa Chair (MMXIII) is autotelia, the autonomous design discourse. The challenge was to think of an object as a qu...
Steel