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 Hand Repoussé Copper Chair by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Repoussé Chair Antiqued Copper Hand Repoussé All Copper Chair with Patina Contemporary Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional...
Copper
Contemporary Stainless Steel Cloud Chair by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cloud Chair Stainless Steel Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Contemporary Accent Chair Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammer...
Stainless Steel
Chair, Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chair Black lacquer Hand Repousse Metal base Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circ...
Lacquer
Contemporary Robert Kuo Repoussé Huang Chair in Antique Copper, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Huang Chair Antique Copper Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto s...
Copper
Contemporary Black Lacquer Vanity Seat by Robert Kuo, Hand Made, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vanity Seat Black Lacquer Wood Vase Hand Made Contemporary Limited Edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are...
Wood, Lacquer
Contemporary Arm Rest Chair in Grey Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Arm Rest Chair Grey Lacquer Hand Repousse Hand Made Metal Base 37"W x 26"D x 24 3/4"H Limited Edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B...
Lacquer
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
Contemporary Bark Design Vanity Chair with Wood Seat in Copper by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bark Design Vanity Chair w/ Wood Seat Antiqued Copper Hand Repoussé Copper Wood Limited Edition Contemporary Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief ont...
Copper
Contemporary Fei Tian Wen Chair in Repoussé Antiqued Copper by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fei Tian Wen Chair Antique Copper Wood Base Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decora...
Copper
Contemporary Black Lacquer Fish Seat w/ Copper Eye by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fish Seat w/ Copper Eye Black Lacquer Antique Copper Limited Edition Hand Repousse Contemporary Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal....
Copper
Contemporary Facet Lounge Chair in Hand Repoussé White Bronze by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Facet Lounge Chair White Bronze Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. The technique originated around ...
Bronze
Contemporary Facet Lounge Chair in Brass and Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Facet Lounge Chair w/ Cream Lacquer Brass Hand Repoussé Cream Lacquer Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammeri...
Brass
Chair, Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chair Cream lacquer Hand Repousse Metal base Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circ...
Lacquer
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
Huang Chair, Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Huang chair Cream lacquer 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 least 60 coat...
Lacquer
Vanity Seat in Grey Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vanity seat. Grey lacquer. Handmade. Wood base. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are made with at least 60 coats of org...
Lacquer
$8,924 / set
H 27.2 in W 21.6 in D 14.5 in
Pair Contemporary Counter Bar Stool Black Metal & Black Leather
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Counter stool in black smoke polished steel and black saddle leather. The phrases "Less is more" and "God is in the detail" from the German-American architect and industrial designe...
Steel
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
$5,733 / item
H 18.9 in Dm 13.78 in
Contemporary Vertere Stool in Oiled Walnut with White Leather Seat Pad
By Stuart Scott
Located in Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Turned from solid timber, the Vertere projects an exaggerated sculptural silhouette fully accentuating the stunning beauty of walnut. Our recommendation is an oiled finish to bring o...
Walnut
$2,400
H 37.5 in W 18.5 in D 21.5 in
Art Deco Machine Age Skyscraper Style Black Lacquer & Holly Hunt Fabric Chair
Located in New York, NY
This stunning and graphic Art Deco Machine Age side/ desk chair was realized in the United States circa 1935. It features streamlined side; subtly bowed hind legs and tapered front l...
Fabric, Lacquer
Vintage Chinese Chippendale Style Lacquered Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage Chinese Chippendale style lacquered chair. Vintage Chinese Chippendale style chair in a gorgeous green lacquered finish. This Chino...
Wood
$3,288 / item
H 28 in W 25.2 in D 19.7 in
Contemporary Kitchen Counter Bar Stool Black Smoke Steel & Black Leather
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Hug contemporary counter stool is designed and conceived with a light aesthetic, the slight oscillation of the steel rod of 12 mm is complemented by the flexibility of the double...
Steel
$1,589
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
$807 / item
H 16.54 in W 15.36 in D 15.36 in
Invito Solid Wood Stool, Walnut in Hand-Made Natural Finish, Contemporary
By Dale Italia
Located in Cadeglioppi de Oppeano, VR
A refined and simple design, where the premium solid walnut in oil finish is used in its maximum expression. The central screw, entirely in wood, is the result of the work of expert ...
Walnut
$1,330 / item
H 32.29 in W 19.1 in D 21.26 in
Minimalist Chair in Black Imbuia Hardwood Limited Edition
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
Evo Chair collection. Our EVO collection is based in the harmonic fusion between geometrical forms and the modern interpretation of wood archetypes. All elements that compose ...
Leather, Textile, Hardwood
$1,405 / item
H 31.5 in W 18.12 in D 22.84 in
Chippensteeel 0.5 Chair by Zieta, Polished Stainless Steel
By Zieta
Located in Paris, IDF
Chippensteeel 0.5 chair by Zieta, stainless steel (inox) Measures: 80 x 46 x 58 cm. “Chippensteeel 0.5” stainless steel version is a chair designed by Zieta Prozessdesign which...
Stainless Steel
$850 / item
H 33.08 in W 16.15 in D 16.15 in
Invito Solid Wood Stool, Walnut in Hand-Made Natural Finish, Contemporary
By Dale Italia
Located in Cadeglioppi de Oppeano, VR
A simple and refined design in which solid walnut finds its highest expression. The Invito solid wood stool combines timeless style with authentic and...
Walnut
$7,265 / item
H 39.38 in W 29.93 in D 39.38 in
Stainless Steel and Leather Contemporary Adult Swing Chair by Egg Designs
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
This contemporary adult swing is a specialty chair by Egg Designs, it has a stainless steel frame and yolk with leather upholstery. The swing chair can be ...
Stainless Steel
Contemporary Antique Copper Cloud Chair by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cloud Chair Antique Copper Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto s...
Copper
Sold
H 22.25 in W 23.5 in D 14 in
Robert Kuo Vanity Seat in Mila Lacquer, Contemporary, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vanity Seat Mila Lacquer Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Contemporary Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are made with ...
Lacquer
Sold
H 28.5 in W 23 in D 22 in
Back Rest Chair, Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Backrest chair Grey lacquer Hand repousse Limited edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. The pieces are made with at least 60...
Lacquer