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 Repoussé Copper Feather Design 4 Door Buffet by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Feather Design 4 Door Buffet Antiqued Copper Hand Repoussé Elm Wood Lacquered 3 Drawers 2 Shelves (Removable) Touch Latch Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is un...
Copper
Contemporary Cloud Armoire in Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cloud Design Armoire Cream Lacquer Hand Carved Elm Wood Contemporary Lacquer is a laborious and time-consuming process. After it is tapped from the trees, lacquer needs to be boile...
Wood, Elm, Lacquer
Contemporary Hand Repoussé White Bronze Cloud Design Buffet by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cloud Design Buffet White Bronze 4 Door Hand Repoussé Lacquered Wood Push Touch Latch 3 Drawers with Copper Handles 2 Tier Shelves Contemporary Limited Edition Repoussé is the trad...
Bronze
Contemporary Hand Carved Cream Lacquer Floral Design Buffet by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Floral Design Buffet 4 Doors Cream Lacquer Hand Carved Lacquered Wood Push Touch Latch 4 drawers with Copper Handles 2 Tier Removable Shelves Limited Edition Contemporary Each piec...
Wood, Lacquer
Low Cabinet with Amber Shargreen Cloisonné Panel by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Low cabinet with Amber Shargreen panels Amber cloisonné Elmwood Brass panel lining handmade Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. The cloisonné technique is an en...
Enamel
Contemporary Cream Lacquer Three Panel Low Cabinet by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three Panel Low Cabinet w/ White Bronze Trim Cream Lacquer Hand Made White Bronze Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique ...
Bronze
Isola Design Armoire, Copper by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Isola Design Armoire Antique copper Hand repoussé Elmwood Limited edition Repousse´ is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. The technique ...
Copper
Contemporary Isola Design Copper Repousse Door Narrow Cabinet by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Isola Design Narrow Cabinet Antique Copper Doors Hand Repoussé Elm Wood 4 Shelves Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique....
Copper
Pleats Armoire by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition, Customizable
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pleats design armoire. Hand repoussé copper Antique copper finish Wood interior Limited Edition Customizable Repoussé is the traditional art of...
Copper
Contemporary Hand Carved Cream Lacquer Cloud Design Chest on Chest by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cloud Design Chest on Chest Set Cream Lacquer Elmwood Hand Carved Lacquered Wood Copper Contemporary Limited Edition Top Chest: 24"H Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Sh...
Copper
Ice Crackle Antique Copper 3 Door Cabinet on Stand by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ice Crackle 3 Doors Cabinet on Stand Antique Copper Hand Repoussé Elmwood Hand Made Limited Edition Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé...
Copper
Contemporary Copper Fei Tian Wen Design Double Sided 3 Door Buffet by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fei Tian Wen Design Double Sided 3 Door Buffet *6 DOORS IN TOTAL Antique Copper Doors Hand Repoussé Elmwood Lacquered Contemporary Limited Edition...
Copper
Contemporary Rocco Small Short Cabinet in Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rocco Small Short Cabinet Cream Lacquer Elm wood Hand Carved Doors Limited Edition Lacquer is a laborious and time-consuming process. After it is tapped from the trees, lacquer need...
Wood, Elm, Lacquer
Da Tree Trunk Cabinet - Antique Copper by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition, in Stock
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Da tree trunk cabinet Antique copper Hand repoussé Elmwood Limited edition Customizable Repousse´ is the traditional art of hand-hammering ...
Copper
Contemporary Hand Carved Cream Lacquer Cloud Design Buffet by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cloud Design Buffet 4 Doors Cream Lacquer Hand Carved Lacquered Wood Limited Edition Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a laborious and time...
Wood, Elm, Lacquer
Narrow Cabinet with Gobi Design Single Door by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Narrow Cabinet with Gobi Design Single Door with 4 shelves Antique Copper Hand Repousse Elmwood Lacquered Limited Edition Repousse´ is the traditional art of hand-hammerin...
Copper
Late Qing Dynasty Low Chinese Red Lacquer Bedside Cabinet
Located in Sheffield, MA
Late 19th century Chinese elmwood cabinets in an old lacquered finish. This cabinet can be ideal as a bedside chest, end table next to a sofa or a cabinet in an hallway. it has two...
Elm
$19,850Sale Price|60% Off
H 102.5 in W 70.25 in D 24.5 in
Italian Art Nouveau Carved Walnut Credenza Buffet, Vittorio Valabrega
By Vittorio Valabrega
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine and large Italian 19th-20th century Art Nouveau carved walnut credenza buffet server by Vittorio Valabrega (1861-1952). The tall finely carved walnut body with twin center doo...
Marble, Silver Plate
Norah Buffet by Croft House
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Norah Buffet by Croft House is handmade locally in Los Angeles, California. The unique design of the piece draws its original aesthetic through the com...
Steel
$7,450 / item
H 36 in W 36 in D 18 in
Modern Chelsea 2-Door Buffet - Forged Metal and Grey Silver Glass by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This chelsea buffet or sideboard by Ercole home has a 2-door front, with Earl Gray Ceruse wood finish on oak. Handcut glass panels in Wispy Gray Silver are on the door surface. Hand-hammered metal framed doors...
Metal
$4,650
H 79.5 in W 46 in D 21 in
Irish Flame Mahogany Bow Front Armoire in the Style of Robert Strahan & Co.
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a beautiful quality, two-door, bow fronted mahogany wardrobe/armoire with the top having a dentil cornice over doors with oval flame mahogany veneered inlaid panels. The ...
Brass
Qing Dynasty Hand Painted & Lacquered Gilt Armoire Cabinet, China
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Qing dynasty red and black lacquer armoire with relief carving & gilt paintwork. The from of the cabinet features 14 panels each hand painted with a different scenic ranging from war...
Brass
Chinese Lacquered Armoire With Dragon Motif and Brass Hardware
Located in Elkton, MD
Chinese lacquered tall cabinet, dating to the early to mid-20th century. It is constructed from wood with a black lacquer finish and features a pair of doors fitted with round brass ...
Brass
$4,640Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 74 in D 20 in
Vintage Wood Chinoiserie Fretwork Fret Mirrored Credenza Buffet Sideboard Doors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Beautiful vintage wood credenza, buffet, sideboard with mirrored doors and fretwork. Each pair of doors open to reveal one adjustable shelf on ea...
Mirror, Wood
$11,020 / item
H 27.96 in W 71.26 in D 15.75 in
Retro Style Buffet Credenza, Barcode Design in Colored Glass
By Orfeo Quagliata
Located in Naucalpan, Edo de Mex
The Buff-Heyyy is a retro style credenza designed by Orfeo Quagliata in collaboration with Taracea Furniture. An object of fused glass created wit...
Glass, Wood
$2,043 / set
H 17.72 in W 17.72 in D 17.33 in
1979 Claudio Salocchi Two Low Cabinets in White Lacquer by Sormani, Italy
By Claudio Salocchi, Sormani
Located in Arosio, IT
Vivo Collection was designed by Claudio Salocchi for Sormani in the late Seventies. The aim was to set up an entire collection for the home (lounge, dining, sleeping room & amp.) with just a few wooden panels, suited for a highly productive industry. The collection was the first one of its kind in Italy, with a design that, once again, surpassed the traditional manufacturing methods. The two small vintage cabinets...
Wood
$7,800 / set
H 25.5 in W 76.25 in D 20 in
Florence Knoll Style Credenza with Matching File Cabinet by by Giacomo Buzzitta
By Stow Davis
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful credenza with matching file cabinet designed by Giacomo Buzzittan for Stow Davis. The matching set has Carrara marble tops, black lacquer cabinets with chromed steel bases ...
Marble, Steel
Robert Fellner & Mark J Furst Designed Tambour Sideboard
By Mark J. Furst & Robert Fellner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Long mid-century modern credenza with rolling tambour doors, designed by Furst and Fellner for Furnette Inc. Great modern design with walnut grain an...
Walnut
Contemporary Low Hua Li Cabinet with Jade Handles by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Low Hua Li Cabinet w/ Jade Handles Hua Li Wood (Chinese Rosewood) Jade Handles Hand Carved Copper Feet Hand Repoussé Lacquered Wood Limited Edition. Each piece is individually craft...
Jade, Copper
Sold
H 36.75 in W 50 in D 16.25 in
Za Xian 3-Door Cabinet on Stand, Antique Copper by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Za Xian design 3-door cabinet on stand Antique copper Hand repousse Elmwood Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repousse is the traditional art of hand-hammering...
Copper
Sold
H 23.24 in W 82.75 in D 22 in
Dragon Swirl 6 Doors Media Cabinet by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dragon swirl 6 doors media cabinet Antique copper Hand Repousse Elmwood Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repousse´ is the traditional art of ha...
Copper
Sold
H 65.5 in W 43 in D 19.5 in
Carved Floral 2 Door Armoire - Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carved Floral 2 Door Armoire Cream Lacquer Hand-Carved Elmwood Limited Edition Lacquer is a laborious and time-consuming process. After it is tapped from the trees, lacquer ne...
Elm, Lacquer
Sold
H 65.5 in W 43 in D 19.5 in
Banana Leaf Armoire, Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition, in Stock
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Banana leaf armoire Cream lacquer Hand-carved Elmwood Limited edition Customizable Lacquer is a laborious and time-consuming process. After it is tapped from the trees, lacqu...
Elm, Lacquer
Four-Door Lantern Buffet by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition, Customizable
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lantern design door. Antique copper. Hand repoussé. Northern elm. Limited Edition. Customizable. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal...
Copper