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.
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 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
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 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
$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
$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 is constructed of Carrara marble, black lacquer with chromed steel legs a...
Marble, Steel
Parchment & Lacquer Commode Designed by Andre Arbus, circa 1935
By André Arbus
Located in Stamford, CT
An elegant chest of drawers in parchment, ivory (now replaced with faux ivory) and gold lacquer 1935 Similar model presented at the salon of decorative artists 1935 Examples of th...
Parchment Paper
Dovetail Vinyl Storage Cabinet 4 x 1.5 with Equipment Shelf
By Blake Tovin, Matt Richmond, Andrew Forseth
Located in Nyack, NY
Our dovetail vinyl storage cabinets utilize a “file drawer” approach to store LPs and allow you to easily flip through an entire record ...
Brass
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
Dovetail Vinyl Storage Cabinet 4 x 2.5 with Equipment Shelf
By Andrew Forseth, Blake Tovin, Matt Richmond
Located in Nyack, NY
Our Dovetail Vinyl Storage Cabinets utilize a “file drawer” approach to store LPs and allow you to easily flip through an entire record ...
Brass
Modern LP Media Console Entertainment Cabinet with Drawers
By Blake Tovin, Matt Richmond
Located in Nyack, NY
The AERO 76.5" media console with drawers provides a place for your turntable, a/v components, 260 CDs or 144 DVDs, and up to 120 of your favorite records. Our AERO cabinets feature ...
Wood, Hardwood, Maple, Walnut
Dovetail Vinyl Storage Cabinet 2 x 2.5 with Equipment Shelf
By Blake Tovin, Andrew Forseth, Matt Richmond
Located in Nyack, NY
Our dovetail vinyl storage cabinets utilize a “file drawer” approach to store LPs and allow you to easily flip through an entire record ...
Brass
Dovetail Vinyl Storage Cabinet 3 x 2.5 with Equipment Shelf
By Matt Richmond, Blake Tovin, Andrew Forseth
Located in Nyack, NY
Our Dovetail vinyl storage cabinets utilize a “file drawer” approach to store LPs and allow you to easily flip through an entire record ...
Brass
$5,595 / item
H 36 in W 54 in D 21.5 in
Mahogany Georgian Style Two-Door Buffet/Leaf Storage Cabinet by Leighton Hall
By Leighton Hall Furniture
Located in Suwanee, GA
This is made-to-order traditional mahogany two-door buffet/leaf storage cabinet made in the Leighton Hall shop. It can be used as a buffet or it can be configured for dining table le...
Mahogany
$15,785 / item
H 43.61 in W 72.05 in D 20.87 in
Macassar Wood Buffet with Bronze-Patina Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Arianne buffet by R&Y Augousti is one of a kind statement piece. The overall piece is inlaid in Macassar wood accentuated with intricate bronze-patina brass details that have...
Brass
$24,900
H 32.29 in W 19.69 in D 71.26 in
Credenza / Sideboard, Hand-Carved White Onyx, Sculptural Design, Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Carved from solid onyx, the Eoli Credenza is a sculptural storage piece shaped by the idea of wind in motion. Its form recalls slow, continuous forces: erosion, pressure, flow. The...
Onyx
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