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.
Za Xian Dining Table Base ‘Pair’, Antique Copper by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Za Xian dining table base Antique copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Lacquer top on image is not included. Repousse´ is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative re...
Copper
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
Ebonized Oak and Antique Brass Large Dining Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak and steel dining table, perfect for seating 6-10 people comfortably. This version has an antique brass frame finish and an ebonized oak tabletop. White oak, walnut, or ma...
Steel
French Brutalist Dining Table by Georges Robert
By Georges Robert
Located in Houston, TX
French Brutalist Dining Table By Georges Robert. Our handsome French Brutalist table, dining table, library table, trestle table or console table is constructed of solid pine and fe...
Pine
Ebonized Oak and Antique Copper Small Dining Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak top with an ebonized finish and antique copper steel frame dining table with simple and modern lines. Pairs well with the Inherita...
Steel
$16,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.75 in W 69 in D 40.5 in
Style of Angelo Mangiarotti Dining Table Flowing Marble Copper Fluted Base
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A vintage 1980’s marble top dining table with a copper colored iron base in the style of Angelo Mangiarotti. The marble is stunning and the grain seems to flow with movement. The cop...
Marble
Clean Lined Dining Table by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clean lined dining table, designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb, American, circa 1950s. It goes from a compact rectangle that measu...
Walnut
Antiqued Gold Finish Baroque Style Dining Table Base
Located in Sheffield, MA
Glam up your dining experience with this antiqued gold "gilt" toned Baroque Hollywood Regency styled metal and glass dining table. Be it ...
Iron
Italian Midcentury Dining Table by Pier Luigi Colli
By Pier Luigi Colli
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant dining table designed by Pier Luigi Colli with finely carved and painted legs decorated with acanthus leaves. Dark red glass top. The same set ...
Wood
Triangular Base Dining Table by Pace
By Leon Rosen
Located in New York, NY
Minimalist dining table by Leon Rosen Pace. The triangular glass and polished chrome pedestal base supports a 1/2" thick 42" diameter glass top, which creates a simple and elegant l...
Chrome
$56,347 / item
H 29.53 in W 157.49 in D 47.25 in
Fontaine Marble Dining Table, Macassar Ebony, Handmade by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Art Deco Style Fontaine Marble Dining Table, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Fontaine marble dining tab...
Onyx, Quartz, Travertine, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
$26,530 / item
H 29.93 in W 110.24 in D 53.15 in
Modern Gimonde Quartz Dining Table, Patagonia Quartz, Handmade by Greenapple
By Greenapple, Rute Martins
Located in Lisboa, PT
Modern Gimonde Quartz Dining Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Gimonde quartz dining table is a bold expression of exclusive design...
Granite, Onyx, Quartz, Marble, Brass
T/5140-180 Italian Wooden Inlaid Dining Table by Zanaboni
By Zanaboni
Located in MEDA, IT
The T/5140-180 dining table is part of the new Classic collection by Zanaboni: veneered in citronnier and ebony woods, the direction of the veneer is ...
Wood