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.
E Side Table, Antique Copper by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
E side table Antique copper Hand repousse Wood base Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repousse is the traditional art of hand-hammering decora...
Copper
Contemporary Sphere Table w/ Square Top in Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sphere table w/ Square Top Black Lacquer Hand repoussé Metal base Limited edition Contemporary Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B...
Lacquer
Water Lily Table in Antique Copper by Robert Kuo, Contemporary, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Water lily table Antique Copper Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the...
Copper
Contemporary Copper Square Fluted Table with Black Lacquer Top by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Square fluted table Antique copper Black lacquer top Hand Repoussé Lacquered Limited edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hamm...
Copper
Copper Sphere Table with Square Lacquer Top by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sphere table antique copper black lacquer hand repoussé limited edition side table. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces ar...
Copper
$1,391
H 25.2 in W 29.93 in D 29.93 in
Coffee Corner Table in Teak and Cane by Peter Hvidt, Denmark, 1955
By Peter Hvidt, France & Daverkosen
Located in Antwerp, BE
Midcentury solid teak corner table with woven rattan shelf. Excellent for use as a side table or sofa table manufactured by France and Sons designer ...
Teak
A Cedric Hartman Table with Black Granite Top
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic Cedric Hartman table. Polished brass base with honed black granite top. Signed and numbered.
Brass
$1,600 / item
H 20.48 in Dm 15.75 in
Arabesque, Inspired Lacquered Wood Side Table with Brass Top - Small
By Shewekar Elgharably
Located in Cairo, EG
Arabesque, Inspired Lacquered Wood Side Table with Brass Top. Our Funky Fusion is a classic side table with a contemporary flare that brings...
Brass
$1,500 / item
H 20.48 in Dm 15.75 in
Arabesque, Inspired Lacquered Wood Side Table with Brass Top - Large
By Shewekar Elgharably
Located in Cairo, EG
Arabesque, Inspired Lacquered Wood Side Table with Brass Top. Our Funky Fusion is a classic side table with a contemporary flare that brings...
Brass
$2,040Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 21.66 in Dm 11.82 in
Carv Tall Table in Orobico Marble by Daniel Fintzi for Formar
By Daniel Fintzi
Located in 中西區, HK
Carv occasional table is Cut from a single block of Italian Orobico marble. Essential and organic design, naturally creating a flat tabletop flowing to a Y - shaped foot, revealing...
Marble
$6,300 / item
H 20 in Dm 26 in
Circular Side/End Table Black Modern/Contemporary Hand Carved Blackened Steel
By J.M. Szymanski
Located in Bronx, NY
TABLE NO. 2 - Round J.M. Szymanski d. 2018 This geometric, solid, steel structure is supported by a cast-sphere base. The refined simplicity of this design speaks volumes, and adds...
Steel, Iron, Wrought Iron
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
$1,326 / item
H 22.05 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Nube Italia Rise Table in Black Lacquered Wood by Marco Corti
By Nube Italia, Marco Corti
Located in New York, NY
"Metal base painted and finished under high heat in col. Opaque black nickel or black. Top in round or oval shape can be in painted glass or in mat or polished lacquered wood. Mar...
Metal
Chinese Square Side Table with Mirror Top
Located in Chicago, IL
This elegant, square side table has a streamlined form that draws from traditional Chinese furniture designs. Lightweight and open, the cube-form table has slender corner legs anchor...
Mirror, Wood
$967 / item
H 25.6 in W 25.6 in D 25.6 in
Handmade Colorful Tiles Table top Side Table Caldas Square with Portuguese Tiles
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Well-known for its ceramics tradition, Portuguese tiles production dates back to 16th century. Inheriting this rich crafts knowledge, the table tops of Caldas tables are made with ha...
Metal
$2,790 / item
H 21.26 in W 10.24 in D 10.24 in
Contemporary Small Table 'DISLOCATION' in Black Marble by Buzao 'High'
By Buzao
Located in Paris, IDF
'DISLOCATION' collection by Buzao, small table Black Marquina marble Measures: 26 x 26 x H 54 cm Studio Buzao from Guangzhou (China) is exploring innovation with furniture and light...
Marble
$825Sale Price|20% Off
H 25.2 in Dm 19.69 in
French Chestnut & Copper Table Sellette Side Table or Coffee Table, circa 1940
Located in Labrit, Landes
Side, coffee table, sellette or nightstand table. The size of this little table with its intermediate shelve, allows to imagine many uses for it. Made circa 1940 Beautiful work with ...
Copper
5 Legged Side Table, Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Handmade, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
5 legged side table Black lacquer handmade Limited edition Each item is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to t...
Lacquer
Stone Square Table (Black Stone) by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Square side table Qing Shi stone (black stone) hand-carved three-piece stone slab.
Stone
Stone Brancusi Design Side Table by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brancusi design side table Han Bai Yu (white marble) Hand-carved Limited edition Four stone slab pieces Stone pieces vary Tabletop piece 108lbs., 26 3/4” diameter x 2” thic...
Marble
Stone Mallet Design Table by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mallet design table Han Bai Yu (white marble) Hand-carved Limited edition
Marble