Thomas Newman Chairs

Thomas Newman’s wood furniture and lighting were described by Popular Woodworking magazine as “cutting-edge” and “original, elegant and visually stunning.” He combines traditional woodworking techniques with sophisticated technology, resulting in modern, captivating designs.

In his youth, Newman enjoyed building things in his father’s basement workshop. He later studied art history at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. A self-taught woodworker, Newman began his career in the 1970s restoring antique furniture. He grew a reputation for his exceptional finishes, a skill he learned from author and finishing expert George Frank, becoming known as one of New York City’s top finishers.

By the late 1970s, Newman had developed an interest in furniture design. He was inspired by American woodworker and architect George Nakashima. Through Thomas Newman Studio, his first successful project was designing and building high-end tables for New York’s Howard Kaplan showroom. This led to collaborations with influential designers, including Anthony Baratta and William Diamond.

In 2001, Russian designer Vladimir Krasnogorov joined Thomas Newman Studio, becoming its principal designer of sculptural, carved-wood chairs, coffee tables, stools and dining room tables and sets. While many pieces are made from traditional hardwoods like walnut and tiger maple, Newman and Krasnogorov also specialize in using 1,200-year-old bog oak, such as for their striking console tables, cabinets and geometric wall decorations.

Throughout his 50-year career, Newman’s furniture has been sourced by nearly every major design firm in New York City and featured in numerous prestigious publications, such as Wallpaper* magazine’s “Best of 2019” issue.

On 1stDibs, discover a range of Thomas Newman tables, seating, case pieces and storage cabinets and more.