George Nakashima (1905–90) famously said, “Furniture should be lived with and not treated as something overly precious,” so it’s not surprising that his Conoid chair was made to be dragged across carpeting.
First built in 1971, the Conoid chair is one of Nakashima’s most celebrated and recognizable designs. It features a slab of black walnut cantilevered over two legs, with distinctive feet that resemble old-fashioned sled runners.
Born in Spokane, Washington, Nakashima led a singular life devoted to woodworking. Although he collaborated with Knoll after World War II as a pioneer of the American Studio Craft movement, he rejected mass production and believed the beauty of a tree lay in its vast imperfections. Nakashima studied architecture extensively, receiving a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1930. But he found inspiration — and picked up essential woodworking techniques — from those around him: the architect Antonin Raymond, who worked with Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as fellow Japanese-Americans he encountered when he and his family were interned in Idaho during World War II. Raymond petitioned for the release of the Nakashima family from the camp and helped them resettle in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The Conoid chair’s thin hickory spindles, shaved and faceted by hand with a blocking plane, echo those of colonial Windsor chairs found in Pennsylvania homes in the 1700s. Nakashima’s chair is named for the Conoid Studio he built in New Hope in 1957.
$45,000 / set
George Nakashima Conoid Low Chairs
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George Nakashima Conoid low chairs. A rarely seen design from the studio.
Walnut
George Nakashima Mid Century Wooden Walnut Grass Straw Dining Office Chair 1960s
By George Nakashima
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare and iconic mid century dining / office chair in walnut wood and grass seating by George Nakashima produced by his studio in United States, 1960s. In good overall and original co...
Seagrass, Walnut
$158,000 / set
H 27.56 in W 22.84 in D 20.08 in
Exceptionally Rare Set of Eight George Nakashima 'Grass-seated Chairs' in American Black Walnut
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima, set of eight 'Grass-seated Chairs', American black walnut, sea grass cord, United States, early 1960s Through its pure form, thoughtful use of materials, and exqui...
Seagrass, Walnut
$2,950
H 29.25 in W 16 in D 17.5 in
George Nakashima Studio Straight Back Chair Mid Century American Craft
By George Nakashima
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vintage Original "Straight Back" Model Chair, made by George Nakashima Studio, American, circa 1961. The chair features a multi-plank seat. Signed with client name to underside ‘Gelf...
Hickory, Walnut
$34,000 / set
H 18 in W 16 in D 1 in
Set of 6 Oiled Walnut Spindle Back Dining Chairs by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Set of 6 Oiled Walnut Spindle Back Dining Chairs by George Nakashima
Walnut
$10,500 / set
H 35.25 in W 18.25 in D 20 in
Rare 1952 George Nakashima Walnut Chairs, American Craftsman Style
By George Nakashima
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An iconic pair of early circa 1952 George Nakashima "New Chairs" masterfully constructed out of walnut. Letter of authenticity included.
Walnut
Vintage Mid Century "Straight Chair" by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima, Knoll
Located in Oxnard, CA
Here is a beautiful, early "Straight Chair" by George Nakashima. "Introduced in 1946, the Straight Chair is George Nakashima’s modernist interpretation of the traditional Windsor ch...
Birch
$8,400 / set
H 33.5 in W 16.5 in D 17 in
Charlotte Perriand Style, Brutalist Dining Chairs, Wood, Straw, France, 1960s
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Stamford, CT
Charlotte Perriand Style, French Mid-Century Modern, Six Rustic Dining Chairs, Wood, Straw, France, 1960s Set of six brutalist dining chairs in the manner of Charlotte Perriand or C...
Straw, Wood
$828 / item
H 32.29 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in
Mid Century Butterfly Dining Chair, Gray Boucle, Dark Walnut Wood, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Dining chair called "Butterfly" with dark brown walnut stained beech legs and fully upholstered seat and back in beautiful boucle italian fabric (col...
Fabric, Bouclé, Beech
$60,000 / set
H 35 in W 34 in D 30 in
Pair Mira Nakashima Conoid Lounge Chairs After George Nakashima, 2000
By Mira Nakashima, George Nakashima
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair Mira Nakashima conoid lounge chairs after George Nakashima 2000.
Walnut
Mid century oak high back dining chairs, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gorgeous mid century dining chairs with a scandinavian inspired design. Finely crafted frames with leather seats. Good condition with some nice patina. 1960s - France Dimension...
Leather, Oak
Set of Four Captain Chairs by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Atlanta, GA
A wonderful set of four American black Walnut 'Captain" chairs handcrafted by George Nakashima in his New Hope Studio in 1976. These chairs were designed with creative exposed joints...
Walnut
George Nakashima for Widdicomb - Ottoman
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., George Nakashima
Located in Hasselt, VLI
Stool or poof designed by George Nakashima for Widdicomb Furniture Company in the late 1950s. Produced in the United States circa 1958. Dating from the period following the Widdicomb...
Leather, Mohair, Walnut
$2,495 / set
H 40.5 in W 23 in D 20 in
1960s Young Manufacturing Mid Century Walnut Dining Chairs - Set of 6
By Broyhill Brasilia, Young Manufacturing Company
Located in Charleston, SC
With American craftsmanship and worldly flare, these vintage modern Brasilia-style dining chairs are sure to make a big impression in your home! With a peaking silhouette, sculptural...
Upholstery, Walnut
Rare Pair of George Nakashima Conoid lounge chairs, 1983
By George Nakashima
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare pair of George Nakashima Conoid lounge chairs, 1983. American black walnut. Signed ‘George Nakashima’, Oct 1983. Introduced in 1961, th...
Walnut
Sold
H 35.44 in W 20.48 in D 22.05 in
George Nakashima Conoid Chair, Sakura Seisakusho, Japan, Circa 1970s
By George Nakashima
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
George Nakashima's iconic Conoid chair, executed by Sakura Seisakusho, the single factory aside from Nakashima Woodworkers Studio in New Hope, Pennsy...
Walnut
George Nakashima Conoid Chairs, Set of Four, 1970s
By George Nakashima
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
A set of four Conoid chairs designed by George Nakashima. 1970s. Manufactured by Sakura Seisakusho in Kagawa, Japan. This model was inve...
Walnut
Conoid Chair by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
George Nakashima's products are now produced in only 2 locations around the world. They are "George Nakashima Woodworker" in U.S.A. and "Sakura Woodworkers" in Japan. "Sakura Woodwor...
Cherry
George Nakashima Conoid Dining Chairs, Set of Six, 1970s
By George Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
George Nakashima Conoid dining chairs in black walnut and hickory. New Hope, Pennsylvania, 1970s. Four signed with client's name "West".
Hickory, Walnut
George Nakashima 'Conoid' Bench
By George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
George Nakashima Conoid bench, New Hope, PA, 1983 (bench comes with copy of original purchase invoice).
Hickory, Walnut
Walnut Conoid Chair, by George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
A single walnut conoid side chair. The seat has beautiful grains is inscribed with client's name "Lucas" under seat. Recently restored by Nakashima Studios. Provenance includes...
Walnut
George Nakashima Conoid Chair
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George Nakashima Conoid Chair Nakashima Studios, USA American Black Walnut
