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
$72,000 / set
H 36.03 in W 18.71 in D 22.05 in
George Nakashima Set of Six 'New' Dining Chairs in Walnut and Hickory
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, set of six ‘New’ dining chairs, walnut, hickory, United States, 1976 and 1977 With its sturdy form, thoughtful material choices, and re...
Hickory, Walnut
$48,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 34 in D 34.5 in
George Nakashima Conoid Lounge Chairs, Walnut & Hickory, 1980s
By George Nakashima, Sakura Seisakusho
Located in Dallas, TX
Experience timeless elegance with this beautiful pair of Conoid Lounge chairs by George Nakashima, crafted by the only authorized manufacturer of Nakashima furniture outside of the United States, Sakura Seisakusho in Takamatsu, Japan...
Upholstery, Hickory, Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Conoid Bench Signed Mira Nakashima, 1992
By Mira Nakashima, George Nakashima
Located in New York, NY
George Nakashima Studio Conoid bench signed Mira Nakashima 1992. The bench is walnut has hickory spindles and rosewood butterfly joints. This bench was commissioned for a private col...
Hickory, Walnut
George Nakashima Set of Four 'Conoid' Chairs in Walnut
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for Nakashima Studio, set of four 'Conoid' chairs, walnut, hickory, United States, 1962 This stunning set of four Conoid dining chairs are designed by woodwork mast...
Hickory, Walnut
Set of Six George Nakashima Dining Chairs for Widdicomb
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of six dining chairs by George Nakashima for Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company Widdicomb, c.1960s. The walnut and hickory set consists of four side chairs and two armchairs. T...
Walnut, Hickory
$60,000 / set
H 35 in W 34 in D 30 in
Pair Mira Nakashima Conoid Lounge Chairs After George Nakashima, 2000
By George Nakashima, Mira Nakashima
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair Mira Nakashima conoid lounge chairs after George Nakashima 2000.
Walnut
$4,550
H 27.96 in W 20.48 in D 19.3 in
George Nakashima Grass-seated Chair / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
By George Nakashima
Located in Zürich, CH
Here we see the principle of the Japanese wabi-sabi, which refers to embracing imperfections and underlining impermanence. Rustic aspects, simplicity, modesty, and austerity offer a ...
Grasscloth, Mahogany
$10,500 / set
H 35.25 in W 18.25 in D 20 in L 35.25 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
Danish low back lounge chair
Located in BE
This beautiful Danish lounge chair from the 1970s showcases the craftsmanship and character that define Scandinavian design. Made in Denmark, the designer and manufacturer remain unk...
Fabric, Wood
$22,000
H 33 in W 24 in D 30.5 in
1952 George Nakashima Studio Cushion Lounge Chair with Slatted Back in Walnut
By George Nakashima Woodworkers, George Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an important "Cushion" Lounge Chair, executed by George Nakashima Studio in New Hope, Pennsylvania c. 1952. The chair's frame is made of American Black Walnut with hand-shave...
Steel
$10,500
H 35.44 in W 20.87 in D 21.86 in
Vintage Wooden “Conoid” Chair, George Nakashima, Japan, 1980s
By George Nakashima
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
A wooden Conoid chair designed by George Nakashima, dating to the 1980s. Featuring a distinctive cantilevered seat, slender spindle backrest, and sculptural sled-style legs, the chai...
Wood
George Nakashima Style Dining Chairs, 1947, Set of 4
By George Nakashima
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Dining chairs in the style of George Nakashima, walnut and seagrass, USA, 1947, set of four. These dining chairs follow the language George Nakashima developed in 1947, a fusion of ...
Walnut
$1,003 / 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
$3,761 / set
H 36.62 in W 15.75 in D 19.69 in
Set of Eight Mid-Century Modern Walnut High-Back Dining Chairs, 1960s
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, HR
Set of Eight Mid-Century Modern Walnut High-Back Dining Chairs, 1960s. This set of eight dining chairs is built from solid walnut-toned hardwood with an angular sculpted frame and t...
Walnut, Hardwood, Fabric
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
