Robert Kuo Baker Furniture Lacquer, Copper Console Table, One-Off, circa 2000
About the Item
- Creator:Baker Furniture Company (Retailer),Robert Kuo (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34.25 in (87 cm)Width: 44.88 in (114 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 2000
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1974334148302
Robert Kuo
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.
Baker Furniture Company
Owing to the company’s collaborations with many leading designers and artists over time, vintage Baker furniture is consistently sought after today. The heritage brand’s chairs, dining tables, desks and other pieces are widely known to collectors and design enthusiasts for their fine craftsmanship and durability.
Within a few decades of its launch, Baker Furniture Company evolved into one of the largest and most important furniture manufacturers in the United States, and became known for its high-quality production standards. Siebe Baker and business partner Henry Cook founded the original iteration of Baker Furniture Company in 1890 in Allegan, Michigan, after immigrating to the United States from the Netherlands. Allegan is a small town west of Grand Rapids, which, at that time was home to Widdicomb Furniture Co. and more and was known as America’s furniture capital. The company manufactured doors and interior moldings, and introduced a combination desk and bookcase in 1893. In the early 1900s, Siebe became sole owner of the business.
Among others, stage designer Joseph Urban and modernist designer Kem Weber contributed designs to Baker in the 1920s. In 1932, under the leadership of Siebe’s son, Hollis, who started at the company as a salesman but took the reins when his father passed in 1925, Baker Furniture introduced bedroom pieces and debuted its Manor House collection, which made reproductions of European furnishings available to the American market. (Hollis was an avid traveler and procured antiques overseas for the company to reproduce in the United States.) Soon, Baker Furniture Company moved to Holland, Michigan, and eventually opened showrooms in Grand Rapids and elsewhere.
Pioneering Scandinavian designer Finn Juhl created a Danish modern line for Baker in 1951, and the company produced his award-winning Chieftain chair for a short time. In the late 1950s, Baker introduced the Milling Road label to reach a younger audience with stylish but less costly furnishings like console tables, walnut dining chairs and more, and in 1961, British furniture designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings introduced a modern neoclassical line at Baker.
The 1960s and ’70s saw the introduction of historic reproduction furniture lines such as Woburn Abbey and the Historic Charleston collection, which remain very popular to this day. In 1990, Baker was licensed to produce a furniture line from Colonial Williamsburg. That same year, the Smithsonian Museum introduced Baker’s Chippendale chair into its permanent collection and the Grand Rapids Art Museum dedicated an exhibition to Baker’s 100-year anniversary, a showcase that included 150 pieces of furniture Siebe Baker had collected as part of a larger assortment that had served as inspiration for his designs.
Today, vintage Baker furniture, such as its elegant mahogany nightstands and teak credenzas — particularly those crafted by Finn Juhl — sees high demand online and elsewhere. The company continues to produce contemporary collections with well-known designers such as Bill Sofield, Barbara Barry and Kara Mann and remains on par with some of the highest quality furniture in the industry.
Browse vintage Baker armchairs, sofas, coffee tables and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Miami, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Tony Duquette for Baker Biomorphic Console, Silver Leaf FinishBy Baker Furniture Company, Tony DuquetteLocated in Miami, FLTony Duquette for Baker Biomorphic console, silver leaf finish Offered for sale is the Biomorphic console for Baker by Tony Duquette. This sculptur...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Console Tables
MaterialsGlass, Resin
- Andre Arbus Style Lacquered Birch Wood Console Table with Brass InlayBy André ArbusLocated in Miami, FLAndre Arbus Style Lacquered Birch Wood Console Table with Brass Inlay Offered for sale is an Andre Arbus style lacquered birch wood console table with four splayed legs, and lower ...Category
Late 20th Century Modern Console Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Orange Lacquered Brass Trimmed Console Table with Inset Beveled Glass TopsLocated in Miami, FLOrange Lacquered Brass Trimmed Console Table with Inset Beveled Glass Tops Offered for sale is an orange lacquered wood, brass trimmed console table with three beveled inset wood tops.Category
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Console Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Steel / Brass X-Frame Sabre Leg Console Table with Glass TopLocated in Miami, FLSteel / brass X-frame sabre leg console table with glass top. Offered for sale is an elegant two-tone scrolled saber-leg x--frame console table that had just been fitted with a ne...Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Console Tables
MaterialsBrass, Steel
- Brutalist Wrought-iron Console Table with Beveled GlassBy John DickinsonLocated in Miami, FLBrutalist Wrought-iron Console Table with Beveled Glass Offered for sale is a 1980s John Dickinson style Brutalist wrought-iron console with an inset beveled glass top. The wrought-...Category
Vintage 1980s Brutalist Console Tables
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Drexel Heritage Chinoiserie Console Table, Drawer and Glass TopBy DrexelLocated in Miami, FLDrexel Heritage Chinoiserie Console Table, Drawer and Glass Top Offered for sale is a Drexel Heritage console table with black lacquered painte...Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Console Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Woodgrain Design Copper Console with Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Hand RepousseBy Robert KuoLocated in Los Angeles, CAWoodgrain design console Black lacquer Antique copper Hand Repousse Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back t...Category
2010s Console Tables
MaterialsCopper
- Baker Furniture Contemporary Console TableBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Countryside, ILBaker Furniture contemporary console table This table measures: 76.5 wide x 14.5 deep x 34.5 high This piece has some light scratches, but...Category
2010s American Modern Console Tables
MaterialsWood
- Contemporary Brass "O" Console Stands w/ Black Lacquer Top by Robert KuoBy Robert KuoLocated in Los Angeles, CA"O" console stands w/ black lacquer top Brass Black lacquer Hand repoussé Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of ...Category
2010s Minimalist Console Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Baker Furniture Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie Lacquered Bamboo Top Console TableBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie style two-tier console table or sofa table By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection USA, Late 20th Century Beautiful deep brown crack...Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Console Tables
MaterialsBamboo, Wood, Lacquer
- Contemporary Arch Console w/ Brass Trim in Cream Lacquer by Robert KuoBy Robert KuoLocated in Los Angeles, CAArch Console with Brass Trim Cream Lacquer Brass Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Contemporary Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet me...Category
2010s Minimalist Console Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Contemporary Parsons Console in Red Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited EditionBy Robert KuoLocated in Los Angeles, CAParsons Console Red Lacquer Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1...Category
2010s Minimalist Console Tables
MaterialsLacquer