Brian Holcombe is a woodworker specializing in handmade, one-of-a-kind furniture influenced by Japanese sashimono techniques and furniture of the Chinese Ming Dynasty. All of Holcombe’s woodwork is joined together without the use of fasteners, nails or screws, and units like his credenzas and cabinets often feature shoji — traditional Japanese sliding doors or screens. His work is mid-century modern in style but thoughtfully traditional in construction as it draws on the materials and techniques once favored by the Samurai and wealthy merchants of Asia.
His studio, where he builds elegant bookcases, daybeds, benches and other pieces, is in Princeton, New Jersey. By creating his furniture by hand, Holcombe intimately understands the nature of each material he uses. While much of his work is made of wood, the use of various types, including ash, walnut and mahogany, gives a sophisticated variation to the furniture, with brass accents furthering the depth of its design. Holcombe uses mulberry paper for his sliding door pieces and offers a live edge on some products, like his dining room tables.
In addition to producing beautiful furniture, Holcombe teaches woodworking classes both in person and online, including workshops on hand tools, interlocking techniques and shoji doors. Publications such as Fine Woodworking and Handwork Magazine have featured his expert work.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Brian Holcombe seating, tables, storage case pieces and more.
$8,200 / item
Trestle Leg Dining Table in Oiled Walnut
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
This handmade heavy slab trestle leg dining table features elements unique to traditional Japanese timber framing carpentry work making this a subtle and very sturdy dining table. Th...
Ash, Walnut
Trestle Base Dining Table in Quartersawn Walnut by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Dining table in quarter sawn walnut featuring a trestle base, carefully constructed utilizing interlocking joinery and without metal hardware or screws. The construction of this tabl...
Walnut
$10,500 / item
Trestle Leg Dining Table in Oiled Ash
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
This handmade heavy slab trestle leg dining table features elements unique to traditional Japanese timber framing carpentry work making this a subtle and ...
Ash
$9,000 / item
Splayed Leg Dining Table in Quartersawn Walnut
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
This dining table takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese bell tower in its use of a splayed leg structure that appears to feature square section le...
Walnut
$1,200 / item
Bedside Table in White Ash with Oil Finish
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Contemporary take on Sashimono furniture, utilizing carefully handmade interlocking joinery. This nightstand features a drawer made with handcut dovetailed construction. In traditional Sashimono drawers are made to fit and function in very exacting fashion, this drawer uses...
Ash
$9,500 / item
Splayed Leg Dining Table in walnut
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
This dining table takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese bell tower in its use of a splayed leg structure that appears to feature square section le...
Walnut
$3,500 / item
Trestle Cocktail Table in Mahogany
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this table I took cues from both Japanese sashimono and traditional timber framing seeking a outwardly simple aesthetic which gives way to more elaborate detail upon a c...
Mahogany
$10,500 / item
Live Edge Trestle Leg Dining Table in Oiled Maple
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
This handmade heavy slab trestle leg dining table features elements unique to traditional Japanese timber framing carpentry work making this a subtle and very sturdy dining table...
Maple
$9,000 / item
Splayed Leg Dining Table in Quartersawn Walnut
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
This dining table takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese bell tower in its use of a splayed leg structure that appears to feature square section le...
Walnut
Hana Walnut Trestle Dining Table
By Greg Mitchell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Hana Trestle Dining table is our take on the classic trestle form, beloved by both the shakers and their distant woodworking cousins, the Jap...
Walnut
George Nakashima Bookmatch Black Walnut Trestle Dining Table, 1964-5
By George Nakashima
Located in Astoria, NY
George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) Bookmatch Black Walnut Trestle Dining Table, 1964-5, with four butterfly joints, together with copy of receipt from the Nakashima Foundation fo...
Walnut
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Work or Dining Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish work or dining table in folk art from the early 19th century, around 1820. The table is a Swedish antique, genuine and honest with a solid frame and simple design. The propor...
Pine
Bedside Table in Walnut and Ash by Boyd & Allister
By Boyd & Allister
Located in Santa Fe, NM
These bedside tables in walnut and ash were first designed for a client who wanted nothing more than a book and a lamp by their bed. We begin by choosing a beautiful piece of wood fo...
Ash, Walnut
Antique Italian Walnut Drop Leaf Dining Table, Trestle Base, 1900
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Italian small oval dining table with hand waxed finish. This Tuscan table is made of hand crafted Walnut and supported by a substant...
Walnut
19th Century Pine Lancashire Mill Dining Table
Located in Staffordshire, GB
19th century pine Lancashire Mill table Original finish in reclaimed condition with great color, wear & patination. Fantastic proportions with elegant narrow legs and stretcher ...
Pine
$7,500 / item
H 30 in W 84 in D 36 in
Bookmatched Walnut Dining Table with Black Steel Legs "Lafayette Dining Table"
By Anton Maka
Located in Shelby Twp, MI
The Lafayette dining table is made of a book-matched claro walnut top with a blackened steel base with walnut inserts. This piece has been finished in an extremely durable matte conv...
Steel
Industrial Swing-Out-Seat Outdoor Dining Table
By Get Back, Inc.
Located in Oakville, CT
The get back outdoor industrial dining table. Taking our swing out seats a step beyond their usual bar and kitchen counter duties, Tim Byrne, founder of...
Steel, Iron
$9,500 / item
H 21 in W 20.5 in D 20.5 in
Bespoke Cerused Oak and Parchment Table in the Dupre Lafon Manner
By Paul Dupré-Lafon
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite Bespoke Cerused oak and parchment table in the Dupre Lafon Manner. Please note that this table can be completely customizable with a lead time of 8-10 weeks. The parchme...
Oak, Parchment Paper
$4,000
H 28.75 in W 70.75 in D 35.25 in
1974 Borge Mogensen FDB Oak Dining Work Shaker C18 Table Desk Scandinavian
By Børge Mogensen, FDB Møbler
Located in Hyattsville, MD
1974 Shaker Table example, with the most beautiful patina. The oak examples of the FDB Mogensen stuff really ages wonderfully. This C18 Shaker dining table is dated October 1 1974 (...
Oak
Fine Pieced Burl Top Dining/ Work Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A beautifully constructed table with an artistically conceived piece-work top in deep toned Burl Wood veneers. The top is plank-constructed in different dark wood grains of different...
Wood
Hana Walnut Trestle Dining Table in Stock
By Greg Mitchell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Hana Trestle Dining table is our take on the classic trestle form, beloved by both the shakers and their distant woodworking cousins, the Japanese-who have reinterpreted the desi...
Walnut