A master woodworker and M.I.T.-trained architect, George Nakashima was the leading light of the American Studio furniture movement. Along with Wharton Esherick, Sam Maloof and Wendell Castle, Nakashima was an artisan who disdained industrial methods and materials in favor of a personal, craft-based approach to the design of chairs, coffee tables and other pieces. What sets Nakashima apart is the poetic style of his work, his reverence for wood and the belief that his furniture could evince — as he put it in the title of his 1981 memoir — The Soul of a Tree.
Born in Spokane, Washington, to Japanese immigrants, Nakashima traveled widely after college, working and studying in Paris, Japan and India, and at every stop he absorbed both modernist and traditional design influences.
The turning point in Nakashima’s career development came in the United States in 1942, when he was placed in an internment camp for Asian-Americans in Idaho. There, Nakashima met a master woodcarver who tutored him in Japanese crafting techniques. A former employer won Nakashima’s release and brought him to bucolic New Hope, Pennsylvania, where Nakashima set up a studio and worked for the rest of his life. (Master craftsperson Mira Nakashima keeps her father’s legacy alive at the George Nakashima Studio in New Hope today. She has been the artistic director of George Nakashima Woodworkers since her father's death, in 1990.)
Nakashima’s singular aesthetic is best captured in his custom-made tables and benches — pieces that show off the grain, burls and whorls in a plank of wood. He left the “free edge,” or natural contour, of the slab un-planed, and reinforced fissures in the wood with “butterfly” joints.
Almost all Nakashima seating pieces have smooth, milled edges. Nakashima also contracted with large-scale manufacturers to produce carefully supervised editions of his designs. Knoll has offered his Straight chair — a modern take on the spindle-backed Windsor chair — since 1946; the now-defunct firm Widdicomb-Mueller, the result of a merger between Widdicomb and Mueller Furniture, issued the Shaker-inspired Origins collection in the 1950s.
Nelson Rockefeller in 1973 gave Nakashima his single largest commission: a 200-piece suite for his suburban New York estate. Today, Nakashima furniture is collected by both the staid and the fashionable: his work sits in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution, as well as in the homes of Steven Spielberg, Brad Pitt, Diane von Furstenberg and the late Steve Jobs.
Find George Nakashima Studio furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
George Nakashima 'Minguren II' Coffee Table in English Walnut
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, 'Minguren II' coffee table, English walnut, American black walnut, United States, 1973 The Minguren II coffee table was developed in t...
Walnut
George Nakashima 'Slab' Coffee Table in English Walnut
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, 'Slab' coffee table, English walnut, United States, 1964 American woodworker and designer George Nakashima demonstrates his mastery of ...
Walnut
George Nakashima, Freeform Coffee Table, English Walnut, Studio USA 1971
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in High Point, NC
A unique and sizable coffee / cocktail table in the "sled-shape" style. Produced by Nakashima Studio, New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States. Dated 1971 Executed in English Walnut...
Walnut
George Nakashima, Coffee Table, American Black Walnut, New Hope, USA, 1982
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in High Point, NC
An American black walnut coffee table designed by George Nakashima and produced by Nakashima Studio, New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States, 1...
Walnut
George Nakashima, Early Conoid Coffee Table, 1962, American Black Walnut
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
George Nakashima Conoid Coffee Table, 1962 American black walnut single slab top with two free edges, several exposed knots, and expressive grain Inscribed to underside with client's...
Walnut
George Nakashima English Walnut Conoid Coffee Table
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coffee table from American mid-century craftsman George Nakashima. The table crafted of english walnut, c.1971 features a live edge slab table top with single spindle support and liv...
Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Minguren II Coffee Table
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coffee table from American mid-century craftsman George Nakashima. The table crafted of black walnut, c.1988 features a live edge slab table top with single spindle support and live ...
Walnut
Nakashima for Knoll Splay Leg Table
By George Nakashima Studio, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This table is a simple and artistic example of George Nakashima's craftsmanship and design. Made with a hickory top and walnut legs that splay out, plus a matching walnut trim. First...
Hickory, Walnut
$18,000
H 17 in W 24 in D 20.75 in
1950s George Nakashima English Walnut Shark Tooth Live Free Edge Table Wepman
By George Nakashima
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Original unmolested finish. George Nakashima walnut studio table, accompanied by authentication paperwork from the Nakashima Foundation.
Walnut
George Nakashima 'Cluster Base' Table with Live-Edge Top
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, 'Cluster Base' table, American black walnut, United States, 1987 This Cluster Base table by George Nakashima exemplifies the designer’s...
Walnut
George Nakashima Walnut Drop Leaf Table, Mid-Century Modern, 1962
By George Nakashima
Located in Astoria, NY
George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) American Walnut Drop Leaf Table, 1962, on four turned wood legs. 28.5" H x 60" W x 30.5" D; leaf: 10" W. Provenance: Commissioned from the ar...
Walnut
Tomlinson American 1960s Walnut Coffee Table
By Tomlinson
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful 1960s cocktail table with a cerused limed wood base and a polished burl match-booked walnut top. Original label.
Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Minguren II Coffee Table
By George Nakashima, George Nakashima Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coffee table from American mid-century craftsman George Nakashima. The table crafted of black walnut, c.1988 features a live edge slab table top with single spindle support and live ...
Walnut
$12,000
H 20.5 in W 53.75 in D 18 in
Mid Century George Nakashima “Origins” Walnut Writing Desk or Coffee Table
By George Nakashima, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Documented writing desk from George Nakashima’s Origins series, executed in richly grained walnut and produced in the United States under the auspices of the Nakashima Studio. The Or...
Walnut
George Nakashima Wepman Table
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An oversized example of this design Re-Oiled Surface. Original order card available 62 XIV-5
Wood
1960 Nakashima for Widdicomb Sundra Walnut Coffee Table
By George Nakashima Studio, John Widdicomb
Located in Bensalem, PA
Please look at video and pictures for overall detail and condition. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Rosewood, Walnut
$4,995
H 14.75 in W 21.75 in D 63 in
Vintage Live Edge Redwood Coffee Table with Burl Root Base, Nakashima Inspired
By George Nakashima
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Pictures simply don't convey the true magnificence of this piece. A sight to behold in person. This dazzling George Nakashima style redwood slab top is supported by a massive, marbl...
Burl
$2,295
H 16.5 in W 48.75 in D 32.5 in
Live Edge Solid Slab Coffee Table or Bench in the Style of George Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible midcentury live edge or free edge solid slab coffee table or bench in the style of George Nakashima. It is in wonderful vintage condition with normal wear, circa 1950s-198...
Wood
Walnut Coffee Table New Hope School Bench Made Phil Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Forest Grove, PA
A bench made New Hope School solid walnut walnut coffee table. The tapered dowel legs go through the table top and are wedged, all the wedges are aligned like a Phil Powell table. Al...
Walnut
$3,900
H 14.5 in W 45 in D 19.5 in
Mid Century Modern Studio Made Live Edge Coffee Table in Walnut & Elm Woods
By George Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Made by an unknown woodworker in the Bucks County PA area c. 1990's. Beautifully designed and constructed, having solid walnut & elm. Excellent ready to use condition.
Elm, Walnut
Sold
H 13.39 in W 83.47 in D 21.26 in
George Nakashima, Slab I Coffee Table, American Black Walnut, 1968
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
George Nakashima, Slab I Coffee Table, Nakashima Studio, USA 1968 American black walnut single slab top with two free edges, sap grain details, exposed knots, and bark pockets, clie...
Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Coffee Table
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coffee table from American mid-century craftsman George Nakashima. The table crafted of black walnut, c.1969 features a live edge table top geometric slab base with one tapered leg. ...
Walnut
George Nakashima Studio Coffee Table
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coffee table from American mid-century craftsman George Nakashima. The table crafted of black walnut, c.1969 features a live edge table top geometric slab base with one tapered leg. ...
Walnut
Sold
H 15.36 in W 64.57 in D 16.15 in
George Nakashima, Minguren II Walnut Coffee Table, Signed and Dated 1984
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
George Nakashima, Minguren II Coffee Table in Persian walnut and American black walnut, featuring a single slab top with burl detail and bark pockets signed and dated to underside 'G...
Walnut
George Nakashima Coffee Table in Black Walnut
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Chicago, IL
George Nakashima coffee table in black walnut, solid live-edge top with exotic figured rinnge with solid turned legs.
Walnut
George Nakashima Free Edge Slab Coffee Table in English Walnut 1950s
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Free Edge Slab Coffee Table in English walnut with rosewood butterfly by George Nakashima, American 1950's. Table features a single slab top with free edges, expressive figured grain, and one rosewood butterfly. A beautiful example of George Nakashima’s work. Reference: George Nakashima Full Circle by Derek E. Ostergard for the American Craft Museum of the Museum Craft Council, published in 1989, on pages 118 and 119 is a photo and description of a Slab Coffee Table. Provenance: Private Collection Boston. Purchased by this owner from Peter Roberts Antiques...
Rosewood, Walnut
George Nakashima Conoid Coffee Table in English Walnut, 1969
By George Nakashima Studio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An exquisite George Nakashima Conoid cocktail table executed in English walnut, its subtriangular, slab top with three live edges, and featuring expressive grain / details, naturally...
Walnut
Sold
H 12.5 in W 17 in D 24 in
George Nakashima Studio Wepman Side Tables in Walnut Signed by Mira Nakashima
By George Nakashima Studio, Mira Nakashima
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of three hand-made Wepman tripod side tables crafted in the George Nakashima Studio by his Daughter and protege Mira Nakashima. Commissioned for an important private Texas collec...
Walnut
Sold
H 13.25 in W 38 in D 72.5 in
George Nakashima Conoid Coffee Table Free Edge English Walnut Slab, 1963
By George Nakashima Studio
Located in Dallas, TX
Custom ordered in 1963, this early George Nakashima Studio coffee table is one of the larger examples of this form measuring in at over six feet long. The freeform edges are amazing...
Walnut
Sold
H 13.5 in W 70.75 in D 41.25 in
George Nakashima, Exceptional and Large "Slab" Coffee Table, Burl, Studio, 1961
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in High Point, NC
An unique large "Slab" coffee table by George Nakashima. Top and base executed in English oak burl. Features 3 butterfly joints, iconic to George Nakashima. Provenance: Executed in 1961, acquired from the studios, thence by decent to private collection Washington DC. Sold with copy of original invoice. Other designers of the period include Philip Powell...
Oak, Burl