George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
American, 1905-1990
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.
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Creator: George Nakashima
George Nakashima Walnut King Headboard Sculptural Form for Widdicomb Mid Century
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., George Nakashima
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Walnut Headboard, designed by George Nakashima for Widdicomb, American, circa 1950s. This headboard is currently being refinished and will look amazing when completed. The...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
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Wood, Walnut
George Nakashima Origins Nightstands for Widdicomb, 1950
s
By George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of George Nakashima "Origins" nightstands for Widdicomb, circa 1950's. The wood is East Indian Laurel and has a striking grain pattern. All original hardware. The pieces ar...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
Materials
Wood
George Nakashima Origins Headboard by Widdicomb
By George Nakashima
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nakashima design headboard for a king or queen sized bed for his Origins series by Widdicomb, 1959. Constructed of East Indian Laurel wood in the original Sundra finish, clean...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
Materials
Elm
1950s George Nakashima Studio Full Size Dovetailed Walnut Headboard Bed Cabinet
By George Nakashima
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a very special 1950s George Nakashima headboard, produced at the Nakashima Woodworking studio in New Hope, Pennsylvania. ...
Category
1950s American Modern Vintage George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
Materials
Wood
Magnificent George Nakashima Widdicomb Kingsize Headboard Bed Origins Collection
By George Nakashima
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent George Nakashima for Widdicomb king size headboard, circa 1960s. The headboard features a dramatic, sweeping form that is regal and elegant. Surface is incredibly clean, ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$9,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Walnut Nakashima Headboard by George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A king sized solid walnut headboard. Superb craftsmanship and beautifully executed design.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
Materials
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Nakashima Headboard Origins for Widdicomb 1959
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., George Nakashima
Located in Camden, ME
Discover the timeless beauty of the George Nakashima Headboard Model 212-X from his renowned Origins line for Widdicomb, crafted in 1959.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$7,125 Sale Price
25% Off
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George Nakashima for Widdicomb Queen Headboard in Oiled Black Walnut, 1958
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George Nakashima East Indian Laurel Wood Nightstands for Widdicomb, Refinished
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By George Nakashima for Widdicomb Furniture, "Origins" Collection
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George Nakashima for Widdicomb Nightstand
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George Nakashima for Widdicomb Mid Century Nightstand
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George Nakashima for Widdicomb mid century nightstand
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George Nakashima Studio Full Size Platform Bed with Spindle Headboard
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...
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George Nakashima for Widdicomb King Size Headboard
By George Nakashima, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Large Kingsize headboard designed by George Nakashima for Widdicomb furniture. Piece was produce in 1961 per the date shown (3/1961). Headboard has been newly refinished and caned. S...
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George Nakashima bedroom furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
George Nakashima bedroom furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of George Nakashima bedroom furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original bedroom furniture by George Nakashima were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider bedroom furniture by Frank Lloyd Wright, Renzo Rutili, and Knoll. Prices for George Nakashima bedroom furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,495 and can go as high as $21,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,000.
Creators Similar to George Nakashima
Questions About George Nakashima Bedroom Furniture
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022George Nakashima is perhaps best known for developing the butterfly joint. This construction method involves connecting pieces with a third piece of wood shaped like a butterfly. The joint forms a strong, sturdy connection and stabilizes pieces to fight the effects of wood expansion. On 1stDibs, shop a range of George Nakashima furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022No, George Nakashima didn’t usually sign the majority of his works. Instead, he normally added the name of the client to the timber selected to start the project. The writing usually appears in simple black marker. On 1stDibs, find a variety of George Nakashima furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To identify George Nakashima furniture, start by looking for the name of the original client written in black marker. He usually wrote the name on the underside of a piece of furniture. Order cards and shop drawings can also help authenticate his work. On 1stDibs, find a selection of expertly vetted George Nakashima furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To address wood expansion, George Nakashima pioneered the butterfly joint. This technique uses a butterfly-shaped piece of wood as an anchor. When wood expands, the butterfly joint prevents the pieces from splitting apart. Butterfly joints are strong and increase the overall durability of his wood furniture. On 1stDibs, find a collection of George Nakashima.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Which chair is best for a George Nakashima Origins for Widdicomb desk is largely a matter of preference. George Nakashima chairs with Shaker-inspired spindle backs like the Mira and Conoid tend to complement the lines of the desks in the collection. However, you can mix and match styles to create an eclectic look. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of George Nakashima desks and chairs.
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