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George Nakashima
American • 1905-1990
Biography
Working out of his compound in rural New Hope, Pennsylvania, George Nakashima produced some of the most original and influential furniture designs of the post-war era. Nakashima aimed to give trees a second life, choosing solid wood over veneers and designing his furniture to highlight the inherent beauty of the wood, such as the form and grain. To this end, his tables often feature freeform edges, natural fissures and knot holes. Nakashima was an MIT-trained architect and traveled widely in his youth, gaining exposure to modernist design the world over.
The signature style he developed was the distillation of extraordinary, diverse experiences, which led to the establishment of his furniture-making business in 1946. In particular, his practice of Integral Yoga, which he studied while working under the architect Antonin Raymond on the construction of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, India, had a lasting impact on his philosophy as a designer.
After returning to the U.S. in 1940, Nakashima's family was interned in an American concentration camp, a horrible ordeal that nevertheless introduced him to traditional Japanese joinery by way of a Nisei woodworker he met in the camp. He incorporated these techniques and also drew on American vernacular forms, such as the Windsor chair. These diverse influences have resulted in immense crossover appeal in the world of twentieth-century design collecting.
Insights
George Nakashima dreamed of creating "Altars of Peace" for each of the seven continents. Thus far, three altars have been made; the first altar, made from a massive black walnut tree, was consecrated and installed at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City in 1986.
In 1983 the emperor of Japan and the Japanese government bestowed the Order of the Sacred Treasure on Nakashima.
George Nakashima's daughter Mira, a trained architect, has carried on her father's legacy as the creative director of Nakashima Studios since his death in 1990.
Nakashima designed mass-produced furniture for Knoll Associates (1946) and Widdicomb (1957).
"Wood is a material related to man, a material that fills a need in human consciousness by drawing one into the fine relationship with nature and time — to produce beautiful things or inspiring things or simple good things."
Upcoming Lots
92
George Nakashima
Set of eleven 'New' chairs and one 'New' armchair
Estimate £16,000 - 24,000
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93
George Nakashima
'Slab II' coffee table
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000
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Past Lots
49
George Nakashima
Wall-mounted sideboard, model no. 249, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $16,510
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59
George Nakashima
Daybed, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $20,320
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123
George Nakashima
Free-form coffee table
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000
Sold for £8,890
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1
George Nakashima
Side table, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $30,480
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3
George Nakashima
Ottoman
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $10,160
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4
George Nakashima
Single-arm sofa, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $7,000 - 9,000
Sold for $17,780
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6
George Nakashima
Set of three lounge chairs, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $60,960
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40
George Nakashima
Set of eight "New" dining chairs
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $30,480
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41
George Nakashima
"Frenchman's Cove II" extendable dining table
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $20,320
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42
George Nakashima
Two-door cabinet
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $40,640
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11
George Nakashima
"Slab" coffee table
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $30,240
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12
George Nakashima
Five-drawer chest of drawers
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $8,190
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13No Reserve
George Nakashima
Cocktail table, model no. 258, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $3,276
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15
George Nakashima
Plant stand, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $8,820
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18No Reserve
George Nakashima
Extendable dining table, model no. 277, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $5,040
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19
George Nakashima
Console table, model no. 265, from the "Origins" collection
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $4,788
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64
George Nakashima
Set of three "Amoeba" nesting tables
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $17,640
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65
George Nakashima
Custom sliding door cabinet
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $88,200
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66
George Nakashima
"Slab" coffee table
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $16,380
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68
George Nakashima
"Cushion" chair and ottoman
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $16,380
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84
George Nakashima
Extendable trestle table
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £37,800
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64
George Nakashima
Pair of "Conoid" lounge chairs
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $18,900
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65
George Nakashima
"Greenrock" console table
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $30,240
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66
George Nakashima
"Conoid" platform bed and "Conoid" headboard with storage
Estimate $18,000 - 24,000
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