George Nakashima’s Harmonies in Wood

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George Nakashima’s furniture design stands as a profound and enduring tribute to nature, craftsmanship, and cross-cultural dialogue. As one of the most important figures in twentieth-century design, Nakashima developed a unique design language that emphasised the raw beauty of wood, merging traditional Japanese woodworking with modernist American ideals. His work remains instantly recognisable for its celebration of imperfection: live edges, visible knots, sapwood, butterfly joints, and natural grain patterns all became defining features, elevating each piece from mere furniture to deeply expressive art.

^{George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990), an early 'Slab I' coffee table, 1961 (£15,000-25,000)}

Born in Washington State in 1905, Nakashima's early connection with nature - fostered through scouting and forestry studies - formed the foundation of his creative philosophy. Though he earned degrees in architecture from the University of Washington and MIT, it was his international experience that truly shaped his design sensibility. While working under the architect Antonin Raymond in Japan and building an ashram in India for the spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo in the 1930s, Nakashima absorbed Eastern philosophies that emphasised discipline, spirituality, and harmony with nature. These would resonate throughout his later furniture.

^{George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990), an early 'Slab I' coffee table, 1961 (£15,000-25,000)}

While interned at Camp Minidoka in 1942 due to his Japanese heritage, Nakashima met fellow craftsman Gentaro Hikogawa and mastered traditional Japanese carpentry. This experience cemented the meditative, process-focused ethos that defined his practice. Upon release, Nakashima moved to New Hope, Pennsylvania, where he established his lifelong studio, which is still operational to this day. There, he produced both bespoke and standardised pieces, drawing from his now-famous inventory of wood. His studio became a hub of innovation, where even the simplest chair reflected deep design consideration and spiritual reverence.

Nakashima’s approach was never about domination over material, but rather collaboration with it. “The work is not about me,” he once said, “it’s about the tree.” Each piece began as a visual idea, then developed through sketches and finally translated into form by meticulously planned cuts that honoured the wood’s inherent features. He often invited clients to select boards from his wood storage, beginning a collaborative journey that was as much philosophical as it was functional.

^{George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990), an early 'Slab I' coffee table, 1961 (£15,000-25,000)} 

His signature styles, such as is visible in the present Slab I coffee table, exemplify this approach, where architectural rigor meets natural asymmetry. By the 1970s and 1980s, Nakashima was producing some of his most accomplished work, thanks in part to commissions from the Rockefellers and his daughter Mira’s increasing involvement in the studio.

George Nakashima's impact transcends his lifetime. His work is held in museums and private collections globally, influencing generations of woodworkers and designers. His “Altars for Peace” series, placed around the world, captures his lifelong commitment to beauty, peace, and global understanding. Ultimately, George Nakashima’s legacy is one of radical respect - for nature, for process, and for cultural synthesis. His work redefined what furniture could be: not simply objects of utility, but soulful expressions of nature’s intelligence, crafted through the mind and hand of a master.

We are delighted to be offering a Slab I coffee table in our upcoming Design auction, which takes place on 21 October. This fine example of Nakashima’s work was commissioned in 1961 and is crafted from a harmonious balance of American black walnut and Indian rosewood.

Tuesday 21 October | 10am

design@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778

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