George Nakashima: The Soul of the Tree in Mid-Century and Studio Craft Furniture

George Nakashima: The Soul of the Tree in Mid-Century and Studio Craft Furniture

In the pantheon of Mid-Century Modern designers, George Nakashima occupies a singular place—not just as a master craftsman, but as a philosopher of materials, a bridge between cultures, and a pioneer of the American studio craft movement. Where many of his contemporaries were refining machine-made modernism, Nakashima was slowing it down, elevating the handmade, and reminding the world that furniture could be soulful.

A Life Shaped by Philosophy, Faith, and Wood

Born in 1905 in Spokane, Washington, Nakashima was trained as an architect, earning a master’s degree from MIT before traveling the world—studying in Paris, working in Japan, and spending time in an ashram in India. These global influences would shape both his worldview and his work. He developed a spiritual reverence for nature, especially trees, which he saw not just as raw material, but as living beings with stories to tell.

That reverence found its truest expression in his studio in New Hope, Pennsylvania, where Nakashima began crafting furniture in earnest after his internment at Camp Minidoka during World War II. It was there, under the mentorship of a Japanese carpenter he met in the camp, that Nakashima deepened his connection to woodworking.

A Founding Voice in the Studio Craft Movement

George Nakashima is often credited as one of the founding figures of the American studio craft movement—a post-war response to industrialization that emphasized the artist as maker. Rather than anonymous factory production, Nakashima’s work was intensely personal. Each table, chair, and cabinet was made in his studio by hand, often using slabs of American hardwoods like walnut, cherry, and maple.

His approach stood in stark contrast to the clean, mass-produced lines that defined much of Mid-Century Modern furniture. Nakashima believed in showcasing the imperfections of wood—the knots, burls, cracks, and voids—rather than hiding them. His iconic butterfly joints, used to stabilize natural splits, became both functional and poetic signatures.

Why Nakashima Matters in Mid-Century Modern Design

Even though Nakashima’s aesthetic diverged from the Scandinavian and Bauhaus-influenced norms of the era, his work is undeniably Mid-Century in spirit: modern, reductive, honest. What sets him apart is his deep spiritual and material connection to wood, which made his pieces feel timeless rather than tied to a moment or trend.

Where Mid-Century Modern often focused on progress and sleekness, Nakashima grounded his work in permanence, patience, and presence. His furniture isn’t just admired—it’s felt. Each piece encourages pause and contemplation, offering a sense of grounding in a fast-moving world.

His inclusion in design milestones like the seminal 1952 “Good Design” exhibition at MoMA, and his long partnership with Knoll and Widdicomb (who produced versions of his Straight Chair and Origins line), cemented his place in the modern design canon. Yet, Nakashima always remained loyal to the slower, more deliberate pace of studio work.

Why Nakashima’s Work is Collectible

Today, Nakashima furniture is among the most revered and sought-after by collectors and institutions alike. Here’s why:

• Singular Craftsmanship: Each piece was made with intentionality, often customized for the client and always handcrafted.

• Material Rarity: Nakashima was known to hold onto wood slabs for decades, waiting for the right purpose. Many pieces contain rare or now-unavailable hardwoods with unique figuring.

• Signature Details: Butterfly joints, exposed joinery, free-edge slabs, and mortise-and-tenon construction all serve as both identifiers and testaments to quality.

• Cultural and Historic Weight: Owning a Nakashima piece is not just acquiring furniture—it’s acquiring part of a philosophical legacy.

• Provenance and Value: Works made during George’s lifetime, especially signed pieces with original documentation, command top prices at auction and continue to appreciate.

A Legacy That Lives On

Today, the Nakashima Studio continues under the leadership of his daughter, Mira Nakashima, preserving and expanding the legacy of her father’s vision. The studio remains a place of reverence, where trees are honored, not harvested, and where the grain of wood guides the hand of the maker.

In a World of Noise, Nakashima Is Silence

George Nakashima once said, “A tree is our most intimate contact with nature.” His work reminds us that design need not be loud to be powerful. In fact, the quieter it is, the more room it leaves for the soul.

In the context of both Mid-Century Modernism and the studio craft movement, Nakashima was—and remains—a crucial voice. His pieces are meditations on nature, permanence, and the handmade, inviting us to slow down and live more thoughtfully.

Looking for Nakashima?

At Hobbs Modern, we occasionally offer rare, original George Nakashima works, including  Trestle table.  Every Nakashima item we handle is vetted for authenticity and celebrated for its quiet artistry.

Why Nakashima’s Work is Collectible

Today, George Nakashima’s furniture ranks among the most coveted in both the worlds of design and fine art collecting. What began as studio-made furniture now sits comfortably in major museum collections, high-design interiors, and private estates worldwide. Here’s why his work continues to grow in value and cultural significance:

1. Authentic Handcraftsmanship in an Automated World

Each Nakashima piece is hand-built using traditional joinery and woodworking techniques that are nearly extinct in modern production. As consumers and collectors increasingly value authenticity and narrative, Nakashima’s hands-on approach feels rare and deeply meaningful.

2. One-of-a-Kind Nature

No two Nakashima pieces are the same. The wood slab dictated the design, and the furniture was made around the natural contours of each tree. His signature live edges, knots, and butterfly joints were not design affectations—they were expressions of respect for the individuality of each tree. This uniqueness makes every piece essentially a one-off functional sculpture.

3. Timeless Aesthetic

Nakashima’s work transcends fashion. It isn’t mid-century in the Eames or Wegner sense—it’s more elemental. His fusion of Japanese, Shaker, and American vernacular styles results in furniture that feels outside of time, which is precisely why it integrates so well into both modern and traditional interiors.

4. Provenance and Documentation

Nakashima carefully documented his work, often signing pieces and recording client orders. Early pieces from his New Hope studio—especially those signed by George himself or documented in original shop drawings—carry significant provenance and value in the secondary market. Pieces with known histories or direct ties to prominent collectors and architects command premium prices.

5. Increasing Rarity

George Nakashima passed away in 1990, and while the Nakashima Studio still produces furniture under his daughter Mira’s leadership, pieces made during his lifetime are finite. Early examples—particularly from the 1950s to the mid-1970s—are becoming harder to find, especially in original condition with a documented history.

6. Cultural and Artistic Reverence

Nakashima’s work has been acquired by institutions like MoMA, the Smithsonian, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His legacy isn’t just about furniture—it’s about philosophy, craft, and reverence for nature. As the line between collectible design and fine art continues to blur, Nakashima’s work is now viewed with the same seriousness as sculpture or painting.

7. Growing Market Recognition

Auction results reflect this rising esteem: Nakashima pieces regularly outperform estimates, and collectors are now seeking even more obscure and experimental works from his studio. A Conoid bench or live-edge dining table with the right provenance can fetch six figures at auction, rivaling works by the most celebrated modern designers.

A Legacy That Lives On

Today, the Nakashima Studio continues under the leadership of his daughter, Mira Nakashima, preserving and expanding the legacy of her father’s vision. The studio remains a place of reverence, where trees are honored, not harvested, and where the grain of wood guides the hand of the maker.