George Nakashima

One of the leading innovators of 20th-century furniture design, George Nakashima was an American woodworker, architect, and furniture maker who became a leading figure in the American studio craft movement. Born in 1905 in Washington, Nakashima developed a deep appreciation for nature and craftsmanship from an early age. He initially enrolled in the forestry school at the University of Washington, but later transferred to study architecture. In 1931 Nakashima earned a master’s degree in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

During his time in Paris, Nakashima became fascinated by Le Corbusier’s Pavillon Suisse. He was influenced by the Franco-Swiss modernist’s philosophy towards architecture and design as a way of living. Between 1934 and 1939, Nakashima worked at the firm of the renowned architect Antonin Raymond in Tokyo. His time in Japan profoundly influenced his aesthetic and philosophical approach to design, exploring the Mingei movement — a revival of traditional Japanese art and architecture — and integrating Japanese woodworking techniques with a reverence for the natural world. This influence became a hallmark of his work after returning to the United States.

During World War II, Nakashima and his family were interned at Minidoka, Idaho. It was there that he met Gentaro Hikogawa, a master woodworker, who taught Nakashima traditional Japanese hand tools and woodworking techniques. This experience deepened Nakashima's connection to the craft and set the stage for his later success.

In 1943, Nakashima established his studio in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Nakashima’s initial designs demonstrate an interest in materials, inspired by Shaker furniture. He celebrated a dovetail-like joinery method that would become a Nakashima icon — the butterfly joint — and displayed this type of inlay across the tops of his tables, desks and stands. Nakashima furniture is renowned for its use of natural wood, often incorporating the natural, ‘free’ edges, cracks and knots of the material, enhancing its inherent beauty.

Nakashima’s work gained widespread acclaim, and his designs are now considered timeless examples of mid-century modern furniture. Nakashima designs are sought after by collectors and featured in museums around the world.

George Nakashima died in 1990, aged 85. His legacy continues through his daughter, Mira Nakashima, who is the creative director of the George Nakashima Woodworkers studio, maintaining his dedication to craftsmanship and his vision of creating furniture that harmonises with the natural world.