2000 Nakashima Woodworkers Conoid Chair in Figured Black Walnut & Hickory, Signed/Inscribed

Details

Description

An exceptional Nakashima Woodworkers Conoid Chair, crafted in November 2000 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. One of the studio’s most recognizable … Read more An exceptional Nakashima Woodworkers Conoid Chair, crafted in November 2000 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. One of the studio’s most recognizable designs, the Conoid Chair embodies the combination of traditional craftsmanship, sculptural form, and celebration of natural wood that defines the Nakashima tradition.

This example is particularly striking for its richly figured black walnut seat, which displays dramatic variations in grain, color, and natural character across the broad sculpted surface. The walnut is complemented by slender contrasting spindles and the Conoid Chair’s distinctive cantilevered base. A gently curved crest rail and subtly shaped seat give the chair an elegant profile from every angle.

The underside retains its original handwritten inscription, including the date “11/00,” providing an important connection to the chair’s history and production at the Nakashima studio.

The chair remains in original vintage condition and shows expected signs of use consistent with its age, including scattered surface scratches, small marks, and finish wear. These have been left untouched rather than refinished, preserving the chair’s original character and patina. Please review the detailed photographs for condition.

What makes this particular chair special to me is the walnut selected for the seat. Rather than being visually uniform, the board has an extraordinary landscape of swirling figure, darker figuring, knots, and natural irregularities. It makes the chair unmistakably individual—the kind of material-driven character at the heart of Nakashima furniture.

Both a functional piece of furniture and an important example of American studio craft, this 2000 Nakashima Conoid Chair would be equally at home at a dining table, behind a desk, or displayed on its own as a sculptural accent chair. See less