George Nakashima
Pair of Bookmatched Conoid Benches, 1972
Dimensions:
108 x 27 x 29
134 x 28 x 29
An exceptional and extremely rare pair of Conoid Benches by George Nakashima. Designed as a pair in 1972 at the request of an important patron, the benches were brought to life from the same American black walnut tree and are bookmatched as a truly matching pair.
Each Conoid Bench features expressive free edges that work in concert with the dramatic figuring of the large single-board slabs of American black walnut. Both benches include butterflies, an iconic Nakashima motif, joining an expanse existing naturally in each solid board; the longer bench also includes two additional butterflies at its surface, bridging a natural split in the slab. Contrasting, hand-carved hickory spindles form the supportive backrests of the benches while the legs and top portions of the backrests feature a rich-granied American Black Walnut.
The pair of Conoid Benches is in excellent condition and from the original home for which they were originally made. Additionally, the works are accompanied by a copy of the original drawing dated September 18, 1972, marking the genesis of this exquisite, bookmatched pair.
Introduced in 1961, the Conoid line was inspired by the curved vault and outward-facing, lyrical space of George Nakashima’s Conoid Studio design. The Conoid Bench is an iconic, integral part of the Conoid line and has become one of Nakashima’s most recognizable designs.
George Nakashima was born in Spokane, Washington in 1905 to Japanese parents who had immigrated to the United States. Educated and trained as an architect at the University of Washington, Nakashima received his Master’s degree in Architecture from M.I.T. in 1930. After working briefly as an architect in the United States he left for Paris seeking the creative energies of one of the great urban centers of the day. From there he traveled extensively, ending up at the home of his grandmother, living on a farm on the outskirts of Tokyo.
| Artist | |
|---|---|
| Date | 1972 |
| Material | American black walnut, Hickory |
| Style | |
| Exhibitions | Design Miami 2025 |
