George Nakashima
Slat-Back, Full Size Headboard, 1956
About this Headboard
This headboard is a modern and elegant accompaniment to a full-size bed, made from solid wood, American black walnut. Its elegant design features rich and prominent woodgrain, set against the slim yet firm cuts of each slat and board.
George Nakashima Slatted Headboard
The hallmark of many George Nakashima pieces is natural, solid wood, with grain and patterns preserved throughout the furniture crafting process. This piece is no different, exemplifying George Nakashima’s keen eye for beautiful wood and his commitment to preserving its unique features. The rich, bright tone of this headboard plays elegantly against its precise geometry, and it remains pristine due to the durability of its design and material.
George Nakashima Furniture
By the time this piece debuted in 1956, George Nakashima’s career was beginning to flourish. A worldwide demand would soon grow for his pieces, which are considered some of the finest examples to come out of the American Studio Craft Movement. George Nakashima had been settled into his New Hope studio and homestead for roughly four years, and was regularly creating pieces that quickly went to both public and private collections. This headboard was created during this pivotal time and is a historically valuable relic of the era of Studio Craft furniture.
George Nakashima – Master Woodworker
George Nakashima, referred to often as the “father of the American Studio Craft Movement,” has long been lauded for his ability to blend natural beauty and uniquity with durable functionality. His rebellious nature drew Nakashima to create furniture that challenged the modernism of his time, which garnered favor for traditional craftsmanship and techniques. This headboard is a true example of the traditional, meticulous style for which George Nakashima is known.
Designed and created by George Nakashima in 1956.
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.
| Dimensions | 56 × 4 × 36 in |
|---|---|
| Artist | |
| Date | 1956 |
| Material | American black walnut |
| Style |
