George Nakashima
Early and Unique Writing Table, c. 1945
Material: American Black Walnut
An early, highly unique Writing Table by George Nakashima, circa 1945. The curvilinear top, supported by splayed legs, reflects a period in which most of Nakashima’s work was custom-made on a client-by-client basis. The original form was conceived as a coffee table, as seen in his first catalogue from 1945. At the request of a client, Nakashima modified the base to function as a writing table. This piece marks a transitional period in his career, during which Nakashima was working toward a standardization of designs, a process that would be fully realized in his 1955 catalogue.
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 | 42.5 × 25 × 28 in |
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| Date | c. 1945 |
