George Nakashima
31 1/8 x 25 5/8 x 61 3/8 in
Some pieces mark the beginning of a story. This George Nakashima Long Chair belongs to the formative years of one of the twentieth century's most celebrated furniture makers. Originally conceived in 1947, the Long Chair was reinterpreted in 1951 with a woven cotton webbing and seagrass seat and back, replacing the earlier upholstered cushions. This 1952 example retains one of the design's most distinctive early features: three rows of seagrass woven through the back webbing, a striking graphic detail found only on chairs produced through 1953.
Created during the first decade of Nakashima's New Hope workshop, the chair reflects the principles that would come to define his work—honest craftsmanship, sculptural simplicity and a profound respect for the natural beauty of wood. Both an important collector's piece and a timeless work of design, it stands as a compelling example from a pivotal moment in Nakashima's career.
Accompanying the chair is a digital copy of the original order book entry, which records and identifies this specific example.