Partially restored and ready to ship in 1 week or less.
In the workshop of George Nakashima, the very soul of the tree was deeply celebrated and honored. "It is an art- and soul-satisfying adventure to walk the forests of the world, to commune with trees,” Nakashima reflected, “to bring this living material to the work bench, ultimately to give it a second life." Nakashima, an accomplished architect who trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discovered his true passion for woodworking while confined in an internment camp during WWII. In 1943, he relocated to New Hope, Pennsylvania, where he opened his own studio. There, he crafted exquisite pieces that highlighted the natural beauty of wood, most notably by retaining the tree’s rough outer layer, known as the “free edge.” Nakashima’s work spanned across the globe; during his time in India, he grew deeply spiritual and developed a heartfelt goal to construct peace altars on every continent—the first of which, made from book-matched slabs of American black walnut, was installed at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 1986. Circa 1959. Materials: American black walnut, rosewood.
Image 1 of 17
Image 2 of 17
Image 3 of 17
Image 4 of 17
Image 5 of 17
Image 6 of 17
Image 7 of 17
Image 8 of 17
Image 9 of 17
Image 10 of 17
Image 11 of 17
Image 12 of 17
Image 13 of 17
Image 14 of 17
Image 15 of 17
Image 16 of 17
Image 17 of 17