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Please note this lot will be moved to Christie’s F… Read more

Property from a Distinguished CollectionThe present lot was a creative collaboration between George Nakashima and the client, who developed a close relationship with the designer. They had visited the studio and thoughtfully selected the tree that was later transformed into the dining table they continued to use for the next thirty years. This vision was documented for the client, as illustrated in the preparatory drawings. Nakashima described this process as, “The hours spent by the true craftsman in bringing out the grain, which has long been imprisoned in the trunk of the tree, are themselves an act of creation.” His designs were largely determined by the wood itself and how to better accentuate and exploit the inherent nature of the material to create timeless pieces of simplicity, pure line, and balanced proportion.

GEORGE NAKASHIMA (1905-1990)

'CONOID' DINING TABLE, 1968

Details

GEORGE NAKASHIMA (1905-1990)
'Conoid' Dining Table, 1968
English walnut, black walnut, two East Indian rosewood butterfly keys
28 ½ in. (72.3 cm) high; 92 ½ in. (235 cm) wide; 46 in. (116.8 cm) deep
marked with client's name to the underside

Provenance

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner, 1968

Literature

G. Nakashima, The Soul of a Tree, A Woodworker's Reflections, Tokyo, 1981, pp. 184-85 for similar examples
M. Nakashima, Nature, Form & Spirit: The Life and Legacy of George Nakashima, New York, 2003, pp. 147, 174, 223 for similar examples

Special Notice

Please note this lot will be moved to Christie’s Fine Art Storage Services (CFASS in Red Hook, Brooklyn) at 5pm on the last day of the sale. Lots may not be collected during the day of their move to Christie’s Fine Art Storage Services. Please consult the Lot Collection Notice for collection information. This sheet is available from the Bidder Registration staff, Purchaser Payments or the Packing Desk and will be sent with your invoice.

Brought to you by

Daphné Riou

driou@christies.com +1 212 636 2240

Lot Essay

This lot is accompanied by a copy of the original order card and invoice.

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