Important Pair of Early Bookshelves, 1955

George Nakashima was one of the most honored and revered furniture designers and woodworkers in American history. He challenged the prevailing codes of twentieth-century « modern » architecture by restoring the nobility of wood. More than mere material, Nakashima poetically described in his book The Soul of a Tree that each tree is a symbol of eternity and « lives and breathes. » Like a jeweler cutting diamonds, his commitment was to capture the spirit of the wood to shape the most iconic and pure designs with intense skills. What sets Nakashima apart is the spirituality of his work and the uniqueness and timelessness of the pieces that perfectly emphasize the beauty of proportion.

After architecture studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nakashima traveled to Europe, Japan, and India, where he perfected his craftsmanship skills and increased his knowledge of sophisticated woodworking methods. After the war, in 1945, he opened his first studio in New Hope, Pennsylvania, from where he produced objects that were both strikingly beautiful and useful, consistent with his desire for harmony. His partnership with Knoll Associates was a significant turning point in his career, making Nakashima's name renowned and appraised. Soon after, his designs became collection pieces and were sought after by celebrities such as Nelson Rockefeller, who commissioned the designer for more than 200 pieces for his house in New York.

Together with other works by Nakashima, the present lot was beautifully integrated in a Private Palm Beach interior, and epitomizes the unique form and honesty that defines Nakashima’s style.