The first piece of George Nakashima furniture I ever saw was at the Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian, in Washington, D.C., about 15 years ago. His Conoid Bench demonstrates his maxim that the form of a piece should be influenced by the natural grain within the wood.
I am a huge fan of Nakashima furniture and it seems like his aesthetic is really coming to the fore right now. Unfortunately prices are skyrocketing too. You can find out all about this thoughtful artisan in his book The Soul of a Tree here at Powells.
