George Nakashima round cluster-base table, 1962
Description
George Nakashima round cluster-base table, Persian walnut, USA, 1962
The “Cluster Table” by George Nakashima distills a lifetime of architectural inquiry and reverence for wood into a singular, quietly powerful form. Designed and built in 1962 at his New Hope, Pennsylvania studio, this round dining table is an enduring expression of Nakashima’s belief that furniture could be both deeply functional and spiritually resonant.
Crafted from American black walnut, the table’s circular top floats with visual lightness above a complex, architectonic base. Composed of evenly spaced vertical slats arranged radially, the base reads like a timber colonnade: precise, rhythmic, and spatially generous. It offers full leg clearance while grounding the table with sculptural integrity. When viewed in elevation, the form echoes the latticed façades of Japanese machiya houses - an homage to Nakashima’s early architectural training under Antonin Raymond in Tokyo, where traditional Japanese woodworking intersected with Western modernism.Natural fissures in the walnut are stabilized with Nakashima’s signature butterfly joints, hand-cut from contrasting rosewood. These keys are both visual and structural, reinforcing the material without obscuring its organic life. The edges of the top remain live and expressive, preserving the tree’s natural contours in deference to its original form.
The “Cluster Table” is a standout example of the American studio furniture movement, where craftsmen like Frank Lloyd Wright, Karl Springer, and Edward J. Wormley transformed furniture into timeless works of art. Unlike decorative or mass-produced pieces, George Nakashima’s designs embody a unique blend of architectural precision and organic beauty. With the “Cluster Table,” Nakashima brings this vision to life—creating a piece that celebrates natural walnut, expert joinery, and a thoughtful balance of form and function.
Dimensions
Height: 29.13 in (74 cm)
Width: 30.31 in (77 cm)
Depth: 29.92 in (76 cm)
Design
1962
Manufacture
1960-1969
Material
Persian walnut
Condition
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