Black Rock Galleries is pleased to offer a single owner collection of vintage George Nakashima furniture which is one of the featured highlights in our upcoming Greenwich Fall Exceptional Sale.

The Hoffman Collection of Vintage Nakashima Furniture

This collection comes to BRG from the Estate of Dr. Joseph Frederick Hoffman, PhD, a professor emeritus of cellular and molecular physiology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT. Dr. Hoffman was a resident of the greater New Haven region since 1965 until his death in 2022.

Dr. Hoffman began his collection of George Nakashima Woodworkers furniture in the 1950s with the mid-century purchase of his first Nakashima work. Over the years, the Hoffman collection grew to over 20 pieces in all -- some of which are in the fall exceptional online auction.

Perhaps the most notable lot in the collection is a walnut double pedestal desk.

GEORGE NAKASHIMA DOUBLE PEDESTAL WALNUT DESK CA. 1962

Item #: 225623

Description: George Nakashima double pedestal walnut desk. Rich dark walnut, rectangular top with seven drawers. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1962 for $225. 60” long x 30” deep.

Condition: Worn finish along the front edge, no keys, sturdy and still impressive.

Purchase Date: c. 1/10/1962

Other notable lots in the collection range from a variety of chairs to several chests of drawers to tables to a daybed purchased between 1959 and the early 1990s ... among other fine examples of vintage Nakashima furniture. There is even a stunning Mira Nakashima live edge bench in the collection.

GEORGE NAKASHIMA TWO PART SLIDING DOOR CABINET CA. 1959

Item #: 225584

Description: George Nakashima two part cabinet. American black walnut with pandanus cloth sliding doors. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1959 for $385. Base: 62” long (at the front) x 71” wide (at the back) x 21” deep x 32” high (base). The upper portion measures: 36” wide x 12” deep x 50” high.

Condition: Extensive wear to the pandanus cloth doors, no key, light wear to the top surface.

Purchase Date: 3/31/1959

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT CHEST CA. 1962

Item #: 226585

Description: George Nakashima black walnut chest. Fitted with four drawers, exposed dovetails, really beautiful patina. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1962 for $155. 36” long x 20” deep x 32” high.

Condition: Minor superficial scratches and scuffs to top

Purchase Date: 1/10/1962

GEORGE NAKASHIMA 7 DRAWER WALNUT TALL CHEST, CA. 1962

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT CONOID BED FRAME CA. 1962

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT TRESTLE DINING TABLE CA. 1962

Item #: 226555

Description: George Nakashima black walnut dining room table. Two board two joined together with three Nakashima joints, nice deep rich walnut patina, the base with beautiful exposed mortise tenon construction. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1962 for $150. 60” long x 36” wide x 29” high.

Condition: Light to moderate wear to top.

Purchase Date: 1/10/1962

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT CAPTAINS CHAIRS, CA. 1962 (X2 PAIRS)

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT SIDE TABLE CA. 1962

Item #: 225616

Description: George Nakashima walnut side table, dovetailed top fitted with a single drawer with cylindrical tapering legs. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1962 for $130. 20” wide x 20” deep x 21¼” high.

Condition: The top with moderate to heavy wear and stains.

Purchase Date: 2/13/1962

GEORGE NAKASHIMA LOUNGE CHAIR CA. 1965

Item #: 225613

Description: George Nakashima lounge chair, walnut with hickory spindles, saddle seat and turned tapering legs. Signed on the base of the chair with the clients name. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1965 for $100. 23½” wide (at front of chair) x 24” deep overall x 33” high, 13” seat height.

Condition: Stains, looses to finish and wear to seat, sturdy with good joinery.

Purchase Date: 11/14/1965

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT DAYBED CA. 1965

Item #: 225658

Description: George Nakashima walnut daybed. Beautifully crafted with through mortise joints, great rich patina. The back board made with a beautiful grained walnut board with natural edge top. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1965 for $155.

The base and back board were found separated in the home. The back board was modified into a headboard by cutting the two original supports off that held the back board to the day bed, additionally holes were drilled into the left and right side of the backboard (where there were none) to attach a bed frame.

Condition: Modified. The frame is in good overall condition, but at the current time there is no way to mount the backboard to the base. Photos 20-21 show where someone cut the supports off.

Purchase Date: 7/14/1965

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT HIFI CABINET

Item #: 226558

Description: George Nakashima black walnut HiFi Cabinet, fitted with record dividers on the left side, turn table pull out on the right side, exposed dovetails along the upper edge, light drawer panels (possibly cherry) and rosewood handles. 54” long x 20” deep x 40” high

Condition: Light wear , stains and scuffs to top, part of the rear panel may have been cut out to accommodate equipment. Some wear to the inside of the door where the turntable pulls out.

Purchase Date: unk.

MIRA NAKASHIMA BLACK WALNUT BENCH / LOW TABLE

Item #: 228264

Description: Mira Nakashima black walnut bench / low table, free form or live edge with one Nakashima joint. Signed and dated on the bottom with the clients name. 72” long x 25” wide (at the widest part) x 19” high.

Condition: Some light wear to the top of the bench, but overall in good Eatate condition.

Purchase Date: unk.

GEORGE NAKASHIMA ADJUSTABLE WALNUT BOOKCASE CA. 1985

Item #: 225650

Description: George Nakashima adjustable walnut bookcase. A great functional piece, dovetailed construction with four adjustable shelves. signed and dated 1985 on the lower shelf. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1985 for $1,700. 36” long x 12” deep x 46” high.

Condition: Overall good condition, with light expected wear.

Purchase Date: 3/14/1985

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT BOOKCASE CABINETS CA. 1985 (X2)

Item #: 225635 & 225628

Description: George Nakashima walnut bookcase cabinet. Rich dark walnut, dovetailed construction with light walnut drawers. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1985 for $4,800. See item: display cabinet and display cases. 48” long x 20” deep x 76½” high overall.

Condition: #225635 has light wear and scratches to the top, some water-stains to the lower sliding doors. Cabinet presents well and looks impressive.

#225628 has light wear to the top, some water-stains to the lower sliding doors. Cabinet presents well and looks impressive.

Purchase Date: 3/14/1985

GEORGE NAKASHIMA SIX DRAWER CHEST CA. 1986

Item #: 2255992

Description: Purchased from George Nakashima in 1986 for $3,290

Condition:

Purchase Date: 3/29/1986

GEORGE NAKASHIMA WALNUT DINING TABLE CA. 1986

Item #: 225619

Description: George Nakashima black walnut dining table. Beautiful walnut two board live edge top with three Nakashima joints, cage type pedestal with three horizontal feet. Purchased from George Nakashima in 1986 for $1,100. Signed and dated on the bottom of the table.

43” long x 41” wide x 29” high

Condition: Overall great patina to the base, the top slightly sunned with light stains.

Purchase Date: 3/14/1985

ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE NAKASHIMA, PENCIL CADDY CA. 1993

Item #: 225636

Description: Believed to be the item noted as a pencil holder on George Nakashima’s invoice.

Condition:

Purchase Date: 11/13/1993

About the Greenwich Fall Exceptional Online Auction

The important Dr. Hoffman Collection of Nakashima furniture -- along with many other items of distinction from a variety of consignors and estates throughout the region -- are available in our Greenwich Fall Exceptional Sale running through October 25, 2022.

If you are in the market for gently used George Nakashima furniture, you may preview these fine Nakashima lots at BRG-Greenwich located at 179 Hamilton Avenue, Greenwich, CT on:

Wednesday, 10/19, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Thrusday, 10/20, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Friday, 10/21, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Saturday, 10/22, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Tuesday, 10/25, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

For more information about these lots or the online auction in general, please call our Greenwich location at 203-900-1110.

About Nakashima Furniture

When people ask which country makes the best handmade furniture, the quality craftmanship of George Nakashima Woodworkers makes it easy to answer ... the United States!

Founded in the mid-20th century, George Nakashima's woodworking business opened in 1945. Over the decades, his reputation for creating beautiful works of furniture ensured that his name became ubiquitous with the Nakashima studio's hand-crafted quality, stylish, and unique pieces.

The Nakashima brand still thrives in New Hope, PA through the continued dedication of George's successors, who hold the same principles held by George all those decades ago ... to embrace the inherent beauty of wood, rather than to try to change it, while being as environmentally responsible as possible.

Today, vintage Nakashima furniture is highly collectible and sought after in resale markets. Perhaps, Nakashima furniture is most noted for its craftmanship such as beautiful joinery, dovetail joints (a.k.a Nakashima joint, dovetail key, bowtie, or Dutchman joint).