George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990), Walnut Conoid Desk and Straight Chair

Circa 1950, single board live edge top with natural knot pop-outs to each end, supported by a three drawer cabinet to the left and a splayed tapered leg to the right (29.5 x 72 x 31.5 in.); together with a straight chair with faint ink patron's name to underside "Ariowitsch" (29.5 x 22.75 x 17.25 in.).

Private Collection, Edenton, North Carolina

Christie's East, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Déco, December 18, 1985, Lot 13

Note the legs and cabinet can easily be detached from the top for transportation.

A declared National Treasure, Nakashima utilized natural knot holes, old shrinkage cracks stabilized with butterfly joints and showcasing live-edges to retain the character of the trees used in the construction of his pieces. The Conoid desk was originally designed to celebrate the completion of the Conoid Studio, a building designed by George Nakashima in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, between 1957 and 1959, according to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The studio, with its distinctive curved vault and open space, served as a source of inspiration for the Conoid series of furniture, which included tables, chairs, and benches, says Moderne Gallery. The Conoid desk, specifically, was initially named the "Cross Legged Desk" in Nakashima's 1961 catalog and then later became known as the Conoid desk.

Desk: Overall good vintage condition; top with some light finish variations, one area of staining near middle; a few shallow edge nicks to the drawer case; undersides with light surface spotting; securing screw catches on top drawer.
Chair: overall good vintage condition with some indents and light scratches to the seat from general use; some scuffs to the legs.