Nakashima Woodworkers: Legacy of Simplicity

0:00On March 24th, George Nakashima Woodworkers sits on a peaceful spot in New Hope, Pennsylvania, about two hours from New York City. This family runs studio craft simple, soulful wooden furniture from salvaged wood. It started with George Nakashima in the 1940s and is now led by his 84-year-old daughter, Mira, who has kept the tradition alive. For 36 years since his passing, George, born to Japanese immigrants in Spokane, Washington, in 1905, trained as an architect before World War II upended his life. The US government interned him, and over 120,000 Japanese Americans in camps. Released in 1943, thanks to a sponsor, he settled in New Hope, trading farm labor for land and shifting fully to woodworking. Today, Nakashima pieces draw big crowds and bigger prices. Chairs fetch thousands on the secondary market, while tables have sold for over $800,000. Designers like raft simons and celebrities such as Julianne Moore collect them for their quiet power and handmade feel.

1:05The studio switched to appointments only due to weekend visitors from the city. Mira picks wood from the pole barn, stocked with decades-old oak, chestnut and cherry. She designs her own chairs, like the Concordia, for musicians, blending her father's restrained with bolder wood expressions. Collectors now value her work nearly as much as his. The compound stays a calm haven amid Bucks County's rising fame, where trees and hills inspire George to stay and build a lasting legacy in humble. Natural forms. I'm Cory with the story. That's your entertainment and celebrity news today update, AI-powered and always trending.