Cultural Connections: Transplanted Carving – How Ming Chinese Furniture Shaped Anglo-American Design (Webinar)

In this online talk, Hugo Nakashima-Brown will explore the origins and ornamental language of Ming dynasty furniture and its far-reaching influence on English and American design. The presentation will trace the pathways of bi-directional influence both in antiquity—from the Indian Toran gates influence on Chinese design and the Japanese Torii to the later influences of Chinese furniture on the West. You will learn how what we now recognize as “Classical” Chinese furniture emerged, and how these innovations shaped Western furniture from the 1500s through the Queen Anne Chinoiserie period and into midcentury Danish chair design. Hugo Nakashima-Brown is a teaching artist, designer, and woodworker with a background in painting and furniture making. He holds a BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Professional Degree in Cabinet and Furniture Making from the North Bennet Street School. His multidisciplinary experience spans woodworking, design, curation and production studio management, allowing him to blend diverse perspectives into his craft.Trained as a 17–19th century woodworker, Nakashima-Brown draws on historical precedents and centuries of craftsmanship to create furniture that balances timeless aesthetics with the functional needs of the 21st century. Inspired by the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu), where design, function and aesthetics converge, he uses chanoyu and Japanese/American folk art as frameworks to explore the intersection of art, craft, sculpture and performance/installation. His current research examines the overlooked, bidirectional influence between Chinese and American furniture traditions. Nakashima-Brown’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been featured in Monocle, Architectural Digest, and Fine Woodworking. He has received support from institutions including the Penland School of Craft, Winterthur Museum, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Harvard University’s Ed Portal, the Mt. Fuji Wood Culture Society, and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. He also serves on the selection committee for the Alex Brown Foundation. Register to receive the Zoom link.