Mira Nakashima Carves Her Own Path

Mira Nakashima upholds the esteemed Nakashima Woodworkers tradition, a company founded by her father, George Nakashima, in New Hope, Pennsylvania. George, a visionary of 20th-century furniture design, believed in creating timeless pieces that embraced nature's imperfections. His journey into furniture craft began during his internment in 1942, where he repurposed construction materials into essential household items.

Following their release, the Nakashimas settled in Pennsylvania, eventually establishing the complex that is now a national historic landmark. Mira joined the family business full-time in 1970, working alongside her father until his death in 1990. Despite initial concerns about the business's survival and an influx of canceled orders, Mira persevered.

She not only continued her father's iconic designs but also developed her own. The company's process remains rooted in using wood from undesirable walnut trees, a practice George Nakashima referred to as 'rag picking' to give trees a second life. Each custom piece involves a meticulous collaboration between craftsman and material, with prices reflecting the significant handcraftsmanship involved.