Chinese artist and designer Robert Kuo is known worldwide for his modern furniture and objets d’art that merge ancient tradition and popular decorative styles such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau.
Born in Beijing, Kuo moved with his family to Taiwan in 1947. While he never received a formal art education, Kuo gained technical expertise working as an apprentice at his father’s cloisonné workshop from the age of 15.
In 1973, Kuo emigrated to the U.S. and opened his own cloisonné studio in Beverly Hills, California. There, he utilized the time-honored skills he learned with his father for a wide range of uniquely striking vases, sculptures and bowls. His Goldfish bowl — a technical masterpiece of vibrant colors and cloisonné designs that appear to float against a black enamel background — was acquired by the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for its permanent collection.
In 1984, Kuo opened a showroom in West Hollywood, where it became a favorite among interior designers for the sculptural and often whimsical coffee tables, stools and table lamps on offer. A year later, Kuo shifted his attention toward repoussé — a technique that sees decorative reliefs hammered onto the surface of metals. Examples of Kuo’s repoussé pieces include his black lacquer Cloud chair and Oval coffee table in antique copper.
In 2014, a retrospective exhibition celebrating Kuo’s 30th anniversary as a designer was held at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles and his New York studio. In 2016, he also hosted an exhibition in his New York studio titled “Robert Kuo Selects: Los Angeles Studio Made, Found and Represented Artists,” showcasing his works as well as pieces by prominent L.A. designers Blackman Cruz, Dana John and JF Chen. In 2019, Italian artist Mattia Biagi’s L.A. exhibition “Metropolitan Sets” included Kuo’s Back Rest chair and brass Facet Seat.
Today, Kuo’s works can be seen at the National History Museum in Taipei, Singapore Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco’s Hotel Palomar, the Las Vegas MGM Grand and the Four Seasons in New York.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Robert Kuo decorative objects, seating, lighting and more.
Contemporary Ten Facet Peking Glass Vase in Red Bean by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ten Facet Vase Red Bean Peking Glass Hand Blown Hand Carved Limited Edition Peking glass refers to the high-quality glass art produced by the imperial and commercial workshops in B...
Glass, Blown Glass
Contemporary Hoof Vase in Raspberry Peking Glass by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hoof vase Raspberry peking glass finish Hand blown glass Hand carved Contemporary Limited Edition. Peking glass refers to the high-quality glass art produced by the imperial and commercial workshops in Beijing during the Ching Dynasty, China 1644-1911. Since then, ‘Peking Glass’ has become synonymous with the Chinese technique of glassmaking. Robert Kuo glass...
Glass, Blown Glass
Contemporary Short Facet Vase in Raspberry Peking Glass by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Short Facet Vase Raspberry Peking Glass Hand Blown Hand Carved Contemporary Limited Edition Peking glass refers to the high-quality glass art produced by the imperial and commercial workshops in Beijing during the Ching Dynasty, China 1644-1911. Since then, ‘Peking Glass’ has become synonymous with the Chinese technique of glassmaking. Robert Kuo glass...
Blown Glass
Contemporary Grey Peking Glass Cylindrical Carved Wave Design Vase by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cylindrical Carved Wave Design Vase Grey Peking Glass Hand Carved Peking Glass Hand Blown Limited Edition Peking glass refers to the high-quality glass art produced by the imperial...
Blown Glass
Contemporary Baluster Vase w/ Copper Rim in Red Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Baluster Vase w/ Rim Red Lacquer Copper Rim Hand Repousse Lacquered Metal Limited Edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pi...
Copper
Contemporary Jie Vase in Black Copper by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jie Vase Black Copper Hand Repousse Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet...
Copper
Vintage Scandinavian Art Glass Vase, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Scandinavian Art Glass Vase, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Materials: Glass Color: Red Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned Dim...
Glass
1970s Modernist Red Faceted Murano Glass Vase by Seguso
By Seguso
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A Red and yellow Sommerso Murano glass vase designed and manufactured in Italy in the Seventies, the multifaceted style was very popular in Murano in that period, is a stunning examp...
Murano Glass
21st Century Satin Large Glass Vase in Blood Red/Crystal by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Sheer glass is hand-blown and crafted by the master glassblowers using the sophisticated Satinatura technique, which lends it the exquisite opaque appearance to which it owes its nam...
Glass
Flavio Poli Sommerso Vase, Faceted Murano Glass, Reddish Violet, 1960s
By Flavio Poli
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
Here is a wonderful Venetian glass vase, made on the island of Murano, near Venice, Italy. Several Murano factories have made sommerso glassware in this faceted style Shipping & Loc...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
21st Century Satin Small Glass Vase in Blood Red/Crystal Rio by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Sheer glass is hand-blown and crafted by the master glassblowers using the sophisticated Satinatura technique, which lends it the exquisite opaque appearance to which it owes its nam...
Glass
Mid-Century German Minimalist Glass Vase from Gral, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Minimalist Glass Vase from Gral, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Glas...
Glass
