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.
ST25 Glazed Stoneware Stool by Pascale Girardin
By Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
ST25 Stool designed and produced by Canadian artist Pascale Girardin features a partially glazed stoneware body. This Functional and decorative object is served as both a stool and ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Boreale 01 Glazed Stoneware Stool by Pascale Girardin
By Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stool or coffee table, form and function are one and the same. Functional and decorative stoneware object, crafted by pinching and coiling. The ceramic surface is applied either with...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Nimbe 06 Glazed Stoneware Stool by Pascale Girardin
By Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stool or coffee table, form and function are one and the same. Functional and decorative stoneware object, crafted by pinching and coiling. The ceramic surface is applied either with...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Model I Glazed Stoneware Stool by Pascale Girardin
By Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stool or coffee table, form and function are one and the same. Functional and decorative stoneware object, crafted by pinching and coiling. The ceramic surface is applied either w...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Boreale 03 Glazed Stoneware Stool by Pascale Girardin
By Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stool or coffee table, form and function are one and the same. Functional and decorative stoneware object, crafted by pinching and coiling. The ceramic surface is applied either with...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Nimbe 02 Glazed Stoneware Stool by Pascale Girardin
By Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stool or coffee table, form and function are one and the same. Functional and decorative stoneware object, crafted by pinching and coiling. The ceramic surface is applied either with...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Boreale 02 Glazed Stoneware Stool by Pascale Girardin
By Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stool or coffee table, form and function are one and the same. Functional and decorative stoneware object, crafted by pinching and coiling. The ceramic surface is applied either with...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Contemporary American White Ceramic Hexagonal Occasional Table
Located in Queens, NY
Contemporary American ceramic end / side table molded in a 3-dimensional six-sided form, fired in an opaque white glossy glaze with alternating corners and base unglazed as decorativ...
Ceramic
$2,235 / item
H 18.12 in W 13 in D 13 in
Contemporary Leather Stool, Palazzo by Stephane Parmentier for Giobagnara
By Stephane Parmentier
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary leather stool - Palazzo by Stephane Parmentier for Giobagnara. The object presented in the image has following finish:...
Leather, Wood
Chinese White Marble Drum Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
This narrow drum stool was carved from a solid block of white marble with a minimalist tapered design. The stool is subtly etched with thin grooves around the top, suggestive of the ...
Marble
Contemporary Rounded Square Drumstool in Cream Lacquer by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rounded square drumstool Cream Lacquer Hand Repoussé Contemporary 21 1/4"SQ x 15 3/4"H Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These ...
Lacquer
Contemporary Cream Lacquer Cushion Drumstool by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cushion Drumstool Cream Lacquer Hand Repoussé Metal Base Limited Edition Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates ba...
Lacquer
Contemporary Niu Drumstool in Mila Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Niu drumstool Mila lacquer Hand repoussé Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief ...
Lacquer
Contemporary Mila Lacquer 8 Petal Drumstool by Robert Kuo, Hand Repoussé
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
8 Petal Drumstool Mila Lacquer Hand Repoussé Metal Base Contemporary Limited Edition Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces ...
Metal
Contemporary Hand Repoussé White Bronze Lobed Drumstool by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lobed Drumstool w/ Black Lacquer White Bronze Black Lacquer Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Contemporary Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto she...
Bronze
Contemporary Red Bean Lacquer Low Empire Drumstool by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Low Empire drumstool Red Bean Lacquer Hand Repoussé Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dyna...
Lacquer
