While he may not be as well known as the designers who influenced him, master woodworker Michael Coffey creates tables, case pieces and other hand-carved furnishings that are wholly sculptural and characterized by striking, unexpected forms — they’re provocative statement pieces in any interior.
Born in 1928 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — where like-minded designers Paul Evans, George Nakashima and Phillip Lloyd Powell shared a studio — Coffey loved working with his hands as a child. However, a sense of youthful idealism led him to pursue a master’s degree in social group work before he endeavored to design on a full-time basis. It wasn't until 1966, at the age of 38, that he started teaching himself woodworking. Coffey was inspired by innovative artisans in the furniture-making field such as Nakashima, Wharton Esherick and Wendell Castle, all of whom are credited as pioneers in the world of art furniture.
In 1972, Coffey earned his first major design commission in the form of a collection for Directional Furniture, a manufacturer that forged an enduring partnership with Paul Evans and a favorite brand of mid-century modern enthusiasts. He continued to collaborate with Directional, working in mahogany and rare Mozambique woods, and integrating abstract carving motifs in his cabinet fronts and table pedestals. Soon afterward, Coffey established a woodworking school and apprenticeships at his Vermont farm. In 1986, he moved to Massachusetts, and, in 1991, he founded a second woodworking school, this one much larger.
Coffey sold his successful Massachusetts school to his staff in 1997 in order to focus on his furniture, as his reputation and client base had grown considerably. His profile reached greater heights in 2003, when a rocking chair called Aphrodite that Coffey had designed more than two decades earlier sold at auction for nearly $50,000. The sale sparked the interest of buyers and collectors worldwide and resulted in a slew of new commissions. Today Coffey continues to make sculptural furniture with a team of woodworkers in his Massachusetts studio.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Michael Coffey tables, seating, bookcases and more.
Michael Coffey, Ebbtide I, Wall-Mounted Cabinet, United States, 2020
By Michael Coffey
Located in New York, NY
A sculptural cabinet carved in solid Mozambique. Coffey debuted this style of carving at Directional Furniture in New York, in 1972. In the 90’s he revived it, ...
Walnut
Brok Cabinet by Pastform
Located in Geneve, CH
Brok Cabinet by Pastform Dimensions: D 42,5 x W 190 x H 46 cm Materials: Stained and varnished wood. The furniture in the picture is made in Natura. Available in different wood colo...
Wood
Sculptural cabinet "Meanders"
By Jacques Jarrige
Located in New York, NY
This sideboard by Jacques Jarrige features sliding doors adorned with a sculptural relief that evokes the gentle, meandering flow of a river. Carved in rhythmic, fluid lines, the sur...
Laminate
Other Way High Cabinet by Francesco Profili
Located in Geneve, CH
Other Way High Cabinet by Francesco Profili Dimensions: W 260 x D 52 x H 84 cm Materials: Walnut, Material Surface, Stone Effect, Matt Lacquered, LEDs. Thanks to the rhythmic juxta...
Other
0+1C sideboard by Franco Poli for Bernini, Italy, 2003
By Franco Poli
Located in Misinto, IT
Designed by Franco Poli for Bernini in 2003, the 0+1C sideboard belongs to a refined collection of living room furniture, recognizable by its soft lines and essential design. The dis...
Plexiglass, Nutwood
Michel Dufet Modernist Cabinet
By Michel Dufet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French modernist cabinet. Pictured in period documentation.
Ash, Rosewood
Solomia 1 Cabinet by Ruda Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Solomia 1 Cabinet by Ruda Studio Dimensions: D 45 x W 170 x H 75 cm. Materials: Solid wood (ash), rye straw inlay, plywood and brass. Weight: 70 kg. Dimensions are customizable. Please contact us. Inspired by the wealth of Ukrainian land, RUDA Studio has created an interior object – the Solomia cabinet...
Brass
Cabinet with Sculpted Doors by Jacques Jarrige 2012
Located in New York, NY
The Meanders Cabinet is a refined and poetic sideboard by Jacques Jarrige, distinguished by its minimalist structure and a singular sculptural relief that stretches across its two fr...
Wood
Brok Extra Small Cabinet by Pastform
Located in Geneve, CH
Brok Extra Small Cabinet by Pastform Dimensions: D 42,5 x W 120 x H 46 cm Materials: Stained and varnished wood. The furniture in the picture is made in Rum. Available in different wood color finishes: Whiskey, Rum, BPA, Nobel, Brandy, Schwarz, Natura, Cognac, Honey, Nevada, and Dark Brown. Available in four different widths: 120/140/180/200/24 cm. Prices may vary. Please contact us. The low vintage-style chest...
Wood
$12,686 / item
H 32 in W 86 in D 18 in
Architectural Wave Credenza – Sculpted Console, Storage Cabinet, 86"
By Stephanie Odegard Collection
Located in New York, NY
This Minimalist Wave Credenza is defined by its continuous carved-wave surface that runs across the front and gently curves onto the sides. The carving is deeper than a shallow relie...
Brass, Sheet Metal
