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Michael Coffey

American, b. 1928

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.

Average Sold Price
$36,450
Styles
Materials
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Michael Coffey Rare Set of 6 Hand-Carved Stools in Walnut 2007 (Signed)
By Michael Coffey
Located in New York, NY
Rare and important set of 6 "Belle of the Ball" stools in hand-carved and sculpted American walnut blocks by Michael Coffey, American 2007 (each is signed "MCoffey" on underside of seat). Each stool is slightly different in design, making each a unique piece. Michael Coffey is a craftsman and an artist who sculpts superb shapes in wood. In the tradition of George Nakashima, Wendell Castle, and Jack Rogers...
Category

Early 2000s American Modern Michael Coffey

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Michael Coffey Signed Pegasus Contemporary Modern Wood and Lucite Coffee Table
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A Michael Coffey "Pegasus" coffee table. A spectacular, artistic coffee table from designer Michael Coffey featuring a wood and lucite construction. This table features a free form s...
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Late 20th Century Michael Coffey

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Michael Coffey "Encounter" Coffee Table
By Michael Coffey
Located in LAGUNA BEACH, CA
Michael Coffey, known for his sculptural designs, often draws inspiration from organic forms, geometric shapes, and the interplay of materials. The "Encounter" coffee table reflects ...
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1970s American Organic Modern Vintage Michael Coffey

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Lucite, Plexiglass, Wood

Michael Coffey, Satan's Tongue, Side Table, United States, 1982
By Michael Coffey
Located in New York, NY
Michael Coffey blurs the line between carpenter and sculptor. A self-taught master with a career over fifty years in the making, Coffey has consistently broken the boundaries of styl...
Category

1980s American Vintage Michael Coffey

Materials

Wood, Padouk

Early Rare Michael Coffey Coffee Table Signed
By Michael Coffey
Located in Hudson, NY
Solid walnut handmade freeform coffee table engrave signature M Coffey. I believe late 1960s orly 1970s rare example original condition.
Category

1970s American American Craftsman Vintage Michael Coffey

Materials

Walnut

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, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Michael Coffey

Materials

Walnut

Michael Coffey, Galaxy II, Monumental Walnut Wall Sculpture, United States, 2021
By Michael Coffey
Located in New York, NY
Sculpted from walnut, Galaxy II is an exceptional wall-mounted sculpture that exhibits the skill of artist and master woodworker Michael Coffey. It is ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Michael Coffey

Materials

Walnut

American 1980s Music Stand by Michael Coffey
By Michael Coffey
Located in New York, NY
An American carved wood music stand by Michael Coffey. This piece represents an evolution in sculptor Michael Coffey's process. Always seeking functionality and beauty in his designs...
Category

1980s American Vintage Michael Coffey

Materials

Wenge

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Michael Coffey furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Michael Coffey furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Michael Coffey furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 12 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Michael Coffey were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by John Dickinson, Daniel Gluck, and Harrison Van Horn. Prices for Michael Coffey furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $8,500 and can go as high as $240,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $40,000.

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