BY ROBERT KUO –
‘Toad Skin’ and Jade Brighten the Limited-Edition Collection
San Francisco CA,Continuing to add extraordinary pieces to the Limited Edition Collection for McGuire, noted artist Robert Kuo again exceeds expectations with four new case pieces.

An exotic ‘Toad Skin’ copper repoussé pattern adorns three of the case pieces – a buffet, an armoire, and a small cabinet. The fourth piece, the Hua Li Dresser, combines the mortise and tenon joinery methods of classic Chinese furniture with a hand-repoussé copper base and rectangular serpentine jade pulls.

These jewel-like objects incorporate Robert Kuo’s exquisite aesthetic, superb artistry and the world’s finest materials. Given the exacting craftsmanship and time-consuming methods used to create each of these pieces, production is, by its very nature, limited. Each piece is dated and signed by the artist as it is completed.

Robert Kuo is best known as an artist and creator of exquisite ‘objects’ impeccably executed using methods and techniques that date back many centuries. His respect for and knowledge of traditional craft methods, techniques and materials enable him to bring both aesthetic and technical innovation to his work.

Robert Kuo for McGuire is the result of a long-standing collaboration between artist and manufacturer; McGuire first commissioned Kuo to design and create a special edition of furniture and lighting. In keeping with McGuire’s mission to create functional art of lasting value, the artist created lighting designs in copper repoussé and cloisonné. The designs, introduced to wide acclaim, are now among the company’s most celebrated items.

Kuo’s furniture collection for McGuire incorporates the same craftsmanship and materials for which the artist has become so well recognized. The new pieces continue to focus on clean lines, fluid silhouettes and unmistakable forms adorned by exquisite artistry and ancient techniques. Woods used to make the furniture are indigenous to China, such as northern elm (yumu), ebony (zitan) and rosewood (hualimu), used in Chinese furniture making for hundreds of years. In many cases, components are cut from reclaimed timbers that are hundreds of years old, offering a special character to the furniture.

Ancient materials and techniques
The construction and joinery methods used for this collection are identical to those employed by furniture craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty. No nails or screws are used. The traditional joinery methods, such as mortise and tenon, enhance the beauty, quality and structural integrity of each piece.

Repoussé, the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief into sheet metal, dates back to 800 B.C., and in Chinese historical context, can be found as early as the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.). This laborious technique involves using a hammer and various shaping tools. Form and design are achieved by working on both sides of the sheet metal. Sections in relief are worked from the interior while depressed or concave sections are worked from the exterior.

Unique Craftsmanship
Kuo has incorporated copper repoussé into the doors of the ‘Toad Skin’ pieces in the collection. The unique designs are all created by hand, using traditional repoussé techniques. Not surprisingly, he refers to it as ‘Toad Skin’ because the round and bumpy texture is similar to that of the skin of a toad.

The six-drawer Hua Li dresser stands atop a sturdy copper base. Each handle is carefully crafted of Serpentine Jade mounted on copper repoussé. Jade is considered the Chinese stone of heaven. Its special beauty is most recognized in many fine nuances of green, but also comes in shades of white, grey, black, yellow, orange and violet. It has been around for 7000 years, yet as early as 3000 B.C. jade was known in China as yu, the ‘royal gem’. In the long artistic and cultural history of the Chinese empire, jade has been regarded as a symbol of the good and the precious. It embodies the Confucian virtues of wisdom, justice, compassion, modesty and courage.

In keeping with McGuire’s tradition of artistry and hand-craftsmanship, these remarkable new designs by Robert Kuo shed new light on several ancient art forms. By marrying time-honored techniques and ornamental craft with pure silhouettes, designer and manufacturer offer an unforgettable collection of work. Each hand-crafted piece is a work of individual beauty, to be appreciated for its artistic merit, as well as for the distinction it brings to any room.

Limited-edition designs from Robert Kuo for McGuire are available at the McGuire showrooms in San Francisco and New York, at select Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms, Baker Tribeca, and other fine showrooms nationwide.

The McGuire Furniture Company
McGuire Furniture Company, along with Ann Sacks, Kallista and Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc., which includes Baker furniture, Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms, and Baker Stores, is part of the Kohler Interiors Group and a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co. Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, cabinetry, tile and home interiors, and international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations