Mark Tan On His Seattle Design Gallery + More From The Pacific Northwest
Seeking to expand the Pacific Northwest’s access to collectible design, Mark Tan decided to start his own design gallery in Seattle, Thence By Descent. Specializing in pieces by Washington-born George Nakashima and his daughter, Mira, Tan is devoted to growing the legacy of this American craft giant. LUXE caught up with Tan to talk all things Nakashima.
What sparked your interest in Nakashima? Although I originally pursued a business career, I was always interested in architecture and design. I fell in love with Nakashima works because their natural forms were different from anything I saw growing up in West Virginia. His pieces perfectly merged architecture, artistic expression and functionality.
Why did you launch Thence By Descent? After a tech industry layoff, I did some soul-searching and made a big career pivot to launch the gallery in 2025. Northwest architecture shares a vocabulary with Nakashima designs, and his Washington roots are deep and often overlooked. My goal is to elevate Washington’s reputation for developing one of the most important design masters of the 20th century.
What sets Nakashima designs apart? While I have a strong appreciation for Nakashima’s distinct aesthetic, it’s the spirit and stories behind the works that sustain me. With a respect for material, imperfections and modest forms, Nakashima crafted furniture that celebrates the “soul of the tree”—he believed that organic spirit could live on in another form. He thought each plank of wood had one perfect use. Every Nakashima piece possesses a soul I try to discover through its architecture and unique characteristics, like an inclusion, free edge, wormhole, sapwood pattern, or even a bullet embedded in one of my chairs!
