A butterfly key binds a split in a slab table by George Nakashima.

Unlike other makers represented in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, the work of George Nakashima is not on display in a gallery. Instead, it furnishes the entry room to the museum’s Japanese galleries. Consequently you can sit at a large conference table in a sculpted chair and run your hands over the glassy smoothness of the slab top or inspect the inlaid butterfly keys.

A slab table and chairs features prominently in the entrance to the Japanese galleries at the Met.

The desk’s slab top echoes the construction of the large table.