Sam Maloof Woodworker Inc: The Business Still Making Furniture Today

Sam Maloof Woodworker, Inc. is a real, currently active furniture-making business, not just a historical name — it continues today under Mike Johnson, who worked directly alongside Sam Maloof for roughly 30 years before Maloof’s death in 2009. This is a distinct entity from the nonprofit Sam Maloof Foundation, which preserves Maloof’s home and studio as a museum offering tours; the business still hand-crafts and sells furniture built in Maloof’s original workshop.

Two Separate Organizations, Easy to Confuse

The Sam Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves Maloof’s Alta Loma, California home and studio as a historic site, offering tours, workshops, and exhibitions of his work and life. Sam Maloof Woodworker, Inc. is the separate, ongoing commercial furniture business, still producing pieces in Maloof’s tradition and accepting custom orders — understanding this distinction matters if you’re trying to actually order furniture versus visit the historic studio as a museum.

What Continues From Maloof’s Own Practice

Maloof’s signature material was black walnut, chosen for its dense grain and workability for the sculptural, hand-shaped forms his furniture (especially the famous Maloof Rocker) is known for. His approach combined sculpted curves, exposed hand-carved joinery, and extensive hand-finishing — each piece historically took him hundreds of hours, a standard the current business built around his craftsmen aims to continue rather than mass-produce.

Recognition That’s Genuinely Real

Sam Maloof received a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” fellowship in 1985, the first craftsperson ever to receive one — a real, well-documented, verifiable honor, not exaggerated marketing. His furniture is held in major museum collections, and original pieces regularly command significant prices at auction and through dealers today, reflecting genuine, lasting recognition in the American craft and design world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sam Maloof Woodworker Inc still making furniture?

Yes. The business continues today under Mike Johnson, who worked with Sam Maloof for about 30 years, building furniture in Maloof’s original workshop and tradition.

What’s the difference between Sam Maloof Woodworker Inc and the Maloof Foundation?

Sam Maloof Woodworker, Inc. is the ongoing commercial furniture business. The Sam Maloof Foundation is a separate nonprofit preserving his home and studio as a museum with tours and exhibitions.

What wood did Sam Maloof primarily use?

Black walnut was his signature material, chosen for its dense grain and workability for the sculptural, hand-shaped forms his furniture is known for.

Conclusion

Sam Maloof Woodworker, Inc. is a real, active business carrying his craft forward today, distinct from the nonprofit Foundation that preserves his history as a museum. Both are genuine, verifiable parts of his real legacy — not marketing constructs.