Giossi & Kuhn Preserve the Living Lineage of American Studio Furniture Through the Tools of Master Makers
Giossi & Kuhn is a Providence, Rhode Island furniture studio carrying forward a rare lineage in American studio furniture. Founded by Matt Giossi and Ron Kuhn, the studio creates handcrafted contemporary furniture rooted in traditional woodworking, mentorship, and the tools of some of the most respected makers in the field.
Both Matt Giossi and Ron Kuhn apprenticed under Hank Gilpin, a highly regarded furniture maker and direct student of Tage Frid. That connection places Giossi & Kuhn within an important line of American studio furniture, where skills, standards, and values are passed down through direct training and daily practice.
Today, their Providence workshop reflects that legacy. The studio is built around tools once owned and used by influential makers including Tage Frid, Hank Gilpin, Jere Osgood, Tim Philbrick, Alphonse Mattia, Tommy Simpson, Peter Allen, Jay Stanger, and John Dunnigan. These are not decorative artifacts. They remain part of the working life of the shop and continue to shape the custom furniture and fine woodworking produced there.
A Providence Furniture Studio Built on Craft, Provenance, and Mentorship
The story of Giossi & Kuhn begins not only with craftsmanship, but with trust, generosity, and the relationships formed through apprenticeship. Many of the studio’s most important tools came directly from respected furniture makers who passed them on through retirement, mentorship, and professional connection.
Among the most meaningful pieces in the shop are a cabinetmaker’s bench built and used by Tage Frid, later passed to Hank Gilpin, and eventually entrusted to Giossi & Kuhn after their apprenticeship. The studio also uses a Northfield bandsaw that lived in Jere Osgood’s shop for more than thirty years, along with a horizontal boring machine and shaper from the late Tim Philbrick.
Additional tools came from Tommy Simpson, who gave an extensive set of equipment to help younger makers establish themselves. The studio also works with curly red oak from the original Fine Woodworking headquarters desk built by Hank Gilpin, now reimagined as office furniture and shelving within the shop. Hollow mortise chisels gifted by John Dunnigan, following a technically demanding commission, remain another important part of the studio’s working collection.
The shop also includes a cabinetmaker’s bench from Alphonse Mattia, the first bench he purchased and an essential tool for any furniture maker. It was used throughout most of his career in his Fall River shop and now continues its life in daily use at Giossi & Kuhn.
Together, these tools represent more than woodworking history. They reflect a living tradition of American craftsmanship that continues through furniture making in Providence today.
Handcrafted Furniture That Continues a Tradition
For Giossi & Kuhn, traditional woodworking is not about nostalgia. It is about maintaining a standard of care, discipline, and material understanding that still matters in contemporary furniture making.
“Working with these tools keeps us connected to the people who shaped this field,” says co-founder Matt Giossi. “It is not about looking backward. It is about maintaining a standard of thought and care that still matters.”
Co-founder Ron Kuhn adds, “Our apprenticeship with Hank taught us that craft is a conversation between generations. These tools were given to us through generosity and trust. Using them is a way to honor that and carry it forward.”
That philosophy defines the studio’s work. Every piece of custom furniture is informed by patience, restraint, and respect for material. While the designs are contemporary, the process is grounded in the values of traditional handcraft and fine woodworking.
Why Giossi & Kuhn Matters in American Studio Furniture
As earlier generations of studio furniture makers retire, the question of how their knowledge survives becomes increasingly important. Giossi & Kuhn offers one answer. Their shop shows how furniture-making traditions continue not through preservation alone, but through direct use, practice, and teaching.
Their Providence, Rhode Island studio is not a museum. It is an active woodworking shop where the ideas, tools, and standards of American studio furniture continue to evolve through daily work.
About Giossi & Kuhn
Giossi & Kuhn is a studio furniture practice based in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded by Matt Giossi and Ron Kuhn, both former apprentices of Hank Gilpin, the studio creates handcrafted contemporary furniture rooted in traditional woodworking and informed by the tools and teachings of the makers who shaped American studio furniture. Their work emphasizes clarity, restraint, and thoughtful material use.
Website: giossiandkuhn.com
Email: Robert@giossiandkuhn.com
Instagram: @giossiandkuhn
