Part of the furniture

Published on 26-04-2020

Furniture. We sit on it, eat off it, sleep on it, store things in it and put things on top of it. Sometimes we just look at it but most of the time we take it for granted, even though life would be pretty uncomfortable without it. The artistry of African furniture reminds us that there was a time before flat-packed or production-line items picked from a catalogue.

African art, textiles, craft and furniture all have a part to play in the styling of an African inspired environment. Interior lighting should be warm and golden, using table lamps with unique lampshades made from feathers, quills or other natural materials. You can also echo African nature in your exterior, with indigenous planting, landscaping and sculptures as dramatic focus points.

African decor can be creative and inspiring. Furniture is rugged in style, featuring rich timbers and stylised accents including decorative carvings. Fabrics are textured and bold, with colours ranging from subtle earth tones inspired by nature to the crazily energetic bright hues of vibrant marketplaces or the simple graphic concepts of black and white. Comfort is foremost, with all these elements combining to create an overall effect of effortless luxury, harmony with nature and a sense of adventure.

Besides its functional and home decor values, African furniture can also be dramatic symbolic expressions. Many kingdoms and chiefdoms in Africa had (and some still have) traditions of using stools as thrones. Stools also have many everyday uses in African life. Sturdy enough for practical use, these ornate wooden stools are testament to the skill of the craftspeople who shape them. Side table, step stool, sitting stool or wooden sculpture – a stool can be whatever you want it to be today.

African tribal chairs are another perfect combination of function and form. Usually made from two pieces of wood that fit together to form the seat and back, the piece that forms the back of the chair has intricately carved designs depicting village scenes, trees or wildlife. Hand carved wooden chests are also very popular as ornamental pieces and collectibles. They can be used as benches, tables or extra storage space.

Contemporary African decor artists are also having a huge impact in the art world. They are gaining recognition for their contributions in furniture, soft furnishings, textiles, craft, wall decor, fine art, floor coverings and natural found objects. Some use dynamic and exciting colour statements, while others use restrained natural tones complemented by steel and aluminium.

Whether you go for traditional or contemporary, using African furniture in an interior or external environment means you can use decorative pieces that portray the artistic and spiritual nature of the African people. You can reflect your own passion and creativity through the complexity of invention and culture created by the skilled craftsmen and craftswomen of the Motherland.