malawian Chief Chairs
Unique hand carved pieces, each telling a story...
The Buntu tribes traditionally carved these unique pieces for the 'Chief' or 'Elders' of the village. Each depicts a 'life story' or 'tale'. Individually crafted, no two pieces are exactly alike.
The quality and intricacy of the carving varies greatly across the country. So, we headed to the home of the best carving communities, in sothern Malawi, where we met with the most talented artisans.
There are no fancy tools or workshops. These artists use basic chisels and sit on the earth, using their feet to hold the wood while they carve.
What wood are they made from?
Traditionally these chairs were carved from Ebony and Mahogany. But as these woods become scarce and protected, the carvers have turned to Mpingo wood (African Black-Wood). Beautiful in tone, this is considered one of the world's, dense and lasting.
All our chairs are made from Mpingo and have been certified by the Malawian Forestry Commission as sourced from sustainable timber harvesting.
Whether as a collector's piece or a conversation starter, these unique pieces are incredibly comfortable, making them functional, too.
Crafted in to two pieces, these chairs come apart easily for shipping.
How they're made
See how these incredible unique works of art are made. The simplicity of the work shop, tools and techniques only emphasises the skill that goes into these works of art.