By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 7, 2002
When it comes to the creative use of indigenous resources, Southeast Asia furniture producers are the masters of taking all kinds of materials and turning them into something beautiful.
Designs incorporate everything from the more common bamboo and rattan to what we here in the West consider uncommon. Banana leaves, for example, and sandstone, abaca fiber, palm leaves, coconut bark, stone, woven raffia and even volcanic ash. Some manufacturers have even figured out how to turn the water hyacinths – a tropical plant that clogs waterways – into productive designs of style and elegance.
These examples are from introductions at the most recent furniture shows in Cebu, Manila, Philippines, and Bangkok, Thailand.
Volcanic ash from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the early 1990s has been used for these accessories by Southeast Metro Arts.
Leather, bamboo, rattan and wood mate in this glider rocker from the Julianne collection by Arte Cana.
This chair from Vallvey Furniture on display in Manila has the appearance of a chair made from twine.
This sandstone plaque from Heritage Art took three people off-and-on for three months to carve and wholesales for US$690.
Roel S. Sarmiento, president of Techmaster Furniture in Cebu, sits on a table featuring seed pods as the design element.
Instead of weaving rattan or wicker, Padua International wove leather into a chair shown in Manila.
Leather, water hyacinths, and a teak back and legs are the elements making up this chair/ottoman from HP Inds. in Bangkok.
Rattan and water hyacinths go a long way in bringing a natural look to Bangkok-based Planet 2001's chaise.
Sofa from Design Ventures in Cebu takes a curvaceous approach using natural materials.
The Hayahay rocker from Cebu-based Rattan Pacifica, a design contest winner, uses abaca and split rattan on a rattan frame.
Curves cue the look of this sofa from Rattan House in Bangkok.
The look of Thailand is alive and well in this chest from Somboon Art Gallery in Bangkok.
The surface design takes top billing in this stone and metal table from N.S. Marble.
Sea grass is the material of a major bedroom, dining room and upholstery collection by Filipino manufacturer Sindo.
Bohemian sectional from Cebu-based APY Cane Co. uses laminated abaca rope for the frame.
Processed bamboo cane and simple hardware provide a marriage of natural and industrial elements in this piece from Padua International.
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NAPLES, Fla. — Industry executives and guests took the opportunity to network and play golf during down time at Furniture/Today's 13th annual Leadership Conference here this month.
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