Over the last few years, one of the growing trends in European design has been to incorporate African Furniture into the furnishing scheme of a home. The American culture is also warming to this eclectic feel and African inspired pieces are becoming more popular in design schemes.
The styling of African Furniture focuses heavily on utilizing natural materials. Rather than using man made metals, tables will typically be Mahogany, Teak or Obeche wood. A chair will not use polyester, but leather either in a solid rich brown, or focusing on a zebra or leopard print. Local African artisans also use animal bone fragments and horns to create colorful unique designs. An excellent example of this is the Horn and Bone table available from Phases of Africa. When steel or other metals are used in the structure, it is common for them to be recycled from unused railroads or scrap sources.
The lines of African inspired furniture are sculptural to the eye, and seem to follow a natural curve intrinsic in animal motion. The legs of a table will not be completely straight, but slightly bowed as if a predator crouching in the Savannah. The exact lines of the furniture may vary by region. For example the Ananse focus more on circular elements, whereas pieces from Ghana are more based on the movement of walking.
The fabrics utilized are commonly leathers made from indigenous animals. For example, chairs are made in the skin of an ostrich rather than domestic tanned cow hide. Due to the rarity of furniture of this quality, utilizing these materials provides a unique texture and appearance to the leather. Other craftsmen work with the local governments to use the un-tanned hides of native herds. Governments will have controlled herd thinning of the Springbok deer and donate the skins to furniture designers. In times of drought, Zebra, Leopard, and Giraffe skins may also be obtained when environmentally approved herd thinning occurs. Frequently a portion of the profits from this style furniture will be donated to local causes, and using any portion of an endangered species is strictly forbidden.
The colors used primarily in African furniture remain close to those displayed in nature. The hides of animals are very rarely dyed during the tanning process, and are frequently various shades of brown. For animal hides used from culling, due to the rarity of this fur to be utilized in design, it would be foolish to alter the appearance of the hide. When dyes are used, as in the example of bone fragments, they usually reflect the same colors used in African art. For example, oranges, vibrant blues, reds, and yellows are common in adornment.
Prices for furniture from Africa vary dramatically, and depend on the rarity of the items used in manufacturing. Solid wooden pieces, while solid, will most likely not cost as much as larger pieces utilizing hides of animals. As this is a newer market for design, locating authentic pieces may be challenging. Work with a decorator, or locate a reputable online specialty store to ensure the authenticity of your items. Depending on the piece, you may spend anywhere from $70 to over $10000 for a piece of original, beautiful African inspired furniture.