Riva1920: Sculpting Time, Timber, and Integrity
If Riva1920 were a philosophy, it would be quiet resilience—honest, enduring, and grounded in nature’s intelligence. For over a century, this family-run Italian workshop has honoured the soul of timber, transforming reclaimed and reforested wood into sculptural furniture that carries its own rhythm and permanence. Crafted in Cantù—epicentre of Italy’s woodworking tradition—each piece tells a story of time: not just in age, but in care.
Legacy in Grain: Four Generations of Artisanal Craftsmanship
This fourth-generation atelier is guided by tradition, material fluency, and a reverence for imperfection. Cracks, knots, and grain variations are treated as part of the timber’s living memory—not concealed, but embraced. Long before sustainability entered the design lexicon, Riva1920 was crafting heirloom furniture from expired trees and salvaged materials: Venetian Briccole, ancient Kauri, and aromatic Cedar. No living trees are cut. Instead, each design gives second life to timbers of deep ecological and cultural value—furniture with both legacy and future embedded in the grain.
Craft, Not Compromise
Riva1920 works exclusively with solid wood—tactile, structural, and intentionally enduring. Every piece is shaped in its Cantù workshop using time-honoured techniques alongside sustainable innovation. The atelier holds ISO 14001 certification, works only with FSC-certified timbers, and finishes each piece using natural oils, water-based adhesives, and plastic-free packaging. This is sustainability as discipline—built into every seam, joint, and slab.
Designing with Designers, Not for Them
Collaboration here is immersive and hands-on—built on shared values and respect for material intelligence. Riva1920 works closely with leading architects and designers including Bartoli Design and Matteo Thun to shape pieces that honour the grain’s logic. Whether it’s the iconic Kaori dining table carved from 50,000-year-old Kauri or a cedar bench infused with sculptural wit, every form emerges from dialogue—not template.
From Workshop to World Stage
Each piece is made to order—bespoke in size, finish, and form—yet Riva1920’s values extend fluidly across homes and hospitality spaces. In minimalist penthouses, alpine retreats, or gallery-style interiors, its solid wood furniture supports spatial clarity and slow living. Think custom dining tables crafted for daily ritual, benches that respond to seasonal light, cabinetry that matures with age.
In an Age of Excess, a Return to Essence
Riva1920’s work lives quietly in the most refined interiors—places where craftsmanship is recognised through lineage, weight, and touch. This is furniture that doesn’t impose; it integrates. It aligns fully with the values of Everything But Ordinary: longevity, meaning, and restraint.
To learn more about our philosophy of curating timeless makers and sustainable design, visit our story. To speak with our team about commissioning a made-to-measure Riva1920 piece, contact us for tailored insight.
