Van Rossum
At Van Rossum, they owe their extensive knowledge of oak to a special close relationship with their French supplier. The people who work there go into the forest every day. They know every tree and as a result, they know exactly what is being sold at the auctions held by the French National Forestry Services. Some 5 -10 years after planting young saplings, the National Forestry Service selects the stronger trees that will be allowed to mature. An interim selection is made 20 years later, and the final selection follows after another 30 years. The trees that eventually remain are free to grow to an age of about 100 years before literally facing the axe. It is a time consuming process, whereby man creates the optimum growing conditions for a tree, but nature sets the pace.
Pieter Maes
Paris-based designer, Pieter Maes was born in Antwerp and graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven. His work includes furniture collections and limited editions for acclaimed brands and design galleries. Maes’s works are often marked by a sculptural nature and a tactile consistency. These qualities are rooted in the instinctive comprehension of ancient artefacts and timeless designs. His pieces portray a contrasted appreciation for furniture that can either comply with traditional ideals or entirely rebel against them. This duality allows for the coexistence of diligence alongside the essence of reverie.