Inspired by the shy and elusive mountain antelope from the Bale Mountains of East Africa, the hand-carved armrests and legs of the Nyala chair echo its distinctive soaring horns and sturdy hind legs.
Staying true to the non-territorial nature of the Nyala, the chair blends with the design pallet of modern living spaces while maintaining its individuality.
Unfortunately, the population of the antelope that inspired this chair has declined from over 25K to under 2.5K in the last 30-40 years. In the Bale Mountain region, there are around a thousand remaining.
To heighten awareness of this decline, we will limit lifetime production to 1,000 – One chair to represent each antelope on the Bale Mountain. A portion of sales will be donated to support research or conservation fieldwork in Bale Mountains National Park.
The mountain nyala – Nyala Chair
The mountain nyala – Nyala Chair
Tariku’s enthusiasm for traditional African furniture updated with modern lines goes back to his days at the University of Kansas. As an industrial-design major, his fifth-year thesis centered on how to create a new and modern range of African furniture. Today, he has lived out that dream, coming full circle in bringing prototypes and finished furniture pieces to the public.
“As an industrial designer, I want you to sit on it,” says Tariku. “But it’s a statement piece, too. I attract those who can appreciate chairs as art.” The Ashanti stool, for example, is a contemporary take on the traditional ceremonial stool once used by the indigenous Akan people in present-day Ghana.
Designed by Ethiopian-American designer, Jomo Tariku.
Designer, Artist | Jomo Tariku
Ethiopian-American artist and industrial designer Jomo Tariku was fascinated with the eclectic art, souvenirs and furntiure pieces his father collected during their life in Ethiopia. Tariku studied at the University of Kansas where he completed his thesis on contemporary African furniture. He is credited with creating a new design language of modern African-themed furniture.
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