Araffura transforms nature’s rarest treasures into timeless art—crafted by hand, built to last, and designed to inspire.
The Genesis of Functional Art
Ethan Sandberg, great-grandson of Holocaust survivors who fled war-torn Eastern Europe, was raised in Paris—a city that became his refuge and creative cradle. Surrounded by a vibrant art scene, he found early inspiration and solace in beauty and form. At the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Ethan refined his vision, blending a legacy of resilience with a passion for organic expression and material integrity.
His journey led him to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, where he immersed himself in the traditions of fine craftsmanship and mastered the language of luxury furniture design. It was there that Ethan’s work evolved into a synthesis of history, sculpture, and function—art made to be lived with.
By chance, on his first visit to New York, Ethan met Denzel Ramsey, a former high-fashion model turned entrepreneur, and Paul Williams, a philosopher with a doctorate in metaphysical science. Intrigued by their shared reverence for timeless beauty and thoughtful design, Ethan invited them back to Florence.
As the trio wandered through the city—conversing about aesthetics, legacy, and the intersection of art, fashion, and philosophy—they eventually found themselves standing at the foot of the Giotto Bell Tower. Gazing up at its enduring harmony of design and symbolism, they were profoundly moved. In that moment, Araffura was born.
More than a brand, Araffura is a philosophy—crafting functional art that transcends the ordinary, honors history, and celebrates human ingenuity.
About Us
Ethan Samberg
Creative Director (CDO)
Paul Williams
Co-Founder (CPO)
Denzel Ramsey
Founder (VPM)
The Soul Beneath The Surface
Araffura’s signature functional art stools begin with a material as rare as the pieces themselves: million-year-old Indonesian Wetland Teak, verified through radiocarbon dating. Sourced from secluded swamp regions where mineral-rich waters have slowly enveloped submerged trees, this teakwood has undergone a natural semi-fossilization processover centuries.
As iron and organic tannins bind deep within the grain, the wood transforms — both structurally and chromatically. The result is a density and resilience unlike any other, with golden-brown hues, rippling patterns, and a color signature unique to each trunk.
This isn’t simply hardwood. It’s prehistoric sculpture, preserved by the earth, then awakened by the hands of our artisans in Florence. Valued not just for its beauty or durability, but for its singular journey through time, pressure, and elemental refinement — Araffura teak is chosen by collectors and connoisseurs who understand that true luxury begins at the source.
Denzel Ramsey and Paul Williams
Founders of Araffura
Functional Art...
CRAFTED TO OUTLIVE TRENDS.
In the heart of Southeast Asia lies Solo, Indonesia — a land where time moves differently, and where ancient teakwood and elemental stone wait silently to be awakened.
Within this origin studio, Araffura artisans give form to nature’s raw elegance, transforming semi-fossilized wood into sculptural furniture with heirloom soul. Every piece is a celebration of material, mastery, and intention — signed by the artist, and accompanied by a personalized certificate of authenticity.
This is not production. This is preservation.
This is functional art — born in Solo, refined in Florence, and destined for legacy.
THE MATERIAL LEGACY
What Moves Us?
ANCIENT WISDOM - modern reverence
In our studio, the time-honored knowledge of Indonesian artisans meets the precision of Florence contemporary design. Semi-fossilized teak, shaped over millennia, is reawakened and reimagined — sculpted into forms that invite reflection, dialogue, and admiration.
What was once overlooked — a fallen tree submerged in silence — now stands tall as a singular work of functional art. Its surface carries the memory of forest canopies, mineral-rich waters, and the patience of time. Each contour, each grain, a quiet echo of nature’s original design.
Every Araffura piece is a study in duality: wild yet restrained, ancient yet refined, rooted in earth but destined for legacy. This is not furniture.
This is a story of transformation — from the sacred jungles of Southeast Asia to the interiors of the world’s most discerning collectors.
Every Araffura creation is a study in duality — strength and elegance, wilderness and control.
It is functional art, built to last for generations.
Not because we say so.
Because the material itself...insists on it.
ARAFFURA - MADE FOR THE FEW WHO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF ONE.
What time preserves, we refine
At the heart of each Araffura piece lies an origin few materials can claim — million-year-old Indonesian wetland teak, semi-fossilized beneath layers of mineral-rich sediment and silence.
Renowned for its density, natural oils, and resistance to decay, this rare teak has endured centuries of water, pressure, and transformation. The result is a wood unlike any other — harder, richer, and more visually complex, with swirling golden-brown hues and fine, tightly grained lines that tell the story of time.
Visual Poetry
Once recovered, our artisans in Florence, Italy begin their work. Through an exacting process, the organic structure of the teak is revealed and preserved, its silhouette encased in crystal-clear resin that enhances, not hides, its inherent beauty.
This wood finally comes to light like a jewel of the past, through a careful, complex work of recovery and processing. Like the water over millennia, Araffura's resin surrounds the organic shapes of this unique wood, preserving and enhancing all its preciousness and timeless charm. Investing in Araffura's functional art furniture not only brings elegance and functionality to your living spaces but also ensures that your pieces will endure for generations to come.