Some furniture collections are defined by a particular look. ARTISAN is defined more by a way of working with timber.
ducksnest. has represented ARTISAN in Australia for more than a decade, and over that time we have come to know the collection not simply as a series of individual products, but as a remarkably coherent body of work.
What first drew us to ARTISAN was the balance between craftsmanship and restraint. There is an obvious technical confidence in the furniture – curves are resolved beautifully, junctions are softened, proportions are finely judged – yet very little feels decorative for its own sake.
It is furniture with presence, but also with enough quietness to allow the architecture, art and other materials within a room to remain part of the conversation.
For our Sydney clients, architects and interior designers, ARTISAN offers an extensive collection of solid timber furniture that can be specified in different timbers, finishes, upholstery and, across selected designs,dimensions.
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A Furniture Maker defined by Timber
ARTISAN grew from the traditional Ćostović family woodworking workshop in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that depth of timber knowledge remains fundamental to the company today.
But heritage alone does not explain the collection.
What makes ARTISAN interesting is the way traditional woodworking knowledge has evolved alongside contemporary design. Rather than treating timber as simply the material from which an object is made, many of the designs seem to begin with an understanding of what the material itself can do.
A backrest can become finer as it approaches an arm. A table leg can appear to grow almost organically from the underside of the top. Edges are softened enough to invite touch without losing their architectural clarity.
These details can be difficult to appreciate from a photograph alone. In person, they are often what clients notice first.
There is also a tactile quality to ARTISAN furniture that has always been important to us at ducksnest. Solid timber gives each piece a physical presence, while natural variation in grain and tone prevents the collection from feeling overly uniform.
The furniture is refined, but it does not feel manufactured into anonymity.
When Designer and Maker speak the same language
One of ARTISAN’s strengths is the relationship it has developed with designers who understand the possibilities – and limitations – of working in solid timber.
Regular Company, Salih Teskeredžić, Michael Schneider and other European designers have each brought a different sensibility to the collection, but there is a consistency in the way their ideas are translated into finished furniture.
The design rarely feels separated from the making.
Regular Company’s Neva collection is perhaps the clearest example. The Neva Chair is immediately recognisable because of the continuous line created by its backrest, arms and legs, yet the design never feels forced. The form appears to have emerged from the timber itself.
Salih Teskeredžić’s Latus collection approaches timber differently. The Latus Table has a more architectural presence, but there is still a sense of movement in the way the tabletop and supporting structure meet.
Michael Schneider’s work introduces another character again – often more restrained and pragmatic, with an emphasis on proportion, function and everyday use.
For us, this variety is important. ARTISAN does not ask a client to commit to one aesthetic. Instead, there is enough consistency in material and craftsmanship to allow different pieces to sit together without everything needing to match.
The ARTISAN pieces we return to
Neva Chair by Regular Company
The Neva Chair is one of ARTISAN’s most recognisable designs. Its continuous, flowing form appears almost carved from a single piece of timber, while the shaped backrest provides comfort without visual heaviness.
Available with a timber or upholstered seat, the Neva works equally well around residential dining tables, meeting tables and selected hospitality settings.
Neva Chair
Neva Light Chair by Regular Company
The Neva Light Chair refines the language of the original Neva into a lighter and more restrained form. Its curved backrest transitions elegantly into the rear legs, creating a chair that feels delicate while remaining structurally resolved.
Neva Light Chair
Latus Table by Salih Teskeredžić
The Latus Table is defined by a fluid junction between its legs and tabletop. Its sculptural form gives the impression of a continuous pencil line, making it expressive without becoming overly decorative.
It is available in a range of standard lengths, with customised dimensions possible for selected applications.
Latus Table
Invito Extension Table by Michael Schneider
Invito is a practical solid-timber extension table with restrained proportions and a robust, enduring character. Multiple lengths, widths and extension configurations allow it to accommodate both everyday dining and larger gatherings.
Invito Extension Table
Column Table by Regular Company
The Column Table is centred around a strong architectural base and is available in round, oval and double-base configurations. Its broad range of dimensions makes it suitable for dining, meeting and selected hospitality environments.
Column Table
Cot Timber Stool by Studio Ru:t
Designed for nunc, the award-winning Cot Timber Stool combines solid timber legs with a metal footrest and a compact, characterful form. Counter and bar-height versions are available for residential, hospitality, commercial and education projects.
Cot Timber Stool
Building a Room around ARTISAN
We rarely begin by asking whether every piece in a room should come from the same collection.
A more interesting interior usually develops through relationships: the visual weight of the dining table against the chair, the warmth of one timber beside another material, the upholstery against the flooring, or the way a sculptural chair is allowed enough space to be appreciated.
ARTISAN’s breadth makes this possible.
A strong table can be paired with a quieter chair. Walnut can add depth to a pale interior, while oak can soften rooms with stronger architectural materials. Upholstery can introduce colour without asking the timber itself to become the feature.
There is also no need for every timber element within a room to match perfectly.
We often prefer materials to relate rather than replicate one another. A dining setting should feel connected to the joinery, flooring and other furniture in the room, but not necessarily identical to them.
This is where samples become particularly useful. Looking at timber and upholstery within the actual light of the interior gives a much clearer understanding of how the finished piece will sit in the space.
For larger projects, we also consider the collection as a whole rather than piece by piece – how dining, occasional and lounge furniture can create continuity without creating repetition.
Selecting Timber and Upholstery
The same ARTISAN design can feel remarkably different depending on the timber and finish selected.
Oak tends to give a piece a lighter, more architectural character. Walnut introduces greater depth and richness. Other timber species available across selected designs provide further variation in colour, grain and tone.
Upholstery adds another layer.
For a dining chair such as the Neva, a timber seat keeps the focus firmly on the sculptural quality of the form.
Upholstery softens the chair and can make it feel more integrated with the wider material palette of the room. There is no universal “best”; combination.
Our preference is to make these decisions in relation to the interior: flooring, stone, cabinetry, fabrics, light and the other furniture already selected.
For Sydney projects, timber, finish and upholstery samples can be arranged so these decisions can be made with the materials in hand rather than from a screen alone.
Trade Enquiries
ARTISAN for Architects and Interior Designers
We work closely with architects and interior designers specifying ARTISAN across residential, hospitality and commercial interiors.
Our role is usually to make the specification process easier: helping narrow the collection, confirming dimensions and options, arranging samples, preparing quotations and resolving the practical details required before an order moves into production.
Where several ARTISAN pieces are being considered within the same project, we can also assist with maintaining consistency across timber, finish and upholstery selections while allowing each piece to retain its own character.
Trade support is available to eligible practices, with detailed product information and specification assistance provided throughout the selection process.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does ducksnest. deliver European furniture to Sydney?
Yes. We coordinate delivery throughout metropolitan Sydney and greater New South Wales for residential, trade, hospitality and commercial projects.
Can samples be sent to Sydney?
Yes. Timber, finish, fabric and leather samples can be arranged so that materials can be considered within your own interior.
Is the furniture made from solid timber?
ARTISAN specialises in solid European hardwood furniture. Available species vary by design and may include American walnut, European oak, European walnut, maple, elm, cherry and ash.
Can I choose my own fabric?
Customer’s own material and customer’s own leather can be used on many upholstered designs, subject to confirmation of suitability and the required quantity.
Can tables be customised?
Many tables are offered in several standard dimensions, and customised sizing is possible on selected designs. Available options are confirmed individually for each product.
Do you work with architects and interior designers?
Yes. We provide trade support including specifications, samples, quotations, product selection assistance and delivery coordination.
Do you have a Sydney showroom?
Our showroom and design studio is located in South Melbourne. Sydney clients are supported through remote consultations, samples and delivery, and are welcome to arrange a showroom appointment when visiting Melbourne.
