Out of Africa

A piece of Africa

Marc Van Rampelberg’s (b. 1949) characteristic furniture is recognisable by its soft, rounded forms in various sorts of African wood. The furniture design tells the story of a young Belgian school teacher who left Europe and settled in Kenya, where he married an African woman, had children and earned his living as a teacher. However, he felt drawn towards cabinetmaking and, over the years, his hobby developed into a full-time employment. 

Workshop with visions

Since 1987, Van Rampelberg has run a furniture workshop in Nairobi. He is responsible for the design of the furniture and makes all the prototypes, while the 45 Kenyan cabinetmakers he employs take care of the remaining furniture production. The workshop is run on the principle that people all work at different speeds, and that quality is dependent upon respect for the rhythm of the individual. As a result of this controversial way of thinking, the production time of the furniture varies tremendously. It has also meant that no employee has resigned in more than 20 years. 

At Van Rampelberg’s workshop, environmental issues are also very much in focus. The wood used comes only from local suppliers working with the reforestation of the Kenyan forests. 

Prominent clientele

Fame for Van Rampelberg’s furniture design first came knocking at the end of the 1980s, when some of the the world’s then most prominent art dealers, Jocelyne and Alec Wildenstein, visited the furniture workshop in Nairobi. For 12 years, half of Van Rampelberg’s furniture was sold to this American art dealing couple, but over time, the clientele has also come to include other big names such as former American president Jimmy Carter and actors John Hurt and Meryl Streep. The latter fell in love with Van Rampelberg’s furniture during the filming of “Out of Africa”, in which one of his chairs was used as a prop.   

We look forward to being able to present Marc Van Rampelberg’s fascinating furniture for the first time.

Auction: Thursday 8 March from 5 pm

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