Riva1920

Riva 1920 stands for honestly made solid wood furniture, conceived as a legacy for generations to come. The company's vision extends beyond furniture, with the aim of improving quality of life and protecting the environment through high-quality products made in Italy. Riva 1920's mission is to bring people together through furniture without harming the environment. Made entirely in Italy, the furniture is built to last, in the spirit of sustainable development. The company proudly preserves the art of craftsmanship in the digital age, creating timeless products that skilfully unite tradition and modernity. Riva 1920 remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence, leaving a lasting mark on the world of design.

Kauri Wood - The Lord of the Forest

Kauri wood (Agathis australis) comes from a unique conifer that thrives only in the subtropical climate of New Zealand. These monumental trees, which first appeared in the Jurassic period some 190/135 million years ago, hold the world record for trunk volume. Reaching heights of over 70 metres and diameters of up to 9 metres, these giants of nature were exploited by the English colonists for their valuable, rare timber. Today they are protected under New Zealand law and felling them is strictly forbidden. The largest kauri still living is called "Tane Mahuta", which means "Lord of the Forest" in the Maori language. Around 50,000 years ago, mysterious catastrophes flooded entire kauri forests, creating "underground reserves of precious timber". The astonishing thing is that these trunks, although buried for millennia, have retained all the properties of freshly cut wood. The lack of oxygen and the particular soil conditions allowed these specimens to escape decay and petrification and to remain intact to this day.

Riva 1920 has masterfully harnessed the unique properties of this ancient and precious wood, transforming it into luxury furniture pieces that are true works of art. Highly developed craft techniques turn simple Kauri boards into unmistakable creations, full of personality and history. The Kauri wood tables are not merely functional pieces; they are witnesses to the emotions and the life that flows around them. These exclusive pieces offer a complete sensory experience, from the texture and the scent to the sight of their intricate grain. Kauri furniture is an entirely natural, handcrafted wood product. Movement, cracks and changes in the condition of the wood are an essential characteristic of these works of art, the result of natural settling and varying environmental conditions.

Riva 1920 - over 100 years of history

The story of Riva 1920 begins in 1920 in Cantù, in the heart of Brianza, in a small family-run artisan workshop founded by Nino Romano. Specialising in the production of classic solid wood furniture, the workshop was taken over in the 1940s by his son-in-law Mario Riva. His sons Maurizio and Davide Riva carried the tradition forward, starting out as joiners in the late 70s in the workshop beneath the family home and concentrating on made-to-measure furniture.

The products of Riva 1920 are distinguished by an artisanal process of refining natural wood, using only natural waxes and oils. In 1987 the first production facility was inaugurated, and sister Anna joined the company. The Riva 1920 furniture collection was first presented at the international Milan furniture fair in 1992.

Alongside timber from planned, controlled felling, the company incorporated reclaimed woods such as thousand-year-old kauri from New Zealand, briccole from the Venetian lagoon and cedar from Lebanon. The years brought expansion, including the opening of a second production facility in 2005 and the completion of the Riva Center in 2010 – a building born of an idea by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, housing a showroom and a wood museum.

In 2013, Riva 1920 opened a third production facility specialising in the processing of cedar wood. In 2017, the second floor of the Riva Center was inaugurated, housing the symbolic Pangaea table by Michele de Lucchi, an emblem of Expo 2015, as well as a xylotheque with woods from all over the world.

With an impressive heritage of more than 100 years, Riva is a leading maker of solid wood furniture. Its expertise spans the design and manufacture of tables, benches, chairs, shelving and sideboards. Mastery of craft and a dedication to quality have made Riva a renowned name in the furniture industry. Riva's broad range comprises not only a wide variety of furniture pieces but also a wealth of designs created by many talented designers. The fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern design has made Riva synonymous with timeless elegance and functionality. Through its use of premium solid wood and its extensive furniture palette, Riva has established itself as a pioneer in creating furniture that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also durable and sustainable.