Furniture And Objects
A COLLECTION SHAPED BY PLACE, TRADITION, THE ELEMENTS AND TIME.
Modern Primitive is Empire’s collection of found-and-restored pieces, sourced through our travels across the Indonesian archipelago, from villages and workshops to libraries, train stations and everyday places.
Many began life as working pieces shaped by daily rituals, traditional practices and generations of use, before being preserved, repaired and restored through our long-standing relationships with Indonesian artisans.
Every one-off form is chosen for their markings, raw form, material character and depth.
The timber is central. Heavy slabs. Raw and live edges. Deep grain, splits, knots and old repairs. Old timber, not newly cut. Surfaces worn smooth over time, burnished and darkened through traditional finishing techniques. Some pieces retain the weight and irregularity of the original timber almost untouched. Others have been carved, joined, repaired and adapted over generations.
Found forms that tell a story of a life well lived.
The appeal is in the contrast: rough against refined, heavy against sparse, primitive forms set in modern rooms.
Imperfect. Honest. Individual.
Features
- One-off found-and-restored pieces
- Sourced from Indonesia
- Preserved, repaired and restored through long-standing relationships with Indonesian artisans
- Old timber, not newly cut
- Burnished, worn and hand-finished surfaces
- Irregular forms and natural variation
- No two pieces are the same
How It Lives In The Home
These are pieces matched to homes with character, built slowly over time.
Alongside stone, leather, linen, metal, ceramics, art and softer woven forms, they bring a sense of textural history.
Available In Store
Because each piece is one-off, the full Modern Primitive collection is not available to purchase online. Visit an Empire Home to discover the current drop, or contact us and we can help locate available pieces.
Available Online
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Weavers Coffee Table $2,599.00
About Modern Primitive
About Modern Primitive
Empire’s collection of found-and-restored pieces sourced through our travels across the Indonesian archipelago, from villages and workshops to libraries, train stations and everyday places.
Many began life as working pieces shaped by daily rituals, traditional practices and generations of use, before being restored through our network of traditional artisans.
Imperfect. Honest. Individual.
