Matumi Side Table

By Ernst Mittermair

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Designer

Ernst Mittermair

Woodcrafter

Ernst Mittermair and Darren Myburgh

Tree

Matumi Tree

Matumi Side Table

Once again, the designer Ernst Mittermair succeeds in creating a modern, light and graceful piece from a chunky Matumi slab. The framed platter appears to be floating on the angular tapered legs and underlines the beautiful grain of the Matumi wood.

DESIGNER

Ernst was born into a wood-crafting family in Austria, spending his early years in his father’s woodworking factory. Later, he competed his apprenticeship at the family factory, specialising in bespoke commissioned and custom-made furniture. Ernst dream was to gain experience in wood design and crafting all over the world and finally reached South Africa in 1968 where the warm, sunny climate and landscape abundant in beautiful indigenous trees attracted him. He has been designing custom-made furniture since then, spending time creating and training other woodworkers in this unique craft.

Ernst Mittermair

THE MATUMI DESK

THE TREE

Family: Rubiaceae | Synonym: Breonadia salicina

The matumi is a majestic evergreen tree and a protected species in South Africa. It can grow up to 40m in height and carries pale yellow flowers and fruit.

WHERE ARE THEY FOUND?

The matumi is associated with water and is most often found near permanent rivers and in riverine forests. In South Africa it is found in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province.

WOOD PROPERTIES

Matumi wood is very heavy and hard, is used for furniture, boats, floors and construction work. It was used for railway sleepers up to 1960.

The bark of the matumi tree is used in traditional African medicine, mainly for diarrhoea, arthritis and other digestive problems.