Artlantique is a company transforming old fishing boats from Senegal into hand-made furniture sold internationally.
Beautiful boats reborn —
Artlantique is a company transforming old fishing boats from Senegal into hand-made furniture sold internationally.
Courtesy Artlantique
Its creations include quirky chairs and coffee tables as well as unique chests and cabinets.
Beautiful boats reborn —
Its creations include quirky chairs and coffee tables as well as unique chests and cabinets.
Courtesy Artlantique
Fishermen in Senegal decorate their boats with vivid colors and mysterious designs mixing tradition and religious beliefs.
Beautiful boats reborn —
Fishermen in Senegal decorate their boats with vivid colors and mysterious designs mixing tradition and religious beliefs.
Courtesy Artlantique
Some of them sell their old boats to Artlantique, which then repurposes them, using the untreated wood as raw material.
Beautiful boats reborn —
Some of them sell their old boats to Artlantique, which then repurposes them, using the untreated wood as raw material.
Courtesy Artlantique
Spanish designer Ramon Llonch (middle) founded the company four years ago after being struck by the beauty of the boats and the creativity of local craftsmen.
Beautiful boats reborn —
Spanish designer Ramon Llonch (middle) founded the company four years ago after being struck by the beauty of the boats and the creativity of local craftsmen.
Courtesy Artlantique
He says what makes the furniture special is the history behind it.
Beautiful boats reborn —
He says what makes the furniture special is the history behind it.
Courtesy Artlantique
"The main reason of this project is to preserve the wood as it was with all the stories, all the nautical miles sailed in Atlantic," says Llonch.
Beautiful boats reborn —
"The main reason of this project is to preserve the wood as it was with all the stories, all the nautical miles sailed in Atlantic," says Llonch.
Courtesy Artlantique
The company's workshop in Dakar, Senegal's capital, has 12 young craftsmen who undertake the arduous task of re-modeling the samba wood.
Beautiful boats reborn —
The company's workshop in Dakar, Senegal's capital, has 12 young craftsmen who undertake the arduous task of re-modeling the samba wood.
Courtesy Artlantique
"I have been working in the fashion business for a long time in many countries but I have never seen such an enthusiastic team working like these people," says Llonch.
Beautiful boats reborn —
"I have been working in the fashion business for a long time in many countries but I have never seen such an enthusiastic team working like these people," says Llonch.
Courtesy Artlantique
From the Dakar-based workshop, Artlantique's creations are then shipped to Barcelona, and from there to clients in many European countries.
Beautiful boats reborn —
From the Dakar-based workshop, Artlantique's creations are then shipped to Barcelona, and from there to clients in many European countries.
Courtesy Artlantique
More recently, the company's furniture can also be found in stores in New York and Tokyo.
Beautiful boats reborn —
More recently, the company's furniture can also be found in stores in New York and Tokyo.
Courtesy Artlantique
"Every time you see this furniture, you have a piece of the soul and the history of these fishermen," says Llonch.
Beautiful boats reborn —
"Every time you see this furniture, you have a piece of the soul and the history of these fishermen," says Llonch.
Courtesy Artlantique