In the mountains of Mexico, furniture designer and master weaver Mario Lopez Torres works with locally sourced organic materials to painstakingly craft complex and elegant decorative objects, tables and seating.
Originally from Mexico City, Torres apprenticed for his father, who was a professional photographer, and at 13 years old enrolled in a school for the fine arts, as he had by then become deeply interested in illustration and working with clay. At 20, Torres pursued a dream of designing furniture — specifically, weaving. He traveled to Altepexi, a municipality in Puebla, to learn how its artisans wove works from a wooden vegetable reed that is native to the region.
Torres sought mentorship from the prevalent artists Ana Pellicer and James Metcalf in order to learn how to work with metal, as he would need to create frames of brass and copper that supported his woven structures. Torres traveled to the United States to purchase metalworking equipment and went on to establish his own workshop in a small mountain village back in Mexico.
Torres put his hands and imagination to work — he harvested courses of chuspata, which is a reed that grows abundantly on the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, and welded frames that the reed is woven around. He sold his first piece of furniture in 1974.
Today, Torres creates works that are characterized by his affinity for nature. His palm floor lamps feature woven rattan — a light and versatile material that can mingle with a wide range of styles — while the lifelike monkeys, birds and other animals that support his tables, table lamps or adorn his mirror frames are crafted from chuspata and take on whimsical poses. They create a playful, provocative presence in any space.
Find Mario Lopez Torres seating, lighting and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Vintage Mexican Mid Century Pig by Mario Lopez Torres, Rare 1974 Tzumindi
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in San Diego, CA
Mario Lopez Torres was born in 1952 in Mexico City. From the beginning, Mario’s attention was drawn to artistic hobbies including drawing, modeling with clay and engraving. He was ...
Rattan
Antique Mario Lopez Torres Jaguar Stool
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Antique Mario Lopez Torres Jaguar Stool, made in natural woven and iron structure, the eyes are made in brass. It has details on one ear and on the legs.
Iron
Mario Lopez Torres Pair Rattan and Brass Monkey Console Tables
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Console Tables by Mexican Artist, Mario Lopez Torres. The tables are held by a hand-woven rattan monkey - A steel frame with Hand-woven rattan is the base and body, while t...
Brass, Metal
Pair of Mario Torres Lopez Rattan Monkeys in Palm Tree Sconces
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Rattan Monkey's on a Palm Tree, Attributed to Mario Lopez Torres. The pair are wonderful flanking a doorway or entry way and especially great in a home near the water or a ...
Metal, Brass
Mario Lopez Torres Monkey Floor Lamp
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Hastings, GB
A quite exceptional floor lamp by the highly acclaimed Mexican artist and sculptor Mario Lopez Torres, the enormous metal frame and chuspata woven design stands at over 1.8 Metres ta...
Metal
Mario Lopez Torres Midcentury Wicker Toucan Wall Sconce Signed 1974 Mexico
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mario Lopez Torres whimsical wicker Toucan with brass beak wall sconce light. Retains brass medallion on inside : signed Mario Lopez Torres, Tzumindi, Hecho en Mexico, 1974. Includes...
Brass
Vintage Mario Lopez Torres Turtle Basket
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Hastings, GB
An exceptional Turtle basket by the highly acclaimed Mexican artist and sculptor Mario Lopez Torres, the metal frame and chuspata woven design modelled a...
Steel
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Jaguar Coffee and Cocktail Table by Mario López Torres
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in CABA, AR
Presenting an exceptional Jaguar coffee table, masterpiece by Mario López Torres that transcend functionality to become captivating wicker-woven sc...
Rattan
Antique Mario Lopez Torres Monkey Console
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Antique Original Mario Lopez Torres Monkey Console, made in natural woven and iron structure, Hecho en Mexico. The ...
Iron
Antique Mario Lopez Torres Jaguar Petite Stool
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Antique Mario Lopez Torres Jaguar Petite Stool, made in natural woven and iron structure, the eyes are made in precious stone.
Iron
Antique Mario Lopez Torres Elephant Box
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Antique Original Mario Lopez Torres Elephant Box, made in natural woven and iron structure, includes original mark Mario Lopez Torres 1974 Hecho en Mexico.
Iron
Parrot Floor Lamp By Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Miami, FL
Parrot Floor lamp by Mario Lopez Torres
Rattan
Mario Lopez Torres Wicker Panther Stool, Early 1970s
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Mario Lopez Torres Wicker Panther stool, Made in the early 1970s. Panther stool or could be used for a small table. The Panther has copper teet...
Wicker
$1,412Sale Price|20% Off
Floor lamp by Mario López Torres 1970s
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Floor lamp by Mexican artist and sculptor Mario López Torres made of iron woven with chuspata, its base with an elegant Greek key shape at the base creates an exclusive original mid-...
Iron
Mario Torres Wicker Sculpture of a Woman
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Amusing and macabre life size midcentury Mario Torres woven wicker sculpture of a woman in Edwardian attire. Having copper flowers and metal feathers on her hat and skeletal hands, o...
Reed
Vintage Netsuke Soapstone Figure Pig
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful small Pig figurine. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made probably of soapstone or resin. A beautiful nice desktop item or j...
Soapstone
$4,428 / item
H 82.68 in W 47.25 in D 47.25 in
Large Rattan Palm Tree Floor Light, with Three Bulbs in the Coconuts
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in London, GB
A large rattan palm tree floor light, with bulbs in the three coconuts in the style of Mario Lopez Torres.
Rattan
$3,297Sale Price|40% Off
H 80 in W 48 in D 48 in
RARE Mid-century Sculptural Rattan Palm Tree floor Lamp, Mario Torres Lopez
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original late 1960s life-size six-foot-tall palm tree floor lamp sculpted from stick rattan and wicker with removable leaves and 3 coconut-shaped lights attributed to Mario Lopez Tor...
Rattan
Mid-Century Modern Mexican Petite Pitcher by Los Castillo
By Los Castillo
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this Mid-Century Modern Mexican Petite Pitcher sporting an amazing handle in a bird motif by Los Castillo Taxco México. The pitcher Marked Los Castillo Taxco Mex...
Precious Stone
$1,975
H 12.8 in W 29.14 in D 9.06 in
Rustic, Primitive, Wabi Sabi, Antique, Naive Vintage Bench/Table, England c1900s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Hitchin, England
Rustic, Primitive, Wabi Sabi, Antique, Naive Vintage Bench/Table, England, c19th Century. A rustic bench which would also serve as a side/coffee table. Sitting on four splayed cham...
Wood
$3,530 / set
H 8.27 in W 4.34 in D 9.85 in
Pair of Italian Vintage Adjustable Sconces Wall Lights, 1950s
By Stilnovo, Angelo Lelii
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of beautiful adjustable wall lights. Italy, 1950s.
Brass, Metal, Aluminum
$3,059 / set
H 10.63 in W 8.67 in D 5.91 in
Pair of Midcentury Woven Wicker Weave & Rattan Wall Sconces, Italy 1960
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Italian Mid-century Modern Wall Sconces, Rattan, Wicker ____________________________________________________________________________ Pair of half cylinder wall lights with wi...
Rattan, Wicker
Stilnovo Signed Mid Century Wall Sconce
By Stilnovo
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Vintage wall sconce made by Stilnovo, it has an articulated arm, two cylinders each holding on light and a glass diffuser at the bottom held in place by brass pins. Integrated switch...
Metal, Brass
Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Console Table, Italy 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful console table in rattan and bamboo. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan
$2,941
H 13.39 in W 47.25 in D 14.57 in
Scandinavian 'Krobo' Bench in Rosewood by Torbjørn Afdal for Mellemstrands
By Mellemstrands Trevareindustri, Torbjørn Afdal
Located in Karlstad, SE
"Krobo" bench by Torbjørn Afdal for Mellemstrands Trevareindustri, Norway. The bench is made of solid wood with thick rosewood vaneer. It can be used in many ways, for example as a...
Wood
Lightolier, Floor Lamp
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gerald Thurston floor lamp by Lightolier. Features a brass and walnut base and a perforated brass shade. Measures: 17" diameter x 64.5" height.
Brass
Rattan and Wicker Palm Tree Floor Lamp, 1970s United States
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beachy floor lamp of a Palm tree. Just under 7 feet tall. Made of rattan and wicker. Three wicker coconuts each contain a socket/light inside. Coconuts swivel. Natural color palm lea...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Vintage Coyote Bench by Mario Lopez Torres, 1970s
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Coronado, CA
A vintage Coyote Bench by Mario Lopez Torres, hand crafted in Mexico in the 1970s. This anthropomorphic bench is crafted of woven reed over a metal frame and features copper eyes and...
Metal, Copper
Sold
H 78.75 in Dm 43.31 in
RARE Mid-century Sculptural Rattan Palm Tree floor Lamp, Mario Torres Lopez
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Original late 1960s life-size six-foot-tall palm tree floor lamp sculpted from stick rattan and wicker with removable leaves and 3 coconut-shaped lights attributed to Mario Lopez Tor...
Bamboo, Rattan
Mario Lopez Torres Pig Sculpture, Mexico, 20th Century
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Mario Lopez Torres Pig Sculpture, Mexico, 20th Century.
Copper, Iron
1970s Palm Tree Floor Lamp by Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Hilversum, NL
This floor lamp, designed by Mario Lopez Torres in the 1970s, adds a touch of tropical charm to any space. Crafted from rattan and wicker, it stands 195 cm tall in the shape of a pal...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Coastal Tropical Monumental Mario Lopez Torres Monkey Console
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
This exceptional console table by Mario Lopez Torres showcases a playful yet sophisticated design. The handwoven monkey base, crafted from natural wicker, features intricate detailin...
Metal
Monumental Elephant Storage Trunk by Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Monumental elephant storage trunk and or side table by Mario Lopez Torres with metal pull. Large beautiful piece being one owner purchased in the late 90’s including the elephant room divider...
Bamboo, Rattan
Sold
H 60 in W 74 in D 6 in
Late 20th Century Mario Lopez Torres Elephant Palm Tree Three Panel Screen
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Exquisite Mario Lopez Torres Elephant Palm Tree three panel screen divider and or Wall hanging in amazing used condition. Free standing three panel screen in an intricate handmade d...
Metal
Antique Mario Lopez Torres Jaguar Stool Iron Structure
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Antique Mario Lopez Torres Jaguar Stool Iron Structure, made in iron. The structure is quite solid and can be used for sittin...
Iron
Mario Lopez Torres Pig Sculpture, Signed c. 1970s
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mario Lopez Torres Pig Sculpture, Signed, 1970s An exquisite vintage Mario Lopez Torres Pig Sculpture, signed and dated circa 1970s, exudes charm and character. Crafted of woven wic...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 35.5 in W 22.5 in D 22.5 in
Vintage Pair Mario Lopez Torres Heron Bird Table Lamps Woven Rattan Wicker
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Beautiful vintage 1970s Mario Lopez Torres (marked underneath on both lamps) Heron bird table lamps. Woven rattan and brass accents. May have slight variations as these were handmade...
Wicker, Rattan
Antique Mario Lopez Torres Jaguar Stool
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Antique Mario Lopez Torres Jaguar Stool, made in natural woven and iron structure, the eyes are made in precious stone.
Iron
Parrot & Toucan Wicker Table Lamp by Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in San Diego, CA
A rare and fun parrot and toucan wicker table lamp by Mario Lopez Torres, circa 1970s. The lamp is in great vintage condition with two removable, handmade wicker birds with brass bea...
Metal