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 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
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
A Vintage Taxidermy Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Vintage Taxidermy Hawksbill Sea Turtle Length: 57cm Height: 11cm Width: 28cm Provenance: Private Australian Collection. Note: This item may be subject to export/import restricti...
Sea turtle
Vintage Turtle Sculpture or Figure
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Life like, life size turtle sculpture crafted in composition in an amazing realistic replication. Labeled Animal Classics on the bottom.
Composition
1970s Mario Lopez Torres Monkey Bench in Woven Rattan
Located in Lancaster, PA
This is a vintage Mario Lopez Torres hand woven rattan bench in the shape of a monkey. The design was initially conceived in 1974, and this particular piece dates to the 1970s. The...
Rattan
$995
H 26 in W 16 in D 16.5 in
Water Hyacinth Woven Rattan Monkey Sculpture Attributed to Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Add a bit of whimsy to your interior with this adorable seated woven rattan & water hyacinth monkey attributed to Mario Lopez Torres.
Rattan
Fossilized Turtle Skull
Located in New York, NY
A beautifully preserved fossilized turtle skull from the Kem Kem fossil formation in Morocco, exhibiting outstanding anatomical detail. The bone structure remains highly intact, with...
Other
Large Wicker Pig Sculpture designed by M.Lopez Torres
Located in Antwerp, BE
A decorative, life-size sculpture of a pig made of wire and rattan. An attractive sculpture for your display or living room setting. Designed by M. Lopez Torres in his own craft work...
Metal
Vintage Art Glass Turtle Sculpture by Murano Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
A wonderful vintage art glass turtle sculpture by Murano Glass, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 4.75"W x 2.75"D x 2"H. Original "Murano - Made ...
Art Glass
Large Wicker Rattan Standing Giraffe
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in New York, NY
Large size wicker or rattan Giraffe. Late 20th century. Very good condition, ready to display. Whimsical design, perfect for the nursery. This was displayed in a toy store in New Yor...
Wicker, Rattan
$2,250
H 23.25 in W 29 in D 18.5 in
Sculptural Hand-Woven Rattan Swan Coffee or Cocktail Table Round Glass Top 1970
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Miami, FL
Mario Lopez Torres Style Mid-Century Modern hand-woven Swan coffee, side or cocktail table with round small glass top. Bohemian Style made in America in the late 20th Century. Comes ...
Wicker, Cane, Rattan, Glass
On Hold|$1,200
H 12.5 in W 20 in D 30 in
Vintage French Cast Stone Turtle Sculpture, Patinated Finish, 2010
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an outside front door or a backyard with this elegant "Tortue" (French for turtle). Crafted in southern France and made of cast stone, the heavy tortoise is set on its flat ...
Cast Stone
Mario Dal Fabbro Sculpture
By Mario Dal Fabbro
Located in Chicago, IL
Mario Dal Fabbro sculpture no. 3 circa 1978 Multi-disciplinary artist Mario Dal Fabbro was born in Cappella Maggiore, Italy in 1913. He trained in his family's furniture design ...
Wood
Vintage Boho Artisanal Pigmented Plaster Scagliola Turtle Shell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking artisanal sculpture is a masterclass in organic Postmodern design, utilizing the sophisticated scagliola technique to mimic the intricate patterns of a turtle shell. Ha...
Plaster, Paint
Sold
H 16 in W 32 in D 10 in
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
1970s Cheetah Woven Rattan Sculpture by Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Lancaster, PA
This is a large Cheetah Sculpture, executed in hand-woven rattan, initially designed by Mario Lopez Torres in ca. 1974. This example dates to the 2020s. Lopez Torres is known for...
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
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
Vintage Chihuahua Pull Toy by Mario Lopez Torres, Rare
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare and fun vintage Chihuahua pull toy / sculpture by Mario Lopez Torres, circa 1974. The piece is in great vintage condition and measures 8"...
Metal
Small Elephant Trunk by Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Currently these pieces are still produced, however, this piece was one of the first in the mid-seventies, that is why it shows a certain degree of wear due to being a vintage piece, ...
Copper, Iron
Sold
H 15.75 in W 31.5 in D 11.5 in
Original Mario Lopez Torres Large Wicker Pig Sculpture Signed, Mexico
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rarely seen and highly sought after Mario Lopez Torres wicker pig sculpture. Wicker woven over iron frame, copper eyes and iron tail. Signed and dated on a ...
Copper, Iron
Pair of Mario Torres Cockatoo Table Lamps
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Mario Torres table lamps depicting cockatoos perched on a branch with brass and copper beaks and copper eyes. Constructed of a metal frame tightly wrapped in wicker or reed w...
Reed
Mario Torres Flamingo Floor Lamp
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mario Torres Flamingo floor lamp striking a familiar one legged pose. Constructed of a metal frame wrapped in wicker or reed. Featuring brass beaks...
Reed
Pair of Mario Torres Rooster Table Lamps & Wicker Turtle
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of whimsical Mario Torres Rooster table lamps constructed of a metal frame tightly wrapped in wicker or reed and wicker turtle.
Reed
Vintage 1970s Handmade Woven Rattan Monkey Table Lamp
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in San Antonio, TX
This handmade woven rattan monkey lamp is in overall good condition. Brass details. Minor losses. See photos, circa 1970s, Mexico. Dimensions: 20.5" d...
Brass
Pair of Mario Torres Cockatoo Table Lamps
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Mario Torres table lamps depicting cockatoos perched on a branch with brass and copper beaks and copper eyes. Constructed of a metal frame tightly wrapped in wicker or reed w...
Reed