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.
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
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 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
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
Primitive Rustic Minimal Italian Wooden Bench Stool Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian rustic primitive country wooden bench, with typical legs in original aged natural color giving the rich and beautiful patina that makes it look wonderful in every i...
Wood
$2,936
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
Modern End Table, The Torre
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Please scroll down to read IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT OUR STUMPS before purchase! Why buy BERTU HOME stumps? KILN DRIED Our stumps all go through a drying process in our k...
Maple
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.16 in W 15.75 in D 11.82 in
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
$914
H 9.85 in W 16.93 in D 20.08 in
Stool, Side Table, Solid Burnt Wood, Rustic, Organic, Handmade, Carved, Black
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Chainsaw carved bench/side table. Carved from a single piece of burnt oak wood and protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Such unique handmade ...
Wood, Oak
$1,000
H 22.25 in W 23 in D 16 in
Vintage Boho Wicker Rattan Elephant Side Table Style of Mario Lopez Torres 1970s
By Mario Torres
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
1970s Vintage Boho Figurative Animalia Wicker Rattan elephant side tray table in the style of Mario Lopez Torres. This Animalia vintage 1960s-19...
Bamboo, Wicker, Wood
Pair of Danish Teak Mid-Century Modern Flip Top Tables Suede Benches
By Hans J. Wegner, Arne Norell
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of Danish Mid-Century Modern teak tops side tables flipping to suede upholstery benches.
Suede, Teak
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
$2,354
H 29.14 in W 31.5 in D 23.63 in
Rustic Rustic Minimal Italian Wooden Backrest Bench Stool Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian rustic country wooden bench, with backrest and typical legs in original aged natural color giving the rich and beautiful patina that makes it look wonderful in ever...
Wood
Petite Antique Carved Wood Low Footstool
Located in Sheffield, MA
A very charming small antique Louis XV style low blue upholstered carved wood tabouret or foot stool. The stool is covered in a blue canvas like fabric w...
Wood
$1,691
H 26.38 in W 31.5 in D 17.33 in
Rustic, Primitive, Wabi Sabi, Antique, Naive Vintage Bench, England, c19th C
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Hitchin, England
Rustic, Primitive, Wabi Sabi, Antique, Naive Vintage Bench, England, c19th Century. A rustic bench sitting on four splayed slightly legs and formed of oak with a great aesthetic. E...
Wood
$4,698 / set
H 13.39 in W 47.25 in D 14.57 in
Torbjørn Afdal Krobo Bench with Lp Box by Bruksbo in Norway
By Torbjørn Afdal
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Bench or side table model Krobo with LP box designed by Torbjørn Afdal. Produced by Bruksbo in Norway.
Rosewood
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
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
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
Mario Lopez Torres Copper Coyote Structure
By Mario Lopez Torres
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Mario Lopez Torres Iron Coyote sculpture structure, originally made in natural woven we have found only the structure, that ...
Iron