Waingapu, Sumba

From standing timber to finished piece, with no shortcuts in between

Every Wungu piece passes through the same four stages: timber selection, hand joinery, finishing, and — where the design calls for it — ikat weave integration. Nothing is outsourced. Nothing is rushed.

Hand joinery process in the Wungu workshop

From standing timber to finished piece

View the collection

01 — Timber

Selection & milling

We select timber at the source — standing trees or certified sawmill stock — and mill it in Waingapu to our own dimensions. Wood is then air-dried for a minimum of eight weeks before any cutting begins.

02 — Joinery

Hand-cut mortise & tenon

All structural joints are hand-cut. We use mortise and tenon for frames, hand-driven dowels for panel work, and wedged through-tenons for pieces that need to be disassembled for shipping.

03 — Finish

Oil, wax, or natural leave

Standard finish is linseed oil with a final coat of beeswax. Ebony pieces are left with a fine sand finish only. We do not use lacquer or polyurethane on any piece.

04 — Weave

Ikat seat integration

For pieces with woven seats, Marta and her team in Rende village weave each panel to our dimensions using traditional backstrap looms. No two patterns are identical. Integration is done by hand in the workshop.

Three timbers. All from within 80km of the workshop.

Teak for structural frames — dense, oil-rich, stable in the humidity of Sumba's wet season. Suar for tops and slabs — its wide boards and natural figuring make every surface unique. Ebony for detail work — impossibly hard, taking a polish that lasts decades.

We do not use MDF, plywood, or veneers. If a piece needs a panel, it is solid wood. Offcuts are used as wedges, dowels, and drawer runners.

PrimaryTectona grandis (Teak)

SecondaryAlbizia saman (Suar / Rain Tree)

DetailDiospyros celebica (Ebony)

SourceCertified, within Sumba

FinishLinseed oil / Beeswax

Want to see the workshop, or talk through a piece?

We welcome visits by appointment, and we always recommend a short conversation before ordering — especially for custom pieces.

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Curious about the materials in more depth, or how ikat seats are integrated into a frame?

Explore Ikat Weaving