See the wood from the trees: Interview to Mariví Calvo

*  The following article is part of Design in/from Spain magazine for tablets and smartphones.

LZF is based in Valencia where its strikingly original decorative lighting products are hand-made using wood veneer. It's become a very successful company, exporting around the world, with clients in both the contract and residential sectors. More recently it's launched Funny Farm, a series of quirky, hand-carved wooden animal figurines designed by celebrated illustrator Isidro Ferrer.
Mariví, can we start by asking about Funny Farm – these little figures are delightful but it's not your market is it?

MC: I should start by saying I am a figurine lover and I collect a wide range of them, from African pieces made out of twine to Michelin figurines, to Toy Story and Star Wars figures. I think figurines are a lovely decorative element and I believe if they have a character then they're even better and more intriguing.

As to how Funny Farm came about, well, there never really was much of a plan. We've known Isidro Ferrer for many years – we asked him to design our logo in '91. And more recently we wanted to know how we could collaborate with someone who does such lovely work as illustration and graphic design...so we went to him and said 'why don't you design something for us?' We thought he'd come back with a graphic design campaign... but instead he created these animals made from different woods!

Our initial thought 'hell...oh..actually these things are beautiful' and as we'd started a Tumblr page a few years ago called 'The Wood Collector', we thought they tied in with the blog. And now we feel we're offering something for interior design which is aesthetically pleasing and it's kind of like a by-product that brings people into our world..and maybe they will go on to buy a light.

Vitra found success with the tiny models of their famous mid-century chairs..so why can't we do something similar! We're starting to sell the Funny Farm pieces online and through our distributors, like any other LZF product. And a final point, I would also like to praise the wonderful artisan Carlos Mur, who makes the animals one by one in his small workshop in the Pyrennees.

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