Collection: Riva 1920

Riva 1920 gives form to nature. Craft, love of natural wood and innovation are the foundations of the Riva 1920 philosophy. The company has been producing solid wood furniture with a classic and timeless style for almost a century. Based in Cantù in the heart of Brianza, Riva 1920 aims to create heirloom furniture, respecting the environment and maintaining the values of tradition, culture, creativity and innovation. Craft, technology, design and attention to detail give life to unique, highly versatile, entirely Made-in-Italy collections. Riva 1920 transmits ancient crafts traditions, thanks to a team of highly qualified carpenters who produce quality pieces in natural wood and custom-made solutions to meet all needs.

Riva 1920 solid wood furniture

Riva 1920 products are made of solid wood sourced from controlled reforestation. The company uses maple, cherry, oak and walnut. Underscoring the fact that wood is a renewable - but not inexhaustible - resource, Riva 1920 also employs reused woods in its furniture production: Kauri -a millenary New Zealand wood; Cedar; Briccole - the oak posts used in Venice as signals and tide indicators, which periodically have to be replaced due to wear. Riva produces tables, chairs, and furniture for living and sleeping areas. The brand can provide made-to-measure solutions suitable for all conditions and contexts. Riva 1920 pays great attention to materials to guarantee resilient and long-lasting collections. Quality guides the entire production process, from metal bases to leathers and fabrics, available in a wide range of colours. Every element is subjected to strict conformity and testing procedures; only vinyl adhesives, natural oil, and wax finishes are used for a 100% natural product. Artisinal cabinet-making traditions and innovative technologies merge to create superior products suitable for every need and style, even the most contemporary, including some ironic and humorous pieces like the rich collection of Chef, or Temperino stools, and the famous Molletta bench.

Riva 1920 history: from a small carpentry workshop to an international brand

Riva was born in 1920 in Cantù with Nino Romano, who produced solid wood classic furniture in his small family-run workshop. After the war, Mario Riva took over his father's activity in the Vighizzolo workshop. Production remained almost unchanged, following traditional Brianza cabinet-making custom. In the following years, brothers Maurizio and Davide Riva followed in their father's footsteps and, even before that, their grandfather's; they had begun as carpenters, specialising in custom-made furniture. This was the beginning of a long journey comprising a profound commitment to natural wood and its manual crafting, a feature that distinguishes Riva 1920.
After a trip to New York, Maurizio Riva became interested in the North American culture of reforested wood. This was how the company began to produce solid cherry wood furniture, inspired by America's Amish and Shaker communities. During this period, the company identity was defined, and from that moment on, it was decided to use only completely natural waxes, oils, and glues. Riva 1920's first appearance at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan in 1992 confirmed its national and international success. As a result, it became necessary to industrialise manufacturing processes and use the latest technological innovations, moving towards increasingly sustainable products. In addition to two new factories, one opening in 2005, the other in 2013, in 2010, Riva inaugurated the Riva Center, a building entirely clad in larch, housing a showroom and a Wood Museum. The showroom displays the company's vast output, updated every year with new pieces, finishes and designs. The museum hosts a unique exhibition showcasing approximately 4000 pieces of woodworking machinery and tools: planes, work tables, cleaning machines, and more. To date, the company has collaborated with over 100 internationally renowned designers.