Abrie von Wielligh and Norman Meyer co-founded Meyer von Wielligh, a carpentry and design studio based in George, in 2004. Their large-scale functional art pieces are all intricately crafted, reflecting the organic lines and intricate textures of their natural surroundings on the forested Garden Route of South Africa.

Abrie was born in Namibia and Norman in KwaZulu-Natal, and they met as students at Furntech in Cape Town, South Africa’s only centre of excellence for furniture. After completing their cabinet-making apprenticeships, they set up their design and manufacturing business in George. Meyer von Wielligh is committed to environmentally sustainable practices, has a tree nursery on its premises and educates its team of workers about green-living practices.

The integrity of materials and the intricate craftsmanship is a critical part of Meyer von Wielligh’s design journey. Abrie and Norman use only registered wood and select every piece of raw timber themselves. The unique character of a particular piece of wood is always the starting point for their limited-edition designs, as well as their custom cabinetry and furniture ranges.

The pair’s insistence on tactility combined with an organic sensibility has become a cornerstone of their work.