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Furnas Chairs
António Paiva ( “Paivinha”)
•Açores
Wood is in his blood. Since he was a child, António José Paiva, or Paivinha, watched his grandfather shape the Furnas chair, a unique piece from the Azores whose origin has been lost in time. Made from local acacia, robust yet elegant, it stands out with its turned legs and carved backrest. It invites you to sit, to stay, to belong.
In the family carpentry, which has been active for three generations, Paivinha continues the tradition. He masters the lathe with the skill of someone who has always made chairs, giving new life to old pieces, restoring memories that refuse to fade.
His chairs are more than just a seat – they are a living testament to the island’s identity, the craftsmanship of hands that shape the wood, and the legacy of those who transform tradition into art. And you can find them here, at Octant Furnas.
Wood has been in António José Paiva’s blood since birth.
Known as Paivinha in Furnas, he learned the craft of making the traditional chairs of the region from his grandfather. His family has owned a carpentry workshop for three generations. The Furnas chair—as it is called in the Azores—is unique, and its origin has been lost to time. Made from local acacia wood, it is robust and distinctive, with turned front legs and an open backrest. Elegant, comfortable, it invites you to sit.
António José Paivinha handles the lathe with the agility of someone who has been making chairs his whole life. In his workshop, he restores Furnas chairs, giving them new life. Born in 1952, he passed this craft onto his son and lives happily between the lathe and the sawdust, in the heart of Furnas parish.