Czech-Designed Master & Master Furniture
Minimal, practical pieces that don’t sacrifice aesthetics for function
Prague-based furniture producer Master & Masterfounded in 2013 by graphic designer Ondej Zita and furniture-maker Ludk tejglcreates minimalist pieces that are thought up by young Czech designers. With a focus on long-lasting materials and function, each piece is made to be practical without sacrificing aesthetics.
“After my study of graphic design at UMPRUM in Prague I was not really satisfied with the jobs and problems with the clients who can make projects really difficult. So I was looking for some different creative business,” says Zita. When his friend tejgl returned from a long stay in UK (where he had worked for company producing wooden parts for Vits furniture) the duo decided to venture on their own and start a line called Master & Master.
“The success of the first product was amazing. We asked designer and technician Michal Malek to offer us his simple design of trestles made out of steel rods. Then we produced products in various colors and started to offer it via our online store,” says Ondej who manages the brand in Prague and also in Zbeh na Morav, where all the products are made in a Master & Master-owned workshop or by other local producers.
Along with the successful trestles, the company now produces a wooden shelving system, desks and steel coat-racks. Most of the designs (developed in collaboration with product designer Tom Varga of Mtanta Studio) are as simple as possible in design and construction, but offer personality through splashes of coloroften a cheerful yellow, seafoam green or bright red. “With these products we target our generation; creative people around 30 who want more than IKEA,” adds Ondej.
Master & Master also has plans to expand and will launch a new line of ascetic wooden beds and other products by designers including Lenka Mkov this year. All their products are available for purchase online, with prices starting at 60.
Images courtesy of Master & Master
