Pick up a T-LAB figurine and the first surprise is there: it weighs almost nothing. This miracle of lightness has a name, albizia, a light and soft wood that gives the collection all its character.
À découvrir
A fast-growing tree
Albizia falcata is one of the fastest-growing trees there is. It is this short cycle that makes it a reasonable resource: T-LAB commits to replanting the trees used for its production, and the wood comes from managed forests. A natural material, without chemical treatment.
Tender under the gouge, soft to the touch
For the sculptors of Bali, albizia is an ally: soft enough to be finely cut and carved, stable enough to keep its rounded shapes. After sanding, the surface becomes silky, and the plant-based paint applies in a thin layer, allowing the grain to show through. That’s why the rabbit or the sheep seem almost bare, the wood peeks through the color.
Each piece, a different piece of tree
Two figurines of the same animal never share the same grain or exactly the same silhouette: each piece comes from a different piece of tree, hand-carved. What industry would call a flaw is here the signature. Proof in dozens of animals in the T-LAB figurine collection.
A wood that travels light
The lightness of albizia changes the way you live with these objects. No need for fixtures or bases: the figurines can be placed anywhere, moved from room to room, even taken on trips to tame a temporary desk. An older child can handle them without risk to furniture, and a fall on the floor usually ends without drama.
This softness has a conscious downside: albizia is a soft wood that can show marks if treated harshly. It’s a shelf companion, not a sandbox toy, and it’s precisely this agreement that makes it last.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is albizia wood?
A light, soft wood from Albizia falcata, a very fast-growing tree. It is what gives T-LAB figurines their softness and lightness.
Is this wood ecological?
T-LAB commits to replanting the trees used for its production and works with wood from managed forests with a short growth cycle.
Why can you see the grain under the paint?
Because the original plant-based paint remains thin: it colors without masking, letting the material tell its story.
How do you care for a wooden figurine?
A gentle dusting is enough. Avoid water and prolonged direct sunlight, as with any painted wooden object.
Also read: the T-LAB guide, the Pole Pole know-how, the KOTORI birds.
T-LAB is distributed by Maison Godillot, stationery and design and craft objects.
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