Designers We Love: James Mudge

WORDS Tracy Greenwood IMAGES James Mudge

Creating beautiful furniture using traditional cabinet-making techniques is in James Mudge’s blood.

This furniture designer and maker honed his skills from a young age in the workshop of his father’s business, Knysna Forest Furniture, near Plettenberg Bay.

James completed a Bachelor of Architectural Studies at the University of Cape Town, where he learnt a deep appreciation for considered spaces and well-thought-out furniture.

He and his small team of artisans manufacture bespoke contemporary furniture using traditional cabinet-making techniques – from small kitchen tables for family homes to extensive projects in the Cape Winelands.

Artisanal craftsmanship and a contemporary aesthetic are at the heart of James’s design philosophy. And traditional joinery – including mortise-and-tenon, half-lap and dovetail joints – is his stock in trade.

For more information, visit jamesmudge.com.