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R & Y Augousti

French

R&Y Augousti was founded in 1989 by husband-and-wife team Ria and Yiouri Augousti. The pair works with pen shell, metal and an array of exotic skins — including ostrich, snake, eel and crocodile — to create Art Deco-inspired furniture that echoes the influences of their unique friends and draws on the experiences they’ve shared on their global travels.

Ria Augousti (née Macasaet) was born in Manila. Her family relocated to Cebu and, at age 15, she went to New York City to study art. She continued her studies in England and graduated from the London School of Furniture Making.

Born in Cyprus, Yiouri Augousti studied architecture at London’s Architectural Association. He was drawn to interior design that reflected a revival of Art Deco that took shape during his years as a young adult.

Ria was working at the interior design firm of John Stefanidis, in London, when Yiouri joined the firm. “We got on like a house on fire,” Ria has said of the beginnings of their relationship. The couple established R&Y Augousti in 1989 and married in 1990. The business grew swiftly — R&Y Augousti moved permanently to Paris in 1994, and in 2011, the couple opened their first American showroom. There, in the New York Design Center, the range of decorative objects on offer from R&Y Augousti included dining tables, side tables and decorative objects such as candleholders and picture frames in shagreen.

The initial popularity that shagreen enjoyed as furniture covering fizzled when the Art Deco era faded. Modernist designer Jean-Michel Frank was an enthusiast of the textured hide, and during the 1960s, Karl Springer covered desks, chairs and tables with it. Ria Augousti wanted to revive shagreen’s use as a finish in one of their very first designs. Their sculptural, sensuous shagreen Sylvie chair, with its slender and towering backrest, makes a statement in any space and has seen a fair amount of praise over the years. The Sylvie has been photographed in a number of high-profile spaces including Alexander Wang's New York City loft apartment designed by Ryan Korban. (And shagreen reemerged as a luxe material among designers and decorators in 2017.)

R&Y Augousti has since expanded into fashion accessories, and drawings by the couple’s daughter, designer Kifu Augousti, have been embroidered on some of the brand’s luxurious handbags.

Find R&Y Augousti tables, seating and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$12,715
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Materials
Related Creators
Shagreen Desk with Bronze-Patina Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Iconic Writing Desk is both elegant and minimalist with its classic aesthetic that showcases the purity of the beautiful Augousti craftsmanship...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco R & Y Augousti

Materials

Brass

Shagreen Rectangular Side Table with Bronze-Patina Brass Legs by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The metropolis rectangle side table by R&Y Augousti is both dramatic and organic it’s unique design. The cream shagreen inlaid top sits on a pair of ethereal and sculptural bronze-patina brass legs. This piece makes for the perfect end table and is originally inspired by the metropolis console...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco R & Y Augousti

Materials

Brass

Shagreen Side Table with Bronze-Patina Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The circular dark bronze patina brass inlay details on the legs of the Vogue side table shows the true craftsmanship of Augousti artisans. The legs clasp onto the side of the cream s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco R & Y Augousti

Materials

Brass

Upholstered Bench with Bronze-Patina Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Ramo bench by R & Y Augousti is an elegant and versatile piece. The upholstered piece provides comfort while retaining a unique aesthetic with the bronze-patina brass frame and details. This listing is priced for COM supply by client, see other listings for pricing of our fabric and shagreen inlay...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco R & Y Augousti

Materials

Brass

Shagreen Tray with Dark Wood Handles by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
This tray is a luxurious update to the classic piece. Available in other finishes and sizes. · Handmade · Shagreen, black wood veneer handles · Measures: 61 x 34 x 1.3 cm ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco R & Y Augousti

Materials

Wood, Shagreen Stingray

Shagreen Tray inlaid with Shell and Bronze Patina Brass by Kifu Paris
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
A classic tray revisited; this Kifu Paris Chital II tray inlaid in a mixture of shagreen, shell and bronze-patina brass, makes for a stunning tabletop piece in any space. Available i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco R & Y Augousti

Materials

Brass

Shagreen Cocteau Coffee Table with Bronze Patina Brass Accents by R & Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Cocteau coffee table by R&Y Augousti is a truly one of a kind piece. The sculptural and ethereal piece has abstract forms, shapes and figures ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco R & Y Augousti

Materials

Brass

Shagreen Tray with Blue Pen Shell and Brass Inserts by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Cosmos rectangle tray is a stunning tabletop piece for any space. Available in light or dark color way inlaid in a mixture of shagreen, pen shell and bronze-patina brass. Also av...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco R & Y Augousti

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Brass

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R & Y Augousti furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

R & Y Augousti furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of R & Y Augousti furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 39 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 621 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by R & Y Augousti were created in the Art Deco style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Kifu Augousti, Design Frères, and Ginger Brown. Prices for R & Y Augousti furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $320 and can go as high as $64,355, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,665.

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