Antonello Arminu
Rebelles
Biography
Rebelles is more than a woodworking studio: it is an act of creative resistance.
Founded around ten years ago in Pattada, Sardinia, Rebelles is the personal project of master woodworker Antonello Arminu, who has been working with wood for over two decades. The studio was born at a turning point in his life—after losing his job at a carpentry workshop, Antonello found himself facing a crossroads: leave Sardinia in search of work, or stay and build something of his own.
He chose to stay.
That choice became a form of rebellion.
Rebelles emerged from this decision: a conscious refusal to abandon his roots, and a desire to reinterpret Sardinian craftsmanship through a more personal, contemporary lens. While remaining deeply connected to artisanal knowledge and manual skill, Antonello deliberately moves away from stereotypical representations of Sardinian craft, choosing instead a language that is freer, more experimental, and deeply material-driven.
The name Rebelles—Sardinian for “rebels”—encapsulates this philosophy: the rebellion of a craftsman who resists displacement, of an island that fiercely protects its identity, and of wood itself, a living material that refuses to be standardized or domesticated.
Over the years, Rebelles has grown into a recognized reality, taking part in major craft fairs such as MIDA Florence, as well as renowned Sardinian exhibitions like Mogoro, where Antonello has found opportunities for dialogue and collaboration with artisans working in textiles, ceramics, and metal. These exchanges continue to shape his evolving vision of craftsmanship as a shared, living culture.
Technique & Process
Antonello’s creative process begins not with a drawing, but with the material itself.
He rarely sketches his ideas on paper. Instead, he prefers to work directly with wood, allowing the object to emerge through making. Many of his ideas are difficult to translate into precise designs, and for this reason the final form is often unknown at the beginning of the process. Creation unfolds intuitively, guided by touch, observation, and dialogue with the material.
The wood used in Rebelles creations is sourced primarily from Sardinia, when possible. Given the island’s limited variety of commercial timber, Antonello complements local woods with selected commercial species, while also incorporating reclaimed and found wood—pieces recovered through personal connections, travels, or chance encounters. Each fragment carries a previous life, which becomes part of the new object’s story.
Rather than imposing rigid standards, Antonello embraces irregularities: knots, cracks, uneven grains, and weathered surfaces are not corrected, but highlighted. What many would consider flaws become defining elements. The wood leads the design, and the maker follows.
This material-led approach results in objects that sit at the intersection of:
- Unique pieces & contemporary design – everyday objects conceived as functional sculptures
- Passion & functionality – craftsmanship that enhances daily life without sacrificing beauty
- Tradition & technology – artisanal forms integrated with modern technological components
Rebelles’ production ranges from sculptural furniture to objects that integrate light, sound, and digital elements. Among the studio’s signature works:
- Lighting: Three lamp collections—Hibridos, Lineares, and Eclisses—explore the relationship between light and the organic surface of wood.
- Sonos Speakers: Handcrafted acoustic diffusers where wood fiber naturally enhances warmth and sound quality.
- Interior Design Objects: Custom dining tables, coffee tables, vases, and sculptural pieces shaped by the rugged beauty and scents of Sardinia.
Every Rebelles object is the result of a controlled risk: a balance between technical knowledge and the willingness to let the material deviate, resist, and ultimately define its own form.
his products
Eclisses Wall Clock
310,00 €Collections
Eclisses table lamp
Compact circular lamps combining hand‑carved wood rings and bespoke textile centers. A soft, warm glow reveals texture and relief — intimate, material lighting made to last.
Hibridos Floor Lamps
Vertical, hand‑crafted columns that merge local woodwork and woven textile inserts. Warm integrated LEDs animate the weave; sculptural lighting designed for lived interiors.
Wood Vases
Hand‑turned and hand‑carved wooden vases that celebrate grain, scar and form. Each piece is carved from local timber, finished by hand and fitted with a simple glass tube — usable, durable and quietly sculptural. Small series, material-first design: objects meant to hold a stem and keep a story.
Eclisses wall clock
Minimal carved wood clocks where tactile grain meets a painted field — timepieces that read as framed reliefs. Hand‑finished, quiet quartz movement; built to age with use and tell a story on the wall.
Artistic projects
sensore di accanimento
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