Benjawbski: Artisanal Woodcraft

Benjawbski Designs is synonymous with artisanal woodcraft and custom designed homeware that are fashioned from indigenous woods from Africa. We create handcrafted homeware that is honest, useful, resilient and beautiful.

Owner Ant's small and very personal woodworking studio is based on Leisure Island in Knysna. Our creations are home-conceived, individually crafted, and never mass produced. We also create bespoke items according to client specifications. Every doorstop, rack, serving board, tealight holder and mirror frame reflect care, character, and quiet pride. We primarily work with indigenous African hardwoods, chosen for their strength, warmth, and remarkable grain patterns.

No two pieces are ever identical - and that is exactly the point! Whether you are looking for a thoughtful gift, a functional statement piece, or something custom-made, we're delighted to share our work with you.

We celebrate the beauty and integrity of wood in every handcrafted piece.

Why Benjawbski Designs?

Homeware made from African indigenous woods, handcrafted in Knysna!

Individually Handcrafted

Artisanal Woodcraft

Indigenous Hardwoods

One-of-a-Kind Homeware

Home Workshop

From our Heart to Your Home!

Coat Racks

Functional but stylish wooden coat racks typically used to hang coats, jackets, hats, and more. From compact 3-hook designs for smaller spaces, to wide boards with 8 or more hooks for larger rooms. Enhance your home with a unique coat rack selected from the many on offer.

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Charcuterie Boards

Designed for serving cheeses, breads & charcuterie, our wooden serving boards are ergonomic and may have a decorative figurine attached, or a hole for a leather band or condiment ramekin. Choose your wood and charm your guests with something novel and rare.

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Door Stops

From our best-selling standard wedge-shaped door stops, to Ant's own Maxi design for heavier doors or as a statement (striking wood grain), the decorative knob at the highest point of the door stop adds individuality. Choose from a wide selection of knobs and woods.

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Tealight Containers by Benjawbski Designs

Tealight Holders

Popular on dining tables (indoors or outdoors) our tealight holders bring a natural, warm ambience to any setting. These candle holders are available in a variety of wood types, styles, and sizes (from 1 to 7 Tea Candles). Felt or rubber feet are fitted to protect surfaces from scratches.

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Statement custom key racks to store all your keys in one place

Unique Key Racks

Combine practicality with flair with custom key racks: keep all keys in a single convenient location. Hook styles range from 90-degree wire hooks to ornate designs. Easy installation without drilling. Varying shapes and sizes ensure that there is one to suit your unique requirements.

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Miscellaneous Woodcraft

We also make other products such as wood-framed mirrors, food trays and extraordinarily heavy door stops. Stocks of these fluctuate according to sales and special requests by clients. Elevate your living spaces with beautiful, bespoke homeware that is also functional.

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Made from Indigenous Woods

We work with a rich variety of hardwoods, each with its own personality, warmth, and story. Most of our timber is sourced from Rare Woods SA (Knysna), a respected specialist supplier.

Our wood collection often includes:

Knysna Blackwood - Rich tones and fine grain; one of South Africa's most prized furniture woods.
Wild Olive - Dense and dramatically figured, with swirling patterns that make every piece unique.
Yellowwood - A warm golden indigenous hardwood that deepens beautifully over time.
Kiaat - Stable, durable, and warmly toned with subtle reddish hues.
French Oak - Classic, strong, and timeless with distinctive grain character.
Imbuia - Traditionally favoured for fine furniture, with rich colouring and elegance.
Padauk & Zebrano - Bold, dramatic species used when a statement is desired.
Sapele - Mahogany-like hardwoods with attractive interlocking grain.
Garapa, Iroko & Zambesi Teak - Durable timbers well suited to long-lasting functional pieces.

Occasionally we work with reclaimed or gifted wood whose exact origin may be uncertain - part of the charm of working with natural material. Every piece is specially selected.

Commissions

We encourage you to contact us regarding the production of unique bespoke woodcrafted pieces, designed to your personal specification. Interior designers, home makers and accommodation establishments often contact us for custom designs and some clients even provide the wood they want us to work with.

"I am delighted with my new wooden Charcuterie Board. Made from wild olive wood, it was sanded down until smooth and the rich, beautiful grain appeared. Anthony is a superb craftsman. The two bees on the side of the board are an added bonus."

- DS Cape Town

"Benjawbski Designs offers pieces that elevate everyday spaces and feel truly heirloom-worthy. Highly recommended."

- Tessa Dougall - Mount Edgcombe, KZN

"Personalized attention to detail made the experience special and the end product perfect. It will be passed on for generations along with stories about a good friend, Whiskey!"

- AV St Francis