The UFO Armchair with a Hand-Painted Malachite Finish

An Exclusive Creation for a Client in Bangkok

From deep green tones to the intricate patterns running across its surface, malachite has an unmistakable visual identity that makes it a remarkable source of inspiration for contemporary design.

This distinctive natural stone inspired a new commission received by Mavimatt from a private client in Bangkok, Thailand, with a strong appreciation for natural materials and sculptural furniture.

The client had previously commissioned a UFO Armchair featuring a special blue sodalite-inspired finish. Interested in exploring another interpretation of the UFO’s organic silhouette, he requested a second personalized piece, this time drawing inspiration from malachite.

The objective was to capture the stone’s characteristic green patterns across the entire exterior shell, creating an armchair with a completely different visual identity from the previous commission.

The result was a one-of-a-kind UFO Tailor Made Armchair (1/1), handcrafted in Italy for the client’s private residence in Bangkok.

Malachite and Its Distinctive Green Patterns

Malachite is a natural mineral recognized for its intense green coloration and the intricate patterns that characterize its surface.

Its tones range from vibrant greens to darker, more saturated shades, creating concentric formations, flowing bands, and irregular lines.

These visual qualities make malachite particularly appealing in interior design, where its distinctive appearance can introduce depth, color, and movement into a space.

For this Mavimatt project, the inspiration went beyond the stone’s green color. The most important elements were the movement of its natural patterns and the contrast between its different shades.

Translating these characteristics onto an armchair with an organic, three-dimensional silhouette presented a different creative challenge from working with a flat stone surface.

Mavimatt therefore chose to interpret the stone’s visual identity through a special hand-painted decorative finish, preserving the recognizable shape and original functionality of the UFO Armchair.

An Entirely Hand-Painted Sculptural Shell

The defining element of the project was the artistic treatment of the armchair’s entire exterior shell.

Mavimatt’s artisans used manual painting techniques, including airbrushing, to recreate the distinctive appearance of natural malachite.

Particular attention was given to the transitions between colors, the continuity of the patterns, and the definition of the decorative details across the curved surface.

Different shades of green were carefully developed to create flowing bands, deep color variations, and irregular patterns reminiscent of the natural stone.

The UFO’s sculptural shape adds complexity to this process. The painted lines must follow the shell’s contours while maintaining a balanced appearance from multiple viewing angles.

Rather than applying a conventional decorative covering, the surface was transformed through an artistic process performed directly on the armchair.

The finished piece features an entirely hand-painted malachite-effect shell, with a glossy appearance that emphasizes both the rich green tones and the organic form of the UFO.

The result is not a shell made from genuine malachite, but a handcrafted interpretation of the stone’s remarkable visual characteristics.

The Contrast Between Green Malachite and Black Leather

To complete this distinctive version of the UFO, the client selected black natural leather upholstery.

The understated black seat creates a refined contrast with the vibrant green decoration, allowing the malachite-inspired exterior to remain the focal point of the design.

While the seating area emphasizes the armchair’s enveloping proportions, the outer shell introduces a visually rich composition of patterns, colors, and movement.

This combination preserves two essential qualities of the UFO Armchair: its functional purpose and its sculptural presence.

The leather and painted exterior offer contrasting surfaces, creating an object whose visual character changes depending on the viewer’s perspective.

Every element contributes to the identity of this particular creation, developed as a one-of-a-kind piece for the private client in Bangkok.

The result remains unmistakably a UFO Armchair while introducing an aesthetic that is entirely individual to this commission.

Two UFO Armchairs Inspired by Natural Stones

Once completed, the malachite-effect UFO Armchair was destined for the client’s private residence in Bangkok, joining the earlier Mavimatt creation inspired by blue sodalite.

Although both projects share an approach based on handcrafted customization, their visual identities are completely different.

The malachite-inspired armchair features flowing green patterns and deep color variations, while the blue sodalite-inspired version is characterized by rich blue tones and contrasting light-colored veins.

For the same private client, Mavimatt also created a separate Tailor Made piece, presented in our Highlight dedicated to the UFO Armchair with a Hand-Painted Blue Sodalite Finish, where we explore the craftsmanship behind that commission.

Together, the two armchairs demonstrate how the original form of the UFO can be reinterpreted through different natural inspirations without losing its recognizable design identity.

The malachite-effect UFO reflects the possibilities offered by the Mavimatt Tailor Made service, where manual craftsmanship and decorative experimentation transform individual requests into distinctive design objects.

A one-of-a-kind UFO Armchair (1/1), handmade in Italy, combining the organic silhouette of the UFO with the rich green patterns of malachite.

A creation that brings together sculptural design, natural inspiration, and Italian craftsmanship, giving a functional armchair an exclusive visual character.