Moss Studio
Moss Studio brings together Mario Vanwynsberghe, an interior architect and woodturner, and Veerle Knockaert, a herbalist. Founded in 2022 in Menen, Belgium, their practice transforms locally sourced wood into sculptural objects through an intuitive approach to making. Mario’s sensitivity to proportion and form meets Veerle’s knowledge of plants and natural finishes, giving each piece its distinctive surface and character. Their work preserves the traces of a tree’s life: knots, cracks and irregularities become part of its expression. Delicately turned and unexpectedly light, the resulting objects reveal both the strength and fragility of wood.
THE PROCESS
The process begins with the tree. Working with locally sourced timber from fallen or diseased trees, alongside reclaimed sawmill offcuts, Mario and Veerle approach each piece of wood with attention to its particular history and characteristics. Species, grain, branches and natural cavities influence the possibilities of a form. Sketches provide a starting point, while the direction of the work develops through direct contact with the material.
Mario turns the wood while it is still fresh, gradually shaping solid sections on the lathe into thin-walled vessels and sculptural forms. This requires a balance between precision and responsiveness, as the wood’s structure guides the movement of the chisel. Walls are often reduced to just a few millimetres, creating a lightness that challenges expectations of the material. Over the following weeks, drying brings further movement and subtle changes in shape, making time an active part of the process.
Veerle develops the finishes through research and experimentation, working with plant-based dyes, natural oils and locally sourced beeswax purified in-house. Techniques including fuming, burning and colouring reveal different qualities in the grain and surface. Cracks, knots and other traces of growth remain visible, sometimes incorporated through carefully placed butterfly joints. Each finished piece holds the marks of this exchange between the makers’ intentions and the wood’s own behaviour.
For available works, commissions or further information, we welcome your enquiry. We would be pleased to share a selection of pieces and discuss their place in your collection or interior project.