Our Craft
Every piece we make starts with a material and a reason. Here is how we build, what we build with, and why it matters.
Why Craft Matters
We started as a contract manufacturer in 2009, building lighting and furniture for international brands. For over a decade, we worked on other people's designs, and that experience shaped how we think about making things. We learned that good design falls apart without good construction, and good construction without design intent is just assembly.
When we launched our own product lines in 2023, we kept both disciplines. Every NUMBO product is designed in-house by our team of 5+ designers and built in our 4,500 m² facility in Zhongshan. We control the process from the first sketch to the final quality check, because that is the only way we can stand behind what we ship.
Craft, for us, is not about hand-stitching leather or romanticizing the workshop. It is about making deliberate choices at every stage: which material to use, which joint to build, which finish will hold up in a hotel lobby for ten years. Those choices are what separate a product that works from one that just looks good in a photo.
Read our full story →What We Work With
Metal and Brass
We work primarily with brass, stainless steel, and iron. Brass is hand-forged or cast depending on the design: forging gives us strength and density for structural pieces, while casting allows complex forms that would be impossible to achieve by hand. Every metal component goes through surface treatment before assembly, whether that is brushed, polished, or a custom patina specified by the client.
Solid Wood
Our wood selection focuses on species that age well: oak, walnut, ash, and teak for outdoor applications. We source kiln-dried stock and check moisture content before production begins. Joints are reinforced with dowels, mortise-and-tenon, or steel hardware depending on the load requirements. We avoid MDF and particleboard in structural applications.
Stone, Glass, and Composites
For tabletops, accent pieces, and architectural elements, we work with natural stone (marble, travertine, terrazzo), tempered glass, and engineered composites. Each material has its own handling requirements and edge-finishing standards. We select slabs for consistency and test for porosity and stain resistance before they enter production.
How We Build
Forging and Casting
Metal components start as raw stock. Our metalworkers cut, forge, and weld brass and steel into the shapes our designers specify. For complex forms like chandelier arms or sculptural bases, we use lost-wax casting, a technique that captures fine detail and produces consistent results across a production run. Every cast piece is cleaned, ground, and inspected for porosity before moving to the next stage.
Joinery and Assembly
Wood components are cut, shaped, and joined using methods matched to the design: mortise-and-tenon for load-bearing frames, dowel joints for lighter structures, and steel reinforcement where wood meets metal. Our assembly team works from detailed drawings that specify tolerances, grain direction, and fastener placement. If a joint does not hold under stress testing, we redesign it before production begins.
Finishing and Patina
Surface finishing is where a product gets its character. Metal finishes range from brushed and polished to hand-applied patinas that develop over time. Wood finishes include oil, lacquer, and wax, selected based on the product's use case: a dining table needs a harder finish than a decorative shelf. We test every finish for UV resistance, moisture tolerance, and wear before approving it for production.
Quality Inspection
Every finished product goes through inspection before packaging. Our QC team checks dimensions against the specification sheet, tests all moving parts and joints, and examines surface consistency under direct light. We also run a load test on structural items like shelving and table bases. If something does not pass, it goes back to the workshop, not into the shipping box.
See where the work happens →What We Can Make for You
Our standard collection covers lighting, furniture, tabletop decor, wall art, and architectural elements. But a significant part of our work involves custom production: adapting an existing design to a different size, material, or finish, or building something entirely new from a client's drawing or concept.
Size and Scale
We adjust dimensions to fit your space. A chandelier designed for a 3-meter ceiling can be re-engineered for a 6-meter atrium. A console table can be widened, lengthened, or shortened without losing proportion.
Material Substitution
If a design calls for brass but your project calls for blackened steel, we make the switch and adjust the engineering accordingly. We advise on how material changes affect weight, durability, and cost.
Surface and Finish
Color, texture, and sheen are all adjustable. We can match a finish sample you provide or develop a custom patina in our workshop. For wood, we offer a range of stains, oils, and protective coatings.
New Designs
If you have a concept that does not exist in our collection, our design team can develop it from scratch. We work from sketches, mood boards, or architectural drawings, and we produce a prototype for your approval before production begins.
All custom work goes through the same quality standards as our standard collection. The materials, joinery, finishing, and inspection process are identical.
Learn how to start a custom project →
Built to Last, Backed by Experience
Ready to Start Your Project?
Whether you need a custom piece for a hospitality project, a residential interior, or a commercial space, our team can help. Share your requirements, and we will respond within 24 hours with a proposal.