African Reclaimed Wood Furniture | Tsavo Railway Sleeper Tables

Coffee Table ‘Meza Tatu’

41″ x 81.5″ x 20″. Beautifully handcrafted from 3 fully reclaimed exotic hardwood sources, including ‘Mvule’ (Iroko), surrounded by African Rosewood (African Black wood) and hand carved with the Mijikenda logo. Oozing with character, highly functional in or out-doors and best of all a great centre piece which will bring shed loads of conversation for years.

Shijiji Bench

Mango with Neem Base – 10ft x 11inches. The Shijiji Bench (Shijiji / Mijikenda – ‘Village’ Bench) was made from the heart of a 500 year old Mango Tree that had been struck by lightning near Shimba Hills. Although Mango is traditional considered a soft wood, in the case of very old trees, when combined with long term natural drying or ‘air curing’ the wood, as in this case, becomes very hard and stable. In 2004, two identical slabs where cut from the same tree, with only this one having been worked on and completed. Fully treated, hand carved and mounted on a Neem base the ‘Shijiji Bench’ conjures images of ceremonial African Life in the village.

Mahogany Table

This 9ft x 4ft single slab of very high furniture grade Mahogany was hand cut by manual pit saw from a piece of reclaimed ‘lumber’ that had from years previous, fallen off a ship on route to distant lands. The 30ft x 6ft foot tree was reclaimed on Diani Beach in 2003, after floating for many years in the oceans, demonstrated by the presence of wood boring Teredo Worms (ship worms) that have left their distinctive marks on the final piece. The steel in both ends of the table where discovered on the original piece, when reclaimed and have again been used to stem the two or three cracks that appear at the table ends. Months of hand sawing and meticulous preparation have resulted in a beautifully balanced, stable and very unique piece of furniture.

The Lunatic Express Table

This table has been crafted from reclaimed Burmese Teak Railway sleepers that formed the original Voi Bridge for the now ‘infamous’ Lunatic Express (see History). On the 30th May 1896 Colonel H. Patterson laid the first rail track for the passenger railway running from Mombassa to Voi. The British engineers who where commissioned to build the railway where forced to import the timber from the Far East by ship into Mombasa, due to the complete inaccessibility to local timber supplies that lay in the East African heart land at that time.

The timber was harvested in the Far East over one hundred and fifty years ago (and may be over 600 years old) by British colonials who where commissioned to build the railway during this period.

When we managed to acquire these highly valuable and rare extra long bridge beams (normal sleepers are only 6 feet long), we wanted to design a table specifically for a limited edition to be made from this wonderful resource. These magnificent teak slabs are supported on beautifully designed and engineered pillar legs held in place by specially manufactured steel brackets, capable of taking the full weight of the table while allowing for the natural movement of solid wood.

This table is truly striking. The years spent on the railway line have exposed the timber to the full fury of the elements and massively heavy trains thundering overhead, creating a unique character or ‘distressed’ look. These grains and the fissures remain on the surface, which gives the table a real feel of its authenticity and genuineness. One can sense the pulse and life of the wood come through as it is not as ‘processed’ as some other tables you might come across.

The timber has been seasoned by the elements over the centuries to the consistency of steel, making it extremely difficult to work with and virtually indestructible. The table is extremely heavy and weighs 350kg. At Mijikenda we have perfected our methods and see these steel like qualities as positives only, positives that the customer invests in and when cared for appropriately will last for further decades.

The timber value is also enhanced by the fact that they are from a fully reclaimed, or recycled, source, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful grain and texture of probably the finest furniture wood in the world without any guilt that a tree may have been cut down to afford you the pleasure.

These timbers are now a very rare commodity indeed, so only a limited number of these tables will ever be made. Lions have walked across them, herds of Elephants and Buffalo crossed them, steam trains have gone up and down on them – they have seen a lot of history. This extraordinary piece is therefore, an investment of a lifetime that will last countless more lifetimes.

Mahogany Console

This 10.5ft x 3.5ft single slab of highly dense Mahogany was reclaimed from Kenya’s South Coast beach. Unlike the Mahogany ‘slab legged table’ table, which, has been made from timber originally intended for the lumber industry, it is ‘driftwood’ in the truest sense of the word. The original piece estimated at over 2, 000kgs took 35 men two days to recover from the beach and a further six months of skilled artisan labour, to turn into the finished item. Two offset stainless steel legs support the Mahogany slab and the top has been re-enforced with reclaimed African Rosewood dovetailed braces to add both character and stability to the final piece.

The Maneaters Table

This table has been crafted from reclaimed Burmese Teak that formed the original Voi Bridge for the now ‘infamous’ Lunatic Express (see reference book displayed and included with the purchase of this table!). On the 30th May 1896 Colonel H. Patterson laid the first rail track for the passenger railway running from Mombasa to Voi. The British engineers who where commissioned to build the railway where forced to import the timber from the Far East by ship into Mombasa, due to the complete inaccessibility to local timber supplies that lay in the East African heart land at that time. The timber was harvested in the Far East over one hundred and fifty years ago (and may be over 600 years old) by British colonials who where commissioned to build the railway during this period.

When we managed to acquire these highly valuable and rare 12-foot bridge beams (normal sleepers are only 6 feet long), we wanted to design a table specifically for a limited edition to be made from this wonderful resource. The exhibited piece is currently one of two tables in existence. These magnificent teak slabs are supported on beautifully designed and engineered pillar legs held in place by specially manufactured steel brackets, capable of taking the full weight of the table while allowing for the natural movement of solid wood.

This table is truly striking. The years spent on the railway line have exposed the timber to the full fury of the elements and massively heavy trains thundering overhead, creating a unique character or ‘distressed’ look. These grains and the fissures remain on the surface, which gives the table a real feel of its authenticity and genuineness. One can sense the pulse and life of the wood come through as it is not a ‘processed’ as some other tables you might come across.

The timber has been seasoned by the elements over the centuries to the consistency of steel, making it extremely difficult to work with and virtually indestructible. The table is very heavy and weighs approx. 450kg. At Mijikenda we have perfected our methods and see the timbers steel like qualities as positives only, positives that the customer invests in and when cared for appropriately will last for further decades.

The timber value is also enhanced by the fact that they are from a fully reclaimed, or recycled, source, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful grain and texture of some of the finest timber in the world without any guilt that a tree may have been cut down to afford you the pleasure. This extraordinary piece is therefore, an investment of a lifetime that will last countless more lifetimes.

Maneaters note: These timbers where extracted from the very area where just over 100 years ago 135 rail workers where killed and eaten by the now infamous ‘Man Eating Lions of Tsavo’. In 1996 this story was made into a Hollywood blockbuster movie called “The Ghost and the Darkness” starring Val Kilmer. The lions where eventually shot by Colonel Patterson and are now preserved in the Chicago Field Museum, USA. It is not therefore unimaginable that these timbers where actually walked upon by those very lions as they stalked their terrible human prey!

‘Kahawa’ Coffee Table – SOLD

Coffee Table crafted from original Kenyan Railway Sleepers. This coffee table looks stunning in any home. Perfect for indoor and outdoor use. Hand carved Mijikenda logo on table leg on request. 5′ x 3′.

‘Rolling’ Coffee Table – SOLD

This table is made from five Railway Sleepers from Tsavo East, Kenya. The beautiful 2-colored timber used in its construction provides immeasurable character. Four industrial rollers give this coffee table a modern twist and makes it easy to use in any part of your house, whether in or outdoors! 5′ x 5′.

Kusikira Light – ‘Listening Light’ – SOLD

The ‘Kusikira Light’ (Mijikenda/Kusikira – Listening Light) has been crafted from a reclaimed indigenous, but unknown species of African Coastal hard wood tree. After many years perched on top of coral rag the tree finally succumbed to the Indian Ocean elements and was then recovered by our team to be turned into the final piece. The tree had been burned out when our team finally picked it up, and this, combined with years of weathering and many hundreds of hours of skilled labor, has created an extraordinary anomaly of nature. The name was inspired by the sculptures seeming ability to catch sound (or light?) with its tentacles, to be then drawn downwards.

Coffee Table ‘Meza Tu’ – SOLD

37″ x 69.25″ x 18.5″. Crafted from fully reclaimed indigenous ‘Mruhi’ and Teak railway sleepers originating in Kenya. The table’s appeal lies in the personality of the wood, which was extremely hard to work, given the intensive cross grain. Hand-carved legs compliment the color contrasting, teak top.

Note: Good indoors or outside. And when we say outside, we mean outside! 100 years plus in the Tsavo sun guarantees you all-weather Mijikenda durability!

Antique ‘Nautical’ Coffee Table – SOLD

This commissioned piece was inspired by the new owners passion for nautical memorabilia and with that the provision of the antique centre brass porthole, for ‘inspiration’. The base is from Mango, African Rosewood with solid brass plate and studding. The ‘deck’ was formed from 3 widths of 200 year old railway sleeper teak (Tsavo) to resemble ships deck timbers ‘of old’, bordered by reclaimed African Rosewood and solid brass studding. The inscription on the bow bears the owners name in Arabic in keeping with the pieces East African nautical history. 6’6″ x 2’6″

: Antique ‘Nautical’ Coffee Table - Bow

: Antique ‘Nautical’ Coffee Table

: Antique ‘Nautical’ Coffee Table

: Antique ‘Nautical’ Coffee Table - Porthole Stern section

: Antique ‘Nautical’ Coffee Table

Driftwood Mahogany Console – SOLD

This single piece of ancient African mahogany was reclaimed from a beach on Kenya’s South Coast. The piece represents the ‘buttress’ of a large mahogany tree estimated to be over 500 years old, that had for many years drifted in the Indian ocean, evident from the decades of ‘ship worm’ holes and truly extraordinary character that this unique piece represents.

The three tiered work levels on the table, ideally lend this remarkable piece for use as an exceptional entrance consol to an up market resort, office or showroom.

Its value is enhanced by the fact that it is has been hand crafted for many hundreds of man hours, from a fully reclaimed source, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful grain and texture of African Mahogany, without any guilt that a tree may have been cut down to afford you the pleasure!

A unique investment never to be copied or replaced.

Construction: The table is constructed from a single piece of African Mahogany supported by high density concrete and stainless steel legs which way approx 60Kg each. Total approx weight kg 420.

Mijikenda Stools – SOLD

These hand carved stools represent a set of six pieces that have been crafted from a single ancient mahogany tree. The 25-foot tree was reclaimed from the ocean where it had drifted for many years, demonstrated by the presence of wood boring Teredo (ship worms) worms that have left their distinctive marks on the final pieces.