Mortise and Tenon Joinery and Ergonomics: The Unique Appeal of Moscow-Made Tables and Chairs

Moscow's furniture manufacturing sector continues to expand significantly. By the end of 2025, the volume of shipped goods surged by 77.5 percent. Notably, the production of office chairs and armchairs alone saw a remarkable 3.3-fold increase compared to 2024. The city's Department of Investment and Industrial Policy attributes this robust growth to over 20 comprehensive urban support measures implemented by the city.

Among Moscow's prominent furniture manufacturers is Dmitry Novikov. After a decade of woodworking as a hobby, he established his own company in 2021.

Novikov states, "Our primary focus is on chairs and tables. We aim to create coherent collections where both pieces complement each other perfectly."

According to Dmitry, the majority of his clients come from the restaurant sector. "Our chairs can be found in various Moscow restaurants on Nikitskaya Street, Okhotny Ryad, and Novy Arbat. We’ve also shipped several batches to Sochi and internationally," he added.

Dmitry and his team typically spend 8-10 hours crafting four chairs. They utilize raw timber, including oak, American walnut, ash, and other wood species, for their creations.

He elaborated, "For chair production, we employ the classic mortise and tenon joinery method. This technique involves tightly fitting shaped projections (tenons) into elongated, blind holes (mortises) in the connecting pieces. This method is significantly more reliable than using screws and bolts." He noted that chairs with wooden seats, for instance, are completely free of metal components.

Dmitry conceptualizes the chair designs in his mind before creating sketches of the future products.

The studio founder explained, "When developing designs, I draw upon my past experience and observations, incorporating elements I’ve encountered and found appealing."

His primary focus is on ergonomics and the comfort of his products. While aesthetics are important, they take a secondary role.

Dmitry clarified, "I've noticed that modern chairs, despite their unusual designs, are not always comfortable."

Consequently, such items often become mere decorative pieces, admired rather than used. However, the founder of this woodworking studio holds a more practical perspective on furniture.

He explained, "When we create the first prototype of a new chair model, I personally test it. A colleague with a different build also tries it out. We sit on our designs and then decide what improvements can be made."

Currently, Moscow boasts approximately 140 furniture manufacturing enterprises. Plans are underway for a new factory, spanning over 3,600 square meters, to be built as part of a major investment project. This facility will produce office, home, school, and hotel furniture.

Anatoly Garbuzov, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy, stated, "The furniture will be manufactured using raw materials, fittings, and paints from Russian producers, and the site will create over 160 new jobs."

Further Insights

Illustrating the breadth of Moscow's furniture industry, another local enterprise offers over 200 models of diverse styles for homes, offices, and commercial spaces. Their extensive product range includes sofas, armchairs, beds, wardrobes, kitchens, living room sets, hallway furniture, libraries, shelving units, and chests of drawers. This company also provides custom furniture solutions, allowing clients to specify color, fabric, finish, dimensions, and transformation mechanisms to meet their unique needs.