Marāu
Emerging from Istanbul, Marāu is redefining the relationship between cultural heritage and contemporary furniture.
Founded by Dilara Tokatlıoğlu and Selen Türeli Batmaz, Turkish design studio Marāu approaches furniture as cultural remnant – sculptural pieces that carry the ancient narratives, materials and craft traditions of Anatolia into contemporary spaces. Rather than making conventional furniture, the brand creates collectible design, with each product conceived as a modern artefact that reflects an enduring cultural expression. Pieces are produced in limited editions and shaped through extensive historical research and collaboration with master artisans across Türkiye.
Marāu’s debut body of work, the Hittite Collection, draws inspiration from the significant figures and cultural narratives of this ancient civilisation. Created in collaboration with regional craftspeople, the 10-piece range translates Hittite architectural forms and ritual symbolism into contemporary sculptural furniture. Defined by cylindrical volumes, geometric silhouettes and intricately engraved surfaces, the pieces embody monumentality in a refined, collectible scale.
Material plays a central role in this translation. Hand-carved Mardin stone, Antakya silk weaving and hand-engraved, 999-fine-silver-plated brass are employed not as decorative gestures but as cultural continuations. These materials carry regional histories while ensuring endangered crafts continue in the contemporary realm.
Several pieces within the collection illustrate this narrative approach. The Puduhepa liquor cabinet references the influential Hittite queen of the same name. At its centre sits a hand-carved Mardin stone medallion representing her royal seal – recognised as the first known female seal to appear alongside a king’s in an official treaty. The cabinet’s engraved brass detailing reinforces a sense of quiet authority, honouring female leadership within ancient Anatolia.
The Tabarna dining table was inspired by the ritual significance of communal dining in Hittite culture. Encircling the table is a continuous band of hand-engraved, fine-silver-plated brass inscribed in Hittite cuneiform, translating to the royal phrase “Eat bread and drink water”. Through this inscription, the table becomes a modern tribute to gathering and shared nourishment.
Elsewhere, the Taru side table and pouf reference Taru, the Hittite sky god of protection and abundance. Combining engraved, silver-plated brass with Antakya silk, the piece functions as a contemporary talisman, symbolically inviting prosperity into the home. The Arinna pendant and floor lamp, inspired by the Sun Goddess of Arinna, transform illumination into sculptural presence.
Each work in the range is produced in limited numbers and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Through this approach, Marāu positions furniture as both art and cultural vessel – objects designed to not only inhabit space but carry the layered histories of Anatolia into the future.
