About Us

Philosophy
Produce furniture whose design defines the aesthetic concept and functionality of the spaces it belongs to, using increasingly sustainable raw materials.

Vision
We desire a planet where our creativity and Made in Portugal design bring a timeless soul to spaces, generating profits that also contribute to social and environmental responsibility actions.

Mission
We design and manufacture products that enhance spaces both aesthetically and functionally. We are proud of our Made in Portugal manufacturing, creating furniture of elegant and timeless design.

1998 | The Foundation

Antarte was founded in 1998, in Rebordosa, in the heart of the Portuguese furniture cluster, by Mário and Zita Rocha, as a company dedicated to antique furniture pieces and art.

These two business areas determined the creation and designation of the brand itself, whose name resulted from the fusion of 'Antiguidade' with 'Arte' - Antarte.

1999 | The First Factory

Antarte's founders realized that innovation was indispensable and proceeded to set up the first industrial unit in Rebordosa.

The brand redefined its positioning and dedicated itself to furniture of elegant and timeless design, with a standard of excellence in quality.

2000 | The first city to name a collection

Antarte's first furniture collection adopted one of the brand's distinctive features: names of benchmark cities in lifestyle that inspire its design.

The first was named Sydney, a complete collection for the dining room, living room, and bedrooms.

2001 | The first store: Porto

Antarte defined a strategy to have a network of stores covering the entire national territory. The first store opened in 2001, in Porto.

The expansion of the retail network has been constant over the years and the brand currently has several stores in Portugal, from Braga to Vilamoura.

2005 | Tree Coat Stand

Mário Rocha, founder and CEO of Antarte designed the brand's most iconic piece. The inspiration occurred while observing a tree in a 19th-century garden in Paredes.

The tree had only branches and Mário Rocha realized that those shapes had the ideal ergonomics to replicate in a coat stand that became a design icon.

2007 | Internationalization

The brand expanded to foreign markets in 2007. The first destination was Spain. The internationalization continued in 2009 with a store in Paris, and in 2010, in Geneva.

In 2012, it expanded to Africa with a store in South Africa. This was followed by Angola in 2013 and, in 2015, Ghana and Morocco. In 2016, Ivory Coast and, in 2017, São Tomé and Príncipe.

2009 | Armchair inspired by José Mourinho

Antarte produced for 'Art on Chairs”, a piece inspired by a referenced international personality: the renowned Portuguese coach José Mourinho.

Made of ash wood and natural walnut veneer, the armchair also featured carbon supports. It was conceived by Portuguese designers Rui Pedro Freire and José Luís Ferreira.

2010 | Resting Chair of Pope Benedict XVI

Antarte materialized the resting chair of Pope Benedict XVI, used during the supreme pontiff's visit to Portugal.

Made of chestnut wood, it was designed by architect Audemaro Rocha. To reach the final version, three prototypes and about 170 hours of work were necessary. The Pope requested that the chair be sent to the Vatican.

2011 | 'A place for Joãozinho'

Antarte supported the 'Joãozinho' project, an initiative by the São João Hospital, for the quality of healthcare services for children. It included the Child Support Institute, ProDignitate, Bagos D'Ouro, Gil Foundation, Mira-Sintra Education Center for Disabled Citizens, Portuguese Association of Missing Children, CrescerSer Association, and the 'Joãozinho' project in São Tomé and Príncipe.

2012 | Armchair of the President of the Republic

In 2012, Antarte materialized an armchair for the President of the Republic of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva. Built in wood and pressed ash veneer, and idealized by designer Paulo Lobo, the piece required three weeks of preparation, between trials, tests, and production. In total, it involved 7 people and 200 hours of work.

2019 | Solidarity Tree

A solidarity initiative to decorate spaces of the Maternal and Child Center of the North. Antarte challenged 15 personalities to give a personal touch to its most iconic piece, the tree coat stand.

Joana Vasconcelos, Bordallo Pinheiro, Paulo Neves, Pedro Guimarães, Zulmiro Carvalho, Guilherme Mampuya, Kruella d'Enfer, among others, accepted the challenge. Subsequently, Antarte auctioned the 15 trees and raised €37,500 that went towards the project.

2020 | Antarte Golf Cup

The celebration of Antarte's 20 years brought the glamour of golf tournaments to the Estela Golf Club. The competition is held annually in July, with a selected group of golfers.

After the tournament, a glamorous sunset takes place. It is a moment that features in the social diary of the North and replicates the inspiring lifestyle of the Antarte brand. The event ends with the trophy presentation hosted by a public figure.

2021 | Mister Fernando Santos' Armchair

Antarte creates an armchair using the country's colors for the national coach Fernando Santos. The whole process, from design to the choice of materials and colors, was followed by the coach himself. Personalization was taken to the smallest detail, from placing the coach's initials to the manufacture of the base and finishing of the armchair.

2021 | Alfragide Flagship Store

The opening of the Antarte Flagship Store in Alfragide was part of the brand's expansion plan, which, even with COVID-19, expanded the retail network.

The space is located in Oeiras (Alfragide), and has 1800 m2 divided into four floors, highlighting the architecture of the facade, imposing and with an appealing aesthetic.

2022 | Love Nature by Antarte

The sustainability initiative that offered 50,000 native trees to plant between 2022 and 2025, achieved its goal in less than two years. The initiative has 50 founding members, including personalities from diverse fields and two Heads of State: the President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (founding member no. 1); and the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta.

2023 | Antarte Center

Designed by the architecture firm Space Workers, the brand's new headquarters is a building with multiple uses.

The first to become operational was the upholstery production unit. This was followed by a showroom, the Antarte Autóctone Parque, which brings together specimens of native Portuguese tree species; and the Antarte Museum, the first museum on the history of Woodworking in Europe.

2023 | 'Expresso with Antarte' Bench

We created a piece of urban art to mark the 50th anniversary of Expresso: the bench 'Expresso with Antarte'. It was presented by the newspaper's founder, Pinto Balsemão, and by Mário Rocha, founder and CEO of Antarte. The units were placed at the headquarters of Expresso, SIC (Porto), Antarte, and in prominent squares of district capitals in Portugal.

2023 | Siza Vieira by Antarte

The commissioner of the Vatican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, D. José Tolentino de Mendonça, invited the architect Siza Vieira, 1992 Pritzker Prize, and Antarte, to create an art installation to be exhibited in the Vatican pavilion.

Under the theme 'Encontro' (Encounter), Siza Vieira designed an installation of 12 sculptures representing people. The sculptures were materialized by Antarte in cryptomeria wood, from a sustainable forest in the Azores.

2023 | Dubai: the first store in the Middle East

Antarte begins its expansion in Asia, choosing the Middle East as its initial destination. It is the third continent where the brand is present, after Europe and Africa. Dubai was the initial choice for the opening of a flagship store that received the visit of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize and President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, Dr. José Ramos-Horta.

2023 | Presidential Train: a journey with Antarte glamour

Built in 1890 and restored in 2010, the Presidential Train is the national railway jewel. It transported Heads of State, Kings, and Popes for almost a century.

Antarte accepted the invitation to decorate the 'Restaurant' and Living Room carriages, drawing inspiration from the furniture of the time that evokes an atmosphere of glamour.

2024 | Antarte Museum: the history of Woodworking

The Antarte Museum is unique in Europe. It was inaugurated by the first Portuguese Pritzker Prize winner, Siza Vieira, and by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ramos-Horta. It is a tribute to an ancient craft linked to the progress of civilizations.

It brings together more than 1000 tools and machines, some from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as a wing about the page of the history of Portuguese furniture, written by Antarte.

2024 | 'Sacred Armchair' for Pope Francis

Antarte produced the armchair used by Pope Francis during his apostolic visit to Timor-Leste, in September 2024. Mário Rocha led a team of 14 professionals on a project with more than 180 hours of work.

After the celebration of the homily, Pope Francis received Mário Rocha in a private audience, highlighting the excellence of the armchair and warmly welcoming it to be sent to the Vatican.

2025 | Expo Osaka: representing national woodworking

We materialized 44 pieces designed by architect Kengo Kuma for the Portugal Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.

They were created with materials and techniques that respect the knowledge of national woodworking. The table for the guestbook of the Pavilion weighs about 100 kg and is composed of 177 pieces of national ash, turned for 200 hours.