R&Y Augousti was founded in 1989 by husband-and-wife team Ria and Yiouri Augousti. The pair works with pen shell, metal and an array of exotic skins — including ostrich, snake, eel and crocodile — to create Art Deco-inspired furniture that echoes the influences of their unique friends and draws on the experiences they’ve shared on their global travels.
Ria Augousti (née Macasaet) was born in Manila. Her family relocated to Cebu and, at age 15, she went to New York City to study art. She continued her studies in England and graduated from the London School of Furniture Making.
Born in Cyprus, Yiouri Augousti studied architecture at London’s Architectural Association. He was drawn to interior design that reflected a revival of Art Deco that took shape during his years as a young adult.
Ria was working at the interior design firm of John Stefanidis, in London, when Yiouri joined the firm. “We got on like a house on fire,” Ria has said of the beginnings of their relationship. The couple established R&Y Augousti in 1989 and married in 1990. The business grew swiftly — R&Y Augousti moved permanently to Paris in 1994, and in 2011, the couple opened their first American showroom. There, in the New York Design Center, the range of decorative objects on offer from R&Y Augousti included dining tables, side tables and decorative objects such as candleholders and picture frames in shagreen.
The initial popularity that shagreen enjoyed as furniture covering fizzled when the Art Deco era faded. Modernist designer Jean-Michel Frank was an enthusiast of the textured hide, and during the 1960s, Karl Springer covered desks, chairs and tables with it. Ria Augousti wanted to revive shagreen’s use as a finish in one of their very first designs. Their sculptural, sensuous shagreen Sylvie chair, with its slender and towering backrest, makes a statement in any space and has seen a fair amount of praise over the years. The Sylvie has been photographed in a number of high-profile spaces including Alexander Wang's New York City loft apartment designed by Ryan Korban. (And shagreen reemerged as a luxe material among designers and decorators in 2017.)
R&Y Augousti has since expanded into fashion accessories, and drawings by the couple’s daughter, designer Kifu Augousti, have been embroidered on some of the brand’s luxurious handbags.
Find R&Y Augousti tables, seating and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Picture Frame 5x7” in Quilted Black Shagreen by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This luxurious picture frame by R&Y Augousti is crafted in their signature quilted black shagreen, exuding both timeless elegance and modern refinement. The tactile texture of th...
Glass, Wood, Shagreen Stingray
Picture Frame 8x10” in Black Shagreen by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This 8x10” picture frame by R&Y Augousti epitomizes timeless elegance with its luxurious use of black shagreen, lending a tactile sophistication to any space. The frame's bold, g...
Glass, Wood, Shagreen Stingray
Picture Frame 8x10” in Quilted White Shagreen by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This luxurious picture frame by R&Y Augousti is crafted in their signature quilted white shagreen, exuding both timeless elegance and modern refinement. The tactile texture of th...
Glass, Wood, Shagreen Stingray
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Shagreen Vase by R&Y Augousti is a perfect blend of luxurious materials and refined craftsmanship. Its compact, square form is enveloped in textural shagreen, offering a subtle y...
Brass
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The elegant Oval Vase by R&Y Augousti, crafted in shagreen and accented with brass, is a sophisticated fusion of organic texture and luxurious detail. Its oval silhouette presents a ...
Brass
Modern Vase in Shagreen with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This exquisite vase by R&Y Augousti captures the essence of artisanal craftsmanship with its luxurious shagreen surface, complemented by the elegance of hand-finished brass detailing...
Brass
$1,525 / item
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Shagreen Vase by R&Y Augousti is a perfect blend of luxurious materials and refined craftsmanship. Its compact, square form is enveloped in textured shagreen, offering a subtle y...
Brass
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This exquisite vase by R&Y Augousti captures the essence of artisanal craftsmanship with its luxurious shagreen surface, complemented by the elegance of hand-finished brass detailing...
Brass
Modern Vase in Shagreen with Black Shell and Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Cocteau Oval Vase by R&Y Augousti is a masterful blend of natural elegance and sophisticated craftsmanship. This large-sized vase is meticulously handcrafted from luxurious shagr...
Brass
$1,040 / item
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The elegant Oval Vase by R&Y Augousti, crafted in shagreen and accented with brass, is a sophisticated fusion of organic texture and luxurious detail. Its oval silhouette presents a ...
Brass
Modern Sculptural Vase in Black Shell by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The La Dame Vase by R&Y Augousti is a striking modern sculpture, meticulously hand-crafted from black pen shell. Its silhouette is an artistic representation of fluid elegance, blend...
Shell
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This exquisite vase by R&Y Augousti captures the essence of artisanal craftsmanship with its luxurious shagreen surface, complemented by the elegance of hand-finished brass detailing...
Brass
Bowl in White Shagreen with Stainless Steel Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The White Shagreen & Stainless-Steel Lily Bowl M by R&Y Augousti is a stunning fusion of contemporary elegance and artisanal craftsmanship. The bowl’s textured surface, crafted from ...
Stainless Steel
Bowl in Black Shell with Stainless Steel Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Lily Bowl in black shell with stainless steel details by R&Y Augousti is an exquisite example of refined craftsmanship. Meticulously handcrafted, this bowl marries the organic be...
Stainless Steel
Picture Frame 8x10” in Quilted Black Shagreen by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This luxurious picture frame by R&Y Augousti is crafted in their signature quilted black shagreen, exuding both timeless elegance and modern refinement. The tactile texture of the sh...
Glass, Wood, Shagreen Stingray
$1,525 / item
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Shagreen Vase by R&Y Augousti is a perfect blend of luxurious materials and refined craftsmanship. Its compact, square form is enveloped in opulent white shagreen, offering a sub...
Brass
$1,040 / item
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This exquisite vase by R&Y Augousti captures the essence of artisanal craftsmanship with its luxurious shagreen surface, complemented by the elegance of hand-finished brass detailing...
Brass
Shagreen Vase with Bronze Patina Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The elegant Oval Vase by R&Y Augousti, crafted in shagreen and accented with brass, is a sophisticated fusion of organic texture and luxurious detail. Its oval silhouette presents a ...
Brass
$1,280 / item
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Shagreen Vase by R&Y Augousti is a perfect blend of luxurious materials and refined craftsmanship. Its compact, square form is enveloped in textural shagreen, offering a subtle y...
Brass
Set of 2 Boxes in Black Shagreen with Pen Shell and Brass Details by R&Y Augoust
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The “Peacock Box” set by R&Y Augousti is a true masterpiece of modern luxury, where organic form meets exceptional craftsmanship. The distinctive, fluid shapes of these boxes create ...
Brass
Set of 2 Boxes in Black Shagreen with Bronze Patina Brass by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The “Peacock Box” set by R&Y Augousti is a true masterpiece of modern luxury, where organic form meets exceptional craftsmanship. The distinctive, fluid shapes of these boxes create ...
Brass
Shagreen Vase with Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The elegant "Oval Vase" by R&Y Augousti, crafted in shagreen and accented with brass, is a sophisticated fusion of organic texture and luxurious detail. Its oval silhouette presents ...
Brass
Modern Box in Mother of Pearl with Polished Stainless Steel by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The "Melting Box" by R&Y Augousti, crafted in polished stainless steel and adorned with intricate mother of pearl, is a striking piece that balances modern sophistication with artisa...
Stainless Steel
Set of 3 Boxes in White Shagreen with Brass Frame by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This set of 3 round boxes in white shagreen by R&Y Augousti showcases a design that seamlessly marries form and function. Each box features a perfectly symmetrical circular shape, ex...
Brass
Set of 3 Boxes in White Oak with Brass Frame by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The set of three square boxes in white oak with a brass frame by R&Y Augousti presents a refined yet minimalist design that exudes modern luxury. The rich white oak wood is meticulou...
Brass
$13,800 / set
Vases by R & Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in Asheville, NC
Large teak wood vase with bronze smaller vases is Mid-Century in period and design as well. Colors in shades of green and bronze tones with the two smaller vases being heavy bronze a...
Bronze
Modern Bamboo Vase and Bowl Set by R & Y Augousti, Hand-Crafted, 1990
By R & Y Augousti
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Interesting and elegant bamboo set for a modern house: the tall vase is also suitable for lamp - nr. O/3539 and 3527.
Bamboo