Pencil
Sofa Friends
Mirrors.
Echoes.
Uncharted ways of living.
They are our friends.
Welcome to the OnTheSofa living room.
Meet our Sofa Friends,
And rediscover yourself.
Creative & Production by Dandan Ouyang
Photography by Mengchen Sun
Pencil
Curator at Maison Wave
Hidden away in the bustling city, Maison Wave is a Neverland of the 20th century. Pencil and her partners travel the globe, gathering the forgotten languages of the real world to construct an eternal Tower of Babel. She radiates the very same light as the modernist designs she collects: elegant, rigorous, wildly impractical, yet entirely transcendent.
Q: Maison Wave houses many hard-to-find rare originals. Can you share some of the stories behind them?
A: Take the Maison du Brésil project, for example. It produced a fascinating series of furniture featuring clean lines, geometric shapes, and brilliant pops of color. Originally, we only had the authentic cabinets, chalkboards, and dining tables from the collection. But to make it complete, our buyers and my husband spent nearly half a year digging through original archives until they finally tracked down the original lounge chair from the dormitories. Only then were we able to present the complete set of this student housing furniture at Maison Wave.
Q: What gives you the most joy and drive when it comes to collecting?
A: For me, the greatest joy of collecting lies in discovery and dialogue. Uncovering the history, design language, and craftsmanship behind a piece of furniture feels like having a conversation with the designer across time and space. Collecting is never simply about possessing an object; it’s about connecting with time, culture, and people.
Q: How does Maison Wave source its pieces?
A: At the end of 2019, my husband started the business of collecting mid-century furniture. Back then, he practically lived on European hours, digging deep, navigating auctions, and building a global network of channels. Under his influence, I slowly stepped into this world, eventually turning my passion into a career. As our collection and rhythm grew, we developed our own philosophy for collecting, and we continue to hunt for "treasures" all over the world.
Q: Why focus on modernism?
A: It didn’t just define the aesthetic standards of the 20th century; it established a value system deeply tied to the essence of living. Modernism wasn't created for visual shock, but to answer real human needs. It embodies a sustainable, non-decorative, human-centric design logic that feels especially crucial today. It invites us to rethink what is truly worth owning and what deserves to be kept.
Q: Could you share a piece that you love, even if it might not be a market favorite?
A: It has to be the Petal Lamp from the 2093 collection by Olivier Mourgue. It features five ultra-thin aluminum petals mounted on two chrome stems to form a flower. It's avant-garde yet elegant, creating a deeply poetic silhouette. The way it casts faint, subtle petal shadows on the wall is absolute magic, and easily my favorite part about it.
Q: What do you usually do on the sofa?
A: Without a doubt, just zoning out with my cats.
Pencil wears Sofa Cotton T-Shirt 'The Traveler' Rosin/Ebony.