I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands of the Gadigal, Bidjigal and Birra-Birragal Clans, who traditionally occupied the Sydney Coast where I live & work. I pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

Billy | Lulu | Tony is a new collaboration between Master Artists Billy & Lulu Cooley from Mutitjulu the community at the foot of Uluru in central Australia and Furniture Designer Tony Hurd of ALTONE.

Established in 1993, ALTONE is a specialist Australian furniture designer and manufacturer with a philosophy of total involvement in all elements of quality furniture design and production. As a Designer and Manufacturer, Tony has enjoyed continued success in his field based on a long-term partnership with Fanuli where his pieces are sold exclusively. Mid-way through 2019, Tony felt inspired to work on a project that would give him the opportunity to learn more about Australian Indigenous culture and potentially incorporate some First Nation’s art in some way into a new collection he wanted to design. Serendipitously through close contacts, Tony was introduced to Billy & Lulu Cooley, masters in the artisan practice of Punu (wood carving & hot-wire etching) in July last year when they happened to be in Sydney for the day, and the journey began.

In late September 2019, Tony travelled to Alice Springs and took a road trip to Uluru & into Mutitjulu, the community where Billy & Lulu live and work, and are Directors of Maruku Arts. It was a unique opportunity to immerse himself in the rich culture & tjurkurpa (stories from the beginning) of the Anangu people and see firsthand the Maruku warehouse filled with punu by many artists from the region. Billy & Lulu invited him to spend an afternoon at their bush camp where Lulu was painting a Walka Board, and Billy was hand carving a Kali (desert boomerang) whilst they talked about country, family, the techniques they employ when creating their art, and the land they live on & belong to.

When he returned home to Bondi Beach, Tony began the long process of designing a range that would incorporate punu elements hand-etched with hot wire by Billy & Lulu. Over a year later, and Billy | Lulu | Tony is ready. Partnering with artists in the centre of Australia during the COVID pandemic has not been without its challenges, but it has been a positive experience on both sides, and all involved are very proud to have the first collection available to the Australian market for sale at Fanuli. Combining the elements of contemporary furniture design synonymous with the ALTONE brand and the ancient practice of punu is a way to bring beautifully designed quality pieces into the consumer’s home. On a deeper level, this provides a richer understanding & knowledge of our First Nation Peoples to non-Indigenous Australians. Punu (the wood itself) is the purest form of a gift from the carver to the receiver. Punu is living wood from a living culture, a slow growing piece of an Anangu artist’s ancestral lands. Punu is painstakingly sought and willingly given, to enlighten the world to the presence of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, and Yankunytjara (NPY) peoples of the central and western desert.

(Also available Lulu Boondi in white)

4 doors, 2 internal drawers, 2 internal adjustable shelves.

All internals and back panel in Lulu Red.

Tony’s Uluru – a grand piece. After spending many hours up close to Uluru, it was impossible not to be influenced by its presence. Many hours were spent observing the overall form - the varied shapes, hollows, flowing curves and ravines. 13 Pieces of Lulu Cooley’s Tali [sand dune] motif have been inserted into this piece. One simple curved shape has been elongated, expanded and contracted, and in places wrapped around the sideboard to emulate the shapes observed on Uluru. The piece has been finished within and on the back to help realise the mystery and full majesty of Uluru. Lulu Red is the artist’s signature colour, and, like Uluru, subtly changes with the light, reflects the changing tones noticed at different times of the day on the rock itself.

A simple blackened oak plinth grounds the large mass with a deep shadow.

Standard size 2400 x 500 x 700(h)

4 doors / 2 internal drawers / 2 internal adjustable shelves

Lacquered board cabinet construction in Lulu Red

Internal drawers and shelves in spotted gum veneer clear finish

Solid timber leg structure in Jett Oak

13 Hot-wire etched motifs on ply panels inserted into the cabinet - linseed oil finish

All inlaid artwork burned by the artist’s own hand

(Also available Lulu Uluru in Lulu Red)

4 doors, 2 internal drawers, 2 internal adjustable shelves.

All internals in white

Standard size 2400 x 500 x 700(h)

Lacquered board cabinet construction in Soft White

Internal drawers and shelves in spotted gum veneer clear finish

Solid timber leg structure in Jett Oak

13 Hot-wire etched motifs on ply panels inserted into the cabinet - linseed oil finish

All inlaid artwork burned by the artist’s own hand

4 doors and 2 drawers

The elongated shape of Timpilypa influenced the look and inclusion of a long drawer recess.

Lulu Cooley’s Tali [sand dune] motif provides a flowing organic form within the piece. The application of this punu [living wood] provides a subtle yet remarkable homage to the desert. The ply panels are hot-wire etched by Lulu Cooley in Mutitjulu, the community at the foot of Uluru, then installed into the sideboard.

The leg design was born out of the need to emulate and reflect Lulu’s Tali motif. The leg, whilst simple in form, is built in 3 layers of solid timber to conceal a large block joint. This provides the required strength whilst maintaining a light organic structure and form.

Standard size 2100 x 500 x 730(h)

4 doors / 2 Drawers

Lacquered board cabinet construction in Soft White

Solid timber leg structure in Jett Oak

Hand burnt motif on ply panels inserted into drawer recess - Linseed oil finish

All inlaid artwork burned by the artist’s own hand

2 drawers with traditional timber runners.

Billy Cooley’s Liru [snake] motif is used here to span the entire front face. The complete span emulates the length of the desert snake, the Liru. The finger pull drawer opening detail was born out of curved hollow channels observed on the surface of Uluru itself.

The leg was designed to emulate and reflect Lulu’s Tali [sand dune] motif. The leg, whilst simple in form, is built in 3 layers of solid timber to conceal a large block joint. This provides the required strength whilst maintaining a light organic structure and form.

Standard size 1400 x 400 x 750(h)

2 Drawers traditional timber runners – ply construction

Lacquered board cabinet construction in Soft White

Solid timber leg structure in Jett Oak

Hand burnt motif ply drawer faces - linseed oil finish

All inlaid artwork burned by the artist’s own hand

The beautiful form of the Timpilypa [Music Sticks] is emulated in this coffee table design. The legs are turned from solid spotted gum, and then hot-wire burned by Lulu Cooley in Mutitjulu, the community at the foot of Uluru, to create a sense of Punu [living wood]. The cross-support structure is gently, vertically curved to complement and champion, not hinder, the simple beauty of the leg structure. The ash-grey glass top shades the base, creating a cool space for the timber warmth to reside.

Standard size 1100 diameter x 370 (h)

Solid spotted gum frame clear finish

Hand turned solid spotted gum legs with hand burnt motif – linseed oil finish

10mm grey tinted glass

Tali [Sand Dune] Side Table

The legs of this piece are the shape of the Timpilypa [music sticks]. Hand turned in solid spotted gum and left clear of the motif or totem. Lulu Cooley’s Tali [sand dune] hot-wire burnt pattern is laid horizontal on a ply panel, to be viewed from above through the cooling effect of the ash-grey glass. The edges of the circular ply panel are hand burnt as well to balance and thus ground the side table to earth.

Standard size 520 diameter x 470 (h)

Solid spotted gum frame clear finish

Hand turned solid spotted gum legs clear finish

10mm ply panel with hand burnt Punu motif - linseed oil finish

10mm grey tinted glass