Cadiz-based artist Maximo Riera has thirty years of experience in photography, painting and sculpture, and that diverse background served him well for his recent and ambitious undertaking: The Animal Chair collection, a series of furniture based on mammals, reptiles, and insects.

Each creation retains the animal's natural vitality whilst being totally biologically accurate in their appearance. This collection is an homage to these animals and the whole animal kingdom which inhabits our planet, as an attempt to reflect and capture the beauty of nature in each living thing.

The recently completed project took Riera some three years, and most of the chairs have not yet been publicly unveiled on his website except his Octopus Chair, seen here. "This piece has required the highest technology and engineering in order to manufacture and develop it," explains Riera. "More than thirty professionals from four different companies have been involved in the process which has been developed entirely in the United Kingdom."

Other animals in the furniture line-up include the Rhino, Lion, Beetle, Whale and Walrus; we'll keep you posted as they go public.