Text by Elizabeth Czapski
When Reggie Harrison, George Newsome, and Sebastian Correa teamed up to start Artisan Leaf, offering handcrafted tobacco leaf surfaces, they were a trio unlikely to break into the furniture business. With backgrounds spanning the tobacco industry and the army, and connections going back as far as their childhoods, they united in a shared vision that reimagined tobacco as a decorative element that could enhance everything from furnishings to architectural components and interior accents.
It all began in 2012 when George was remodeling the office of his tobacco brokerage. “The idea came up to try and make a bar top using natural leaf tobacco with the surface coated in epoxy resin,” Reggie says. “The attempt was successful, looked beautiful, and generated a lot of conversation and appreciation.”
Launched in 2014 in Wilson, North Carolina, once known as the world’s largest tobacco market, Artisan Leaf operates from a workshop in historic downtown that also hosts their store and showroom. The partners started out crafting custom bar tops and tabletops, as well as individual pieces for decorative use.
Through the years, the creativity has continued to flow, and their offerings have evolved to encompass features like cabinetry, fireplace mantels, headboards, and light fixtures. Recent residential projects have ranged from countertops and paneling for butler’s pantries to a standout 10-foot-tall wall in a penthouse apartment.
Their accessory products include frames, trays, humidors, state map cutouts, and more. Reggie says their best sellers are wall panels—used for things like wainscoting, backsplashes, and stand-alone art—along with tumblers and their signature decorative leaves. The splendor of their work lies in the originality inherent in every piece due to the distinctive nature of each leaf they choose.
They procure a variety of leaves from around the world—from the golden flue-cured stunners they handpick at local North Carolina farms to umber-hued cigar leaves found in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. “We are tasked with sourcing leaves that are well-preserved with minimal holes and tears,” Reggie says. The tobacco leaves make an ideal medium, as they come cured and hold their peak color once adhered to a surface and sealed. Beyond that, they’re unique—in more ways than one.
“All of our products are unique because the leaves are natural with their own imperfections and beautiful characteristics,” Reggie says. “We also haven’t yet encountered any other businesses in the decorative tobacco industry. We like to say our pieces are a conversation starter.” They also like to say, “The surgeon general has no warnings about our products.”
For more information, visit artisanleaf.com.
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