Furniture designer Maarten Baas doesn't subscribe to conformist notions of beauty and symmetry. He finds appeal in the character of aged patinas and wear from usage. As such, Baas doesn't seek to create furniture or decorative objects that are perfectly proportioned — for proof, look no further than to the unconventional cabinets of his Close Parity collection or the chairs with oddly shaped backrests he designed for Lensvelt.
Baas breaks unspoken rules, and his influential work is as much art as it is functional design — he’s garnered support from likeminded creatives in his field such as Phillippe Starck and Marcel Wanders, and explores how he might put unusual materials to work such as clay or charred wood in the construction of his chairs and table lamps.
Baas was born in Germany and grew up in the Netherlands. After graduating high school, he began his studies at the Design Academy in Eindhoven. Before he had even graduated, Baas made an impression on instructors and students alike with his graduation project.
Using pieces of secondhand furniture he had procured online — some of which was manufactured by IKEA — Baas scorched the wood all the way through with a blowtorch. He soon found a way to preserve the wood once it was burned through, and this led to his inaugural Smoke series. The chairs and a lighting fixture from this line were put into production by Moooi, a furniture brand Wanders cofounded with Revised’s Casper Vissers in 2001. Hospitality guru Ian Schrager got in touch, and a pool table from the collection was custom-made by Baas for the Gramercy Park Hotel.
Since Smoke, Baas has produced numerous pieces, with his best-known efforts involving the repurposing of existing furniture and modifying it to look the way he wants. Ever the innovator, Baas introduced a series of clock designs as part of an art installation that began to take shape in 2009 at the Salone Del Mobile in Milan.
The designer’s clocks see an incorporation of video and other technology. Each piece, such as the ten-foot tall model installed at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in 2016, presents the illusion of human figures toiling to keep time behind its face by way of a 12-hour recorded performance.
Baas’s works are held in the collections of many notable museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
$6,356 / item
Contemporary Clay Dining Chair by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant chairs are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual hand mo...
Metal
$23,091 / item
Contemporary Clay Bookshelves by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant Bookshelves are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual ha...
Metal
$3,061Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi Smoke Dining Armchair in Abbracci, Black Upholstery with Burnt Wood Frame
By Moooi, Maarten Baas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Don't burn the diner — burn the dining chair! The beauty and character of burned wood is now captured in a long lasting material, creating the strange sensation of sitting on burnt furniture...
Upholstery
$7,316 / item
Maarten Baas 'Clay' Piano Stool for BAAS
By Maarten Baas
Located in Tilburg, NL
Maarten Baas 'Clay' Piano Stool, Classic Clay Collection, New - Current Production, The Netherlands. The spontaneous and naïve designs of Maarten Baas’ Clay series express artistic...
Metal
$12,079Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi SLT Chaise Longue Left in Divina Melange 3, 620 Upholstery and Steel Frame
By Maarten Baas, Moooi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Something Like This sofa is a celebration of the designer's love for sketchy drawings translated into a soft unusually modelled sofa. Additional information: Material: Wood a...
Upholstery
$2,242Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi Smoke Dining Chair in Abbracci, Black Upholstery with Burnt Wood Frame
By Maarten Baas, Moooi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Don't burn the diner — burn the dining chair! The beauty and character of burned wood is now captured in a long lasting material, creating the strange sensation of sitting on burnt furniture...
Upholstery
Pair of Smoke armchairs by Maarten Baas for Moooi, 2000s.
By Maarten Baas
Located in Renens, CH
Smoke is an armchair created by Maarten Baas for Moooi. This armchair takes us back to the time of Louis XIV. This magnificent armchair is upholstered in black leather. Each piece is...
Leather, Wood
$4,745 / item
Contemporary Plain Clay Dining Chair by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
This Dining Chair comes from Maarten Baas’s Plain Clay collection. This collection was originally developed for the Mendini restaurant in the Groninger Museum. Unlike the Clay Ser...
Metal
Smoke Armchair by Maarten Baas for Moooi, 2000s
By Maarten Baas
Located in Renens, CH
Maarten Baas (the Netherlands) designed the Smoke series furniture for his 2002 graduation project at the Design Academy Eindhoven. Baas is considered one of the most influential Dut...
Leather, Wood
Contemporary Plain Clay Table with Light by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
This table with light comes from Maarten Baas’s Plain Clay collection. This collection was originally developed for the Mendini restaurant in the Gron...
Metal
$7,750 / item
Contemporary Plain Clay Floor Light by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
This floor light comes from Maarten Baas’s Plain Clay collection. This collection was originally developed for the Mendini restaurant in the Groninger Museum. Unlike the clay seri...
Metal
Maarten Baas ”Sculpt" Office Desk, 2009
By Maarten Baas
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Title: sculpt office desk Series: sculpt Edition: 3/8 (+2AP) Material: steel with a dark walnut veneer finish Size: 160 x 85 x 74 (w x d x h).
Steel
$10,058 / set
Smoke Armchairs by Maarten Baas for Moooi, 2000s
By Maarten Baas, Moooi
Located in Renens, CH
Maarten Baas (the Netherlands) designed the Smoke series furniture for his 2002 graduation project at the Design Academy Eindhoven. Baas is considered one of the most influential Dut...
Leather, Wood
$5,496 / item
Contemporary Plain Clay Bar Stool by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
This bar stool comes from Maarten Baas’s Plain Clay collection. This collection was originally developed for the Mendini restaurant in the Groninger Museum. Unlike the Clay Series...
Metal
$12,079Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi SLT Chaise Longue Left in Divina Md, 193 Upholstery with Steel Frame
By Moooi, Maarten Baas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Something Like This Sofa is a celebration of the designer's love for sketchy drawings translated into a soft unusually modelled sofa. Additional information: Material: Wood and steel frame construction, foam Upholstery: Divina MD...
Upholstery
$9,218 / item
Contemporary Clay Table with Drawer by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant tables are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual hand mo...
Metal
$20,924 / item
Contemporary Clay Coffee Table Multileg by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant tables are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual hand mo...
Metal
$6,642 / item
Contemporary Clay Side Table by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant tables are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual hand mo...
Metal
Moooi Smoke Chair '2004' by Maarten Baas, Dutch Design, Post-Modern
By Moooi, Maarten Baas
Located in CULEMBORG, GE
Manufactured by Moooi in 2003-2004, Maarten Baas’ series of Smoke Chairs are made of expensive leather in a burnt wood frame — a truly original and unique ...
Leather, Wood
$16,115 / item
Contemporary Clay Low Seater, Armchair by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant Low Seaters are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created thro...
Metal
$4,733 / item
Smoke Chairs by Maarten Baas for Moooi, 2000s
By Moooi, Maarten Baas
Located in Renens, CH
Maarten Baas (the Netherlands) designed the Smoke series furniture for his 2002 graduation project at the Design Academy Eindhoven. Baas is considered one of the most influential Dut...
Leather, Wood
$28,819 / item
Contemporary Clay Floorfan by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant Floor fans are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual han...
Metal
$4,076 / item
Contemporary Plain Clay Desk Light by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
This desk light comes from Maarten Baas’s Plain Clay collection. This collection was originally developed for the Mendini restaurant in the Groninger Museum. Unlike the Clay Serie...
Metal
2022 Maarten Baas for Moooi SLT Chaise Lounge Right Side S2 in Indigo Denim
By Maarten Baas, Moooi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a SLT Chaise Lounge made with a wood and steel frame and indigo denim fabric. The chaise lounge was designed by Marcel Wanders and produced by Moooi in the Nether...
Steel
Maarten Baas Signed Limited Edition Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair
By Arne Jacobsen, Maarten Baas
Located in Dronten, NL
Limited Edition made in 2009 of the iconic Arne Jacobsen series 7 chair. To pay tribute to this design, Fritz Hansen choose 7 designers from the young generation to pick out their fa...
Steel, Chrome
Monumental Acquisition: 11 x Maarten Baas "101" Chairs – Custom Camira Main Line
By Maarten Baas
Located in Dronten, NL
One of the largest available sets of Maarten Baas’ iconic “101” chairs on the market. A complete dining or conference collection, upholstered in premium Camira Main Line Flex wool. ...
Steel
Moooi Turbo High Table in Wooden Frame by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas, Moooi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Spontaneous and refreshing, the car’s abstract design conveys the uncontaminated simplicity of childhood’s thoughts and dreams. A candid sketch of a car roars to life and parks itsel...
Wood
$19,695 / item
Contemporary Clay Low Rocking Chair by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant Rocking chairs are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual...
Metal
$11,087Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi SLT Chaise Longue Left in Solis, Paper Upholstery with Wood & Steel Frame
By Maarten Baas, Moooi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The something like this sofa is a celebration of the designer's love for sketchy drawings translated into a soft unusually modelled sofa. Additional information: Material: Wood a...
Upholstery
$10,634Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi SLT Chaise Longue Right in Denim Indigo Upholstery with Steel Frame
By Maarten Baas, Moooi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The something like this sofa is a celebration of the designer's love for sketchy drawings translated into a soft unusually modelled sofa. Additional information: Material: Wood a...
Upholstery
$4,516Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi Turbo Low Table in Wooden Frame by Maarten Baas
By Moooi, Maarten Baas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Spontaneous and refreshing, the car’s abstract design conveys the uncontaminated simplicity of childhood’s thoughts and dreams. A candid sketch of a car roars to life and parks itsel...
Wood
$1,736Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi SLT Footstool in Bearded Leopard Jacquard Mustard Upholstery & Wood Frame
By Moooi, Maarten Baas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Something Like This sofa is a celebration of the designer's love for sketchy drawings translated into a soft unusually modelled sofa. Additional information: Material: Wooden...
Upholstery
$10,960 / item
Contemporary Clay Bench by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant Benches are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual hand m...
Metal
Contemporary Plain Clay Dining Chair with Arm by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
This Dining Chair comes from Maarten Baas’s Plain Clay collection. This collection was originally developed for the Mendini restaurant in the Groninger Museum. Unlike the Clay Ser...
Metal
$12,079Sale Price / item|20% Off
Moooi SLT Chaise Longue Left in Divina 3, 623 Upholstery with Steel Frame
By Moooi, Maarten Baas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Something Like This sofa is a celebration of the designer's love for sketchy drawings translated into a soft unusually modelled sofa. Additional information: Material: Wood a...
Upholstery
Ciliophora Round Carpet, Hand Knotted in Wool, 40 Knots, Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Milan, Lombardy
Ciliophora round rug, designed by Maarten Baas, presents an abstract design that creates a motif with an antique or tribal appearance. "An abstraction of the smallest living creatur...
Wool
2022 Maarten Baas for Moooi SLT Double Love Seat Sofa Element S3 in Indigo Denim
By Moooi, Maarten Baas
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a SLT Double Seat Sofa made with a wood and steel frame and indigo denim fabric. The sofa was designed by Marcel Wanders and produced by Moooi in the Netherlands....
Steel
$9,218 / item
Contemporary Clay Table with Drawer by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas
Located in Warsaw, PL
These vibrant tables are from Maarten Baas’s iconic ‘Clay’ collection launched in 2006. The idiosyncratic childishness of this collection is created through Baas’s individual hand mo...
Metal