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.
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
$5,414 / item
W 84.65 in L 108.27 in
CHRYSALIS Hand Knotted Transitional Round Shaped Rug in Wool and Silk by Hands
Located in New Delhi, IN
The cocoon silhouette. Cocoons have always been valued for their appeal and magnificence, yet nobody can truly clarify why they are echoed so blatantly in the realm of craftsmanship and nature. Inspired by the intricate details, the shape, the pattern, the birth of a butterfly. A design which is reminiscent of its form. Cocoon confined by its wings, providing comfort to the body until it was the ideal opportunity for it to break free. Channeling the shape and form of a multifaceted cocoon to make a delineation of the process of a cocoon transforming into a butterfly. Shaped like a cocoon creating an ethereal gradient effect. Available in color Rustic Copper...
Wool, Silk
$122 / item
W 48 in L 72 in
4x6 Multicolor Hand-Knotted Wool Deconstructed Geometry Geometric Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
This multicolor jewel tone rug is a hand knotted pile wool rug designed in a distinct Kilim style. Originating from India, this floor covering features a medium pile thickness and du...
Wool
5x8 Ivory Hand-Knotted Wool Ombre Striped Modern Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
This ivory beige cream white wool rug features a traditional hand knotted pile weave. As an Agra style rug, it combines specific construction techniques with a neutral color palette....
Wool
7x9 Ivory Hand-Knotted Wool Abstracted Cloudscapeist Design Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
This hand knotted pile rug features a primary color palette of ivory, beige, cream, and white. Crafted from wool, it reflects the traditional style of Oushak rugs while incorporating...
Wool
6x9 Traditional Coral Geometric Medallion Hand Knotted Wool Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite Traditional Coral Hand Knotted Wool Rug, Country of Origin: India. This magnificent piece showcases the enduring skill of weavers specializing in Indian rugs. Hand-knotted ...
Wool
$2,832Sale Price|20% Off
W 56 in L 79 in
Traditional Hand-Knotted Bidjar Carpet in Red, Indigo, and Cream Wool, 5' x 7'
Located in New York, NY
This hand-knotted carpet measures 4'6" x 6'9" and features a traditional Bidjar garden design. Common among most Bidjar carpets, this piece features a rectangular interior field, det...
Wool
5x8 Blue Hand-Knotted Wool Horizon Stripe Geometric Modern Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
This blue polyester rug features a hand knotted pile weave, characteristic of the EORC Rugs style. Ideally suited for various home environments, the rug combines a primary blue hue w...
Wool
$255 / item
W 72 in L 108 in
6x9 Multicolor Hand-Knotted Wool Deconstructed Geometry Geometric Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
This hand knotted pile rug is crafted from wool and features a multicolor jewel tone palette. Designed in the style of Kilims, this floor covering originates from India and offers a ...
Wool
6x9 Luxurious Oriental Green Traditional Geometric Hand Knotted Wool Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
Luxurious Oriental Green Hand Knotted Wool Rug, Country of Origin: India. This exceptional piece showcases the meticulous craftsmanship inherent in fine Indian rugs. Hand-knotted fro...
Wool
6x9 Unique Comfortable Blue Traditional Medallion Hand Knotted Wool Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
Unique Comfortable Blue Hand Knotted Wool Rug, Country of Origin: India. This exquisite piece showcases the exceptional quality of hand-knotted wool, offering both durability and a l...
Wool
6x9 Ivory Hand-Knotted Wool Diamond Weave Geometric Modern Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
This hand knotted pile rug is crafted from wool and presents a neutral color palette featuring ivory, beige, cream, and white tones. Designed in the style of a traditional Berber car...
Wool
7x9 Ivory Hand-Knotted Wool Pixelated Distressed Abstract Modern Carpet Rug
Located in New York, NY
This hand knotted pile rug is crafted from wool and features a primary color palette of ivory, beige, cream, and white. Made in India, this area rug embodies an abstract and contempo...
Wool