London-based design studio Soft Baroque melds conventional household furniture and objects with conceptual art. Its experimental approach to design is evocative, fantastical and functional.
Soft Baroque was founded in 2013 by design duo Saša Štucin and Nicholas Gardner. Štucin studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in visual communications in 2011. Gardner earned a bachelor’s degree in furniture design in 2010 from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. Štucin and Gardner later met while attending London’s Royal College of Art. They both graduated in 2013, Štucin with a master’s degree in visual communications and Gardner with a master’s degree in design products.
In 2011, Štucin took part in a workshop under Milton Glaser at the School of Visual Arts in New York and, in 2013, he participated in a research project at the Sandberg Instituut’s Think Tank for Visual Strategies in Amsterdam. Gardner worked as an assistant in designer Jerszy Seymour’s studio in Berlin in 2012 and as an assistant in Max Lamb’s design studio in 2013.
Since partnering as Soft Baroque, Štucin and Gardner have garnered critical attention for their unconventional modern furniture and objets d’art. The studio’s first piece — designed in 2014 — was the Lenticularis mirror, an innovative cross between a mirror and a scent diffuser. Another notable early work was the cartoon-like Pearl Screw Shelf bookcase in 2017, which features broken walnut timber planks, engineered plastic shelves and freshwater pearl screws.
Other pieces, such as chairs, benches, the Puffy Brick Column stools, vases, tables and lighting, are designed to blur the lines between functionalism and art. As Gardner explained in an interview with PIN-UP Magazine, “With a lot of our objects, we try to form a strange equation.”
Soft Baroque’s unique designs have included commissions from the luxury fashion brand Balenciaga and Swedish design company HEM. The duo has exhibited their pieces at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Swiss Institute in New York City, galleries in Copenhagen and New York and in major international design fairs.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of Soft Baroque seating, case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects and more.
Contemporary Zebrano Wood Chair by Soft Baroque
By Soft Baroque
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Unique handmade solid Zebrano chair from the "Hard Round" series by the London based design duo soft Baroque. Custom designs and sizes are available on r...
Zebra Wood
"New Surface Strategies" Chair by Soft Baroque
By Soft Baroque
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Blue textile covered wooden chair by London based design duo Soft Baroque, previously shown at Het Nieuwe Institut. Renderings are becoming more diabolic...
Pine
19th Century Original Surface Pueblo Child's Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century original old surface child's chair from the Pueblo in New Mexico. The construction is mortised on all sides.
Wood
$7,400
H 21.66 in W 21.46 in D 29.93 in
Guhl Chair by Willy Guhl '1. Edition, Special Sealed, Safe Surface'
By Willy Guhl
Located in Zürich, CH
Here the silhouette is strong. It is presented through the outline and shape of the piece. The object exudes an aura. It’s not about the shape or about the material; its auratic qual...
Concrete
Soft Pad Chair by Eames for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Soft Pad Chair by Eames for Herman Miller Length- 22 3/4 Depth- 23 Height at it's lowest- 32 Height at it's tallest- 34 Seat Height at its lowest- 20 Arm Height at its lowest- 25 Fo...
Aluminum
$1,500
H 33.5 in W 16.5 in D 15.7 in
Modern Chair Yellow Green Cotton Spiked Biomorphic Surface Hand-Sewn by ESTO
By ESTO
Located in New York, NY
Chair 02 by ESTO Tubular Steel, Padded Cover, Foam Seat, Cotton Fabric H 33.5 x L 16.5 x W 15.7 A functional furniture piece with a steel structure, finished in a hand-sewn textil...
Steel
Desalto SOFTER THAN STEEL Chair in Matt White By Nendo
By Desalto, Nendo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Softer Than Steel chair, made of steel tubing, is a modern interpretation of the traditional concept of a chair. Characterized by clean lines and minimal geometric shape, this ch...
Steel, Aluminum
Early 19th Century Original Surface Child's Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing untouched surface is to beat the band. It was found in New England & the chair is in great condition and has wonderful form. It has been well love and used.The wear is...
Pine
$10,626 / item
H 29.53 in W 31.11 in D 31.11 in
Soft Cloud-like Form Lamb and Wood Chair by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Bling bling chair by Pietro Franceschini Sold exclusively by Galerie Philia Manufacturer: Stefano Minotti Dimensions: W 79 ...
Bouclé, Ash
$15,319 / item
H 29.53 in W 31.11 in D 31.11 in
Round Soft Beige Lamp Chair with Gold Colored Legs by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Tomyris chair by Pietro Franceschini Sold Exclusively by Galerie Philia Manufacturer: Stefano Minotti Dimensions: W 79 x H 75 cm Materials: Lamb and ...
Brass
Minimal, Contemporary Wood Tombstone Chair by Fort Standard
By Fort Standard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This minimal chair is made of three intersecting planes with the backrest resembling a traditional tombstone shape. Available in a variety of wood. Sho...
Ash, Maple, Oak, Walnut
PILLAR CHAIR - Modern Chair in Soft White Boucle
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
The Pillar Chair is a stunning piece of furniture with a unique and captivating design. It is characterized by layered, asymmetrical design elements that create a sense of sophistication and simplicity. The deliberate imbalance in these design elements comes together harmoniously to make a minimal yet elegant design statement. The displayed fabric for the Pillar Chair is a warm and inviting soft white boucle, but the beauty of this piece lies in its versatility. It can be tailored to your preferences by selecting any fabric from the manufacturer's collection or utilizing a fabric of your choice (COM, or Customer's Own Material). This customization option allows you to match the bed perfectly to your existing decor or personal style. It's important to note that all Shine by S.H.O designs are meticulously bench-made in California, a testament to the brand's commitment to quality craftsmanship and locally sourced manufacturing. This aspect not only ensures the bed's durability but also supports local artisans. In summary, the Pillar Chair is a visually captivating and unique piece of furniture with layered asymmetrical design elements. Its minimal and elegant design statement is made all the more special by its customization options, including fabric choice. Crafted in California, this bed is a testament to quality and can be customized to your exact specifications, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a unique and personalized addition to their bedroom. The Pillar Bed...
Fabric
$50,000
H 42.5 in W 66 in D 32 in
Anemone Contemporary Soft Chair in Alpaca Fur and Wood Veneer by Brandi Howe
By Brandi Howe
Located in New York, NY
Anemone Shag Chair by Brandi Howe W 66" x H 42.5" x D 32" Alpaca Fur, Wood Inspired by the stichodactyla gigantea anemone, this chair uses organic shapes...
Fur, Alpaca, Wood
40/4 Chair by David Rowland, New Edition
By Howe, David Rowland
Located in Courbevoie, FR
40/4 chair by David Rowland, new edition. Its elegant lines, excellent ergonomics, and unsurpassed ability to create space without taking up space continues to attract architects and...
Plywood