Basket Lounge Chair
Design by Joe ColomboThe name ‘Basket’ honors the classic hand-weaving technique used in rattan basketry. The collection comprises a three-seater sofa, a two-seater sofa, and a lounge chair, all of which share the same construction. Replacing the inner fiberglass shell that Colombo initially utilized, the core of each piece is now formed from a more environmentally responsible steel skeleton, which provides strength and stability to the unique form. This is covered with a hand-woven rattan skin, made from interlaced strips and oval stakes, a technique that de- mands a tremendous degree of skill and craftsmanship to create.
At first glance, anyone familiar with the work of Joe Colombo would be surprised by the Basket Collection. From a designer known for his futuristic style, his love of technology and his affinity for synthetic materials, a furniture collection in rattan seems like a significant departure from the norm. Look a little closer, however, and the hallmarks of classic Colombo become clear: organic lines, a distinctly modernist aesthetic, and a highly innovative approach to his chosen material.
JOE COLOMBO
The life of maverick Italian designer Joe Colombo (1930–1971) may have been short, but his future-focused vision of intelligent technology and integrated living environments had a revolutionary impact on mid-century design. Colombo’s diverse career began in the world of fine art, studying painting and sculpture at the Brera Academy of Fine Art in his hometown of Milan. He gravitated towards the avant-garde art scene, becoming part of the Movimento Nucleare (Nuclear Movement) of painters, founded by Sergio Dangelo and Enrico Baj, who, inspired by mounting international anxiety about nuclear war, challenged the boundaries of painting with organic forms.