maarten baas at contrasts gallery in design miami / basel 2008

according to baas, the chair ‘could be something you’d see in an antique shop. it’s only when you look at it twice

that you realize you’ve seen it before.the piece is inspired by china’s paradoxes. in china there’s so much craft’,

says baas. ‘they can do things that you just couldn’t find in holland. but they can also copy very well’. the form also references the vogue in shanghai for kitsch and plastic, contrasting disposable, mass-produced goods with treasured, handcrafted objects.

‘chinese objects object’ by maarten baas, 2008 – carved camphor wood with varnish image © designboom

‘chinese objects object’ by maarten baas, 2008 – carved camphor wood with varnish image © designboom

maarten baas at contrasts gallery in design miami / basel 2008 image © designboom

maarten baas at contrasts gallery in design miami / basel 2008 image © designboom

‘plastic chair in wood’ by maarten baas, 2008 – carved camphor wood with varnish image © designboom

‘plastic chair in wood’ by maarten baas, 2008 – carved camphor wood with varnish

‘plastic chair in wood’ by maarten baas, 2008 – carved camphor wood with varnish image © designboom

‘stacked plastic stools in wood’ by maarten baas, 2008 – carved camphor wood with varnish image © designboom

‘stacked plastic stools in wood’ by maarten baas, 2008 – carved camphor wood with varnish image © designboom

‘plastic stool in wood’ by maarten baas, 2008 – carved camphor wood with varnish image © designboom

contrast gallery: http://www.contrastgallery.com maarten baas: http://www.maartenbaas.com