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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.
First produced in the late 1960s by specialist rattan furniture
manufacturer Pierantonio Bonacina, who commissioned
Colombo to design it, the Basket Collection is relaunched
by GUBI after decades out of production. GUBI’s reinvention
remains true to Colombo’s vision as presented in his original
drawings from 1967, while optimizing the proportions for the
ergonomic needs of the present day.
The 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 demands a
tremendous degree of skill and craftsmanship to create.
The design demonstrates a balance of both technique and
material, combining traditional artisan methods and one of
the oldest craft materials known to man with the innovative
machined precision of carbon steel – a perfect blend of the
artisanal and the industrial.
Left: Basket 2-seater Sofa upholstered in Glamour Group Drive 1115
Right: Basket Lounge Chair upholstered in Glamour Group Mumble 40
