Maker: DGA+RLB
Origins
The Woven Collection, featuring a pendant light and side table, started off as a beautifully weathered rattan planter basked, a reclaimed circular wooden board, and one lonely magazine rack that was rescued from Goodwill in the San Francisco Bay Area. We immediately recognized that the magazine rack was a knockoff of the Arthur Umanoff magazine rack. Arthur was an American-born industrial designer most known for his extensive contribution to the American mid-century modern movement.
Our collection is a nod to Arthur’s design concept: Designs with warmth and subtle functionality that transport us back to the past while simultaneously being the epitome of timelessness. We were hoping to stay true to the original design aesthetic and materiality and wanted to create pieces that will outlast trends.
Process & Materials
In our design and production sessions we focused on creating pieces that add a timeless aesthetic to a living space.
For our side table we carefully sanded and refinished a discarded wooden rondel that fit perfectly onto the rattan basket. Removing a charcoal-colored paint layer with this process we were able to bring out the beautiful wood grain, making it the focal point of our rattan side table.
The two key materials for our suspended light are wood and natural paper cord. Our weaving was another way for us to acknowledge the techniques Arthur used in much of his work, specifically his planters. The use of organic materials throughout was important to us as we were looking to create designs that have an elegant and neutral look.
