Five highlights of an inaugural presentation at Masterly, the Dutch Pavilion in Milano, picked by Masterly’s creator, Nicole Uniquole
New, contemporary interpretations of iconic pieces to be showcased in Masterly, the Dutch Pavilion during Design Week and mirrored in an online auction on Catawiki
From a Dutch take on Eames, to a reimagining of Sapper's Plico folding trolley, the auction begins today at 5PM CEST until 8PM CEST 28 April and is open to design enthusiasts around the world
Milan, 15 April 2024: A week-long dedicated programme and one of the design calendar’s most notable events, Milan Design Week sees numerous big brands and studios in the design, interior and fashion industries present large-scale installations that will take over the city and its surroundings. To help discover the needles worth finding in the haystack, Nicole Uniquole, founder and curator of Masterly, the renowned Dutch pavilion in Milano, has revealed her top five picks in a first-of-its-kind exhibition in the Palazzo Giureconsulti, Mastlery’s adopted home during Design Week for the past eight years.
The exhibition, in partnership with Catawiki, the leading online marketplace founded in the Netherlands in 2008, brings together a series of both established and emerging creators who were tasked by Uniquole and Catawiki to respond to iconic designs from past heroes and legends. The creators will bring newly designed, limited edition pieces that are exclusive to Catawiki and form the backbone of the presentation which will be mirrored in the online auction, until 8.00PM CEST Sunday 28 April.
Nicole Uniquole’s five highlights of the Catawiki x Masterly exhibition and auction:
Stefan Scholten, The Netherlands, on Eames
Estimate: €15,000 - €18,000
Stefan Scholten has become one of the defining voices of Dutch Design, since graduating from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 1995. He is known for his reductionist design style, combined with a unique use of colour.
Left to right: icon (Charles and Ray Eames’ Lounge chair), Studio Stefan Scholten’s chaise longue
Following Catawiki’s commission to reimagine Charles and Ray Eames’ Lounge chair, Studio Stefan Scholten researched every part of the iconic design, seeking its essence. This reductionist approach led to merging the chair and the ottoman in one piece, creating a sculptural piece with the original ergonomic silhouette and carefully-studied proportions. Wood becomes the central part of this reinterpretation, stripping the chair of upholstery and metal parts, for a true Californian look.
Grace of Glaze, The Netherlands, on Émile Gallé
Estimate: €2,000 - €2,200
Simone Doesburg is a Dutch ceramicist and designer based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. With her porcelain tableware brand, Grace of Glaze, she redefines the ordinary, transforming everyday moments into extraordinary displays of beauty and wonder.
Left to right: icon (Émile Gallé), Grace of Glaze dinner set
Keep an eye out for the custom-coloured dinnerware set, crafted in homage of the Emile Gallé vase at the upcoming auction. Drawing inspiration from the vase's deep winter blues and warm summer heat hues, this collection promises a harmonious fusion of both seasons. The handmade dinner plates, deep plates and bowls are poised to offer a truly unique and enchanting dining experience for those who appreciate artistic finesse.
Vonn Jansen on Gianfranco Frattini Side Tables
Estimate: €5,000 - €6,000
Vonn Jansen is a young, upcoming design brand run by Nick and Sophie Jansen. The Dutch brother and sister took over the family company and created their high-end furniture brand using the beautiful craftsmanship from their past to create new, modern designs.
Left to right: icon (Gianfranco Frattini Side Tables), Vonn Jansen’s “Bernini’s Trinity”
Vonn Jansen took inspiration from the Gianfranco Frattini side tables and one of their signature designs; the “Trinity Dining Table”. Featuring amazing veneers in beautiful patterns, the square shapes are uplifted and turned into a high-end version of the design it's based on.
Bhulls on Sapper's Plico Folding Trolley
Estimate: €800 - €1,000
Bhulls is an independent Italian design studio that specialises in creating collectable designs. Partners in both life and work, Ricardo Parmiciano Borgström and Giorgia Farina design unconventional objects that blur the lines between art and design.
Left to right: icon (Sapper’s Plico Folding Trolley), Bhulls’ Replico”
A contemporary re-interpretation of the iconic design of Sapper's Plico folding trolley. “Replico” is a sculptural low table that emphasises the slender form of the open trolley, freezing it in time. This object combines both the aesthetic tension and functionality of the cantilevered tabletops that Sapper used in Plico, but presents them in a fixed design. Made entirely of aluminium, it consists of three sheets of metal that are folded and joined together with four pins. The black colour adds a sense of sobriety and elegance to the design and, combined with the red painted joint details, becomes a clear reference to Sapper's signature style. The design focuses on simple, open and zero-waste principles.
Antonio Barone on Isamu Noguchi’s “Freeform” sofa
Estimate: €2,500 - €3,000
Antonio Barone studied Industrial Design at Politecnico di Milano and has worked in Italy and the Netherlands. He likes to think of objects as a system of reversible companions, carrying a degree of flexibility that would allow us to shift our everyday experience through ordinary materials.
Left to right: icon (Isamu Noguchi’s “Freeform” sofa), Antonio Barone’s loveseat
This project, inspired by the “Freeform” sofa by Isamu Noguchi, is a result of the juxtaposition of a series of organic, moldable cushions laid over a grid platform. A sort of reinterpretation of the rational tabula-rasa, in search of comfort.
Nicole Uniqole commented: “This is the very first time Masterly has partnered with an online marketplace and I’m thrilled to bring Catawiki, another thriving Dutch brand under Masterly’s roof. Not only will visitors to the Palazzo have the opportunity to see these unique designs up close, they can actually bid and own these pieces alongside others around the world. It is a tremendously exciting moment and opportunity for those who share a deep love for forward-thinking design around the world.”
The exhibition and online auction titled “Homage”, the first of four in a series of exclusive Catawiki x Masterly auctions, runs from 5PM CEST Monday 15 April, until 8pm CEST Sunday 28 April. The pieces can be seen at the Catawiki presentation at Masterly in the Palazzo Giureconsulti (second floor, room 21) during Masterly opening hours from Tuesday 16 - Sunday 21 April. Explore “Homage” on Catawiki here.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
High resolution images can be downloaded here.
Spokespeople available for interview both at Milan during Design Week and online include the designers, Catawiki’s VP of Interiors, Morten Joergensen and Catawiki design expert Eleonore Floret.
MASTERLY X CATAWIKI AUCTION DATES: 15-28 April | 28 June - 9 July | 4-15 October | 22 November - 3 December
CATAWIKI @ MASTERLY, MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2024
Palazzo Giureconsulti, Piazza del Duomo, Milano
Second floor, room 21
Press preview: Monday 15th April, 3 PM - 7 PM
Opening hours:
Tuesday, 11 AM - 4.30 PM
Wednesday to Saturday, 11 AM - 8 PM
Sunday, 11 AM - 3 PM
About Catawiki
Catawiki is the leading online marketplace for special objects that fulfil people’s passions. Over 75,000 objects are offered in auction every week - each reviewed and selected by one of Catawiki’s hundreds of in-house experts specialised in Art, Design, Jewellery, Fashion, Classic Cars, Collectables and much more. Catawiki is headquartered in Amsterdam with over 750 employees across the world. Fulfil your passion on catawiki.com or download the app.
