Best Bets:
Artisanal Designs
Before the age of mass production, everything was made by hand. Some modern designs are still created using those artisan traditions. Explore some of our favorite artisanal designs with a human touch.
Sky Bang LED Chandelier by Stickbulb
When it comes to customization, the sky is the limit with Stickbulb's Sky Bang. These LED sticks are endlessly configurable with the central hub, and a huge array of wood and metal finishes make this firework something worth celebrating.
The colors and textures of Nanimarquina's Tres series put these hand-loomed rugs in their own category. Three types of fiber are woven together to create the rich, prominent structure of this colorblocked design, which are handmade in India by artisans skilled in the dhurrie tradition.
It's not an overstatement to say this chair rocks. Mater's dedication to sustainable forestry and impeccable craftsmanship gives us the gorgeous Rocker, made from solid oak and full-grain leather. This exceptional modern rocking chair has a captivating harness back for support.
CH24 Wishbone Chair by Carl Hansen
We'd never want to pull this wishbone apart, but it's still giving us what we wish for in a gorgeous handmade Danish chair. Hans Wegner's masterpiece design is expertly crafted by the artists at Carl Hansen to the original, exact specifications.
Lenis LED Linear Suspension by Cerno
Cerno's eco-conscious designs always impress us, and the brand's innovative approach is evident in this unusual fixture. This is a statement piece gets its name from the Latin term meaning mild or gentle, illustrated here in the piece's smooth, organic silhouette.
Danish architect Eva Harlou designed this carafe for Mater, which is handcrafted in blown borosilicate glass—like the glass used in laboratories. That means this vessel can hold hot or cold liquid without any fear of breakage due to thermal shock. Pretty cool.
Gem Modern Branch LED Chandelier by Hammerton Studio
Hammerton Studio is a leading American studio with expertise in glass art and steel design. In this innovative design, the handblown glass gems become the light diffusers without any visible light bulb, thanks to LED modules tucked right into the stem.
One of the most durable chairs ever conceived of, Emeco's famous Navy Chair is also one of the best recognized designs in modern dining chairs. There are several iterations of size, material and finish, but the solid recycled aluminum version here is the original 1944 design.
Mimo Cylinder Pendant by Oggetti Luce
Handblown glass doesn't always adhere to a smooth, freeform aesthetic. When blown into molds, precision shapes and textures are not only possible, they're exceptional. Oggetti Luce's Mimo is handblown in Venice, the ancestral home of glassblowing artists for millenia.
Cairn LED Pendant by Hubbardton Forge
Our favorite modern American blacksmiths at Vermont's Hubbardton Forge always have new tricks up their sleeves, like in the Cairn LED Pendant. Poured glass and cast steel “stones” are layered beneath the disc shade for a light and curious aesthetic we can't stop admiring.
Dare we call a clock “timeless?” It doesn't apply to Nomon's precision timepieces and expert clockworks; but it does ring true in their beautiful, elegant designs. We expect Nomon clocks, like the Barcelona here which is named for the city Nomon operates from, to stand the test of time.
Exquisite craftsmanship with every detail in mind is a hallmark of Resident's artisan-produced line. The company employs artists, engineers, architects and designers from New Zealand, keeping both design and manufacturing close to home. Hex is simple, precise elegance in laser-cut aluminum and LED.
