
ANURA BLACK

Designer
Aldo BakkerManufacture
Rutger GraasCirca
2013
Description
Bakker describes the design idea of ‘Anura' as one continuous shape to integrate the seat, back, and legs of the seat. His intention is to make the transitions between the supporting members of the seat seamless. Anura was initially created for the Wallpaper\* handmade series and was made in collaboration with leather manufacturer Santiago Gonzalez. The commission resulted in a stool with a submissive, animal-like posture that was upholstered with alligator skin. The Anura seat has been developed in a couple of editions of 5 and 6 involving different finishes. The sculptural stool is hand-carved from one solid piece of Maple wood by long-time collaborator and master woodcrafter, Rutger Graas. The edition presented at Atelier Courbet is hand-painted with a black varnish. Rutger Graas is responsible for almost all the wooden furniture of Aldo Bakker. He works as an independent craftsman in a studio north of Amsterdam. ‘Ever since I started collaborating with Aldo I have been challenged to push the limit of my work. Aldo’s commitment to his vision of objects’ design, life, and the matter has been most inspiring to me and to why I am working as an independent craftsman. My point of views in regards to details or overall balance and aesthetic only comes into place when looking for solutions to Aldo’s design ideas, which can be sometimes challenging.’ – Rutger Graas EXHIBITIONS Galerie Vivid, 2014 Libby Sellers, 2014 Cuypershuis Roermond, 2015 CID Grand Hornu Museum, 2017
Aldo Bakker
Aldo Bakker
Born in the Netherlands in 1971 to Dutch designers Gijs Bakker and Emmy Van Leersum, Bakker grew up in an environment infused with a strong aesthetic sensibility. Rather than a formal design education, he forged his own path by training as a silversmith. Bakker set up his own studio in 1994, later moving into furniture and product design.
Bakker is interested in organic forms and movements that defy time, zeitgeist, functionality, and purpose. Those who see Aldo’s design for the first time are often drawn to the form or the materiality before they wonder what their purpose is.
This engaging and intriguing moment is important to the designer who grew his own unconventional approach to design in the scholarly household of two Dutch design icons. As opposed to most designers, Bakker rarely starts a design idea from the desire to solve a problem or address practical needs. Most of his objects start from the fascination for the timeless beauty of a form and the movement it may suggest; the form and its movement would then inspire a function. The cleverness and oddity of Aldo’s designs give his objects some type of natural legitimacy and timelessness.
Bakker’s pieces result from the dexterity of his master craftsmen collaborators — silversmith Jan Matthesius, ceramicist Frans Ottink, woodcrafter Rutger Graas, urushi master Sergej Kirilov or metalsmith Andre van Loon among others.
Widely published and exhibited in Europe today, Aldo held his first large exhibition at the Amsterdam Gallery ‘Binnen’. Invited by Ilse Crawford of the Eindhoven Design Academy in 2002, Bakker has fulfilled a successful tenure at the Design university for over ten years. Today the designer continues selected collaborations with renown manufacturers while further completing his personal collection with master craftsmen and galleries around the world.
Aldo Bakker
Born in the Netherlands in 1971 to Dutch designers Gijs Bakker and Emmy Van Leersum, Bakker grew up in an environment infused with a strong aesthetic sensibility. Rather than a formal design education, he forged his own path by training as a silversmith. Bakker set up his own studio in 1994, later moving into furniture and product design.
Bakker is interested in organic forms and movements that defy time, zeitgeist, functionality, and purpose. Those who see Aldo’s design for the first time are often drawn to the form or the materiality before they wonder what their purpose is.
This engaging and intriguing moment is important to the designer who grew his own unconventional approach to design in the scholarly household of two Dutch design icons. As opposed to most designers, Bakker rarely starts a design idea from the desire to solve a problem or address practical needs. Most of his objects start from the fascination for the timeless beauty of a form and the movement it may suggest; the form and its movement would then inspire a function. The cleverness and oddity of Aldo’s designs give his objects some type of natural legitimacy and timelessness.
Bakker’s pieces result from the dexterity of his master craftsmen collaborators — silversmith Jan Matthesius, ceramicist Frans Ottink, woodcrafter Rutger Graas, urushi master Sergej Kirilov or metalsmith Andre van Loon among others.
Widely published and exhibited in Europe today, Aldo held his first large exhibition at the Amsterdam Gallery ‘Binnen’. Invited by Ilse Crawford of the Eindhoven Design Academy in 2002, Bakker has fulfilled a successful tenure at the Design university for over ten years. Today the designer continues selected collaborations with renown manufacturers while further completing his personal collection with master craftsmen and galleries around the world.

Aldo Bakker Collection

SOY POURER

SILVER SALT CELLAR

CONSOLE BLACK

ANURA WHITE

URUSHI CONSOLE

TONUS INDIGO

PINK URUSHI STOOL BON

FAT ONE

WATER CARAFE

THREE-PAIR | IVORY MARBLE

PIVOT

TONUS URUSHI

LAC TABLE

VINEGAR FLASK

PIPE

POSE

CANDLE

THREE-PAIR | BASALTINA

ONE LEG MAHOGANY

SWING

SUPPORT

THREE-PAIR | BLACK MARBLE

GREEN LOW TABLE

CONSOLE GREEN

OIL PLATTER

BLACK SALT CELLAR

SQUARE POURER

SILVER POURER

MILK | OIL CAN

TONUS WOOD

A. BAKKER | CHALICE

RED URUSHI

CONSOLE TABLE

ANURA BLACK

SILVER CARAFE

REIGEN | A. BAKKER

ONE LEG URUSHI

STOOL BON

A. BAKKER | ARTEFACT

JUG+CUP

GREEN SIDE TABLE