13 March 2025

Craftsman Modern

BassamFellows embodies a new era of functional beauty and enduring style.

Furniture and design house, BassamFellows, has built a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and refined design over two decades. Founded by Australian architect Craig Bassam and American creative director Scott Fellows, the brand has evolved across continents, establishing a design language that is pure, thoughtful, and visually captivating.

From hand-sculpted wooden furniture and meticulous leatherwork to architecture and creative direction, BassamFellows embraces a multidisciplinary philosophy of “total design.” Each piece reflects a deep devotion to construction and craft, with an emphasis on Modernist clarity and timeless elegance. Their approach is rooted in a harmony between functional simplicity and sculptural expression, where rich materials—celebrated rather than concealed create a natural atmosphere of warmth and sophistication.

BASSAMFELLOWS SPINDLE CHAIR by Craig Bassam – Inspired by the classic English Windsor Chair which dates back to the 18th century, the Spindle Chair evokes a juxtaposition between old and new by stripping the distinctive Windsor silhouette to its essence—making the legs and spindles as slender as possible and crafting them from metal rather than wood. Shown here in carved solid Walnut with Satin Brass plate spindles.

SPOKE DINING TABLE by Craig Bassam – The Spoke Dining Table features a large wooden ring supported by three or four spokes that seamlessly connect to the outer edges, creating a precise timber circle crafted by master artisans to emphasize the wood’s natural grain. The table’s elliptical legs create a slim, refined silhouette that complements the bold geometry of the top. With no hard edges, the legs shift in appearance, looking wide or thin depending on the viewing angle. Shown here in carved solid Walnut.

Based in Connecticut, a region steeped in Modernist history, the brand draws inspiration from its surroundings, combining the influence of the Bauhaus with a reverence for nature. This sensibility is evident in iconic pieces like the sculpted Tractor Stool and the radiant Circular Table Series, where ergonomic design meets the technical precision of geometry.

For BassamFellows, Modernism is not a static concept but a continually evolving dialogue between craft and industrial production. The brand’s studio is housed in the landmark Schlumberger Administration Building, designed by Philip Johnson in the 1950s, a fitting home for a company that both preserves and redefines Modernist ideals for the future.

BASSAMFELLOWS GEOMETRIC LOUNGE CHAIR by Craig Bassam – This design is a celebration of the pure geometry championed by the Wiener Werkstätte and Bauhaus. Simple, graphic, tubular steel creates a set of silhouettes in an unbroken line, suspending the softest of leather upholstered seating panels and backs. The tubular steel is wrapped with natural leather to conceal all joins and seams. Shown here in Walnut and Satin Nickel.

The BassamFellows is an ongoing exploration of how tradition and modernity, nature and culture, can intersect in the creation of beautiful, functional objects. Through a thoughtful balance of form, materials, and craftsmanship, BassamFellows embodies a vision of what they call “Craftsman Modern.”

BassamFellows collection is available to view at the Simon James Furniture & Lighting showroom at 47 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden.

BASSAMFELLOWS CLUSTER STOOLS by Craig Bassam – The Cluster Stool is part of a long tradition of Modernist stools, built to withstand constant use while offering maximum functionality. The goal was to create a piece with visual weight and density, yet capable of stacking neatly when not in use. When grouped, the sculptural elements of the tapered legs and the curved seat panels become more prominent, transforming the stools into an incidental installation. Shown here in Walnut.

BASSAMFELLOWS BRUTUS ARMLESS CHAIR by Craig Bassam – The Brutus is intended to look more cut than constructed, as if it has been weathered naturally over time and then manipulated into a single sculptural element. The option of Vienna caning on the seat pays homage to some of BassamFellows favorite designs from the 1950s, while the upholstered version has a butter-soft leather pad with suspension webbing for maximum comfort. Each Brutus features the same style of elliptical legs which appear broad from one perspective, remarkably thin from another – similar to a shark’s fin. Shown here in Walnut with Vienna cane seat.