Susi Johnston Bali Blog

I have always been a big fan of small containers. They imply the concealment and protection of something precious, something treasured – - or treacherous. The tribal cultures of Southeast Asia have produced some of the most beautiful and enigmatic small containers ever. Apparently I’m not the only one who thinks this way. Tribal art dealer, Mark Johnson has put up a fascinating little online exhibition this month of small containers. 

Of course, good things come in small packages. But small packages can be very good things in their own right, as well. So if you can’t quite scrape up the cash to give diamonds in a small package, just give a small container instead. Some, like Mark Johnson’s, are treasures themselves, regardless of their contents or lack thereof. Take the three ceremonial feasting bowls above, for example.

Have you got an eye for textiles? Test your textile memory with the Maharam Memory Game, a beautiful, enjoyable and relevant freebie on Maharam’s marvelous website. The game involves remembering the location of textile swatches and pairing them up on screen. Be warned: it’s compulsive.

Maharam is a fourth-generation family run textile business based in New York, with a star line-up of collaborators (including Hella Jongerius, Andrée Putman and Paul Smith), and collections by some of the 20th century’s leading designers (like Gio Ponti, Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffman, and Charles & Ray Eames). 

Maharam’s website is an Aladdin’s cave of gorgeous cloth (like “Massive Paisley”, above), and an absolute delight to use, underlining the company’s long-standing emphasis on service. And, of course, on design. They even grew their own graphic design team called Studio A4, which is evidently bursting with talent. 

Been looking for alternatives to hard-edged modern-minimalist rectilinearity? Alternatives suited to a non-urban, natural island lifestyle? Here’s one – - furniture, lighting and accessories by Bleu Nature. This is rustic primitive minimalism without apology. Driftwood and hairballs against icy white set the tone of their new 2008-2009 collection. It’s beachy and arctic at the same time.

Bleu Nature’s site is nice, too. Its “about” page is utterly enchanting. First off, it’s not called “about”, it’s called “a nice story.” And nice it is. Founder Franck LeFebvre’s portrait reveals a jovial, robust and relaxed character who is patently French. The very same character flavours Bleu Nature’s collections.

“In our studio we build, nail, adjust, fasten and balance our pieces,” LeFebvre states. “All Bleu Nature creations are born of an encounter between the technical mastery of a French craftsman and the prolonged work of nature.”

That’s a theme I can subscribe to. What would a Barcelona Chair look like if it had been washed up on a beach for fifty years? Interesting.