Vogue Living Australia - Caste Design

The collection, initially made entirely by hand, was soldexclusively in Chicago, where, in 2007, Best opened Caste galleryand store with businessman and fellow Montana native BradRowley. “I would produce a seasonal collection and drive toChicago to install the pieces in the gallery space,” says Best. Overtime, larger scale showrooms such as retailer Holly Hunt showedan interest, and the designer decided to expand commercially.Best says his “unorthodox” method of producing collections hasbenefited from a shift in perception among collectors and buyers,who now see furniture as an art form in its own right. “The furnitureworld has become much more free and welcoming to peoplelike me,” he says. On occasion, the designer even draws on hisbackground in fashion retail; recently, he made a sculpture outof a piece of salvaged tree bark bound with string and leather.Despite Caste’s commercial growth, Best still prefers to work likean artist, taking his design cues from the stark seasons of Montana.“Nothing is done on the computer,” he says. “It always starts withsculpture. Once I have an idea, I think along functional lines,asking myself: how could this become furniture?”The designer continues to create one-of-a-kind pieces for privatecollectors and limited-edition Caste pieces for furniture shows suchas New York’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair. “Theline has grown to a level where it’s more manufactured, but we’realways trying to differentiate it by injecting special pieces and itemsthat are more custom and art-driven. The balance of those twothings is really what keeps me making furniture.” aaron peasleyFor more information, visit castedesign.com.‘Bridger’ side tables on a vintage rug. “In the dark, these pieces can look a little menacing,”says Best. Below, from left: a bronze, equestrian-style bridle holds the ‘Wishbone’table upright. The tabletop is bleached and cerused wenge; from Caste’s fine artcollection is a sculpture by Best in blackened white oak; the ‘Bridger’ console tablehas a patinated bronze base and blackened white oak top. On the table is Best’ssculpture of driftwood and bronze, balancing on a Snakewood timber platform.photographer: martyn thompson68 Vogue Living Jul/Aug 12