5280 Home – August 2019

COURTESY OF OBJETI (4)

“I come from a family of

makers and entrepre-

neurs,” says Joseph Ribic, found-

er of Objeti. He’s not kidding

about his hands-on inheritance.

His father founded a preci-

sion aerospace manufacturing

company (in layman’s terms: he

made engine parts from superal-

loys) after moving from Slovenia

to Ohio in 1970. So when Denver-

based Ribic created his first

furniture collection—which he

unveiled at ICFF in 2010—he

took inspiration from his roots.

“The name Objeti is derived

from the Slovenian word for ‘em-

brace,’ ” he says—a nod to the

brand’s signature union of form

and function.

Ribic’s boutique design

studio caters to architects and

designers in search of modern-

ist custom pieces and projects;

recent work for restaurants has

included walnut spindle chairs

with candy-red legs, and fluted

and distressed bar stools. “The

furniture designer Charlotte

Perriand [1903-1999], who

worked closely with Corbusier,

[has] a huge influence [on my

work],” Ribic says.

Objeti fabricates its wares

in-house and partners with ar-

tisans around the globe—think

Amish woodworkers in Ohio,

alabaster sculptors in Volterra,

Italy, and even a Turkish fez-

hat-maker who crafts Objeti’s

Soft Tools pendant lamps,

which feature white wool interi-

ors and fez-burgundy shades.

Ribic’s next venture, Fiction,

launches in August and will

bring products including modu-

lar bookshelves and powder-

coated sheet-metal bookends

to the masses. (Objeti will keep

these products in stock for quick

delivery.) “Ultimately, I want to

create conversations through

products,” Ribic says. “My goal

is to entice people into needing

to find out more about my de-

signs. And I hope the owners of

each piece are so infatuated with

it that they have a sentimental

story about how they found it or

why they bought it.” objeti.com

Objeti

THE MAKER

3

From top: Objeti's Hald dining table

($3,800) and Ebb chairs ($700 each)

stand before the Civilta shelving system

(starting at $450). Aldea bookends

($48 per set, available online at

fiction.design); Drop bar stool ($550)

THE GUIDE TO

LOCAL

FURNITURE

DESIGNERS

42 | 5280 HOME | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

elements for design

the final touch for any style

Joseph Ribic

continued

COURTESY OF OBJETI (4)

“Icomefroma familyof

makersandentrepre-

neurs,”saysJosephRibic,found-

erofObjeti.He’snotkidding

abouthishands-oninheritance.

Hisfatherfoundeda preci-

sionaerospacemanufacturing

company(inlayman’sterms:he

madeenginepartsfromsuperal-

loys)aftermovingfromSlovenia

toOhioin1970.SowhenDenver-

basedRibiccreatedhisfirst

furniturecollection—whichhe

unveiledatICFFin2010—he

tookinspirationfromhisroots.

“ThenameObjetiis derived

fromtheSlovenianwordfor‘em-

brace,’” hesays—anodtothe

brand’ssignatureunionofform

andfunction.

Ribic’sboutiquedesign

studiocaterstoarchitectsand

designersinsearchofmodern-

istcustompiecesandprojects;

recentworkforrestaurantshas

includedwalnutspindlechairs

withcandy-redlegs,andfluted

anddistressedbarstools.“The

furnituredesignerCharlotte

Perriand[1903-1999],who

workedcloselywithCorbusier,

[has]a hugeinfluence[onmy

work],”Ribicsays.

Objetifabricatesitswares

in-houseandpartnerswithar-

tisansaroundtheglobe—think

AmishwoodworkersinOhio,

alabastersculptorsinVolterra,

Italy,andevena Turkishfez-

hat-makerwhocraftsObjeti’s

SoftToolspendantlamps,

whichfeaturewhitewoolinteri-

orsandfez-burgundyshades.

Ribic’snextventure,Fiction,

launchesinAugustandwill

bringproductsincludingmodu-

larbookshelvesandpowder-

coatedsheet-metalbookends

tothemasses.(Objetiwillkeep

theseproductsinstockforquick

delivery.)“Ultimately,I wantto

createconversationsthrough

products,”Ribicsays.“Mygoal

is toenticepeopleintoneeding

tofindoutmoreaboutmyde-

signs.AndI hopetheownersof

eachpiecearesoinfatuatedwith

it thattheyhavea sentimental

storyabouthowtheyfoundit or

whytheyboughtit.”objeti.com

Objeti

THEMAKER

3

Fromtop: Objeti'sHalddiningtable

($3,800)andEbbchairs($700each)

standbeforetheCiviltashelvingsystem

(startingat$450).Aldeabookends

($48perset,availableonlineat

fiction.design);Dropbarstool($550)

THE GUIDE TO

LOCAL

FURNITURE

DESIGNERS

42 | 5280 HOME|AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

Joseph Ribic

continued