Cato Seagrass Bench

Handwoven natural seagrass on a brushed gunmetal curule frame - the Cato bench where ancient form meets organic material in a piece that is genuinely beautiful from every angle.

The curule form - the arching X-frame with curved outswept legs is one of furniture design's oldest and most enduring silhouettes, with roots in ancient Rome and a continued presence in the best contemporary design for the simple reason that the proportions are timeless. The Cato brings that form in brushed gunmetal metal with a handwoven natural seagrass seat that gently sags between the frame rails in the characteristic hammock curve that makes this style of bench immediately comfortable and visually relaxed. The contrast between the dark architectural metal and the warm organic seagrass is the material tension that makes the Cato so visually interesting from every angle.

What sets it apart

The detail that makes it different

The seagrass seat is woven directly onto the metal frame rails rather than sitting on a solid base, the natural give and slight sag of the woven surface creates a seat that is comfortable in a way that a rigid alternative cannot achieve, the seagrass yielding slightly under weight and distributing it across the woven surface. The decorative rope rosettes at the corners of the seat where the seagrass is secured to the metal frame add a hand-finished quality visible in the images,  the kind of detail that makes a piece feel individually crafted. The brushed gunmetal finish gives the arching curule legs a contemporary edge that prevents the classical form from feeling period or reproduction.