Philippe Starck

PHILIPPE STARCK (Paris, 1949) for XO.
"Doctor Sonderbar" Chair. 1985.
First XO Edition.
Black steel frame.
Measurements: 94 x 90 x 47 cm; 46 cm (seat height).

The chair up for auction is the first special edition of the Doctor Sonderbar model, produced by XO, a design firm that Starck himself co-founded in the mid-1980s.

The postmodern Doctor Sonderbar chair takes Starck’s minimalism to the extreme. It is characterized by its tubular steel frame and minimalist seat, which, together with the curved backrest, give it a modern and elegant look. Its beauty lies in its geometric purity and the interplay of its angular and curved forms. It is considered one of the most iconic pieces of contemporary design and has been featured in numerous design exhibitions around the world. Its timeless design makes it suitable for use in any setting, from offices to homes.

Starck studied at the École Nissim de Camondo in Paris. While working for Adidas, Starck founded his first industrial design firm, Starck Product, which he later renamed Ubik—in honor of the novel by Philip K. Dick—and began working with manufacturers in Italy (Driade), Alessi, Kartell, and internationally, including Drimmer in Austria, Vitra in Switzerland, and Disform in Spain. In 1983, then-French President François Mitterrand, on the recommendation of his Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, chose Starck to renovate the president’s private apartments at the Élysée Palace. The following year, he designed Café Costes.