La revue
PHILIPPE STARCK : 
FROM EVERYDAY OBJECTS TO THE OLYMPIC FLAME OF THE 1992 WINTER GAMES

Born in 1949, Philippe Starck is a major figure in French design. He founded his first company in 1968, creating inflatable objects that already reflected his thinking on materiality and the boundaries of design. For the designer, an object is not just a utilitarian and functional artifact but also part of a staged performance.

In 1979, he founded Starck Product, a company focused on the development of industrialized objects. His collaborations with Italian publishers such as Alessi, Kartell, Flos, Cassina, Vitra, and Driade contributed to a wide dissemination of his creations. With his creatively accessible objects, Starck aimed to enhance everyday life by adding a touch of humor and surprise to ordinary gestures. Regarded as one of the pioneers of "democratic design", Starck advocates for his vision and philosophy: an object must be good and useful before it is beautiful.

In the context of the freedom of expression prevalent in the 1980s, Philippe Starck was part of a new generation of designers alongside Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti, Martin Szekely, Olivier Gagnère, among others. While initially influenced by Memphis and its postmodern aesthetic, his style evolved over time towards more streamlined organic forms.

It was in the 1980s that Philippe Starck became known to the general public and gained international fame when President François Mitterrand chose his design project for the private apartments of the Élysée Palace. The creation of the Richard III armchair in 1982 occurred in this context, as did the Fauteuil J. with three legs in 1984, from the Lang series, named after the Minister of Culture of the same name. During the same years, the designer created for the Spanish publisher Disform a high-backed tripod chair, the Miss Wirt model, whose name was taken from the science fiction novel Ubik by Philip K. Dick. This work inspired him to the point of renaming his company from Starck Product to Ubik.

The prolific work of Philippe Starck encompasses all areas of design: domestic and urban furniture, architecture, interior decoration, lighting, accessories, office supplies, tableware, and more. His creations can be found worldwide, in hotels and restaurants in Tokyo, New York, Hong Kong, Mexico, and beyond. After designing the Olympic flame for the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, the Paris 2024 bid committee asked him to create the medals for the upcoming Olympic Games. Philippe Starck continues to leave his mark on the history of contemporary design.


Philippe Starck (né en 1949) & Disform (éditeur)
Suite of five chairs, model "Miss Wirt" created in 1982
Tripod base made of black lacquered tubular metal, circular seat, backrest upholstered in black cotton canvas
Sold for €10,500 on February 29, 2024.

Upcoming auction in preparation
Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 2:30 PM

For any further information or to include a lot in our upcoming auctions, please contact:
Jessica Remy-Catanese
+33 (0)7 61 72 43 19 - remy@aguttes.com