Lot 56 Philippe Starck

A PAIR OF 'PRATFALL' CHAIRS BY PHILIPPE STARCK, c.1985, the curved plywood backs, on tubular steel legs, with black leather seats. Each bearing makers label. Philippe Stark was born in Paris in 1949. His father was an aeronautical engineer and so Starck grew up in an environment where he felt 'it was his duty to create'. Having studied at the Ecole Nissim deCamondo in Paris, Starck began his career winning the Furniture Design award LaVilette in 1965. In 1980 he set up his company Starck Products. In the same year he came to public prominence when he was invited to design the privae rooms of President Francois Mitterand's private rooms in The Elysee Palace and when he designed the interior of Cafe Costes, Paris in 1983 Starck became a global name. The pratfall chair was designed with the Cafe Costes in mind. The tripod base was to ensure that waiters were less likely to trip over the legs.