Set of 4 Atlantide Collection Toy chairs, designed by Philippe Starck for Driade, Italy, 1990s

Description

Set of 4 Atlantide Collection Toy chairs, designed by Philippe Starck for Driade, Italy, 1990s

A set of four Atlantide Collection Toy chairs designed by Philippe Starck for the Italian manufacturer Driade in 1990. Toy is the essence of a chair. A concentrate of elegance and intelligence. It is one of the most recognisable examples of this designer’s minimalist utilitarian design. It symbolises Starck’s creativity and vision, as well as his determination to offer the right product at the right price. The chair is made entirely of moulded polypropylene, giving it a simple, monolithic form. It looks as though it has been sculpted from a single block of material. Its sharp edges, broad armrests and geometric silhouette are distinctive features that give it an almost sculptural appearance. Produced using advanced gas-assisted injection-moulding technology, the Toy chair is lightweight yet durable. We present the chairs in pastel colours: two gray, one lighter yellow-orange and one darker chair in the same colour range. Despite its austere character, Toy is a highly practical piece of furniture. It can be used both indoors and outdoors, for example in a garden, on a terrace, patio or balcony. The chairs are stackable, making them easy to store. Starck’s design combines aesthetics and functionality. It is simple yet striking. Designer-made, yet resistant to everyday use. These are pieces that fit well into modern interiors and public spaces, while their form allows them to become the focal point of an arrangement. All pieces bear a maker’s mark underneath the seat.

Philippe Starck is a multidisciplinary artist born in Paris in 1949. He developed his interests and found inspiration through his father, who was an aeronautical engineer. Starck is an architect known for a wide range of projects spanning interiors, architecture, household objects, furniture, boats and other vehicles. He designed furniture for the Élysée Palace for the then President of France, François Mitterrand. Since 1981, he has designed for his own brand, XO DESIGN. In 2010, he created the Zartan chair for Magis, made entirely from natural materials such as bamboo, flax and hemp fibres—a non-toxic and biodegradable alternative to plastic. In 2012, he created Broom for Emeco, a zero-waste chair made from materials collected in wood and plastics factories. In 2019, he released Cassina Croque la pomme, a furniture collection for Cassina made entirely from vegan textile produced from apple leather. In 2018, Starck collaborated with Axiom Space to create the interior of a module for the International Space Station. In 2019, the so-called AI chair was presented to the public. Starck worked with experts from Autodesk, a 3D software company, to create a chair design with the help of artificial intelligence. He has collaborated, among others, with Alessi, Kartell, Magis, Aprilla, JC Decaux and Puma AG. Starck’s work can be found in the collections of European and American museums, including the Musée National d’Art Moderne, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, MoMA and the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the Vitra Design Museum in Basel and the Design Museum in London. More than 660 of his designs were catalogued in French public collections in 2011. Starck’s concept of democratic design led him to focus on mass-produced consumer goods rather than one-off pieces, seeking ways to reduce costs and improve the quality of goods on the mass market.

Driade is an Italian manufacturer founded in 1968. Known as an aesthetic laboratory, it combines geometry, rational design and distinctive design. The pursuit of creativity in every project has been its mission since day one. Driade creates exceptional, one-of-a-kind and unconventional products, with a strong emphasis on innovation. Over the years, the company has collaborated with many renowned designers. It has received numerous international awards and distinctions.

The chairs are preserved in their original vintage condition, with minor signs of use, scuffs, scratches and fading. The seat height is 43 cm.

The colours of the products shown in the photographs may differ slightly from the actual hues. This is due to individual monitor settings and the type of lighting—the photographs were taken in artificial light, which may affect how the shades are perceived. We nevertheless strive to ensure that the photographs reflect the actual appearance of the product as accurately as possible. The listing may include photographs of the item in an interior. These are for illustrative purposes.