Costes Chairs in Black Leather, Mahogany & Steel by Philippe Starck for Aleph / Driade, 1980s, Set of 6

Model · Costes
Designer · Philippe Starck
Manufacturer · Aleph / Driade
Origin · Italy
Period · 1980s
Style · Postmodern / Italian Modern
Materials · Mahogany veneer, painted steel, leather
Colour · Mahogany brown, black

Object

The Costes Chair is one of Philippe Starck's defining early designs and an object closely connected to the emergence of his international career.

Designed in 1984 for Café Costes in Paris, the chair was conceived specifically for the celebrated interior Starck created for the restaurant. Rather than treating furniture as something separate from the architecture, he designed the Costes as part of the atmosphere of the space itself.

Its construction is immediately recognisable. A curved mahogany veneer shell wraps around the back, enclosing a compact black leather seat, while three slender painted steel legs support the composition below. The unusual three-legged structure was both a visual decision and a practical response to the tightly arranged tables of the café.

The relationship between materials gives the chair much of its character. Warm mahogany forms the architectural outer surface, black leather provides softness at the centre, and the thin steel structure almost disappears beneath them. Seen from behind, the chair becomes an uninterrupted curved wooden volume; from the front, it appears considerably lighter and more open.

As a set of six, the repeated mahogany shells create a particularly strong composition around a table. The Costes remains unmistakably of the 1980s, yet its combination of geometry, material and structural economy has allowed it to outlive the period that produced it.

Designer

Philippe Starck (born 1949) is one of the most influential and prolific designers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Born in Paris, Starck studied at the École Camondo before establishing his own practice in the late 1960s. His early experiments ranged from inflatable objects to interiors, and by the 1970s he was developing increasingly ambitious environments for Parisian nightclubs and cultural spaces.

His international breakthrough came during the 1980s. Starck's work moved freely between interiors, furniture, lighting and everyday objects, often combining highly recognisable forms with an interest in industrial production and accessibility.

The Costes Chair belongs to this pivotal moment. Designed for one specific Parisian interior, it became an independent design icon and helped establish the language that would define much of Starck's subsequent furniture.

Manufacturer

Driade was founded in Italy in 1968 by Enrico Astori, Antonia Astori and Adelaide Acerbi with the ambition of bringing experimentation into industrial furniture production.

From its earliest years, the company developed its identity through collaborations with architects and designers rather than through a single stylistic language. Its catalogue brought together figures including Enzo Mari, Nanda Vigo, De Pas, D'Urbino & Lomazzi and Lella and Massimo Vignelli.

During the 1980s, Driade's collaboration with Philippe Starck became particularly significant. Through the Aleph division, designs including the Costes helped introduce Starck's increasingly international approach into Italian production.

The collaboration produced some of the most recognisable furniture associated with both Starck and Driade during the period, combining experimental forms with sophisticated industrial manufacturing.

Condition

All four chairs are presented in good vintage condition and retain their original manufacturer's labels.

The mahogany veneer shells, painted metal structures and black leather seats remain well preserved, showing only light traces of age and use.

The leather retains its depth and character, while the wooden surfaces preserve the warm brown-orange tone fundamental to the design.

Overall, the set presents exceptionally well, with signs of only minimal previous use.

Dimensions

Width · 47 cm / 18.5 in
Depth · 54 cm / 21.3 in
Height · 80 cm / 31.5 in
Seat height · 47 cm / 18.5 in

Included

The set of six Costes Chairs is accompanied by a Back to the Furniture Certificate of Originality, a Back to the Furniture flyer, a Thank You card and a small gift.

Availability

The set is ready to ship within 10 business days.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available. Every piece is carefully prepared and packed for international transport. Shipping costs are calculated according to destination at checkout, with tracking provided after dispatch.

Enquiries

For questions about the pieces, their condition, shipping, delivery or any other details, please get in touch. Additional information is always available before purchase.

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