Iconic ‘Dr. Sonderbar’ Armchair by Philippe Starck for XO, France 1983

An iconic ‘Dr. Sonderbar’ armchair, designed by Philippe Starck and produced by XO in France. The model was introduced in 1983 and is one of Starck’s most recognizable experimental seating designs from the early 1980s. Starck’s own archive documents the Dr. Sonderbar for XO, while auction literature consistently dates the production model to 1983. The chair is reduced to an exceptionally light, almost diagrammatic structure.

Three slender tubular steel legs support a broad semicircular back and armrest, while a second sweeping curve runs beneath it and carries the suspended seat. The small perforated sheet-metal seat follows the curvature of the frame, creating an intriguing tension between its minimal surface and the unusually generous width of the chair. Executed in chrome-plated tubular steel and perforated sheet steel, the monochromatic construction emphasizes the purity of its geometry.

From the front, the intersecting arcs give the chair an almost graphic quality; viewed from the side, its radical three-legged structure becomes particularly apparent. Period examples are documented by major auction houses with the same materials and dimensions. Dr. Sonderbar is an important example of Starck’s early postmodern work, balancing rigorous reduction with a playful and deliberately unconventional approach to function. The model is represented in the permanent collection of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. This example retains visible traces of age and use to the metal surface, including light scratches, marks and areas of oxidation, adding character without detracting from the clarity of the design. Measurements: H 63 x W 90 x D 47 x SH 38 cm