Kartell's Masters chair, by Philippe Starck with Eugeni Quitllet, is a tribute to three famous chairs of the 20th century, folded into one design. Here we explain which chairs it references, how that shows up in its shape, and where it works best at home, from the dining table to the garden.
The three chairs behind the Masters
The Masters Chair interweaves the silhouettes of three icons of 20th-century design:
- Arne Jacobsen's Series 7
- Eero Saarinen's Tulip armchair
- Charles Eames' Eiffel chair
Rather than copying any one of them, Starck and Quitllet weave their unmistakable silhouettes together into a single sinuous, graphic form, so the chair reads as something new while still nodding to all three.
That is what makes it a good conversation piece. Anyone with an interest in design will spot the references, and anyone without one will still enjoy the shape. It also means the Masters sits comfortably in very different rooms: it has enough history in it to suit a period house, and a graphic enough outline to look at home in a modern flat.
Around the dining table
The Masters is light and practical, which is exactly what you want in a dining chair that gets pulled in and out several times a day. In a smaller kitchen-diner, a chair that is easy to move around makes a real difference.
It comes in White, Grey, Sage Green, Mustard, Rusty Orange and Black. A few ways to use the colours:
- One colour throughout: six in Black or White look crisp and graphic, and let the shape do the talking.
- Two colours alternated: Sage Green with Grey, or Mustard with White, adds interest without feeling busy.
- Head-of-table accent: keep the sides in a neutral and put Rusty Orange at each end.
- Mixed set: pick up colours from a rug, artwork or your tableware, so each chair has a reason to be there.
At a desk or outdoors
The Masters also makes a characterful desk chair. In a home office or a bedroom corner, a single chair in a strong colour can lift an otherwise plain workspace. If the desk lives in a shared room, choose a colour that already appears elsewhere in the space, so the chair looks planned rather than borrowed from the kitchen.
It can be used outdoors too, so a pair works well around a small bistro table on a terrace or balcony. Choose a colour that sits well with your planting: Sage Green blends into the greenery, while Mustard or Rusty Orange stands out against it.
What to put beside it
A chair this graphic pairs nicely with something simple. The Max-Beam Stool, by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, is a stool and side table in one, with thick transparent walls that catch the light. Next to a Masters at a desk, it holds a lamp or a stack of books; at the table, it doubles as extra seating when more guests arrive. It comes in Crystal, Amber, Tangerine Orange, Blue Sunset, Fume, Dusty Pink and Aquamarine Green, so you can match or contrast with your chair colour.
You can see more of the designer's work in our Philippe Starck collection, or browse the wider Kartell furniture range and the full Kartell collection. If you are in Somerset, pop into the shop to try the chair for yourself, or contact the team for advice on colours.
