First Edition Ed Archer Chairs in Black Leather and Aluminium by Philippe Starck for Aleph, 1987, Set of 8

Set of 8 x 1st Edition Philippe Starck Black Leather and Aluminium Ed Archer chairs for Aleph 1987.

The Ed Archer chair by Starck is possibly one of the most perfect representations of his early more provocative design style – the leather harness sweeps and curves inwards like a full length dress and is bound and laced at the rear with the back of the frame supported by a single sharp, polished aluminium stiletto heel. They are a striking set of chairs that effortlessly crosses the boundary between design and art.

The 1st Editions were produced by the Italian specialist design manufacturer Aleph and later by Driade. The early chairs are recognised by both the ‘Aleph by Starck’ imprint behind the front skirt and also by the fact that the lacing extends from under the seat downwards on the back panel towards the signature; as shown in the photographs. Later models only had the lacing under the seat.

​Unfortunately we cannot find any reference (despite also contacting the Starck company direct) as to how and why the chairs got their name. Starck named many of his chairs in this period from characters in a book called Ubik by Philip K Dick – but that does not help us here. Likewise, whilst the aluminium stiletto heel also features in the M, Série Lang tables and the J, Série Lang Arm Chairs these were named after the French Minister for Culture, Jack Lang. Lang chose Starck to refurbish the then French President François Mitterrand private apartments; but that, again, does not tell us who Ed Archer was…

The chairs are in very good vintage condition for their age (close to 40 years old) and have some marks to both the leather and the aluminium legs as you would expect. I’ve tried to show these on the photos by capturing the marks in the light, otherwise they are difficult to see - and that is the important point: I’ve deliberately tried to show the marks but in normal day to day use they simply fade against the spectacle of the design of the chairs themselves. The chairs are comfortable to sit in, which may not be apparent at first sight, but it’s a very ergonomic design that holds your sitting position well.