Set of 4 Dr Glob Chairs by Philippe Starck for Kartell, Italy, late 1980s

A set of four Dr Glob chairs, designed by Philippe Starck in 1988 and produced by Kartell in Italy. The Dr Glob was one of Starck's early pieces for Kartell and helped define the design language that made him an internationally recognised name through the late 1980s and 1990s.

The chair was built around a simple but unusual idea: combining two different materials in a single seat to achieve structural rigidity while keeping a light visual presence. The seat is moulded in batch-dyed polypropylene, here in a clear aqua green, with two square-section front legs integrated directly into the seat to form one solid element. Against this sits a slim tubular steel back and rear legs in a satin grey finish, the curved backrest extending the line of the rear supports. The contrast between the heavier plastic seat and the thin metal frame is the defining feature of the design, and the reason the model still reads as distinctly postmodern today.

The polypropylene was batch-dyed rather than surface-coloured, which gives the seat its warm, opaque, slightly soft appearance and makes it resistant to abrasion and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. As with all Dr Glob chairs, the set is stackable, which makes it practical for dining, kitchen, studio or contract use as well as collecting.

Each chair is marked on the underside of the seat "Chair Dr Glob by Starck for Kartell, Made in Italy", alongside the original Kartell date stamp indicating the year of production. These markings confirm authenticity and allow each chair to be dated precisely, which matters for collectors and for distinguishing original Kartell production from later or unmarked copies.

The chairs are in good vintage condition, with light wear, scuffs and marks consistent with age and use, as shown in the photographs. They are offered as a complete set of four, which is increasingly hard to find in a single matching colour. Sourced and offered by Infinity Resale in Antwerp, Belgium, with careful packing and shipping across Europe and worldwide.

A recognisable piece of late twentieth-century Italian design, attributed to one of the most influential designers of the period, and well suited to collectors, architects and interior designers looking for an original Kartell production rather than a reissue.

Dimensions (per chair)

• Height: ± 73 cm
• Width: ± 48 cm
• Depth: ± 46 cm
• Seat height: ± 44 cm
• Weight: ± 3.7 kg per chair