Be Original Americas Benefit Auction 
25 March 2023
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 1 of 5
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 2 of 5
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 3 of 5
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 4 of 5
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 5 of 5
Be Original Americas Benefit Auction 
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 1 of 5
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 2 of 5
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 3 of 5
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 4 of 5
Philippe Starck, Prototype Kong Rocker - Image 5 of 5
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Philippe Starck

Prototype Kong Rocker

Emeco
France / USA, 2007
hand-brushed aluminum 33¼ h × 20 w × 28½ d in (84 × 51 × 72 cm)
estimate: $1,000–1,500
result: $3,024
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Signed, titled, dated, and numbered to underside ‘Starck Emeco June 15, 2007 Prototype 3/3 Kong Rocker’. This work is prototype number 3 from the edition of 3.
provenance: Donated by Gregg Buchbinder, owner of Emeco

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King of Kong

A Prototype by Philippe Starck

The original Kong barstool designed by Philippe Starck


This prototype Kong Rocker expands on Philippe Starck's original design for the Chinese restaurant Kong in Paris, a one-armed barstool meant to facilitate guests' easy coming-and-going from the bar. The sleek chair requires the hand-welding of twenty-four separate pieces of aluminum followed by eight hours of hand-polishing. Starck reportedly took inspiration for the restaurant's decor from contemporary Japanese pop culture and 17th century France, melding disparate influences for a hyper-chic result that was, notably, featured in Sex and the City.

This rocker variant is one of only three examples made. Ultimately, the rocker never went into production. The present example has been in the collection of Gregg Buchbinder, owner of Emeco, since 2007.

My idea is to bring happiness, respect, vision, poetry, surrealism, and magic to design.

Philippe Starck

Rago, Wright, and LAMA are proud to host the Be Original Americas benefit auction. All proceeds including the 26% buyer's premium go to Be Original Americas in support of their mission to raise awareness about the value and significance of authenticity.

Be Original Americas is a non-profit creative advocacy committed to informing, educating, and influencing manufacturers, artisans, design professionals, and consumers about the economic, ethical, and environmental value of authentic design.

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Originality and authenticity are two of the most important qualities of designs to hit the auction block. They are also the foundation of all works that have become iconic markers in the history of design. Rago/Wright is proud to support Be Original Americas and their mission to inform and educate makers, designers, and consumers about the economic, ethical and environmental value of authentic design.

Richard Wright

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