"Women, ladies, voices, ages, but a common story. They smile, laugh, reminisce these moments, these clouds, these reflections, as sacred whispers ... " A.S

What is more natural than a father inviting his daughter to a birthday party! To celebrate the 170th anniversary of the iconic Harcourt glass, Philippe & Ara Starck gather around a chessboard. A meeting animated by dynastic spirit. The creative complicity between the designer and the painter turns itself naturally into a game. The fruit of their shared imagination gives birth to the collection “Jeu de Dames en Noir” launched in January 2011 and revisits the myth of checkers in the form of allegory.

Rule N°1: Embodied by a Harcourt glass, each checker is a woman who played a role in the life of a mysterious figure. Gathered to honor him during his 170th anniversary, the different facets of this mystery man are successively revealed. According to Ara Starck : « Perfect or imperfect, future or past, emptiness often has the same familiar beloved face ».

Rule N°2: The box « Jeu de Dames en Noir No. 1 » brings together four black and white champagne flutes, imperially set up on a pedestal covered with silk printed after a drawing by Ara Starck. Numbered but in a non-limited edition, signed and played by the king of design, the set looks like a gift for any chess player. Life-size, « Jeu de Dames en Noir No. 2 » topples over the other side of the mirror. By way of apron, the silk scarf designed by Ara Starck takes up its check pattern after an original signed painting. Beautified in a box, these 170 numbered scarves go with 12 Harcourt flutes split into two camps. The 6 black ones challenge the 6 clear ones, joining forces and united. For a final celebration worthy of a “Déjeuner sur l’Herbe”.

"Jeu de Dames en Noir" by Philippe & Ara Starck

Boxed set of 4 crystal champagne flutes (2 clear, 2 black)

numbered edition

"Jeu de Dames en Noir" by Philippe & Ara Starck

boxed set of 12 crystal champagne flutes (6 clear, 6 black)

includes a silk scarf 70 cm x 70 cm designed by Ara Starck

The black crystal flutes are numbered and signed by Philippe Starck

Numbered and limited edition. 170 copies.