This set of five iconic Kartell chairs is available for just £59 — but they’re not for sitting on unless you’re Barbie.
The Italian design house has collaborated with Mattel to release Barbie-themed editions of the Louis Ghost, Masters, Venice, Ero/s and AI for a double dose of nostalgia.
Realised in that unmistakable pink hue, the designer chairs have been shrunk down to Barbie size for collectors and dolls house stylists alike.
Online shopper shave been bamboozled before by seeming bargain chairs turning out to be doll sized on delivery, so be sure to check the dimensions before you hit purchase.
If you want them human size, Kartell will be launching pink versions of the Masters and Ghost chair on 16th April. Plus Homes & Property has the ultimate guide to Barbiecore home accessories — all full size not fun size.
“Kartell chairs have always been symbols of design and innovation in the world of furnishing, just as Barbie has always been a great example of style for generations of children and adults,” said Lorenza Luti, Kartell’s Marketing and Retail Director.
Even without the Barbie pink shade, these chairs have some of the most recognisable shapes in the design world.
Designed in 2002 by Philippe Stark, the Louis Ghost is a riff on the baroque French furniture seen during the reign of Louis XV rendered in a single piece of translucent polycarbonate.
The Masters chair, also by Stark, brings together the silhouettes of furniture from three 20th century design masters: Arne Jacobsen’s Serie 7; Eero Saarinen’s Tulip Armchair; and Charles Eames’ Eiffel Chair.
These chairs retail for hundreds of pounds, so a dinky doll-sized version is the ideal option for design enthusiasts on a budget.
This isn’t a case of jumping on the Barbie movie boom, either. Kartell has been collaborating with Mattel long before the box office hit, including turning their flagship Milan store into a Barbie’s Dreamhouse back in 2009.
Barbie, who celebrates her 65th birthday this year, is having her moment in the design sun. London’s Design Museum is set to host a major exhibition featuring 180 rare dolls opening this summer.
