Undisputed star of French creation, Philippe Starck is one of the designers the most famous of his generation. His imagination knows no bounds: luxury hotels, daring furniture, electric bicycles… but also a citrus press that has become iconic! 

At the end of the 80s on the Amalfi Coast, Philippe Starck tasted calamari with a lemon that he had to squeeze by hand. Inspired by this experience – and the squid on his plate – the French designer quickly sketches on his napkin what will become one of the best sellers from the famous Alessi house: the Juicy Salif citrus press.

Transform everyday objects 

Very quickly, Philippe Starck offers his drawing to Alberto Alessi. Seduced by the diversion of this everyday object, the director of the Italian design house decided to produce this unusual utensil, half-squid-half-extraterrestrial.

Marketed in 1990, Juicy Salif struggles to seduce lovers of squeezed lemons. Not very practical, this aluminum cone, about thirty centimeters high, has three legs, but no container to hold the pulp or seeds. 

However, the baroque side of this revisited everyday object quickly convinces design lovers. To this day, Philippe Starck's citrus press remains one of Alessi's best sellers. Become cult, it even becomes a collector's item. In 2000, Philippe Starck designed a limited series of 9 pieces of Juicy Salif adorned with a thin layer of gold. A version to keep away from lemons!