Carla Tolomeo creates whimsical and otherworldly pieces of art and furniture. With works that take on a range of natural-world forms such as palm trees, crescent moons and butterflies, Tolomeo’s lavish and imaginative seating creatively bridges sculpture and design.
Born in Pinerolo near Turin, Italy, in 1945, Tolomeo spent most of her childhood in Rome. She involved herself in art early in life, learning from leading Italian artists like Giorgio de Chirico, Renato Guttuso, Franco Gentilini and Ugo Attardi.
In 1971, Tolomeo had her first exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland. She went on to teach engraving at the Brera Academy and the Venetian Academy of Art. Through the 1990s, she focused solely on fine art, varying her disciplines between oil painting, engraving and other media.
In 1997, Tolomeo decided to challenge her artistic vision through the creation of pieces that she christened “Chairs-Sculptures.” She impressed critics and collectors alike with her boldly unconventional furniture. An early Tolomeo chair design garnered interest from the likes of Hermès and Neiman Marcus — she has since utilized textiles from Hermès in her works as well as fabrics created by Missoni.
Tolomeo sees her furniture as an extension of her art, with the three-dimensional structures juxtaposing the real and the unreal. Working with velvet, silk and foam rubber, she instills luxurious comfort into her curious sofas and other pieces such as beds. Their ostentatious ornamentation accents any space with a touch of magic.
Find Carla Tolomeo furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Contemporary Art The Perfect Big Half-Moon Silk Velvet Sofa by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabric and the embroideries are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
Contemporary Art The Butterfly Sofa in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabric and the embroideries are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
Contemporary Art Pouf - Saudade by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. Semi-circular pouff designed by Gabriel. Vintage chenille Pontoglio cotton velvets, silk and cotton trimmings, designer decorations
Cotton, Silk
Contemporary Art Sofa - Nandì Verà by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 20th century sofa from the De Curtis home in Lugano. Decorations and velvet in Pontoglio silk, exclusive design by the Author. Gold,...
Silk
Contemporary Art Armchair - Petit Fleur by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. Armchair decorated by the author. Pontoglio velvet rose, trimmings.
Velvet, Wood
Contemporary Art Armchair - Mademoiselle Valery by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 19th-century silk velvet poltrock decorated by the author. Rose back in Pontoglio silk velvet. Trimmings
Silk
Contemporary Art the Butterfly Bed in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique pieces hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabrics and the embroidery are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
Contemporary Art The Bed Palm Tree Bed in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Bed in silk velvet, unique pieces hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabrics and the embroideries are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
Contemporary Art Armchair - Sillon De Borges by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 19th century armchair revisited by the author. Cotton velvet appliqué by the author with cuttings from authentic Japanese OBJ 1800-....
Cotton, Wood
Contemporary Art Big Black Moon Black Velvet Sofa by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabrics and velvet embroidery were made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
Contemporary Art Armchair - Yellow Pineapple by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 19th century armchairs. vintage fabrics and Dedar velvets, designer decorations with Bevilaqua, Dedar, Pontoglio fabrics, antique go...
Cotton, Wood, Silk
Contemporary Art En Claire De Lune Mannequin in Silk Velvet
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabric and velvet embroidery are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
Contemporary Art Pouf - Kenzo Hand by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. Kenzo silk velvet Exclusive for the author and Pontoglio velvets - Trimmings Cylindrical base design Gabriel for tolomeo
Silk
Contemporary Art Pouf - Rose of Saint Petersbourg by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. Vintage rectangular ottoman decorated by the Author. Pontoglio silk and cotton velvets- Trimmings
Silk, Cotton
Contemporary Art Green TOTEM Moon Mannequin in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabric and velvet embroidery are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
$18,907
H 40.56 in W 108.27 in D 29.53 in
Giltwood "Confidente" Large Sofa in the Louis XV Style made by La Maison London
By La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
An elegant and impressive large Louis XV style confidante sofa which has been hand carved and gilded using traditional methods and materials to achieve...
Wood, Giltwood
$2,144Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.89 in W 29.14 in D 31.11 in
Contemporary Ava Armchair in Wood by Guto Indio da Costa, Brazil
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Contemporary Wood Ava Armchair by Guto Indio da Costa, Brazil The AVA armchair is part of the collection Machina & Manus by the Brazilian designer...
Wood
Knot Brazilian Contemporary Foam Sofa by Lattoog
By Lattoog
Located in Sao Paolo, BR
This sofa/pouf is characterized by a flexible linear structure tied in a knot shape. The 'Knot' was the first piece created by the duo Leonardo Lattavo and Pedro Moog, when designing furniture was still seen as a hobby by both of them. A few years later, when they came across the cover of an Italian magazine that showed a piece of furniture by the Campana brothers (the Boa sofa...
Fabric, Upholstery
Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, "Invisible Personage"
By Salvador Dalí, BD Barcelona Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Indulge in a rare opportunity to own a piece of art history with this Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, featuring the artist's iconic "Invisible Personage" design. One of only ...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Lacquer
Contemporary Abstract Bronze Sculpture by Bertrand Créach
By Bertrand Créac'h
Located in London, GB
" Famille I " Bronze sculpture by Bertrand Creach, 2021. Limited edition 1/8, hand-crafted adorned in a black patina. ______ Dimension: H 35 x 15.5 x ...
Bronze
The 'Verneuil' Mohair Sofa by Design Frères
By Jean-Michel Frank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The 'Verneuil' sofa is the latest addition to our exclusive Design Frères line. inspired by Jean-Michel Frank's timeless Art Deco aesthetic, it is built to the highest standards of c...
Steel
$6,087 / item
H 32.29 in W 33.47 in D 27.56 in
Modern Unique Oak Wood Seating Cane Weaving Cross My Heart Armchair by Carla Baz
By Carla Baz
Located in Geneve, CH
Modern Unique Oak Wood Seating Cane Weaving Cross My Heart Armchair by Carla Baz Dimensions: W 85 x D 70 x H 82 CM Weight: 30 kg Material: French Oak, E...
Oak
$1,888Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 14.9 in W 44.8 in D 35.4 in
"Koishi" Stone Shaped Ottoman Designed by Naoto Fukasawa for Driade
By Naoto Fukasawa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Koishi" is a stone shaped ottoman, designed by Naoto Fukasawa and manufactured by Driade, featuring a painted fiberglass structure available in four different colors: white, anthrac...
Fiberglass
$8,831 / item
H 31.5 in W 25.6 in D 30.32 in
D.I.M Petit & Joubert 3 Elegant Art Deco Armchairs, circa 1930
By D.I.M. Decoration Intérieure Moderne
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
D.I.M PETIT & JOUBERT pair of elegant Art Deco armchairs, circa 1930 Fully restored armchairs, covered with Lelièvre Paris fabric, 4 are available; these armchairs have been speciall...
Velvet, Wood
Bartolozzi & Maioli Carved Wooden Leaf Armchair
By Bartolozzi & Maioli
Located in Buffalo, NY
Beautiful carved leaf arm chair designed by Bartolozzi & Maioli. Surrealist fantasy furniture, Retains original finish, front of seat showing wear.
Wood
$2,550Sale Price|70% Off
H 37.41 in W 70.87 in D 33.47 in
Mid-Century Modern Velvet Sofa, France, Circa 1950s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sofa from the 1950's in its original condition Needs new upholstery
Velvet
Vintage Sofa in the Style of Marco Zanuso, circa 1960
By Marco Zanuso
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Vintage sofa in the style of Marco Zanuso, circa 1960.
Brass