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 Carla Tolomeo, Mirabili
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 Big Black Moon Black Velvet Sofa by Carla Tolomeo
By Carla Tolomeo, Mirabili
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 The Butterfly Sofa in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
By Carla Tolomeo, Mirabili
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 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 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 - Sillon De Borges by Carla Tolomeo
By Carla Tolomeo, Mirabili
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 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 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 Pouf - Rose of Saint Petersbourg by Carla Tolomeo
By Carla Tolomeo, Mirabili
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
$19,175
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
$7,561Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 73.63 in D 35.04 in
Carla Lounge Design Chair in Red Velvet and Brown Lacquered Mahogany
Located in Paris, FR
Lounge design chair Carla in red velvet and brown lacquered solid mahogany wood.
Velvet, Mahogany
$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
$8,973 / 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
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
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
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
$71,111Sale Price|25% Off
H 59.06 in W 31.5 in D 35.44 in
Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, "Invisible Personage"
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
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
$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
$16,000 / set
H 42 in W 36 in D 36 in
The Big Chair and Ottoman by Jens Risom in Navy Blue Velvet, C. 1950s
By Jens Risom
Located in Westport, CT
This iconic Jens Risom lounge chair and ottoman set embodies the elegance and comfort of mid-century American design. Fully restored by our expert workshop, the chair features its di...
Velvet, Walnut
Art Deco Sofa
Located in Westwood, NJ
An Elegant Art Deco Kidney Sofa. With an iconic kidney shape, this sumptuous sofa offers enveloping comfort in a warm caramel-colored velvet. Its gracefully flowing form features a smooth back and bowed bench seat, with French seams for a distinctive accent. Bronze sabre-style legs elevate its curved wood base, finished in Duty Silver for a touch of luxe. Toss pillows...
Fabric
$7,650 / item
H 29.53 in W 78.75 in D 51.19 in
Pangolin Pleated Leather Contemporary Retro Style Sofa by Egg Designs
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The Pangolin pleated leather sofa is designed by Egg Designs and manufactured in South Africa. This Sofa was inspired by the plight of the fragile...
Leather, Foam
20th Century Rosa Flower Chairs by Italian Artist Carla Tolomeo
By Carla Tolomeo
Located in Brecht, BE
A stunning pair of Rosa flower chairs, by Italian designer Carla Tolomeo.
Two Handed Red Velvet Sofa by Carla Tolomeo, b. 1945, Italy
By Carla Tolomeo
Located in Miami, FL
Two handed sofa by the Italian designer Carla Tolomeo (b. 1945) made in the early 1990s in red velvet with large hands as the back rest. The piece is si...
Velvet, Wood