Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
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.
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Cotton, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Cotton, Wood, Silk
2010s Brazilian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Marble, Spelter
Mid-20th Century Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Tôle
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Plastic
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Brass
1970s Brazilian Vintage Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Metal
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Plastic
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
Copper
1990s Italian Carla Tolomeo Armchairs
