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 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
$19,317
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
$2,550Sale 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
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
Italian Sofa Gio Ponti Style 1960s Burgundy Velvet
By Gio Ponti
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Italian banana sofa in the style of Gio Ponti. Original velvet fabric (some signs of use, see photos).
Velvet
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
$7,920Sale Price|20% Off
H 43.31 in W 129.93 in D 49.22 in
Curved Velvet Hollywood Regency Sofa, Italy, 1970s
By Marzio Cecchi
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian glam couch in luxurious blue velvet, attributed to Marzio Cecchi. A striking detail is the round brass feet, which complement the deep, elegant tones...
Brass
$5,225Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 66.93 in D 33.47 in
Contemporary geometric brown velvet brass Fernandine sofa by InsidherLand
By Joana Santos Barbosa, InsidherLand
Located in Maia, Porto
The Fernandine walls are a part of History that embraces the city of Porto, located in the north of Portugal. These medieval fortifications topped off by battlements were completed d...
Metal, Brass
$6,226 / item
H 30 in W 71 in D 33 in
DOOQ Sofa Settee with Soft Terracotta Velvet and Silk Fringes La Folie 180cm
By DOOQ
Located in Lisbon, PT
With voluptuous curves and perfect poise, La Folie exalts passion and fantasy as if you were in a burlesque show at Moulin Rouge. Let yourself be drawn by this flirtatious feeling of...
Silk, Velvet
$9,623
H 39.38 in W 80.71 in D 35.83 in
Hans Hollein Mitzi Sofa in Poplar and Wool Cloth by Poltronova 1981
By Poltronova, Hans Hollein
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Mitzi sofa presents a poplar plywood base with erable finish, semi-gloss water–based varnish, iron inner structure, polyurethane cushions, wool cloth uphol...
Iron
$6,204 / item
H 30 in W 55 in D 33 in
DOOQ Sofa Settee with Soft Terracotta Velvet and Silk Fringes La Folie 140cm
By DOOQ
Located in Lisbon, PT
With voluptuous curves and perfect poise, La Folie exalts passion and fantasy as if you were in a burlesque show at Moulin Rouge. Let yourself be drawn by this flirtatious feeling of...
Silk, Velvet
$6,406 / item
H 36.62 in W 92.52 in D 37.41 in
Nature-inspired sculptural velvet ebony Eagle 3 seat sofa by InsidherLand
By InsidherLand, Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
Inspired by the story of the Kazakh Eagle Hunters, the profile of the Eagle sofa presents the shape of the golden eagle’s massive wings. Entirely handcraft...
Velvet, Ebony, Fabric, Wood