He died tragically young, and his career as a designer lasted little more than 10 years. But through the 1960s, Joe Colombo proved himself one of the field’s most provocative and original thinkers, and he produced a remarkably large array of innovative chairs, table lamps and other lighting and furniture as well as product designs. Even today, the creations of Joe Colombo have the power to surprise.
Cesare “Joe” Colombo was born in Milan, the son of an electrical-components manufacturer. He was a creative child — he loved to build huge structures from Meccano pieces — and in college he studied painting and sculpture before switching to architecture.
In the early 1950s, Colombo made and exhibited paintings and sculptures as part of an art movement that responded to the new Nuclear Age, and futuristic thinking would inform his entire career. He took up design not long after his father fell ill in 1958, and he and his brother, Gianni, were called upon to run the family company.
Colombo expanded the business to include the making of plastics — a primary material in almost all his later designs. One of his first, made in collaboration with his brother, was the Acrilica table lamp (1962), composed of a wave-shaped piece of clear acrylic resin that diffused light cast by a bulb concealed in the lamp’s metal base. A year later, Colombo produced his best-known furniture design, the Elda armchair (1963): a modernist wingback chair with a womb-like plastic frame upholstered in thick leather pads.
Portability and adaptability were keynotes of many Colombo designs, made for a more mobile society in which people would take their living environments with them. One of his most striking pieces is the Tube chair (1969). It comprises four foam-padded plastic cylinders that fit inside one another. The components, which are held together by metal clips, can be configured in a variety of seating shapes (his Additional Living System seating is similarly versatile).
Vintage Tube chairs generally sell for about $9,000 in good condition; Elda chairs for about $7,000. A small Colombo design such as the plastic Boby trolley — an office organizer on wheels, designed in 1970 — is priced in the range of $700.
As Colombo intended, his designs are best suited to a modern decor. If your tastes run to sleek, glossy Space Age looks, the work of Joe Colombo offers you a myriad of choices.
Find vintage Joe Colombo lamps, seating and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Joe Colombo 'Elda' Swivel Lounge Chair in Black Leather and Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort Design Furniture
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of Italian designer Joe Colombo’s best-known designs. This particular b...
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo for Zanotta Pair of 'Birillo' Swivel Bar Stools in Stainless Steel
By Zanotta, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Zanotta, pair of 'Birillo' bar stools, stainless steel, leather, plastic, Italy, design 1970 Designed by Joe Colombo for Zanotta in 1970, the Birillo bar stools hav...
Stainless Steel
Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chair in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This lo...
Leather, Fiberglass
$6,699 / set
Mid Century Dry Bar by Joe Colombo, Italy, 1960s
By Joe Colombo
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Incredible space age dry bar set by Joe Colombo, designed and made in Italy in the 1960s. An inviting setting for drinks and company, this complete set combines an illuminated wall ...
Chrome
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size M with 6 Drawers in Red for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Joe Colombo Mini Coupé Table Lamp by Oluce, Mid-Century Modern
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table Lamp model Mini Coupe designed by Joe Colombo. Table lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered aluminium. Manufact...
Metal
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size S with 3 Drawers in Red for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Joe Colombo Wall Lamp 'The Globe' Blown Glass Satin Gold by Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Wall lamp 'The Globe' designed by Joe Colombo in 1964. Wall lamp giving direct and diffused light in transparent blown glass. Manufactured by Oluce, Italy. The Globe is a lamp which...
Bronze
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size M with 2 Drawers in Red for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chairs in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chairs ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This l...
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size L with 5 Drawers in Black for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Joe Colombo Mini Coupé Table Lamp by Oluce, Mid-Century Modern
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table Lamp model Mini Coupe designed by Joe Colombo. Table lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered aluminium. Manufact...
Metal
Joe Colombo for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Black Leather and Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This lounge ch...
Leather, Fiberglass
Set of Six Joe Colombo 'Sferico' Glass Tableware by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Glass tableware designed by Joe Colombo in 1968. Joe Colombo believed in democratic and functional design. In his lifetime he designed a wide range of different drinking glasses. S...
Glass
Joe Colombo Swivel "Elda" Italian Lounge Chair
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Lounge chair designed by Joe Colombo (1930-1971) in 1963 model "Elda"for Comfort. Made of fiberglass structure reupholstered with creme bouclé fabric which make it very unique. It ha...
Bouclé, Fiberglass
Pair of Joe Colombo 'Fresnel' Outdoor Wall Lamps in Black for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Joe Colombo 'Fresnel' outdoor wall lamps in black for Oluce. Executed in lacquered aluminum and glass, this is one of the most refined Minimalist Italian designs of the midc...
Aluminum
$403Sale Price|20% Off
Cremewhite Boby Trolley by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast, Italy, 1970s
By Joe Colombo, Bieffeplast
Located in Vienna, AT
Designed in 1969, Joe Colombo’s iconic "Boby 3" portable storage system was produced by Italian manufacturer Bieffeplast and makes savy use of space with its swivel design. It is mad...
Plastic
Joe Colombo Chair No. 4801, Black Plywood, Kartell, Italy, 1960s, One of Two
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
One of two "interlocking" lounge chairs designed by Joe Colombo for Kartell, Italy, manufactured in midcentury. Joe Colombo's iconic 4801 armchair was designed in 1963-1964. A modern chair with striking visual appeal by the master of Italian Space Age design. A limited number of wood 4801 chairs...
Plywood
Joe Colombo Swivel "Elda" Leather Lounge Chair
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Lounge chair designed by Joe Colombo (1930-1971) in 1963 model "Elda"for Comfort. Made of fiberglass structure upholstered with black and white leather which make it very unique. It ...
Bouclé, Fiberglass
Pair of Joe Colombo 'Fresnel' Wall Lamps in Chrome for Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Joe Colombo 'Fresnel' wall lamps in chrome for Oluce. Executed in chrome-plated metal and glass, this is one of the most refined Minimalist Italian designs of the midcentury...
Aluminum, Chrome
Set of Six Joe Colombo 'Sferico' Glass Tableware by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Glass tableware designed by Joe Colombo in 1968. Joe Colombo believed in democratic and functional design. In his lifetime he designed a wide range of different drinking glasses. S...
Glass
Brown 'Boby' trolley by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast, Italy 1970's
By Joe Colombo, Bieffeplast
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This “Boby” trolley or portable storage system was designed by Joe Colombo in 1969. A very handy trolley made of ABS plastic. It has many storage options such as the fold-out shelves...
Plastic
Italian modern smoke glass by Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern smoke glass by Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio, 1960s Smoke glass all made of glass. The cylindrical bowl is made of transparent glass, while the side stem and round...
Glass
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size L with 5 Drawers in Honey for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Set of Five Joe Colombo '5-in-1' Glass Vases by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of Five Joe Colombo '5-in-1' glass vases by Karakter Italian industrial designer Joe Colombo pursued a career in painting and sculpture before he transitioned to design in the 1950s. In even the most functional homeware pieces, Colombo’s artistic background shines through in the sculptural silhouettes he creates. Such is the case with 5-in-1, a set of mouth-blown glasses that neatly intertwine. Featuring five pieces – originally intended as a cognac class, a white wine glass, a red wine glass, a grappa...
Glass
Joe Colombo Model 300 Walnut and Brown Velvet Chairs for Pozzi, 1965, Set of 6
By Pozzi, Joe Colombo
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of six Model 300 dining chairs designed by Joe Colombo in 1965 for the Italian manufacturer Pozzi. The Model 300 represents Joe Colombo's innovative approach to furniture design...
Velvet, Walnut
Complete Set of Thirty-Six Joe Colombo 'Sferico' Glass Tableware by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Glass tableware designed by Joe Colombo in 1968. Joe Colombo believed in democratic and functional design. In his lifetime he designed a wide range of different drinking glasses....
Glass
Italian modern smoke glasses by Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern smoke glasses by Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio, 1960s Dinnerware of four set consisting of three smoke glasses with different heights, all made of glass. The cylin...
Glass
Red Boby Trolley, Joe Colombo, Bieffeplast
By Joe Colombo
Located in Milano, Lombardia
he red Boby trolley, conceived by renowned designer Joe Colombo and produced by Bieffeplast, represents an icon of Italian design in the 1970s. This versatile and functional storage ...
Plastic
Vintage Joe Colombo Elda Chair, Comfort Fratelli Longhi, Black Leather
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Elda Chair, designed by Joe Colombo and manufactured by Comfort Fratelli Longhi. The Elda Chair’s futuristic design reflects Colombo’s interest in space exploration and mode...
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo Mid-Century Bar Stool, White Lacquered Wood, Italy, 1960s
By Joe Colombo
Located in Naples, IT
Joe Colombo bar stool, an Italian design piece from the 1960s, featuring a white lacquered wooden double cylinder frame with a wooden base and a black faux leather upholstered seat.
Leather, Wood
Set of Two Joe Colombo Mini Coupe Table Lamps by Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of Two Table Lamps model Mini Coupe designed by Joe Colombo. Table lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered alumini...
Metal
$12,432 / item
Customizable Tacchini Additional System by Joe Colombo
By Tacchini, Joe Colombo
Located in New York, NY
Modules with unusual shapes give life to original seating configurations where aggregation and variability take center stage. Additional System is a project by Joe Colombo from 1967,...
Upholstery
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley with 2 Drawers in White for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size M with 3 Drawers in Red for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size L with 5 Drawers in Red for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size M with 4 Drawers in Tornado Grey for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
$5,153 / item
Joe Colombo Floor Lamp 'Coupé 3320' White by Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Floor lamp 'Coupé 3320' designed by Joe Colombo in 1967. Floor lamp giving direct light, metal lacquered base and structure, revolving and height adjustable chromium-plated arc, lac...
Metal, Aluminum
$895Sale Price|30% Off
1970s Stilnovo Joe Colombo ' Campana ' Pendant Early Edition , Italy
By Joe Colombo, Stilnovo
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Original early edition of Stilnovo Campana ( Bell ) pendant designed by Joe Colombo in the 70s , Italy . Solid well made construction made of aluminium . Enameled finish . Conta...
Aluminum
Set of Two Outside Wall and Ceiling Lamp 'Fresnel' Black by Oluce In Stock Now
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Wall lamp 'Fresnel' designed by Joe Colombo in 1966. Inside and outside wall ceiling lamp giving direct and diffused light. Lacquered aluminium support and Fresnel lens diffuser. Man...
Aluminum
$8,407 / item
Zanotta Poker Game Table by Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo
Located in New York, NY
Card table. Double top in 14 mm thick, white layered plastic laminate. Corner mounted swing-away ashtrays. Removable, leather trimmed green baize. Removable, Ø 100 mm, 18/8 stainless...
Steel
$13,743Sale Price|20% Off
Bagno ABS Joe Colombo, 1970s
By Joe Colombo
Located in Manzano, IT
Bagno ABS Joe Colombo, 1970s Joe Colombo, passato alla storia come "designer del futuro", è caratterizzato per una visione ottimistica del progresso e questo bagno, come tutte le sue...
Ceramic
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley with 2 Drawers in Honey for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Black plastic & metal 70s Boby serving container by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast
By Bieffeplast, Joe Colombo
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Low version of the Boby container designed by Joe Colombo in the 1960s. This is a black plastic container unit with 3 wheels and versatile storage compartments. Ideal for use as a be...
Metal
Table de jeu "Poker" par Joe Colombo pour Zanotta 1968 Design Italie
By Zanotta, Joe Colombo
Located in London, England
A true icon of 1960s Italian design: discover the famous "Poker" game table, designed in 1968 by one of the most visionary designers of his era, Joe Colombo, and produced by the pres...
Metal, Chrome
1970s Joe Colombo Floor Lamp, Made in Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Milan, IT
1970s Joe Colombo floor lamp. Made in Italy.
Metal
Mid-Century Colombo 626 Floor Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce 1970s
By Joe Colombo
Located in Hamburg, DE
A design classic from oluce according to a design by joe colombo from the 1970s. Here is an early version in black. the name of the luminaire makes direct reference to her unique de...
Metal
Joe Colombo 'Minitopo' Table Lamp in Green and Chrome for Stilnovo
By Stilnovo, Joe Colombo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Joe Colombo 'Minitopo' table lamp in green and chrome for Stilnovo Founded in 1946 in Milan, Stilnovo was one of the most innovative lighting companies in Italy during the Midcentur...
Metal, Chrome
Joe Colombo Organizer Cabinet 'Boby Trolley', circa 1970
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Organizer cabinet designed by Joe Colombo, circa 1960. Manufactured by Bieffeplast Padova, from Italy. In original condition, with some visible signs of previous use and age, pre...
Plastic
Joe Colombo Elda swivel chair in original condition.
By Joe Colombo
Located in Greensboro, NC
Iconic swiveling "Elda Chair" by Italian designer Joe Colombo. This chair was designed in 1963, and put into production in 1965. Our chair is an early production in original condit...
Leather, Fiberglass
Italian midcentury pair of Spider wall lamps by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Rare pair of iconic Spider wall lamps designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce in 1965. Original metal structure and lacquered lampshade, the two lamps are composed of a single lighting bo...
Metal
Vintage Boby Rolling Trolley by Joe Colombo for B-Line, Signed
By Joe Colombo
Located in Delray Beach, FL
An early version of Joe Colombo’s iconic Boby trolley, signed in the molded plastic. Its modular form combines tiered trays with integrated side compartments, creating practical, acc...
Plastic
KD24 Lamp by Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
The KD24 lamp was designed by Joe Colombo for Kartell in 1968. Its flexible design allows for a vast number of configurations between the light and rotatable lampshade. This piece ...
Metal
Rare Early Joe Colombo Spider Ceiling or Wall Lamp by O-Luce, 1967
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Dronten, NL
Early Spider ceiling or wall lamp by Joe Colombo. The 'Spider' lamp series was designed by Joe Colombo in 1965 for Oluce, Italy, A series of floor and table lamps with enameled sheet...
Steel, Chrome
Joe Colombo 'Triedro' Floor Lamp in Chrome and White for Stilnovo
By Stilnovo, Joe Colombo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Joe Colombo 'Triedro' floor lamp in chrome and white for Stilnovo. Founded in 1946 in Milan, Stilnovo was one of the most innovative lighting companies in Italy during the Mid-centu...
Metal, Chrome
Elda Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in bruxelles, BE
Swivel armchair in beige canvas and black shell by Joe Colombo. Elda model. Seat height 40 cm. Wear due to time and age of armchair. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST PRICE
Fiberglass, Canvas
KD29 Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Kartell, 1967
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in bruxelles, BE
Creamy white plastic lamp designed by Joe Colombo. Wear due to time and age. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST PRICE
Plastic
Italian modern black cart Boby by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast, 1970s
By Bieffeplast, Joe Colombo
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black cart Boby by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast, 1970s Boby storage cart with square base, made of black ABS plastic. The front of the trolley features two open compart...
Metal
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley Size M with 4 Drawers in Cumin for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Boby' Trolley for B-Line. Designed in 1970, current production. Part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the “Triennale” in Milan, Smau Prize in 1971. ...
Plastic
Joe Colombo 'Topo' Table Lamp in Green and Black with Base for Stilnovo
By Stilnovo, Joe Colombo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Joe Colombo 'Topo' table lamp in green and black with base for Stilnovo Founded in 1946 in Milan, Stilnovo was one of the most innovative lighting companies in Italy during the Mi...
Aluminum