Joe Colombo Furniture
Italian, 1930-1971
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.
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Creator: Joe Colombo
Dealer: DADA
Set of Two Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Sørensen Leather by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Set of Four Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Kvadrat Fabric by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Upholst...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian desi...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Set of Two Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamps by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian design...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Wood
Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Kvadrat Fabric by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphols...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Set of Six Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Sørensen Leather by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Set of Four Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Kvadrat Fabric by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Joe Colombo 'Domo' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
The Domo lamp was originally designed by Italian designer Joe Colombo in 1965. Back then he designed three lamps based on the same cor...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Set of Six Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Sørensen Leather by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Joe Colombo Floor Lamp 'Coupé 3320' White by Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
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...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
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...
Category
2010s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Set of Six Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Joe Colombo Mini Coupe Table Lamps by Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of Four Table Lamps model Mini Coupe designed by Joe Colombo.
Table lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered alumin...
Category
2010s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Joe Colombo Ceiling Lamp 'Colombo' 885 Anodic Bronze by Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Suspension lamp 'Colombo' designed by Joe Colombo in 1970.
Ceiling lamp giving direct and indirect light, chromium-plated stem, lacquered ceiling fixing. Adjustable reflector in lac...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Joe Colombo Floor Lamp Limited Edition 'Coupé' Gold by Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Floor lamp 'Coupé' designed by Joe Colombo in 1967.
Floor lamp giving direct light, lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered aluminium. Manufact...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Joe Colombo Suspension Lamp 'Globe' Small Gold by Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Suspension lamp 'The Globe' designed by Joe Colombo in 1964.
Suspension lamp giving direct and diffused light in transparent blown glass. Manufactured by Oluce, Italy.
The Globe ...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Joe Colombo 'Domo' Steel Floor Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Floor lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
The Domo lamp was originally designed by Italian designer Joe Colombo in 1965. Back then he designed three la...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Set of Two Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamps by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian desi...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Joe Colombo Set of Two Suspension Lamps 'The Globe' Gold by Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Suspension lamp 'The Globe' designed by Joe Colombo in 1964.
Suspension lamp giving direct and diffused light in transparent blown glass. Manufactured by Oluce, Italy.
The globe ...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Joe Colombo Set of Two Suspension Lamps 'the Globe' Nickel by Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Suspension lamp 'The Globe' designed by Joe Colombo in 1964.
Suspension lamp giving direct and diffused light in transparent blown glass. Manufactured by Oluce, Italy.
The Globe ...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Set of Four Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of Two Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Wood
Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian desi...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Set of Two Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of Two Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamps by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian desi...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Set of Four Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Kvadrat Fabric by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Joe Colombo Suspension Lamp 'The Globe' Large Nickel by Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Suspension lamp 'The Globe' designed by Joe Colombo in 1964.
Suspension lamp giving direct and diffused light in transparent blown glass. Manufactured by Ol...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian desi...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Set of Four Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Kvadrat Fabric by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his functional design sensibility. Uphol...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Joe Colombo 'Domo' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
The Domo lamp was originally designed by Italian designer Joe Colombo in 1965. Back then he designed three lamps based on the same cor...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table Lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian desi...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Joe Colombo Chair 300 for Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Joe Colombo Chair 300 for Karakter
Designed by the forward-thinking Italian designer Joe Colombo, Chair 300 is a beautiful example of his funct...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Wood
Joe Colombo 'Domo' Brass Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
The Domo lamp was originally designed by Italian designer Joe Colombo in 1965. Back then he designed three lamps based on the same cor...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Brass
Set of Two Joe Colombo 'Domo' Steel Table Lamps by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
The Domo lamp was originally designed by Italian designer Joe Colombo in 1965. Back then he designed three la...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian desi...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Joe Colombo 'Domo' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1965.
The Domo lamp was originally designed by Italian designer Joe Colombo in 1965. Back then he designed three lamps based on the same cor...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Joe Colombo 'Riscio' Steel Table Lamp by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1968.
With its sleek yet optimistic clarity of form; a light, triangular shade seemingly floating off a weighty cylindric base, Italian desi...
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Joe Colombo furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Joe Colombo furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Joe Colombo furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 214 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 299 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Joe Colombo were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Vico Magistretti, Carlo Nason, and Oluce. Prices for Joe Colombo furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $176 and can go as high as $22,506, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,532.
Creators Similar to Joe Colombo
Questions About Joe Colombo Furniture
- What is Joe Colombo famous for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJanuary 19, 2025Joe Colombo is famous for his career as a designer. He died young, at 41 in 1971, and his career as a designer lasted little more than 10 years. Through the 1960s, 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, his creations have the power to surprise. Shop a selection of Joe Colombo furniture on 1stDibs.
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