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.
Oluce Coupé 2202 Table Lamp design Joe Colombo - Black 220–240V
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Coupé 2202 table lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, is part of the iconic Coupé family, one of the most influential lighting systems in modern design history. Originally c...
Metal, Aluminum
Lamp 281 Acrilica by Joe Colombo for Opus, 1962
By Joe Colombo
Located in MONTESSON, FR
The 281 Acrilica lamp is designed by Joe Colombo for Opus. The diffuser is in Perspex and the base in metal. In 1964, it won the gold medal at the Milan Triennale. This luminaire is ...
Metal
Oluce Coupé 3320 R Floor Lamp by Joe Colombo - Black - 220–240V
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Coupé 3320 R floor lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, is one of the most celebrated examples of Italian design, combining sculptural elegance with exceptional functionality...
Metal, Aluminum
Oluce Coupé 3320 R Floor Lamp by Joe Colombo - White - 220–240V
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Coupé 3320 R floor lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, is one of the most celebrated examples of Italian design, combining sculptural elegance with exceptional functionality...
Metal, Aluminum
Yellow Adjustable Wall Light Coupé by Joe Colombo, 1970s
By Joe Colombo
Located in Brussels, BE
Yellow Adjustable Wall Light Coupé by Joe Colombo, 1970s
Metal, Chrome
$1,309Sale Price|20% Off
Spider floor lamp by Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Torino, IT
Spider floor lamp, by Milanese designer JOE COLOMBO, designed for the company O-LUCE. Winner of the 1967 Golden Compass Award, symbol featured on the lamp. The lamp is fully functi...
Metal
1048 by Joe Colombo per Oluce
By Joe Colombo
Located in Milano, IT
Outdoor or indoor lamp, model 1148 by Joe Colombo for Oluce. This iconic lamp features a Fresnel glass lens, has a diameter of 10 cm, and reinterprets boat or port lamps in a contemp...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Plexiglass White Table Lamp Model ''Acrilica" by Joe Colombo, Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-century plexiglass white table lamp Model ''Acrilica" by Joe Colombo - Italy 1960s.
Plexiglass
Italian Vintage Design Stilnovo Topo Desk Lamp by Joe Colombo, 1970s
By Joe Colombo, Stilnovo
Located in Renens, CH
Desk Lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Stilnovo, Italy. Green enamel shade and arm, marked with the Stilnovo brand on the joints. Lamphood swivels and the arm as a whole. Measure: Maximum length: 105cm Excellent condition, wonderful green coloured lamp...
Metal
Joe Colombo 'Domo' Table Lamp, Brass & Steel, Mid-Century Modern
By Joe Colombo
Located in Berlin, DE
Table lamp designed by Joe Colombo in 1965. The diameter given applies to the base. The shade measures 11cm (width) and 20cm (length). The lamp measures 52.5 cm in width. Available in a brass or black lacquered finish. Technical information: Voltage: 230V / 110V Socket: E27 / E26 Max wattage: 230V: Max E27 Globe 28W / 110V: Max E26 Globe 40W Cord: 2m black PVC cord...
Aluminum, Steel, Brass
Italian modern Adjustable wall lamp Coupé 1159 by Joe Colombo for O-Luce, 1970s
By O-Luce, Joe Colombo
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Adjustable wall lamp Coupé 1159 by Joe Colombo for O-Luce, 1970s Wall lamp mod. Coupé 1159 with adjustable dome lampshade in white lacquered metal. Inside the lampshad...
Metal, Steel
Golden Limited Edition Elda Chair by Joe Colombo for Longhi Italy no. 8/20
By Joe Colombo, Longhi
Located in Nagykovácsi, Central Hungary
LONGHI celebrated the Elda chair's 60th anniversary by creating a limited edition golden chair based on Joe Colombo’s original ELDA design. The chair was on...
Metal
Flash Desk Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce, 1960s
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in bruxelles, BE
White metal lamp. Adjustable in height, length and swivel. Wear and tear due to time and age of the lamp. For shipping, request us for receive the bes...
Metal
Model 222 or flash table lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce, Italy 1960s.
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Model 222 table lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce, Italy 1960s. The model 222 is also known as the MiniFlash and designed in 1968. White laquered lamp and base. The round base is refin...
Aluminum
Spider wall lamp by Joe Colombo for O Luce - 1960s
By Joe Colombo
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent "Spider" wall lamp designed by Joe Colombo for O Luce in the 1960s (1967). The lamp's round base attaches to the wall with a screw, then accommodates the chrome arm. At t...
Metal, Chrome
$1,810 / item
Globe Suspension Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Globe suspension lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. This lamp is a spherical blown glass body with a cylindrical nickel reflector. The suspension cable of the lamp can be adjust...
Nickel
1980's Chrome Topo Floor Lamp by Joe Colombo for Stilnovo
By Stilnovo, Joe Colombo
Located in BE
Very playfum and versatile Italian floor lamp by 1 of Italy's most famous designers. Joe Colombo designed this lamp in the 70's for 1 of Italy's be...
Metal
Spider table lamp, Joe Colombo for Oluce, Italy 1970
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Torino, IT
Spider table lamp, Joe Colombo for Oluce, Italy 1970
Metal
$11,536
Elda Armchairs
By Joe Colombo
Located in Paris, FR
While visiting a shipyard, Joe Colombo was inspired by the hulls of ships to design a chair. He created a self-supporting fiberglass structure that was as robust as anything. This 3...
Leather
Joe Colombo, Table Lamp "2207 Flash", Italy, 1968
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, ES
Joe Colombo (1930-1971) Table lamp model “2207 Flash” Manufactured by Oluce Italy, 1968 Lacquered metal Measurements 16cm Ø x 31 H cm 6.29in Ø x 12.2 H in Biography Jo...
Metal
Oluce Spider Table Lamp by Joe Colombo - Black - 220–240V
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Spider table lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, is one of the most celebrated icons of Italian lighting design. Originally introduced in 1965, Spider perfectly embodies Joe...
Metal, Aluminum
Oluce Coupé 1159/R Wall Lamp design Joe Colombo - White - 220–240V
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Coupé 1159/R wall lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, is part of the iconic Coupé collection, one of the most influential lighting families in modern design history. Develo...
Metal, Aluminum
Oluce Coupé 1159/R Wall Lamp design Joe Colombo - Black - 220–240V
By Joe Colombo, Oluce
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Coupé 1159/R wall lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, is part of the iconic Coupé collection, one of the most influential lighting families in modern design history. Develo...
Metal, Aluminum
Oluce Coupé 1158 Wall Lamp design Joe Colombo - Black - 220–240V
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Coupé 1158 wall lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, is part of the iconic Coupé family, one of the most recognized lighting systems in contemporary Italian design. Original...
Metal, Aluminum
Oluce Coupé 3321 Floor Lamp by Joe Colombo - Black - 220–240V
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Coupé 3321 floor lamp, designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce, is one of the most celebrated icons of Italian design, combining technical innovation, functionality, and timeless aesth...
Metal, Aluminum
Oluce Acrilica 281/LBT Table Lamp by Joe and Gianni Colombo - 220–240V
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Acrilica 281/LBT table lamp, designed by Joe Colombo and Gianni Colombo for Oluce in 1962, is one of the most innovative and recognizable icons of Italian design. Originally int...
Metal