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 furniture, lighting and 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. 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. As you see on 1stDibs, if your tastes run to sleek, glossy Space Age looks, the work of Joe Colombo offers you a myriad of choices.
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Creator: Joe Colombo
Recognized Seller Listings
Iconic Joe Colombo 'Tube Chair' in Yellow Upholstery
By Flexform, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Flexform, 'Tube' chair, pvc, foam, fabric, United States, 1969.
This lounge chair by Joe Colombo is designed by means of combining four hollow cylinders. This armcha...
Category
1960s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Foam, PVC
Original 'Birillo' Barstools Set by Joe Colombo for Zanotta, c. 1971, Signed
By Joe Colombo, Zanotta, ICF New York
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare collectors set of five (5) 'Birillo' bar-height barstools designed in 1971 by Joe Colombo for Zanotta, Italy, retailed by ICF New York. Signed underneath with Zanotta embossed logo and design information on each chair and ICF New York retailer labels on some of the chairs. These examples are original early year productions and ideal for collectors and modern art and design investors.
These examples feature red vintage patent leatherette upholstery and white fiberglass bases. It's very hard to find a single Birillo stool let alone find a matched set of five bar-height barstools. If you are looking for a large set of modern bar height barstools, don't hesitate because once these are gone it will be a difficult opportunity to replicate.
This early Post-Modern quintessential design is often misspelled 'Brillo' and even sometimes 'Brillio' but as seen documented in the 1978 Zanotta catalogue, the correct spelling is 'Birillo'. This set of five Joe Colombo Birillo...
Category
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Joe Colombo for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Brown Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, red leather, Italy, design 1963
The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. Thi...
Category
1960s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
Fresnel Wall Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fresnel Wall Lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. Simple and timeless, this lamp produces both direct and diffused light. The fixture is made of c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Joe Colombo, Table Lamp, Acrylic, Italy, 1960s
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in High Point, NC
A white and orange acrylic table lamp designed by Joe Colombo and produced by Kartell, Italy, c. 1960s.
Overall Dimensions (inches): 5.6” H x 4.6” Diameter
Bulb Specifications: E-1...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Acrylic
Joe Colombo for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, red leather, Italy, design 1963, later production
The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian design...
Category
1960s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo 'Roll' Armchair for Sormani, Italy, 1964
By Joe Colombo, Sormani
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare armchair was designed by the iconic Italian designer Joe Colombo and was named the 'Roll' chair. The model was produced by the Italian manufacture...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Steel
Globe Wall Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Globe wall lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce. The overall shape of the lamp resembles the shape of a globe that sits on a ring and can be positioned as desired. The transparent sphere is...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Coupe Floor Lamp '3321' by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Coupe floor lamp (3321) designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. The Coupe series of lamps is considered as a variation of the spider lamps. This lamp has a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
Floor lamp mod. Coupé 3320/R
By Joe Colombo
Located in Milan, IT
Italy, 1967
Manufactured by O-LUCE
Chrome-plated steel, lacquered metal
Literature: Giuliana Gramigna, Repertorio 1950-1980, Mondadori, Milano, 1985, p. 261; Vitra Design Museum...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Steel
Joe Colombo Midcentury American Modern "Light Bulb" Floor Lamp
By Joe Colombo
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury American Modern (1960s) \"Light Bulb\" design floor lamp comprised of two white glass sections with a silver metal joining band. (Joe Colombo).
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Joe Colombo for Zanotta Pair of Barstools in Leather and Chrome
By Zanotta, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Zanotta, barstools, model 'Birillo', leather, chrome, fiberglass, Italy, 1971.
Pair of remarkable swiveling 'Birillo' barstoo...
Category
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Joe Colombo ‘Elda’ Lounge Chair in Cognac Leather and Black Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair model ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963, later production.
The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian desi...
Category
1960s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo Italian Wicker and Bright Orange Upholstery Lounge Armchair
By Joe Colombo
Located in New York, NY
Italian mid-century lounge / armchair with a small woven wicker form with large cylindrical bright orange cushions, resting on a wicker pedestal base. (Joe...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wicker, Wood
Acrilica Portoro Marble Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Originally designed in 1962 by Joe and Gianni Colombo, the 281 model dubbed, the Acrilica Table Lamp from Oluce was so aptly named for its conspicuousness and exceptional innovation ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Marble
Globe Suspension Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Nickel
Zanotta Poker Card Table in Double Top White Plastic Laminate and Green Leather
By Zanotta, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Poker Card Table in Double Top White Plastic Laminate and Green Baize Leather by Joe Colombo
Double top in 9/16” thick , white layered plasti...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Plastic
Joe Colombo Italian Mid-Century Wicker Orange Upholstery Lounge Armchair
By Joe Colombo
Located in New York, NY
Italian Mid-Century lounge / armchair with a small woven wicker form with large cylindrical bright orange cushions, resting on a wicker pedestal base. (JOE...
Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Wicker
Globe Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Globe table lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. It is a simplistic and appealing design manufactured from hand-blown glass, producing a remarkable ambient light with the help...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Nickel
Mini Coupe' Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Oluce is expanding the family with the introduction of Mini Coupé, a smaller scale version of the table lamp, available in a stunning new contemporary range of 4 new colours, Lacque...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal
Fresnel-1148 Outdoor Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fresnel-1148 outdoor lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce. The iconic Fresnel lamp for outdoors with a fixture diameter of 10cm. The Fresnel lens makes the ligh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Colombo Wall Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colombo wall lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. Joe Colombo was one of Italy's most iconic designers and is highly regarded for his imaginary an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Chrome
Colombo Floor Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colombo floor lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce. This lamp gets its name from the designer who was one of Italy's most iconic designers. The design o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Coupe Wall Lamp ‘1158’ by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Coupe wall lamp (1158) designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. Elegance defined by form following function is exemplified in this beautiful fixture. A round black plate is attached to the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Spider Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The spider table lamp by designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. This lamp with stove-enameled sheet metal reflector is purposely designed to take a special horizontal spotlight bulb. A p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Coupe Wall Lamp '1159 R' by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Coupe wall lamp (1159R) designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. This iconic design from 1967 still is a beautiful addition to any room. An adjustable hemispherical reflector diffuses the ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Metal
Colombo Ceiling Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colombo suspension lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. The visionary and futuristic designer Joe Colombo designed the Colombo lamp in 1970, o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Coupe Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Coupe table lamp designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. The Coupé series was initially conceived as a variation of the Spider family the smart yet simple mechanism that attaches the stem...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Metal
Fresnel-1148 EC Outdoor Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fresnel-1148/EC Outdoor lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce. The iconic Fresnel lamp for outdoors with a fixture diameter of 10cm. The Fresnel lens makes the l...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Zinc
Acrilica Table Lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Acrilica table lamp designed by Marco Zanuso Soto for Oluce. Initially known as the 281 model, created in 1962, and was immediately nicknamed “Acrilica” due to the surprising inn...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Steel
Coupe Floor Lamp '3320/R' by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Oluce, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Coupe floor lamp (3320/R) designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce. The Coupe series of lamps is considered as a variation of the spider lamps. The simplisti...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Joe Colombo Furniture
Materials
Metal, Chrome
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.
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Joe Colombo Stools