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.
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
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
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
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 & Ambrogio Pozzi Alitalia First Class Flatware, 1972, set of 12
By Ambrogio Pozzi, Joe Colombo
Located in Quarrata, IT
This 12-piece stainless steel flatware set is part of the iconic "Linea 72" service, co-designed by the visionary masters Joe Colombo and Ambrogio Pozzi for Alitalia Airlines. Introd...
Steel
Joe Colombo and Ambrogio Pozzi for Alitalia Set of 9 "Linea 72" Forks, Itali
By Ambrogio Pozzi, Joe Colombo
Located in Naples, IT
Set of 9 stainless steel cutlery from the Alitalia Linea 72 set designed and engineered by Joe Colombo and Ambrogio pozzi... This model was used in Alitalia Business Class and is now...
Steel
5-in-1 Drinking Glass Set by Joe Colombo, Mouth-Blown Crystal, Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
5-in-1 Drinking Glass set by Joe Colombo, 1970 Italian industrial designer Joe Colombo pursued a career in painting and sculpture before he transiti...
Crystal
$6,295 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Fleetwood by Manchester Sterling Silver Flatware Service 12 Set of 60 Pieces
By Manchester Silver Co. & S. S.
Located in Big Bend, WI
Fleetwood by Manchester sterling silver flatware set of 60 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 8 3/4". 12 forks, 7". 12 salad forks, 6". 12 teaspoons, 5 7/8". 12 cream soup spoons...
Sterling Silver
$6,495 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
George & Martha by Westmorland Sterling Silver Flatware Set of 12 Service 62 Pcs
By Westmorland
Located in Big Bend, WI
George & Martha by Westmorland sterling silver flatware set of 62 pieces. This pattern has a Classic, timeless design! This set includes: 12 knives, 9 1/8". 12 forks, 7". 12 salad f...
Sterling Silver
$16,500 / set
H 0.1 in W 0.1 in D 0.1 in
William & Mary by Lunt Sterling Silver Flatware Set of 12 Service Huge
By Lunt Silver
Located in Big Bend, WI
Huge William & Mary by Lunt sterling silver flatware set of 140 Pieces. This set includes: 12 dinner size knives, 9 1/2". 12 dinner size forks, 7 5/8". 12 knives, 8 7/8". 12 forks, ...
Sterling Silver
$15,511 / set
H 0.1 in W 0.1 in D 0.1 in
Richelieu by International Sterling Silver Flatware Set of 12 Service 102 Pieces
By International Silver
Located in Big Bend, WI
Designed in the French Renaissance style this ornate pattern has nature inspired motifs including the popular acanthus leaf. Stunning Richelieu by International...
Sterling Silver
Antique German Dinner Forks; Set of 8
By J.A. Henckels 1
Located in Malibu, CA
This Set of large dinner forks are from one of the oldest & finest silverplate manufacturers in Germany. On separate listings, you will find knives, spoons both large & smal...
Silver Plate
5-in-1 Drinking Glass Set by Joe Colombo, Mouth-Blown Crystal, Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
5-in-1 Drinking Glass set by Joe Colombo, 1970 Italian industrial designer Joe Colombo pursued a career in painting and sculpture before he transiti...
Crystal
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 ran...
Glass
$98Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 0.75 in W 7.25 in D 1 in
Vintage Silverplated Salad/Luncheon Forks/SETS OF 10
Located in Sheffield, MA
The 30 vintage silverplated salad/luncheon forks are stamped "International Silver Co." The tines are sharp for easy piercing. There is an undeciph...
Silver Plate
$1,141
H 11.82 in Dm 5.52 in
Italian Large "Onda" Diamond Glass Vase by Sergio Asti for di Cambio, 1970s.
By Arnolfo di Cambio, Sergio Asti
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful "Onda" glass vase in the large version, signed by Sergio Asti for Arnolfo di Cambio. In amazing conditions, with no chips, cracks or scratches, the vase is signed on the b...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Smoke Set of 2 Wine Glasses by Joe Colombo
By Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Milan, IT
Displayed on a modern table, either in multiples as an accent or along with the other set in the same Smoke Collection, this set of two wine glasses is sure to make a statement in a refined home. The unique design was created by Joe Colombo in 1963 and is still a fresh and unexpected look that harmoniously combines a linear bowl...
Crystal
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
$456
H 1.38 in Dm 8.27 in
Space Age "Onde" Crystal Ashtray, Sergio Asti, Arnolfo di Cambio, Italy, ca. 1970
Located in Firenze, IT
Space Age "Onde" Series Crystal Ashtray Designed by Sergio Asti, manufactured by Arnolfo di Cambio, Italy, ca. 1970 crystal H 3.5 cm – 21 cm Conditions: excellent, no defects.
Crystal
$445 / set
H 3.75 in Dm 3.75 in
Multicolored ceramic & wood 1960s box by Ambrogio Pozzi for F. Pozzi, set of 4
By Ambrogio Pozzi
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Set of 4 ceramic and wood containers with multicolred fruit decoration. Glazed ceramic and decorated with color decals fired at 820 degrees. The wooden lids are equipped with a rubbe...
Ceramic, Wood
$195 / set
H 0.75 in W 6.75 in D 1.25 in
Set of ( 10 ) "Piruett" Cocktail Forks by P. Forssell for Gense, Sweden, 1955
By Gense, Pierre Forssell
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of 10 Vintage "Piruett" Cocktail / Dessert Forks Pierre Forssell for Gense, Sweden 1955 plastic handles and stainless steel "in good vintage as found condition with some dings...
Stainless Steel
Smoke Set of 2 Champagne Glasses by Joe Colombo
By Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Milan, IT
Sophisticated and surprising, this set of two champagne glasses will be an eye-catching addition to a contemporary interior and will captivate the imagination with its unique silhoue...
Crystal
6 Bicchieri Smoke Joe Colombo per Arnolfo di Cambio altezza 14 cm.
By Joe Colombo, Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Milano, IT
6 Bicchieri Smoke Joe Colombo per Arnolfo di Cambio
Glass
6 Glasses Cognac Smoke Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio
By Joe Colombo, Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Milano, IT
6 Glasses Cognac Smoke Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio
Glass
6 Bicchieri Smoke Joe Colombo per Arnolfo di Cambio altezza 12 cm.
By Joe Colombo, Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Milano, IT
6 Bicchieri Smoke Joe Colombo per Arnolfo di Cambio
Glass
6 Smoke Joe Colombo glasses for Arnolfo di Cambio height 9 cm.
By Joe Colombo, Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Milano, IT
6 Smoke Joe Colombo Glasses for Arnolfo di Cambio
Glass
Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio Smoke Set of Glasses, 1970s
By Joe Colombo, Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Parma, IT
Rare set of six two-color glasses designed by Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio 1960s. In hand blown and hand finished crystal and alexandrite crystal foot that changes color accord...
Glass