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 for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chair in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
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
Joe Colombo 'Multichair' in Orange 'Sprinkles Kvadrat' for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Multichair' in orange 'Sprinkles Kvadrat' for B-Line Multichair is a convertible system consisting of two individual elements that can easily turn into a conversation/r...
Fabric
Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chairs in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
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 for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Black Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
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
Elda Chair and Ottoman by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy 1970s
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Hellouw, NL
The Elda chair, designed in 1963 by the visionary Italian designer Joe Colombo, remains one of the most recognisable lounge chairs of the 20th century. Sculptural, enveloping and fut...
Leather, Plastic
$12,441Sale Price|5% Off
Vintage iconic Joe Colombo Elda armchair, Italian Space Age 1960s, Black Leather
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Milano, IT
Iconic Armchair , Vintage Italian Armchair , Joe Colombo , Elda It’s 1963, Space Age is at its dawn, and Italian architect Joe Colombo designs a piece that will define the aestheti...
Leather, Fiberglass
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 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
Elda Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy 1960s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
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
Model 4801 Armchair by Joe Colombo for Kartell, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in bruxelles, BE
Orange wooden armchair by Joe Colombo. The armchair is numbered. Dimensions: Seat height 34cm Wear due to time and age of the armchair. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST ...
Wood
Joe Colombo Chair No. 4801, Black Plywood, Kartell, Italy, 1960s, One of Two
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
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
Vintage Elda Chair in Grey Leather and Black Shell by Joe Colombo, Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Stylish color combination on this vintage Elda chair. Still 100% original. Great patinated grey leather with a black fiberglass shell. This iconic “Elda” armchair was designed...
Leather
Joe Colombo for Comfort Model 1005 Fiberglass and Leather Elda Lounge Chair
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Joe Colombo for Comfort Model 1005 Mid Century Fiberglass and Leather Elda Lounge Chair This chair measures: 37 wide x 40 deep x 37 high, with a seat height of 16 and arm height/cha...
Leather, Fiberglass
$3,897 / item
Joe Colombo 'Multichair' in Red for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Multichair' designed 1970 in Red for B-Line Multichair is a convertible system consisting of two individual elements that can easily turn into a conversation/relaxation...
Fabric
Pair of Joe Colombo Chairs No. 4801, Black Plywood Wood, Kartell, Italy, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A pair of "interlocking" lounge chairs by Joe Colombo for Kartell, Italy, manufactured in Mid-Century, circa 1963. Joe Colombo's iconic 4801 armchair was designed in 1963/1964. A mod...
Plywood, Wood, Bentwood
Joe Colombo 'Supercomfort' Armchair for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Supercomfort' Armchair for B-Line. Designed in 1964. New, current production. The Supercomfort armchair designed by Joe Colombo is the result of a meticulous ergonomi...
Leather, Oak
$3,897 / item
Joe Colombo 'Multichair' in Black for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Multichair' designed in 1970 in black for B-Line Multichair is a convertible system consisting of two individual elements that can easily turn into a conversation/relax...
Fabric
Vintage Elda Chair in Black Leather & Red Shell by Joe Colombo for Comfort Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Stunning vintage ELDA chair in this extremely rare combination : black, rich patinated leather and a red fiberglass shell. This iconic “Elda” armchair was designed in Italy by Joe Colombo ( 1930 - 1971 ) in 1963 and was considered very futuristic for its time. The seat, back and arms are covered in padded black leather Joe Colombo, one of the most innovative Italian furniture designers of his generation, named the chair after his wife Elda and can be found in the collections of, amongst others, The Museum of Modern Art New York and The Louvre Paris. It is such an iconic chair it has been used in several movies including The Hunger Games, Space 1999...
Leather
Joe Colombo 'Elda' Lounge Chair, White Leather and Fibreglass, by Comfort, Italy
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Joe Colombo ‘Elda’ Lounge Chair, Black Leather and White Fibreglass Shell, Produced by Comfort, Italy. 93cm high, 95cm wide, 98cm deep. The Elda Chair was designed by Joe Colombo in...
Leather, Fiberglass
Italian Design Classic Elda Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo, 1970s Italy
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Renens, CH
The Elda Chair by Joe Colombo (1963) is a post-war design masterpiece: The design is still today considered futuristic, with its moulded fiberglass shell and swivelling base, offer...
Leather, Fiberglass
Elda Chair, Joe Colombo, Comfort, Black and Creme, Italy, circa 1970
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Regensburg, DE
Design classic ‚Elda Chair’ with an off-white / creme shell and black leather, from Italy circa 1970. Design: Joe Colombo, 1963 Manufacturer: Comfort, Italy, 1965 – circa 1975 The E...
Metal
Colombo Joe armchair for Kartell, 1980s
By Joe Colombo
Located in Manzano, IT
Colombo Joe armchair for Kartell, 1980s Mod.4801, limited numbered series no.217. Structure formed by assembling 3 polycarbonate elements and black rubber ...
Rubber
Contemporary Joe Colombo Modular Tube Chair, Cappellini
By Joe Colombo
Located in Brussels, BE
Contemporary Joe Colombo Modular Tube Chair, Cappellini - Black, Blue, White or Orange ( Sold with bag)
Fabric, Plastic
Model 4801 Armchairs by Joe Colombo for Kartell, 1960s, set of 2
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in bruxelles, BE
Set of 2 white wooden armchairs designed by Joe Colombo, Model 4801. Numbered 16. Seat height 34cm. Wear due to time and age.
Wood
Model 4801 Armchairs by Joe Colombo for Kartell, 1960s, set of 2
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in bruxelles, BE
Set of 2 white wooden armchairs designed by Joe Colombo, Model 4801. Numbered 121. Seat height 34cm. Wear due to time and age.
Wood
$4,351 / item
Kartell Joe Colombo Chair in Black by Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A true symbol of Sixties design, famous also for being the only piece by Kartell made entirely of wood. Contemporary technology has made it possible to create the same product using ...
Plastic
$4,351 / item
Kartell Joe Colombo Chair in Crystal by Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A true symbol of Sixties design, famous also for being the only piece by Kartell made entirely of wood. Contemporary technology has made it possible to create the same product usin...
Plastic
907 Folding Safari Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo, 1970s
By Joe Colombo
Located in New York, NY
907 Folding Safari Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo, 1970s. The chair features a Leather seat and back, and has natural-hued vachetta leather arm straps. One arm is embossed with Colombo ...
Steel
$4,351 / item
Kartell Joe Colombo Chair in Crystal by Joe Colombo
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A true symbol of Sixties design, famous also for being the only piece by Kartell made entirely of wood. Contemporary technology has made it possible to create the same product using ...
Plastic
Vintage Swiveling Elda Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy ca. 1960s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Geneva, CH
Superb edition of the swiveling iconic Elda chair by Joe Colombo and produced by Comfort in Italy ca. 1965. In its full white version in very good condition, unrestored. White leathe...
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo Plywood 4801 Lounge Chair No 42, Kartell, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Echt, NL
Early 4801 Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo in very good condition Number 42 This chair is formed from 3 pieces of plywood which lock together without a...
Plywood