The Italian design giant Kartell transformed plastic from the stuff of humble household goods into a staple of luxury design in the 1960s. Founded in Milan by Italian chemical engineer Giulio Castelli (1920–2006) and his wife Anna Ferrieri (1918–2006), Kartell began as an industrial design firm, producing useful items like ski racks for automobiles and laboratory equipment designed to replace breakable glass with sturdy plastic. Even as companies like Olivetti and Vespa were making Italian design popular in the 1950s, typewriters and scooters were relatively costly, and Castelli and Ferrieri wanted to provide Italian consumers with affordable, stylish goods.
They launched a housewares division of Kartell in 1953, making lighting fixtures and kitchen tools and accessories from colorful molded plastic. Consumers in the postwar era were initially skeptical of plastic goods, but their affordability and infinite range of styles and hues eventually won devotees. Tupperware parties in the United States made plastic storage containers ubiquitous in postwar homes, and Kartell’s ingenious designs for juicers, dustpans, and dish racks conquered Europe. Kartell designer Gino Colombini was responsible for many of these early products, and his design for the KS 1146 Bucket won the Compasso d’Oro prize in 1955.
Buoyed by its success in the home goods market, Kartell introduced its Habitat division in 1963. Designers Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper created the K1340 (later called the K 4999) children’s chair that year, and families enjoyed their bright colors and light weight, which made them easy for kids to pick up and move. In 1965, Joe Colombo (1924–78) created one of Kartell’s few pieces of non-plastic furniture, the 4801 chair, which sits low to the ground and comprised of just three curved pieces of plywood. (In 2012, Kartell reissued the chair in plastic.) Colombo followed up on the success of the 4801 with the iconic 4867 Universal Chair in 1967, which, like Verner Panton’s S chair, is made from a single piece of plastic. The colorful, stackable injection-molded chair was an instant classic. That same year, Kartell introduced Colombo’s KD27 table lamp. Ferrierei’s cylindrical 4966 Componibili storage module debuted in 1969.
Kartell achieved international recognition for its innovative work in 1972, when a landmark exhibition curated by Emilio Ambasz called “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” opened at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. That show introduced American audiences to the work of designers such as Gaetano Pesce; Ettore Sottsass, founder of the Memphis Group; and the firms Archizoom and Superstudio (both firms were among Italy's Radical design groups) — all of whom were using wit, humor and unorthodox materials to create a bracingly original interior aesthetic.
Castelli and Ferrieri sold Kartell to Claudio Luti, their son-in-law, in 1988, and since then, Luti has expanded the company’s roster of designers.
Kartell produced Ron Arad’s Bookworm wall shelf in 1994, and Philippe Starck’s La Marie chair in 1998. More recently, Kartell has collaborated with the Japanese collective Nendo, Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola and glass designer Tokujin Yoshioka, among many others. Kartell classics can be found in museums around the world, including MoMA, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. In 1999, Claudio Luti established the Museo Kartell to tell the company’s story, through key objects from its innovative and colorful history.
Find vintage Kartell tables, seating, table lamps and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Castiglioni Rochetto Stool or Table by Kartell
By Kartell, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Highland, IN
Designed in 1969 by the Castiglioni brothers, the "rochetto", or "spool" stool is a wonderful design. Two identical forms are fastened together giving it the distinctive hourglass sp...
Upholstery, Plastic
Wall Sconces by Isao Hosoe for Kartell model 4336
By Isao Hosoe, Kartell
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Great set of fifteen wall sconces, designed by Isao Hosoe for Kartell, model 4336 from the 1970s. These sconces have a are made of two molded plastic parts, a white stepped face pla...
Plastic
$374Sale Price / item|25% Off
Kartell Clear Optic Storage Cube with Door, Modular Cabinet, Italy.
By Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Optic is a container cube with a door. Its surface is strikingly decorated with square-based transparent or mirrored pyramids, slightly in relief, which creates a strong visual impac...
Lucite
Kartell 1968 Catalog: Lampade e Arredamento
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in New York, NY
November 1968 catalog for the iconic Italian design company Kartell, divided into two sections: Lamps and Furnishings. Square 8vo with printed plasticized wrappers, 55 pages, lavishl...
Paper
Achille Castiglioni for Kartell Pair of Space-Age Yellow & Black Plastic Stools
By Kartell, Achille Castiglioni, Beylerian LTD
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed in the 1970s by Achille Castiglioni, this pair of stools features a top-bottom style symmetrical design and is made of bright yellow plastic. They exude fun and joy while re...
Upholstery, Plastic
Italian Space Age Pair of Red Plastic Chairs by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, 1970s
By Carlo Bartoli, Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age pair of red plastic chairs by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, 1970s Pair of chairs with rounded shapes, in red plastic with removable l...
Plastic
Giotto Stoppino for Kartell Magazine rack Mod. 4676, Italy 1970s
By Kartell, Giotto Stoppino
Located in Naples, IT
A historic magazine rack designed by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell, model 4676, the magazine rack has four compartments and a central round handle. It is a beautiful object that can be...
Plastic
Eros swivel blue chair by Philippe Starck for Kartell 90s
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Padova, IT
Eros is an enveloping armchair, with an organic egg shape, characterized by a refined combination of finishes and a skilful use of colour. Eros is ideal for the home, in the dining r...
Aluminum
Iconic black magazine rack 4676 by Giotto Stoppino for Kartel, Italy 1970s
By Giotto Stoppino, Kartell
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Italy / 1970 / magazine rack 4676 / Giotto Stoppino for Kartel / plastic / Italian / Vintage / Mid-Century / Pop Art / Design Classics / Italian Modern / Modernist / Postmodern / Spa...
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell Venice Chairs in Glossy Rusty Orange by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A tribute to the city of Venice in a chair for both the table and the living room, which combines classic lines with comfort. Venice is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Plastic
“Fiocco” modular room divider designed by Pierluigi Spadolini for Kartell, 1970s
By Kartell, Pierluigi Spadolini
Located in bruxelles, BE
Modular room divider designed by Pierluigi Spadolini & Paolo Felli. Model: Fiocco. Consists of 11 double pieces and 2 single pieces. Dimensions pe...
Plastic
Philippe Starck In/Outdoor Round White Tulip Bar Tables "DR.NA" for Driade
By Knoll, Kartell, Philippe Starck, Eero Saarinen
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Introducing the Philippe Starck In/Outdoor Round White Tulip Bar Tables "DR.NA" for Driade, a stunning fusion of contemporary design and functional ver...
Metal, Steel
Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Arm Chair in Crystal for Kartell
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Miami, FL
Single Louis Ghost arm chair in crystal designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell. Louis Ghost is the world’s bravest example of the injection of polycarbonate in a single mould. A ch...
Plastic
Philippe Starck for Kartell — Orange Eros Chair, Italy
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Voorburg, NL
Offered here is an iconic Eros Chair, designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell, Italy. This striking piece exemplifies Starck’s masterful balance of form, function, and futuristic ele...
Chrome
Kartell Jolly Side Table in Crystal by Paolo Rizzatto
By Kartell, Paolo Rizzatto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A completely transparent small side table in the perfect size: 40x40x40 cm. Colourful, practical, safe and functional, Jolly is a versatile and fun side table...
Plastic
Kartell Cara Outdoor Chair by Philippe Starck with Sergio Schito in Black Beige
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
In cara armchair, classically rigorous lines surround a comfortable seat. The perfect combination of formalism and technological innovation, for an original product with an industria...
Fabric, Plastic
Universal chair by Joe Colombo for Kartell , 1960s
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Athens, Attiki
Joe Colombo’s ‘Universale’ chair, Kartell late 1960s. Solid, stackable, and colorful, this red Universale chair reflects a late-1960s enth...
Plastic
Kartell Small Rectangular Francois Ghost Mirror in Mat Black by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A series of rectangular two-dimensional wall mirrors which bring to mind milled crystal frames. The frames are made of transparent or colored polycarbonate with seagull wing sections...
Resin
Kartell Bellissima Pendant Light in Glossy White and White by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bellissima is presented in the material version of glossy pink and white. Bellissima is the collection of suspension lamps with a clean and contemporary line, available in a range o...
Plastic
Beige Planter by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Planter from Italian design house Kartell, designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri, c.1970s, USA. The beige planter features a cylindrical plastic form with four casters at the bottom. Tw...
Plastic
Italian postmodern pink plastic Dr Glob chairs Philippe Starck for Kartell 1980s
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern pink plastic Dr Glob chairs Philippe Starck for Kartell 1980s Set of four tub chairs mod. Dr Glob stackable. The seat and the two square-section front legs are in ...
Metal
Pair of "Miss Balù" Tables by Philippe Starck for Kartell
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Marbella, ES
Miss Balù is a modern interpretation of the quintessential 1800s table with a central support leg. This is a complete collection of tables for various uses. ...
Plastic
Giotto Stoppino for Kartell Italian Chrome Cantilever Dining Chairs - Set of 6
By Giotto Stoppino, Kartell
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Giotto Stoppino for Kartell Mid Century Italian Chrome Cantilever Dining Chairs - Set of 6 Each chair measures: 20.5 wide x 24 deep x 33 inches hi...
Chrome
Rocchetto Stool designed by Achille Castiglioni for Kartell, Italy, 1969
By Achille Castiglioni, Kartell
Located in Milano, IT
Rocchetto Stool designed by Achille Castiglioni for Kartell, Italy, 1969 The Rocchetto stool, designed by Achille Castiglioni and produced by Kartell in 1969, perfectly reflects t...
Plastic
$3,372 / set
4867 chair set, Joe Colombo for Kartell
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Neuss, NW
4867 chair set by Joe Colombo for Kartell from 1979. High quality red polycarbonate injection moulding frame. The offer includes 5 stackable chairs. Quality Features: very good...
Plastic
Ignazio Gardella and Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell Pair of Beds "4550"
By Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Ignazio Gardella, Kartell
Located in Naples, IT
Two very rare beds model 4550 designed by Ignazio Gardella and Anna Castelli Ferrieri for the firm Kartell in the 1970s. The beds are made of white-colored fiberglass and metal. The ...
Fiberglass
Pair of "4794" Armchairs by Gae Aulenti for Kartell, Italy, 1972
By Gae Aulenti, Kartell
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of small armchairs model 4794 by Gae Aulenti for Kartell. Green lacquered polyurethane foam body.
Foam
Kartell Componibili 2-Tier Modern Storage Cabinets by Anna Castelli Ferrieri
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Componibili Storage Unit, 1969 designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri in white, Made in Italy.
Plastic, Acrylic
White Brown Plastic Mod 2/5 1959 Pendant Lamp by Gpa Monti for Kartell
By G.P.A. Monti, Kartell
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Metal part of nickel-plated satin brass. Suspension of dark levilene plait. Lamp shade in opaline white and brown plastic. Very good condition: oxidation patina on the metal parts. ...
Nickel
Set of 2 Kartell Papyrus Chair in Olive Green by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
By Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Papyrus is a remake of the archetypal antique rush chair, from a time when chair structures were decisive and strong. This chair combines a transluc...
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell Masters Chairs in Chrome by Philippe Starck & Eugeni Quitllet
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Masters chair is a powerful tribute to three symbolic chairs, re-read and re-interpreted by the creative genius of Starck. The unmistakable silhouett...
Plastic
Kartell Uncle Jim Armchair in Clear by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Uncle collection designed by Philippe Starck adds the Uncle Jim armchair. The armchair echoes the lines and sinuosity of Uncle Jack and lends itself to b...
Plastic
Grey ABS 4663 Wall Ashtray/emptying trays by Centro Kappa for Kartell, 1980s
By Kartell, Kappa
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This wall ashtray is made up by 3 main parts with an additional removable tray. this sculptural item was designed as an ashtray but I think it should be more iteresting used as an em...
Plastic
"Centopiedi 4545-6" Daybed Design A. Locatelli P. Salmoiraghi for Kartell, 1972
By Kartell, Antonio Locatelli and Pietro Salmoiraghi
Located in taranto, IT
"CentopIedi 4545-6" bed design A. Locatelli P. Salmoiraghi - Studio Pro - for Kartell, 1972 Extremely rare Centipede bed designed by antonio locatelli and pietro salmoiraghi, studio...
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell One More Square Bar Stools in Yellow by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
If you want to sip a drink at the bar in peace and quiet, you need a comfortable tall stool with a back to lean against. Sometimes one drink is not ...
Plastic
Space Age Vintage Black Plastic Up to Three Dining Chair Joe Colombo 1967 Italy
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage three plastic dining chairs or chairs by Joe Colombo 1965 - 67 and executed for Kartell 1970s Italy. Stamped underneath, Kartell Binasco ( Milano ) 860 & 861 made in Italy Des. Prof Joe Colombo 1970 The chairs are in good condition with signs of age and use like scratches at the glossy surface. The iconic dining chairs...
Plastic
$407Sale Price / item|40% Off
Vintage Retro Full Metal Italian 1970's Kartell Bar Stool
By Kartell
Located in Markington, GB
Vintage retro full black metal Italian 1970s bar stool, by Kartell. A striking example of 1970s Italian design, this bar stool features a clean, industrial silhouette in fully black...
Aluminum
Kartell Kabuki Floor Lamp in Green by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Kabuki floor lamp is injection molded. The sophisticated injection technology used makes it possible to crate a woven structure similar to lace w...
Plastic
Postmodern 'Miss Global' Chairs by Philippe Starck for Kartell , 1990s Italy
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Zagreb, HR
Beautiful vintage postmodern chair, model 'Miss Globe', designed by Philippe Starck and produced by Kartell during the early 1990s. Good vintage condition with some expected signs o...
Metal
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Crystal by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lamp with an inimitable style, Bourgie is one of Kartell’s best sellers, skillfully combining classic style, richness and tradition with innovation and irony. The baroque style base is composed of three interconnecting decorated layers, while the large lampshade...
Plastic
$2,140 / item
Kartell Trix Sofa Bed by Piero Lissoni in Black
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trix is made up of three different elements connected by an elegant system of elastics which can transform and adapt to different uses through easy rotation. Trix can be an original two-person pouf, a comfortable bed...
Fabric, Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell Victoria Ghost Chairs in Powder Blue by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is a chair born of Classic lines with a rounded backrest that recalls the shape of antique medallions, whilst the seat is linear and geometric. Victoria ghost...
Plastic
$1,095 / item
Kartell Thierry Table by Piero Lissoni in Blue
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Thierry is a family of highly characteristic occasional tables that make an inspired use of colour. Each table can have 3 or 4 different colours and can be assembled in various ways....
Plastic
Joe Colombo Vademecum Table Lamp Kartell, 1969s
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Skokie, IL
Joe Colombo Vademecum table lamp Kartell Italy, 1969 Additional information: Materials:plastic, chrome-plated steel Dimensions: 7" W × 3" D × 10" H Condition: Very good. Tested and...
Steel
Luigi Spandolini Modular Room Divider
By Pierluigi Spandolini, Kartell
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s for Kartell, produced in Italy. It is fully modular, composed of lids, cylinders, and double cylinders that allow it to flex. The piece is in great good condition but does h...
Plastic
$2,794 / item
Kartell Foliage Armchair by Patricia Urquiola
By Patricia Urquiola, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Foliage collection is a family of soft chairs. The key players are a two-seater sofa and an armchair, that seem to have grown "naturally": the frame provides support for a comfortabl...
Fabric
Pair of Italian 'Memphis Design' Lounge / Garden Chairs by Castelli Ferrieri
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in New York, NY
Comfortable, chic pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern lounge /club chairs / armchairs by Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell featuring both innovative design and a mix of recycled poly mate...
Steel
Set of 2 Kartell Masters Chairs in Mustard by Philippe Starck & Eugeni Quitllet
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Masters chair is a powerful tribute to three symbolic chairs, re-read and re-interpreted by the creative genius of Starck. The unmistakable silho...
Plastic
White Kartell Stacking "4695" Planter Box on Wheels, 1980s
By Kartell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kartell's model 4695 planter box dates to the 1980s and features a straightforward rectangular form with an open top and an integrated wheeled base. Three casters are housed within...
Plastic
Kartell Cara Outdoor Chair by Philippe Starck in Rusty Blue Orange
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
In Cara armchair, classically rigorous lines surround a comfortable seat. The perfect combination of formalism and technological innovation, for an original product with an industrial vibe that extends Kartell's range of soft furnishings...
Fabric, Plastic
Kartell Bubble Club 2-Seat Sofa in Ochre by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A veritable icon made by Kartell, the mass-tinted polypropylene Bubble club sofa was a Pioneer of a new concept in furniture accessories: the Industrial sofa made entirely of plastic...
Plastic
Maroon Kartell Stacking "4695" Planter Box on Wheels, 1980’s
By Kartell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kartell's Model 4695 planter box is a stacking, wheeled container produced in the 1980s. Molded in a single deep maroon color, the box features clean vertical walls, a thick top rim,...
Plastic
Mid-Century Modern Space Age Umbrella Stand or Bin by Gino Colombini for Kartell
By Gino Colombini, Kartell
Located in Hamburg, DE
A design classic by Kartell, based on a design by Gino Colombini from the 1960s. Here is an old original from that era, featuring the original materials and a glossy finish. A funct...
Plastic
Op Pop Mod DePas Durbino Lomazzi for Kartell Modular Brick Shelf System
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi, Kartell, Depas E D'urbino
Located in Ferndale, MI
Memphis era modular shelf system named " Brick " for the stackable plastic up rights. Designed by Gionathan DePas, Donato D'Urbino, Paolo Lomazzi...
Plastic
Pair of Black Chairs Dr Glob of Philippe Starck for Kartell, circa 1980
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Labrit, Landes
Kartell Dr. Glob black modern pair of chairs. The Dr. Glob chair was designed by the acclaimed designer Philippe Starck for Kartell in Italy. Fashioned from two different materials, ...
Metal
Italian Modern Steel White Plastic Trays Coffee Table Piero Lissoni Kartell 1990
By Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern steel and white plastic Trays coffee table by Piero Lissoni for Kartell, 1990s. Tray model coffee table with square shape, chromed steel ro...
Steel
$559Sale Price|20% Off
MIdcentury "Componibili" Bedside Table, Anna Castelli for Kartell, Italy, 1960s
By Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Kartell
Located in Praha, CZ
- very practical - iconic model - marked - space age style
Plastic
Kartell 'Model 4788' Coat Rack by Anna Castelli Ferrieri, 1980
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Produced by Kartell in Italy during the 1980s, the Model 4788 coat rack was designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri — co-founder of Kartell and one of the most significant figures in Ital...
Metal
$1,095 / item
Kartell Thierry Table by Piero Lissoni in Grey
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Thierry is a family of highly characteristic occasional tables that make an inspired use of colour. Each table can have 3 or 4 different colours and can be assembled in various ways....
Plastic
Italian Chairs Model 4870 by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, Italy 80s
By Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Kartell
Located in Lucija, SI
Set of 4 Mid Century Modern Chairs, model 4870, was designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell Italy in '80s. The Chairs are stackable and the legs are removable. These Chairs ...
Plastic