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.
Kartell Uncle Jim Armchair in Black 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
Olaf Von Bohr for Kartell Mod. 4963 Chest of Drawers, Italy 1970s
By Kartell
Located in Delft, NL
Olaf Von Bohr for Kartell Mod. 4963 Chest of Drawers, Italy 1970s Dimensions: 72cm Width, 34cm Depth, 78,5cm Height Condition: Has some discoloring. Material: Plastic
Plastic
$1,804 / item
Kartell Mobil by Antonio Citterio
By Kartell, Antonio Citterio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mobil is a system of storage units that can be used throughout the home and office, for a variety of purposes. The basic element of the system is the drawer, alternated with intermediate shelves and tops. Mobil can be a simple chest of drawers...
Resin
1980s Black and Red Trolley by Kartell Made in Italy
By Kartell
Located in Rome, IT
1980s black and red trolley by Kartell made of plastic with revolving wheels.
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
Kartell Ghost Buster Nightstand in Crystal by Philippe Starck & Eugeni Quitllet
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Night table version of the Ghost Buster commode. A little squared cube on four legs, available in completely transparent, coloured or matte versions made ...
Resin
Pair of Black Chairs Dr Glob of Philippe Starck for Kartell, circa 1980
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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 postmodern pink plastic Dr Glob chairs Philippe Starck for Kartell 1980s
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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
Set of 2 Kartell Masters Chairs in Titanium by Philippe Starck & Eugeni Quitllet
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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
$1,430 / item
Kartell Rectangular Tray Table by Piero Lissoni
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is an articulated system of table surfaces for the home or office. The construction concept of the design is based on small tables and shelf systems, with patterns and finishes ...
Plastic
$796Sale Price|20% Off
Signed Black FPE Chair by Ron Arad for Kartell
By Ron Arad, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Fantastic plastic elastic chair, aka FPE, is a lightweight, stackable chair designed by Ron Arad for Kartell. With soft lines and bright colors, the FPE's unique design joins a s...
Metal
Carlo Bartoli Chair Model 4875 for Kartell, Italy, 1970s
By Carlo Bertoli & Piero Menichetti, Kartell
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early pair of Italian Modernist Polypropylene chairs designed by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell Italia in the 1970s model 4875, unusual color, art furniture, Nic...
Plastic
Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Blue by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
By Kartell, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the dual role as both container and room divider. It is a go...
Resin
Kartell Bubble Club Armchair in Black by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bubble club armchair in light grey. Dimensions: height 30.75 in., width 40.15 in., depth 29.5 in.; unit weight 17 kg. Made of: Polyethylene. Outdoor use.
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
Philippe Starck for Kartell — Orange Eros Chair, Italy
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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 Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Crystal by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
By Kartell, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the dual role as both container and room divider. It is a go...
Resin
$3,174 / item
Pop Duo Missoni Armchair by Piero Lissoni
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell, Missoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pop is the modular sofa with double cushion on the seat and armrests, making it soft, enveloping and even more comfortable. The armchair is also enhanced with side cushions, giving...
Fabric, Plastic
Kartell Sound Rack Modular Bookcase in Amber by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba
By Kartell, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multi-shaped and multi-purpose shelving system, stackable and modular, offering the possibility of creating a variety of geometric and chromatic compositions. This accessory can play the dual role as both container and room divider. IT IS a go...
Resin
$862Sale Price|20% Off
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Italian Pendant Lamp for Kartell, 1950s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Kartell
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian pendant lamp model KD6 designed by famous designer Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Kartell in 1959, opal methacrylate diffuser. Please note that the lamp is origina...
Metal
'Plastics, by Piero Lissoni for Kartell
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Athens, Attiki
Minimalistic and sleek design by Piero Lissoni for Kartell. 3 modular leather pieces that can be combined according to one's needs.
Leather, Plastic
Kartell Eleganza Nia Missoni Chair by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegance and its discreet charm. Philippe Starck has re-thought the essential lines of Italian style with a timeless chair that combines the world of Haute Couture with bon ton. Dist...
Fabric, Plastic
Kartell Bubble Club 2-Seat Sofa in Green 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
Pre-production Ebanil Umbrella Stand by Gino Colombini
By Gino Colombini, Kartell
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
The iconic umbrella stand was designed in the 1960s by Gino Colombini for Kartell. Before going into production, designers would have these objects made in Ebanil plastic as a pre-p...
Plastic
Giotto Stoppino for Kartell 1970s Post Modern bright red plastic magazine stand
By Kartell, Giotto Stoppino
Located in Ferndale, MI
Op Pop Mod 1970s Italian plastic magazine rack . Kartell model number 4675 designed by Giotto Stoppino Magazine rack in red plastic. The structure is made up of six rounded and e...
Plastic
Kartell Earl of Wood Desk by Philippe Stark in Light Wood and Chrome Frame
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Earl of wood is a simple new desk with a curved wooden surface, offering the perfect solution to the Office and Habitat worlds on account of its myriad diffe...
Wood
$1,128 / item
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Gold by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
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 bas...
Plastic
Kartell Sundial Modular Bookcase in Crystal and White by Nendo
By Nendo, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sundial is the bookcase whose dividing elements, placed in different directions, create a game of unexpected and original proportions.
Resin
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
Set of 2 Kartell Masters Chairs in White by Philippe Starck & Eugeni Quitllet
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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 Blast Rectangle Table in Chrome with Yellow Top by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kartell lifestyle enhances the living room with Philippe Starck’s Blast, a coffee table rectangular with rounded corners and clear bases and tops. The design is a development of the Sir Gio table...
Glass
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
Joe Colombo Chairs Sedia Universale 4867 by Kartell Vintage Made in Italy
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Vancouver, BC
A Colombo classic! It's safe to say these are making a comeback in modern interiors today and its sensibility can match well with a wide range of materialities. The design is also it...
Plastic
$1,986 / item
Kartell Lunam Pouf Orsetto by Patricia Urquiola
By Patricia Urquiola, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
LUNAM is an enchanting living space furniture collection inspired by the dreamy atmosphere of a lunar landscape. An essential, painted metal structure ...
Steel
Marcello Siard for Kartell Set of 6 Black Plastic Shelves, Italy 1970s
By Kartell, Marcello Siard
Located in Naples, IT
Set of six shelves with asymmetrical plastic profile in black, designed by Marcello Siard for Kartell in the 1970s, are of two sizes 4 small (cm.35x44x30) and two large (cm. 35x80x30...
Plastic
“Fiocco” modular room divider designed by Pierluigi Spadolini for Kartell, 1970s
By Pierluigi Spadolini, Kartell
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
Post-Modern Model 4855 Armchair Chair by Anna Castelli for Kartell
By Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Kartell
Located in San Diego, CA
Cool post-modern Model 4855 armchair chair by Anna Castelli for Kartell, circa 1990s. The cockpit shaped structure has curved armrests with a round midsection and detachable section...
Metal
Set of 2 Kartell Lizz Mat Chairs in Black by Patricia Urquiola
By Kartell, Patricia Urquiola
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lightweight chair, with essential, strict lines, in synch with the minimalist and refined style of its designer, Piero Lissoni. Lizz is now also av...
Plastic
Kartell Misses Flower Power Glossy Black by Philippe Starck and Eugenie Quillet
By Philippe Starck, Eugeni Quitllet, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Miss flower power is the planter with an elongated Silhouette and generous dimensions capable of giving a touch of personality to outdoor settings. Available in black, glossy whit...
Plastic
$1,210 / item
Kartell Hiray Sofa by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba
By Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
HIRAY takes metal, one of the most important materials for the greening of the Kartell catalogue, and uses the welded wire process to shape it. The result is an essential and functional product that is nevertheless rich in emotion. Metal wires form well-defined yet lightweight structural parts of the collection’s chair...
Metal
Crome Plated Metal & white resin 1970s mod. 4993 round table by Kartell
By Ignazio Gardella, Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Iconic space age round table produced by kartell in the 1970s. 2 White painted reinforced polyester resin joined together by a big screw and chrome plated metal ring. The table remai...
Metal, Chrome
Kartell Cara Chair Black Antracite by Philippe Starck with Sergio Schito
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
Midcentury "Componibili" Bedside Table, Anna Castelli for Kartell, Italy, 1960s
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in Praha, CZ
- very practical - iconic model - marked - space age style
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell Louis Ghost Armchairs in Smoke Grey by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A comfortable armchair in transparent and colored polycarbonate in the Louis XV style, it is the quintessence of baroque revisited to dazzle, excite and captivate. Louis Ghost is the...
Plastic
Pair of Eros chairs by Philippe Starck for Kartell, late 20th century
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in View Park, CA
A pair of red / orange revolving Eros chairs by Philippe Kartell for Starck, mid to late 20th century. In blood orange Italian acrylic with sleek aluminum bases, each of which featur...
Aluminum
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in White and Gold by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
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 bas...
Plastic
Philippe Starck Dr. No Armchairs by Kartell, Grey, Stackable, 1998
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Pair of Philippe Starck for Kartell Grey Dr. No Stackable Iconic Armchairs Manufactured in Italy by Kartell February 1998, moulded label to the underside of each chair Made of po...
Plastic
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
Componibili Modular Storage Unit in White with Floor Stand by Kartell
By Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Kartell
Located in Paris, FR
Designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, the Componibili modular storage unit is an iconic example of Italian modern design. Originally conceived in the late 1960s, the system...
Plastic
Kartell Earl of Wood Desk by Philippe Stark in Dark Wood and Black Frame
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
EARL OF WOOD is a simple new desk with a curved wooden surface, offering the perfect solution to the Office and Habitat worlds on account of its myriad diffe...
Wood
Kartell Cara Chair Pale Green by Philippe Starck with Sergio Schito
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 or...
Fabric, Plastic
Set of 6 Chairs Mod. 4875 by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, 1970s
By Carlo Bartoli, Kartell
Located in Roma, IT
Injection-moulded plastic chairs realized by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell in 1970s. A complete set of six “4875” chairs designed by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, an iconic example of Ital...
Plastic
Kartell Small Four Table in White by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This functional and refined table also has a strict geometric design. Thanks to the elegant design solution, the position of the slim table top allows for the convenient positioning ...
Steel
Kartell Hiray Armchair by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba
By Kartell, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hiray takes metal, one of the most important materials for the greening of the Kartell catalogue, and uses the welded wire process to shape it. The result is an essential and functional product that is nevertheless rich in emotion. Metal wires form well-defined yet lightweight structural parts of the collection’s chair...
Metal
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
Kartell Bubble Club Armchair in Powder by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bubble club armchair in light grey. Dimensions: Height 30.75 in., width 40.15 in., depth 29.5 in.; unit weight 17 kg. Made of: Polyethylene. Outdoor use.
Plastic
Italian modern black chest of drawers 4602 by Simon Fussell for Kartell, 1970s
By Simon Fussel, Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black chest of drawers 4602 by Simon Fussell for Kartell, 1970s Modular chest of drawers model 4602 with a square base, made entirely of black plastic. The thirteen d...
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell One More Counter Stools in Mat Black 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
KD7 Orange Pendant Lamp by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Kartell, Italy
By Kartell, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Milano, IT
The Kartell KD7 stands as a rare and contemporary classic, embodying the timeless brilliance of 1950s/1960s Italian design. Crafted by Kartell, this extraordinary pendant lamp featur...
Metal
Kartell Bloom Suspension in Gold Bronze & Copper by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bloom is a tubular polycarbonate framework entirely covered by a structure of tiny transparent polycarbonate double corolla flowers. The result is an industrially produced lamp but w...
Plastic