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.
Set of 3 Black Barstools by Philippe Starck for Kartell, 1980s, Italy
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Set of three black bar stools by Philippe Starck for Kartell, Italy, 1980s. This striking vintage set features slender black frames with gently curved backrests and sculptural seats ...
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Plastic Tower Cabinet designed by Simon Fussell
By Kartell, Simon Fussel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A mid-century modern four-tier stackable tower cabinet designed by Simon Fussell and manufactured by Kartell. Made from durable plastic, this modular unit offers flexible storage wit...
Plastic
White Acrylic Spherical Pendants, Kartell, c. 1973
By Kartell
Located in New York City, NY
Priced individually; two available. Unique ceiling lamps by Kartell. The cords can be adjusted up to 9 feet.
Glass, Plastic
Dr Glob Chairs Philippe Starck Grey Kartell, Italy, 1990
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Vienna, AT
Kartell Dr. Glob set of four grey modern chairs designed by Philippe Starck. The Dr. Glob chair was designed by the acclaimed designer Philippe Starck for Kartell in Italy. Phillipe...
Steel
Vintage Plastic Tic Tac Table Lamp by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell, 1971
By Giotto Stoppino, Kartell
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This small table lamp was produced by Kartell, Italy in 1971. The lamp is made from a chromed ABS plastic base and a polypropylene shade. Thanks to its internal switch, you can switc...
Chrome
XL Sphere Table Lamp ‘Model 4043’ by Filippo Panseca for Kartell, Italy, 1960s
By Kartell
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
Table / floor lamp ‘Model 4043’ by Filippo Panseca for Kartell, Italy 1968. Two models were produced, this is the rare largest version. Interesting radical design...
Stainless Steel
Nanda Vigo, Floor lamp mod. 4041, prod. Kartell, 1968
By Nanda Vigo, Kartell
Located in Rivoli, IT
Floor lamp designed in 1968 by Nanda Vigo for Kartell, lacquered aluminum base and top closure and white methacrylate diffuser. Neon lighting, fully functional.
Aluminum
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
Eros Red Eiffel Swivel Chair on Wheels Philippe Starck for Kartell, Italy
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Marbella, ES
Eros red Eiffel swivel chair on wheels Philippe Starck for Kartell Italy.
Metal
Kartell '4993' Table, designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri and Ignazio Gardella
By Ignazio Gardella, Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in Milano, IT
A 1960s table with a round top, designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri and Ignazio Gardella for Kartell. Made of reinforced polyester resin, this piece stands out for its two-component s...
Resin
Ceiling Lamp by Gianemilio, Pietro and Anna Monti for Kartell, 1960s, Italy
By Kartell, G.P.A. Monti
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Ceiling Lamp by Gianemilio, Pietro and Anna Monti for Kartell, 1960s, Italy Plexiglass cover and black metal body. Lampshade is in very good vintage condition. This lamp works wit...
Metal
Pair of Ero/S Swivel Armchairs by Philippe Starck for Kartell, 1990s–2000s Design
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Taranto, IT
The iconic, award-winning pair of "EroS" armchairs, designed by French genius Philippe Starck and produced by the renowned Italian company Kartell. This set features a distinctive or...
Steel
Vintage Philippe Starck Prince AHA Stool Kartell Fennel Green Mid-Century Modern
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Hourglass-Shaped Stool designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell. This is a vintage Prince AHA hourglass-shaped stool with a sleek and minimalist design in fennel gr...
Plastic
Kartell Salad Spoon & Fork Casalinghi, 1958 Design, Gino Colombini, Milan, Italy
By Kartell, Gino Colombini
Located in Andernach, DE
Absolute rare collectors item by Kartell Samco, Italy: this very set of salad cutlery comes in a cream with pistachio green handles! Designed in 1958 amongst other household items by...
Plastic
$960Sale Price|20% Off
The Bubble Club Armchair by Kartell Philippe Starck
By Kartell
Located in Pasadena, TX
Made entirely of polyethylene, the very comfortable Bubble Club Armchair owes its cartoonlike appearance to the contrast between traditional lines...
Polystyrene
Original Joe Colombo 4801 Armchair for Kartell, Italy, 1964
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in London, GB
Joe Colombo’s 4801 armchair, designed in 1964 for Kartell, Italy. An important early example of Colombo’s experimental approach to furniture design, t...
Plywood
Set of 2 Kartell One More Counter Stools in Crystal by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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 enough - and you need "One more" a...
Plastic
Pair of Joe Colombo Chairs No. 4801, Black Plywood Wood, Kartell, Italy, 1960s
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
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
Space Age Wall or Ceiling Lamp by Isao Hosoe for Kartell, 1970s, Italy
By Isao Hosoe, Kartell
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Space Age wall or ceiling lamp by Isao Hosoe for Kartell, 1970s, Italy Lampshade is in very good vintage condition. This lamp works with E27 light bulbs. Wired and suitable t...
Metal
$1,815 / item
Khan Suspension Lamp in Black by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Many different styles, from 18th century eclecticism to contemporary minimalism, come together in Philippe Starck’s Khan chandelier to create a new icon of elegance and modernity. The symbolism of the design is complemented by the technological innovation of Kartell’s new...
Plastic
Kartell Small Rectangular Francois Ghost Mirror in Chrome by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
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
Set of 6 Chairs Mod. 4875 by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, 1970s
By Kartell, Carlo Bartoli
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
A Rare Kartell Model 4065 Pendant Light, Italy, c. 1965
By Kartell
Located in Dronten, NL
This is a rare opportunity to acquire a truly exceptional piece of lighting history: the Kartell Model 4065 pendant lamp. Designed in the mid-1960s—a pivotal era for Italian design—t...
Acrylic
6 Kartell Italy Mademoiselle Chairs by Philippe Starck Black Fabric Lucite
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Set of 6 Mademoiselle dining or armchairs in the original black cotton upholstery and with transparent Lucite frames. Designed by Philippe Starck and made in Italy by Kartel...
Fabric, Foam, Lucite
Kartell 1968 Catalog: Lampade e Arredamento
By Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Kartell
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
$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
Mid-Century Model KD7 Ceiling Lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, 50s
By Kartell
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Model KD7 Ceiling Lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Kartell, 1950s Pendant lamp by Kartell based on a design by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni from ...
Metal
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 Large FL/Y Pendant Light in Crystal by Ferruccio Laviani
By Kartell, Ferruccio Laviani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FL/Y pendant light large in crystal. It is a collection of pendant lamps designed by Ferruccio Laviani in 2002. Dimensions: Shade height: 21.67 in.; Diameter: 32.67 in.; Unit weig...
Resin
$2,140 / item
Kartell Trix Sofa Bed by Piero Lissoni in White
By Kartell, Piero Lissoni
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
Joe Colombo, Table Lamp, Acrylic, Italy, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
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...
Acrylic
Gastone Serving Trolley Bar Cart by Antonio Citterio for Kartell
By Antonio Citterio, Kartell
Located in Radomsko, Województwo łódzkie
Gastone Trolley is a small, functional serving trolley created by Antonio Citterio together with Oliver Löw in 1991 for Italian Kartell. The disks have a slight indentation all aroun...
Aluminum, Steel
Set of 2 Kartell Dr. No in White by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Dr. NO small armchair is a Kartell classic, known for its perfect combination of functionality and beauty. Dr. NO is not affected by temperature changes, is stackable up to four ...
Plastic
Kartell '4993' Table, designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri and Ignazio Gardella
By Ignazio Gardella, Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in Milano, IT
A 1960s table with a round top, designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri and Ignazio Gardella for Kartell. Made of reinforced polyester resin, this piece stands out for its two-component s...
Resin
Kartell Four Table in White/Aluminum 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 of drawers or storage furnishings for computer hardware. They can be placed side-by-side to form office workstations. Four is available with a painted steel body and a 2.5 cm thick table...
Steel
Kartell Small Rectangular Francois Ghost Mirror in Mat White by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
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
Mario Bellini Shanghai Gold Vase for Kartell
By Mario Bellini, Kartell
Located in Miami, FL
Gold Shanghai vase designed by Mario Bellini for Kartell. A multi-faceted vase widening from the base to the top in a swirling motion. Shanghai is like ...
Plastic
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Silver 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 bas...
Plastic
Wall Sconces by Isao Hosoe for Kartell model 4336
By Isao Hosoe, Kartell
Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, 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
Set of 2 Kartell Masters Chairs in Grey 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
Purple Kartell Easy Pendant Light Designed by Ferruccio Laviani
By Ferruccio Laviani, Kartell
Located in Vienna, AT
Easy is a cylindrical suspension lamp that enchants and excites with plays of color and light. Once turned on the polycarbonate is enhanced by a myriad of reflections. 3 pieces avai...
Acrylic
Red 4630 Roto Ashtray by Joe Colombo for Kartell
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Originally designed in 1970 and produced by Kartell in 1973 two years after designer Joe Colombo's death, the Kartell 4630 Roto/Rotocenere ashtray is Colombo at his finest. Red plast...
Plastic
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
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Multicolored Titanium 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 bas...
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell Louis Ghost Armchairs in Straw Yellow by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
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
$8,261 / item
Kartell Lunam Sofa 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
$1,271 / item
Kartell Eleganza Nia Chair by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
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 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 Madame Chair in Rome Print by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Thanks to its neutral colour palette, this chair makes the ideal furniture piece for inserting in sophisticated residential interiors or the most refined contract projects.
Fabric
$1,249 / item
Kartell Undique Table by Patricia Urquiola
By Patricia Urquiola, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
UNDIQUE is a collection of side and low tables, designed to form islands of conviviality in the home. Thanks to tops of different size and height, these tables can be arranged in ori...
Steel
Kartell Maui Chair Design by Vico Magistretti Italian Modern Chair 1990s
By Kartell
Located in Hannover, DE
Maui Chair by Kartell Design by Vico Magistretti Italy c. 1990s–2000s Original Maui chair produced by Kartell, designed by Vico Magistretti in Italy. Production dates to the late ...
Chrome
Chandelier "4017 kd7" Design Achille &Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Kartell, 1959
By Kartell, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in taranto, IT
very rare suspension lamp produced by Kartell from 1959, designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni reported with the initials "KD7") the diffuser is in white opal methacryl...
Opal, Brass
Kartell floor-standing coat rack, 1960s
By Kartell
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Floor standing coat rack by Kartell, Made in Italy, 1960s. Kartell post modern plastic coat rack in cream/white, removable. The price of shipping is for the Italian territory, for ...
Plastic
Sergio Asti for Kartell ceiling suspension light, Italy circa 1960s
By Sergio Asti, Kartell
Located in Long Island City, NY
Sergio Asti for Kartell suspension ceiling light. Designed and made in Italy in 1960s. Acrylic shade, nickel plated hardware. Takes 1 medium bulb. Complimentary US rewiring upon requ...
Metal, Nickel
Kartell Extra Large Multiple Dining Table by Antonio Citterio
By Antonio Citterio, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multiple is a large family of tables, versatile in its uses, and designed for customisation by playing with its shapes (rounded square, round and oval) and pairing of bases (central base with two, three or four spokes) and tops (solid colour stoneware or marble and glass finish). To the collection are added the low table multiple low models 43...
Aluminum
Kartell Masters Bar Stool in White by Philippe Starck & Eugeni Quitllet
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kartell also offers a stool version of the Masters chair, winner of the Good Design Award 2010 and the Red Dot Award 2013, and a worldwide best seller. The legs are lengthened and the seat is shrunk, but the frame's unmistakable graphic look, created by the weave of the silhouettes of three iconic chairs, remains the same. Masters Stool...
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell Victoria Ghost Chairs in Glossy White by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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
Set of 2 Kartell Charles Ghost Medium Stools in Glossy White by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The shape conjures up stools of the 1800s and the line of the legs is rounded and slightly upturned, an icon of the classic high stool. Charles Ghost is constructed from a single blo...
Crystal
Kartell Bourgie Lamp in Copper 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 bas...
Metal
A rare GP & A Monti table lamp for Kartell
By Gianemilio Piero and Anna Monti, Kartell
Located in Milan, IT
A rare and minimal table lamp by Gianemilio, Piero and Anna Monti for Kartell.
Brass