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.
$559Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 2 Purple La Marie Chairs By Philippe Starck For Kartell, Made In Italy
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in San Carlos, CA
For Sale: Iconic La Marie Chairs by Philippe Starck for Kartell Elevate your interior with this stunning set of 2 clear purple La Marie chairs. Designed by the renowned Philippe Sta...
Plastic
$440Sale Price / set|20% Off
Philippe Starck & Eugeni Quitllet White Masters Chairs for Kartell - a Pair
By Eugeni Quitllet, Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of white masters chairs by Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitllet for Kartell. Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitllet pay homage to three different mid...
Plastic
Joe Colombo for Kartell Armchair Mod. 4801 Numbered No. 29, Italy 1960s
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Naples, IT
Fantastic and large white curved beech wood armchair, Mod. 4801 Designer Joe Colombo and produced by Kartell in Italy , an icon of Italian Modernism. A limited number of wooden 4801 ...
Leather, Wood
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Philippe Starck Dr. No Cream Dining Chair for Kartell
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Miami, FL
Cream Dr. No chair with aluminum legs by Philippe Starck and produced by Kartell, Italy.
Aluminum
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
Achille Castiglioni for Kartell Pair of Space-Age Yellow & Black Plastic Stools
By Beylerian LTD, Achille Castiglioni, Kartell
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
Piero Lissoni for Kartell Armchair Bed "Trix, Italy 2000s
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Naples, IT
Trix white sofa bed by Piero Lissoni for Kartell composed of three different elements connected by an elegant elastic system that can transform and adapt to different uses through ...
Fabric, Plastic
Early 21st Century Set of 4 Charles Ghost Bar Stools by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Early 21st century set of 4 Charles Ghost patio bar stools by Philippe Starck for Kartell. Light scratching commensurate with age & use. 11 3/8" dia. seat. 16.75" x 16.75" at flo...
Lucite
Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Arm Chair in Crystal for Kartell
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
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
Set of 2 Kartell Victoria Ghost Chairs in Crystal 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
Kartell Master Counter Stool in Rust Orange 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
$4,213 / item
Kartell Lunam Armchair 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
$2,794 / item
Kartell Foliage Armchair by Patricia Urquiola
By Kartell, Patricia Urquiola
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
Set of 2 Kartell Venice Chairs in Glossy Sage Green 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
Kartell Cat Walk Chair in Rose by Philippe Starck with Sergio Schito
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Inspired by the world of haute couture and fashion shows, Catwalk is intended for both domestic and contract furnishings and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell Lizz Matt Black Chair by Piero Lissoni
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A light, essential and rigorous chair. Its square line is designed by Piero Lissoni, with a wide seat and a wide, low backrest. Created for use around tables, it was born in a range ...
Plastic
Kartell Spoon Adjustable Stool in White by Antonio Citterio & Toan Nguyen
By Kartell, Antonio Citterio, Toan Nguyen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An original stool whose shape is as elastic in appearance as it is in function. The innovation of Spoon consists mainly in attaching the seat to a central support with a specially reinforced curve to guarantee flexibility and comfort. Furthermore, thanks to a sophisticated design solution, the gas lift pump adjusts the height between 56 and 76 cm and is perfectly inserted into the stem. In the same ingenious fashion, the handle which regulates the mechanism is perfectly concealed inside the seat. Spoon lends itself to any surrounding: kitchen benches...
Plastic
Dr. Glob Dining Chair Set by Philippe Starck for Kartell, Italy 1980's
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Postmodern Design Dr. Glob Dining Chair Set by Philippe Starck for Kartell. Made in Italy, 1980's / 90's period. Marked on the bottom. All black edition. Stackable. Black pla...
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
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
Set of 2 Kartell One More Please Square Bar 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" and sometimes "One more please...
Plastic
Kartell Ami Ami Chair in Red by Tokujin Yoshioka
By Kartell, Tokujin Yoshioka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Inspired by the way pattern and texture interweave in a fabric, the Ami Ami chair (its name in Japanese literally means "to weave"), was born of designer's wish to reproduce one of t...
Plastic
Set of 2 Kartell Lizz Matt Orange Chair by Piero Lissoni
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A light, essential and rigorous chair. Its square line is designed by Piero Lissoni, with a wide seat and a wide, low backrest. Created for use around tables, it was born in a range ...
Plastic
Kartell Cat Walk Chair in Black by Philippe Starck with Sergio Schito
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Inspired by the world of haute couture and fashion shows, Catwalk is intended for both domestic and contract furnishings and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
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
Kartell Mademoiselle "A La Mode" Missoni Sketches Lucite Chair Philippe Starck
By Missoni, Kartell
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Pair of Philippe Stark for Kartell ‘Mademoiselle’ Lucite Chairs in Missoni Floral Upholstered Fabric With Makers Marks Made in Italy Extra dime...
Lucite
Castiglioni Rochetto Stool or Table by Kartell
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Kartell
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
$796Sale Price|20% Off
Signed Black FPE Chair by Ron Arad for Kartell
By Kartell, Ron Arad
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
Set of 2 Kartell Lizz Mat Chairs in Black by Patricia Urquiola
By Patricia Urquiola, Kartell
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
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
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
Kartell Madame Chair in Shanghai Print by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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 refin...
Fabric
Model 4801 Armchair by Joe Colombo for Kartell, 1960s
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
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
Rocchetto Stool designed by Achille Castiglioni for Kartell, Italy, 1969
By Kartell, Achille Castiglioni
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
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
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
Philippe Starck for Kartell Clear Lucite Eros Swivel Italian Chairs, Set of 3
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Miami, FL
Set of 3 transparent Lucite Eros swivel chairs designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell and made in Italy. The seat is made out of acrylic and the base is aluminum. Marked at the se...
Aluminum
Castiglioni Rochetto White Plastic Stool or Table by Kartell, Italian Midcentury
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Kartell
Located in Chicago, IL
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
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
Joe Colombo Chair No. 4801, Black Plywood, Kartell, Italy, 1960s, One of Two
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
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
Kartell Madame Chair in Milan Print by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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 refin...
Fabric
$2,140 / item
Kartell Trix Sofa Bed by Piero Lissoni in Orange
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 One More Square Bar Stools in Yellow 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 ...
Plastic
Carlo Bartoli Set of Six 4875 Chairs in Plastic by Kartell 1980s
By Carlo Bartoli, Kartell
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of six 4875 chairs (also known as Bartoli) designed by Carlo Bartoli in 1974 and produced by Kartell. The chairs are made of polypropylene, a very resistant and lightweight plas...
Plastic
Vintage Contemporary Spool Stool by Antonio Citterio for Kartell - a Pair
By Kartell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fantastic pair of vintage Contemporary bar stools. Adjustable seat height from 22 to 30. Beautiful floors white with chrome hardware. Marked on the bottom. Acquired from a Palm Beach...
Chrome
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
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
'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
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
$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
Kartell A.I. Bar Stool in Grey by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kartell continues its ongoing commitment to sustainability with eco-friendly products which are part of the broader project expressed by the industrial manifesto Kartell loves the pl...
Plastic
$2,547 / item
Kartell Uncle Jack Sofa in White by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kartell presents Uncle Jack, the revolutionary single mould transparent polycarbonate sofa signed by Philippe Starck. It is 190 cm long in a single block we...
Plastic
$409Sale 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
Vintage Universale Chair by Joe Colombo for Kartell, Italy, 1972
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Universale "4867" Chair, Italy dated on bottom: 1972 "polycarbonate - in very good vintage condition" "some discoloration and yellowing, some scratches and small dings" Des...
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
Kartell Spoon Adjustable Stool in White by Antonio Citterio & Toan Nguyen
By Kartell, Antonio Citterio, Toan Nguyen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An original stool whose shape is as elastic in appearance as it is in function. The innovation of Spoon consists mainly in attaching the seat to a centr...
Plastic
Modern Red Plastic Vintage Seven Dining Chairs Ron Arad for Kartell 1999 Italy
By Ron Arad, Kartell
Located in Vienna, AT
Modern set of 7 red plastic vintage chairs or dining chairs from red plastic and aluminum FPE Fantastic Plastic Elastic by Ron Arad for Kartell Italy 1999. An amazing set of seven ( ...
Aluminum
$5,500 / item
Kartell Foliage Sofa Teal by Patricia Urquiola
By Kartell, Patricia Urquiola
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
Set of 2 Kartell Lizz Chairs in Black by Piero Lissoni & Carlo Tamborini
By Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A light, ultra-streamlined chair, so representative of the Minimalist and elegant style of its designer, Piero Lissoni. Made of a mass-tinted thermoplastic technopolymer, Lizz is manufactured in a single piece, using gas-blowing technology. Its name (from Liz Taylor) as well as the traditional chair...
Plastic
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