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 6 Vintage Kartell Dr. Glob Chairs by Philippe Starck, Italy 1980's
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Sofia, BG
Kartell Dr. Glob Chairs by Philippe Starck -Set of 6 A striking set of six vintage Kartell Dr. Glob chairs, designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell. Produced in Italy, these iconic ...
Metal
Set of 2 Kartell One More Please Square Bar Stools in Crystal 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 enough, and you need "One more" and sometimes "One more please...
Plastic
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
Kartell Bubble Club Armchair in Light Grey 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
$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
Kartell Cara Mat Chair Black Beige by Philippe Starck with Sergio Schito
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cara is the living room armchair which combines the rigour of classic lines and the comfort of the seat, characterised by the large, high cushion which offers maximum comfort. Cara ...
Fabric, Plastic
$1,440Sale Price / set|20% Off
Dr. Glob Chairs by Philippe Starck for Kartell
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of Dr Glob chairs for Kartell by Philippe Starck. Vintage 1980s. In good condition but age and use related scuffs and marks. These are two different com...
Metal
$1,840Sale Price / set|20% Off
Philippe Starck for Kartell White Eros Swivel Italian Chairs, Set of 2
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Wichita, KS
Rare original Philippe Starck for Kartell Eros swivel chairs with marking, made in Italy.
Metal
Joe Colombo Chairs Sedia Universale 4867 by Kartell Vintage Made in Italy
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
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
Set of 2 Kartell AI Chair in Bronze Created by Artificial Intelligence
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
Italian Chairs Model 4870 by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, Italy 80s
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
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
Kartell Pop Outdoor Sofa in Sunbrella White by Piero Lissoni
By Carlo Tamborini, Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pop outdoor is the modular sofa with evanescent profiles characterised by large seat and backrest cushions which make it soft and comfortable, made with fabrics conceived specificall...
Fabric, 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 Pop Outdoor Armchair in Blue by Piero Lissoni
By Carlo Tamborini, Kartell, Piero Lissoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pop outdoor is the modular sofa with evanescent profiles characterised by large seat and backrest cushions which make it soft and comfortable, made with fabrics conceived specificall...
Fabric, Plastic
$1,699Sale Price / set|20% Off
Quattro Sedie Eros di Philippe Starck per Kartell Anni 90
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Milano, IT
Sedie/Poltroncine girevoli con struttura in alluminio pressofuso e seduta in policarbonato trasparente blù. In buone condizioni, una seduta presenta una piccola crepa che non comprom...
Aluminum
$1,271 / item
Kartell Eleganza Ela 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
Castiglioni Rochetto White Plastic Stool or Table by Kartell, Italian Midcentury
By Kartell, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
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
Kartell Cat Walk Chair in Rusty Orange 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 3 Black Barstools by Philippe Starck for Kartell, 1980s, Italy
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
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
$5,726 / item
Pop Missoni Sofa by Piero Lissoni
By Kartell, Missoni, Piero Lissoni
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
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 Papyrus Chair in Olive Green by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
By Kartell, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
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 Victoria Ghost Chairs in Amber 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 Madame Chair in Paris 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
$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 Venice Chairs in Glossy Dove by Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
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
4er Set Kartell Design Stapelstühle Philippe Starck Ghost chairs
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten vier von insgesamt 31 Stapelstühlen vom italienischen Traditionshersteller Kartell zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Phillippe Starck und stammt aus dem Jahr 2002 als...
Other
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
Set of 2 Kartell Louis Ghost Armchairs in Smoke Grey 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
Set of 2 Kartell Masters Chairs in Black 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
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
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
$3,174 / item
Pop Duo Missoni Armchair by Piero Lissoni
By Kartell, Missoni, Piero Lissoni
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 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
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 Bubble Club Armchair in Ochre 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 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
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
$2,547 / item
Kartell Uncle Jack Sofa in White by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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
$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
Italian modern black white stools by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, 1980s
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black and white stools by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, 1980s Pair of bar stools in different colors. One stool has round seat, padded and upholstered in white f...
Metal
Set of 2 Kartell Louis Ghost Armchairs in Crystal 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
$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
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
Kartell Lou Lou Vintage Children's Ghost Chair Crystal Plastic Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Miami, FL
We offer the Vintage Classic Lou Lou Kartell Ghost Chair for Kids in transparent Plastic. Philippe Starck's Lou Lou Ghost vintage Armchair for the ...
Plastic
Kartell Foliage Sofa Trevira Green 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
Kartell Cara Chair Black Beige 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 industrial vibe that extends Kartell's range of soft furnishings...
Fabric, Plastic
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
Kartell Hiray Armchair 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
Kartell Pop Outdoor Armchair in Ikon Orange by Piero Lissoni
By Kartell, Carlo Tamborini, Piero Lissoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pop outdoor is the modular sofa with evanescent profiles characterised by large seat and backrest cushions which make it soft and comfortable, made with fabrics conceived specificall...
Fabric, 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
Kartell Cara Chair Ivory White Beige by Philippe Starck with Sergio Schito
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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 Green by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
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
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
$7,953 / item
Pop Missoni Sofa 3 Seats 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
Set of 2 blue 4794 armchairs, Gae Aulenti, Kartell space age plastic 1970s
By Kartell, Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Designed by Gae Aulenti for Kartell, the model 4794 armchairs represent one of his most famous forays into industrial design. Made entirely of lacquered foam plastic, these seats are...
Plastic
$2,004Sale Price / set|20% Off
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
$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
Kartell Bubble Club 2-Seat Sofa in Light Grey 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
Italian modern white plastic 860 Universale Chairs, Joe Colombo, Kartell, 1970s
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern white plastic 860 Universale Chairs, Joe Colombo, Kartell, 1970s. Set consisting of four model 860 chairs, also known as Universale Chair, in cream white ABS plastic. ...
Plastic