With its bulbous fiberglass shell and plush leather cushions, the Elda chair looks as if it belongs on a big-budget 1970s-era film set. That’s just where you’ll find it — the piece made its feature-film debut in the 1977 James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me. The chair was created by Cesare "Joe" Colombo (1930–71), an Italian artist-turned-industrial-designer known for his retro-futuristic works. Colombo started his career as an artist, studying painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan before he went on to study architecture at the Polytechnic University. Throughout the 1950s, Colombo found a home within the Abstract Expressionist movement, creating paintings and sculptures that were exhibited throughout Europe.
Colombo’s focus shifted to design when he took over his family business, an electrical appliance manufacturing company, where he experimented with industrial production techniques. In 1962, he opened his own architecture and design firm. With a focus on futuristic living systems inspired by the technological advances of the space race, Colombo created everything from air-conditioning units to dinnerware to furniture, most famously the 1963 Elda chair.
Named after Colombo’s wife, the Elda chair was designed to wholly surround its sitter, as if it were hugging them. The designer envisioned the chair to be a place of comfort in the home from which you could use digital technology to connect with the world — as it turns out, Colombo had impressive foresight. A year following his death, Colombo’s design work was included in the 1972 exhibition “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Vintage Joe Colombo Elda Chair, Comfort Fratelli Longhi, Black Leather
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Elda Chair, designed by Joe Colombo and manufactured by Comfort Fratelli Longhi. The Elda Chair’s futuristic design reflects Colombo’s interest in space exploration and mode...
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo 'Elda' Lounge Chair, White Leather and Fibreglass, by Comfort, Italy
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Joe Colombo ‘Elda’ Lounge Chair, Black Leather and White Fibreglass Shell, Produced by Comfort, Italy. 93cm high, 95cm wide, 98cm deep. The Elda Chair was designed by Joe Colombo in...
Leather, Fiberglass
Vintage Swiveling Elda Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy ca. 1960s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Geneva, CH
Superb edition of the swiveling iconic Elda chair by Joe Colombo and produced by Comfort in Italy ca. 1965. In its full white version in very good condition, unrestored. White leathe...
Leather, Fiberglass
Elda Armchair, Joe Colombo for Conforti, white leather, 1975
By Joe Colombo
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Elda Armchair, designed by Joe Colombo for Comfort Italia in 1963, is an icon of modern design. Featuring an avant-garde and futuristic design, this armchair offers extraordinary...
Leather, Fiberglass
Golden Limited Edition Elda Chair by Joe Colombo for Longhi Italy no. 8/20
By Longhi, Joe Colombo
Located in Nagykovácsi, Central Hungary
LONGHI celebrated the Elda chair's 60th anniversary by creating a limited edition golden chair based on Joe Colombo’s original ELDA design. The chair was on...
Metal
$11,578
Elda Armchairs
By Joe Colombo
Located in Paris, FR
While visiting a shipyard, Joe Colombo was inspired by the hulls of ships to design a chair. He created a self-supporting fiberglass structure that was as robust as anything. This 3...
Leather
Joe Colombo Swivel "Elda" Leather Lounge Chair
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Vienna, AT
Lounge chair designed by Joe Colombo (1930-1971) in 1963 model "Elda"for Comfort. Made of fiberglass structure upholstered with black and white leather which make it very unique. It ...
Bouclé, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo Swivel "Elda" Italian Lounge Chair
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Vienna, AT
Lounge chair designed by Joe Colombo (1930-1971) in 1963 model "Elda"for Comfort. Made of fiberglass structure reupholstered with creme bouclé fabric which make it very unique. It ha...
Bouclé, Fiberglass
Il Poltrone Lounge Chair by Comfort, Dark Gray Leather, 1973
By Comfort, Italy, Titina Ammannati and Giampiero Vitelli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lounge chair from the i Potoni 175 series, designed by T. Ammannati and G.P. Vitelli in 1973. Dark gray leather upholstery wraps a deeply cushioned seat and back, with a distinctive ...
Leather, Acrylic, Upholstery
$3,071 / set
H 29.53 in W 34.26 in D 31.89 in
Scandinavian Modern Vintage Black Leather Lounge Chair H.W.Klein 1960s Denmark
By Henry Walter Klein
Located in Vienna, AT
Scandinavian Modern vintage lounge chairs or club chairs from leather, steel and chromed metal 1960s Denmark by Henry Walter Klein. The freestand...
Steel
$14,600
H 36.82 in W 39.77 in D 37.01 in
Joe Colombo for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Black Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This lounge ch...
Leather, Fiberglass
Elda Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy 1960s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in bruxelles, BE
Swivel armchair in beige canvas and black shell by Joe Colombo. Elda model. Seat height 40 cm. Wear due to time and age of armchair. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST PRICE
Fiberglass, Canvas
$4,548
H 39.38 in W 41.74 in D 35.44 in
IL Poltrone Lounge Chair by T. Ammannati & G.P. Vitelli for Comfort, Italy 1973
By Comfort, Italy, Titina Ammannati and Giampiero Vitelli
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Space Age Midcentury Modern Italian Design IL Poltrone Lounge Chair by T. Ammannati & G.P. Vitelli for Comfort. Made in Italy, 1973. Dark chocolate brown leather seat on a da...
Leather, Polyester
Joe Colombo Elda swivel chair in original condition.
By Joe Colombo
Located in Greensboro, NC
Iconic swiveling "Elda Chair" by Italian designer Joe Colombo. This chair was designed in 1963, and put into production in 1965. Our chair is an early production in original condit...
Leather, Fiberglass
$3,480Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 22.5 in W 28.38 in D 25.63 in
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
$12,287Sale Price|5% Off
H 36.62 in W 37.41 in D 36.23 in
Vintage iconic Joe Colombo Elda armchair, Italian Space Age 1960s, Black Leather
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Milano, IT
Iconic Armchair , Vintage Italian Armchair , Joe Colombo , Elda It’s 1963, Space Age is at its dawn, and Italian architect Joe Colombo designs a piece that will define the aestheti...
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo 'Supercomfort' Armchair for B-Line
By Joe Colombo
Located in Tilburg, NL
Joe Colombo 'Supercomfort' Armchair for B-Line. Designed in 1964. New, current production. The Supercomfort armchair designed by Joe Colombo is the result of a meticulous ergonomi...
Leather, Oak
$18,700
H 36.42 in W 37.21 in D 38.39 in
Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chair in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This lo...
Leather, Fiberglass
Sold
H 36.23 in W 37.01 in D 39.38 in
Joe Colombo ‘Elda’ Lounge Chair in Cognac Leather and Black Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair model ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963, later production. The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian desi...
Leather, Fiberglass
Sold
H 36.62 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
Early Edition Elda Chair in dark cognac brown by Joe Colombo for Comfort, 1960s
By Joe Colombo
Located in amstelveen, NL
Early edition Elda lounge chair designed by Joe Colombo and produced by Comfort in the late 1960s. Celebrated for its sculptural silhouette and enveloping comfort, the Elda remains ...
Leather, Fiberglass
Sold
H 36.62 in W 37.41 in D 36.23 in
Poltrona girevole vintage anni 60 modello Elda design Joe Colombo per Comfort
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Poltrona girevole con telaio in vetroresina e rivestimento in pelle bianca, modello "Elda" progettato da Joe Colombo per Comfort, anni '60. CONDIZIONE: In buone condizioni, mostra s...
Leather
Elda Chair and Ottoman by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy 1970s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Hellouw, NL
The Elda chair, designed in 1963 by the visionary Italian designer Joe Colombo, remains one of the most recognisable lounge chairs of the 20th century. Sculptural, enveloping and fut...
Leather, Plastic
Sold
H 36.23 in W 37.8 in D 35.44 in
'Elda' Chair by Joe Colombo and Mario Brunu Pouf in Black Leather for Comfort
By Joe Colombo, Mario Brunu, Comfort, Italy
Located in Hellouw, NL
A sculptural statement in black leather and fibreglass; this original Joe Colombo Elda chair is here paired with a rare Mario Brunu-designed pouf. Both produced by Comfort, Italy, in...
Leather, Fiberglass
Sold
H 37.01 in W 40.95 in D 30.71 in
Vintage Elda Lounge Chair in black on black by Joe Colombo for Comfort Italy 197
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Stunning First edition Elda lounge chair, with original black fiberglass shell, and original black leather and marked with comfort! Created in the 1970s in Italy by renowned designe...
Leather, Fiberglass
Elda Swivel Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort Italy, circa 1963
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A swivel lounge chair in Fiberglass and black Leather. All original Elda Chair Designed By Joe Colombo for Comfort Italy. A unique design that sits on a hidden swivel base that spins...
Leather, Fiberglass
Sold
H 37.01 in W 40.95 in D 30.71 in
Vintage Elda Lounge Chair in mocha by Joe Colombo for Comfort Italy 1970s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
This special edition in mocha leather and a matching mocha fiberglass shell, is one we have not came across before. Created in the 1970s in Italy by renowned designer Joe Colombo, na...
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo for Comfort Fratelli "Elda" Chair
By Joe Colombo
Located in Astoria, NY
Joe Colombo for Comfort Fratelli Longhi "Elda" Black Leather Swivel Chair, on black fiberglass base, fabric marked "Comfort" to underside of seat cushion. 36.25" H x 37.5" W x 32" D;...
Leather, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo for Comfort Fratelli "Elda" Chair
By Joe Colombo
Located in Astoria, NY
Joe Colombo for Comfort Fratelli Longhi "Elda" Black Leather Swivel Chair, on black fiberglass base, fabric marked "Comfort" to underside of seat cushion. 36.25" H x 37.5" W x 32" D;...
Leather, Fiberglass
Elda Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort - 1960's Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Lisboa, PT
Iconic Elda Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort - Collectible Design Masterpiece The Elda Chair, designed by visionary Italian designer Joe Colombo for Comfort in the 1960s, is an unpa...
Leather, Fiberglass
Sold
H 40.56 in W 40.56 in D 31.5 in
20th Century Italian "Elda" Black Leather Chair By Joe Colombo c.1970
By Joe Colombo
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
One of the most iconic design pieces of the 20th century, the Elda chair was designed by Joe Colombo in 1963. Utilising innovative manufacturing techniques, Colombo created this fibr...
Leather, Fiberglass
