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.
$8,228Sale Price|20% Off
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
Joe Colombo Swivel "Elda" Italian Lounge Chair
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
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
'Elda' Chair by Joe Colombo and Mario Brunu Pouf in Black Leather for Comfort
By Mario Brunu, Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
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
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
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
$11,858Sale Price|30% Off
Vintage Iconic Joe Colombo Elda Armchair, Italian Space Age, White Leather
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Milano, IT
It’s 1963, Space Age is at its dawn, and Italian architect Joe Colombo designs a piece that will define the aesthetics of the era: we’re of course talking of the Elda chair, named af...
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 1960s vintage swivel armchair model Elda designed by Joe Colombo for Comfort
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in None, IT
Swivel armchair with fiberglass frame and white leather upholstery, model "Elda" designed by Joe Colombo for Comfort, 1960s. CONDITION: In good condition, shows signs of wear due to...
Leather
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
$21,296Sale Price|20% Off
Golden Limited Edition Elda Chair by Joe Colombo for Longhi Italy no. 8/20
By Joe Colombo, Longhi
Located in Budapest, Budapest
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
$11,858
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
$8,712 / set
H 28.55 in W 16.93 in D 19.69 in
Space Age Pop Art Vintage Red Orange Plastic Dining Chairs Joe Colombo Italy Six
By Joe Colombo
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age red and orange six plastic pop art vintage chairs or dining chairs model Universale designed by Joe Colombo 1965 - 1967 and executed by Kart...
Plastic
Mario Brunu Rodica Lounge Chair for Comfort
By Mario Brunu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The midcentury lounge chair is in near original condition It may show minimal traces of use. Very comfortable and great Italian design .
Leather, Fiberglass
$4,477
H 35.44 in W 39.38 in D 41.34 in
Vintage space age Rodica chair by Mario Brunu for Comfort, Italy 1968.
By Mario Brunu, Comfort, Italy
Located in Haderslev, DK
Elevate your living space with the timeless elegance of the 'Rodica' lounge chair, a mid-century masterpiece designed by Mario Bruno for Comfort Italy. Cra...
Leather, Fiberglass
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
"Rodica" Lounge Chair by Mario Brunu for Comfort Italy, 1968
By Mario Brunu, Comfort, Italy
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Italian design - decoration - Lounge chair Measures : 100x100cm H:84 SH:40cm Materials : Fiberglass, Leather The "Rodica" chair was designed by Mario Brunu for Comfort in 1968, in It...
Leather, Fiberglass
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
Kartell Joe Colombo Chair in Crystal by Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
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
$12,584Sale 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
Tubular Chair after Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Postmodern lounge chair made by an anonymous creator in the style of Joe Colombo's radical Tube Chair. Its playful silhouette is made up of four cylinders of varying sizes are fixed ...
Faux Leather
$12,705Sale Price|30% Off
H 30.71 in W 27.17 in D 51.19 in
Joe Colombo 1970s Additional System Armachair & Ottoman
By Joe Colombo
Located in Padova, IT
One of the most iconic Space Age design by Joe Colombo for Sormani, Italy, 1970s. The "Additional System" seating system consisting of a series of cushions of different sizes joined ...
Aluminum
$11,900 / set
H 23.23 in W 27.56 in D 25.99 in
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
Lucite and Leather Space Age Chairs
Located in Denton, TX
Pair of vintage midcentury Space Age acrylic swivel chairs with blood orange leather and newly powder coated bases.
Metal, Aluminum
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 Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
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
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
Joe Colombo Swivel "Elda" Lounge Chair
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Lounge chair designed by Joe Colombo (1930-1971) in 1963 model "Elda"for Comfort. Made of fiberglass structure upholstered. It has a swivel base of 360 degrees rotation and wheels th...
Bouclé, Fiberglass
Joe Colombo "Biglia" Ashtray/Round Box for Arnolfo di Cambio, 1969, Signed
By Joe Colombo, Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Brescia, Brescia
This rare and elegant piece is a testament to Joe Colombo's visionary design and mastery of form. Crafted from Alexandrite glass, renowned for its ability to change color depending o...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 36.82 in W 39.77 in D 37.01 in
Rare vintage original Joe Colombo Elda chair by comfort Italy 1960 black leather
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Original vintage ''Elda chair'' by Joe Colombo for Comfort Italy 1960. Most desired version of black leather and white fiberglass. The ‘Elda’ chai...
Leather, Fiberglass
Sold
H 28 in W 31.5 in D 27.56 in
Joe Colombo For Sormani Roll Brown Leather Spring Steel Armchair Pair (2) , 1962
By Sormani, Joe Colombo
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair of Joe Colombo for Sormani, Roll Brown Leather Spring Steel Armchairs, Pair (2) , 1962- The price is for the pair! Very stylish pair of armchairs designed by Joe Colombo in 196...
Steel
Sold
H 37.41 in W 41.34 in D 31.5 in
Elda Lounge Chair In Black Leather By Joe Colombo For Comfort Italy 1970s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Iconic design chair by top designer Joe Colombo. The Elda chairs were produced by Comfort Italy from the early 60s. The rotating white fiberglass shell gives the chair a clean look a...
Leather, Fiberglass
Poltrona 'Elda' Joe Colombo per Comfort, 1965
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Milano, IT
Iconica poltrona modello 'Elda', disegnata da Joe Colombo e prodotta da Comfort a partire dal 1965. Struttura e scocca in fibra di vetro, seduta e schienale rivestiti da cuscini in ...
Leather
