Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Carla Tolomeo creates whimsical and otherworldly pieces of art and furniture. With works that take on a range of natural-world forms such as palm trees, crescent moons and butterflies, Tolomeo’s lavish and imaginative seating creatively bridges sculpture and design.
Born in Pinerolo near Turin, Italy, in 1945, Tolomeo spent most of her childhood in Rome. She involved herself in art early in life, learning from leading Italian artists like Giorgio de Chirico, Renato Guttuso, Franco Gentilini and Ugo Attardi.
In 1971, Tolomeo had her first exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland. She went on to teach engraving at the Brera Academy and the Venetian Academy of Art. Through the 1990s, she focused solely on fine art, varying her disciplines between oil painting, engraving and other media.
In 1997, Tolomeo decided to challenge her artistic vision through the creation of pieces that she christened “Chairs-Sculptures.” She impressed critics and collectors alike with her boldly unconventional furniture. An early Tolomeo chair design garnered interest from the likes of Hermès and Neiman Marcus — she has since utilized textiles from Hermès in her works as well as fabrics created by Missoni.
Tolomeo sees her furniture as an extension of her art, with the three-dimensional structures juxtaposing the real and the unreal. Working with velvet, silk and foam rubber, she instills luxurious comfort into her curious sofas and other pieces such as beds. Their ostentatious ornamentation accents any space with a touch of magic.
Find Carla Tolomeo furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Cotton, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk, Cotton
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Cotton, Wood
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Cotton, Wood, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk
2010s Portuguese Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Velvet, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Cedar, Paint, Faux Fur
2010s Moroccan Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Wool, Velvet, Wood
2010s Cambodian Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Oak, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Velvet
Late 20th Century Unknown Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Velvet
1950s American American Craftsman Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Poplar, Tulipwood, Walnut
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Ceramic
2010s Italian Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Velvet, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Fabric, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Silk, Velvet
1990s Italian Carla Tolomeo Furniture
1990s Italian Modern Carla Tolomeo Furniture
Velvet, Wood