Joe Colombo ''Boby 3'' Italian Portable Storage System for Bieffeplast, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Joe Colombo (Designer),Bieffeplast (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.14 in (74 cm)Width: 16.54 in (42 cm)Depth: 16.93 in (43 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1969
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
- Seller Location:Roma, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3067322837022
Joe Colombo
He died tragically young, and his career as a designer lasted little more than 10 years. But through the 1960s, Joe Colombo proved himself one of the field’s most provocative and original thinkers, and he produced a remarkably large array of innovative furniture, lighting and product designs. Even today, the creations of Joe Colombo have the power to surprise.
Cesare “Joe” Colombo was born in Milan, the son of an electrical-components manufacturer. He was a creative child — he loved to build huge structures from Meccano pieces — and in college he studied painting and sculpture before switching to architecture. In the early 1950s, Colombo made and exhibited paintings and sculptures as part of an art movement that responded to the new Nuclear Age, and futuristic thinking would inform his entire career. He took up design not long after his father fell ill in 1958, and he and his brother, Gianni, were called upon to run the family company. Colombo expanded the business to include the making of plastics — a primary material in almost all his later designs. One of his first, made in collaboration with his brother, was the Acrilica table lamp (1962), composed of a wave-shaped piece of clear acrylic resin that diffused light cast by a bulb concealed in the lamp’s metal base. A year later, Colombo produced his best-known furniture design, the Elda armchair (1963): a modernist wingback chair with a womb-like plastic frame upholstered in thick leather pads.
Portability and adaptability were keynotes of many Colombo designs, made for a more mobile society in which people would take their living environments with them. One of his most striking pieces is the Tube chair (1969). It comprises four foam-padded plastic cylinders that fit inside one another. The components, which are held together by metal clips, can be configured in a variety of seating shapes. Tube chairs generally sell for about $9,000 in good condition; Elda chairs for about $7,000. A small Colombo design such as the plastic Boby trolley — an office organizer on wheels, designed in 1970 — is priced in the range of $700. As Colombo intended, his designs are best suited to a modern decor. As you see on 1stDibs, if your tastes run to sleek, glossy Space Age looks, the work of Joe Colombo offers you a myriad of choices.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Roma, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Mid-Century Chest of Drawers in Walnut by Ico Parisi for MIM Roma, Italy 1960sBy MIM Roma, Ico ParisiLocated in Roma, ITWonderful midcentury five-drawers dresser. This minimal chest of drawers was designed by Ico Parisi and produced by Mim Roma. Made in walnut wood with wo...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsAluminum, Metal
- Italian Vintage Industrial Cabinet, Metal and Leather, Italy 1950sLocated in Roma, ITBeautiful original industrial cabinet with ten drawers, 1950s. This amazing piece was manufactured in Italy during the 1950s. The cabinet features 10 drawers with beautiful carved knobs...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Industrial Cabinets
MaterialsMetal, Steel
- Wolfgang Laubersheimer "Verspantes Regal" Steel Bookcase for Pentagon, 1984By Pentagon Group, Wolfgang LaubersheimerLocated in Roma, ITFantastic object designed by Wolfgang Laubersheimer and produced by Pentagon Group, Germany, 1984. This bookcase, called "Regal Verspanntes", is made...Category
Vintage 1980s German Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsSteel, Iron
- Renato Venturi Set of 8 Italian Dining Chairs for MIM Roma, Italy 1960sBy MIM Roma, Renato VenturiLocated in Roma, ITGorgeous set of 8 midcentury chairs designed by Renato Venturi for MIM Roma during the 1960s in Italy. These iconic chairs have a solid wood stru...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Wood, Teak
- Sergio Mazza "Delta" Italian Wall Light Sconce for Artemide, 1960sBy Artemide, Sergio MazzaLocated in Roma, ITStunning "Delta" wall lamp designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in Italy during the 1960s. This large and unique adjustable sconce is made in a gorgeous combination of steel, gloss...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsMetal, Steel
- Midcentury Aldo Londi Blue Ceramic Italian Centerpiece for Bitossi, 1960sBy Bitossi, Aldo LondiLocated in Roma, ITMidcentury round blue and brown ceramic centrepiece. Aldo Londi designed this fantastic piece in Italy during the 1960s for Bitossi. This fantastic item is magnificent because the...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces
MaterialsCeramic
- Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast Boby TrolleyBy Joe Colombo, BieffeplastLocated in Byron Bay, NSWItalian modern red plastic storage trolley Boby, on wheels, by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast in 1968. Iconic and very useful in all environments, Boby model storage trolley with stru...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsPlastic
- Brown 'Boby' trolley by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast, Italy 1970'sBy Joe Colombo, BieffeplastLocated in Steenwijk, NLThis “Boby” trolley or portable storage system was designed by Joe Colombo in 1969. A very handy trolley made of ABS plastic. It has many storage options such as the fold-out shelves...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsPlastic
- Boby storage cabinet with wheels and compartments by Joe Colombo for BieffePlastBy Bieffeplast, Joe ColomboLocated in Milano, ITFamous object trolley designed by Joe Colombo in the 1960s and produced by BIEFFEPLAST. The trolley for sale is dated 1980. It is in good condition, with small marks due to wear an...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Cabinets
MaterialsPlastic
- Joe Colombo White Vintage Plastic Boby High Portable Storage Container, ItalyBy Joe ColomboLocated in Vienna, ATA white vintage 3 high portable storage container, which was designed by Joe Colombo in 1969, Italy and executed by Bieffeplast, Padova, Italy. The wh...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsPlastic
- Red Boby cart by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast 60s, 70sBy BieffeplastLocated in Padova, ITBoby is much more than a simple container, it is the container trolley that has made design history. Functionality and detail represent its strong points which, together with its und...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsPlastic
- 1970s Black Boby Trolley by Joe Colombo for BieffeplastBy Joe ColomboLocated in San Gabriel, CA1970s black plastic Boby Trolly cart by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast with 6 storage drawers. Made in Italy. Some small scuffs and dulling of the plastic. Si...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsPlastic