Questions & Answers
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What is the history of Kartell?
1 Answer
The history of Kartell starts with an Italian chemical engineer named Giulio Castelli and his wife, Anna Ferrieri. The couple founded Kartell in Milan as an industrial design firm, producing utilitarian 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. Buoyed by its success in the home goods market, Kartell introduced its Habitat division in 1963. 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. 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. On 1stDibs, explore a large selection of Kartell furniture.
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
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Shop for Kartell Furniture on 1stDibs
Kartell by Philippe Starck Modern Ero/S White Dining Chair
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in London, GB
Originally designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell in 1999 the Ero/S chair is inspired by the 1960s but has quickly become a modern design Classic.
With an organic shape, the oval...
Category
20th Century Italian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Steel
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...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Plywood, Wood, Bentwood
Olaf Von Bohr for Kartell Mod. 4963 Chest of Drawers, I§taly 1970s
By Olaf von Bohr, Kartell
Located in Naples, IT
Designed by Olaf Von Bohr and meticulously manufactured by Kartell, this versatile sideboard or shoe cabinet, model 4963, is a masterpiece of avant-garde vintage design. The rectangu...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Plastic
Italian white night stand Componibili Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, 1970s
By Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian white night stand Componibili Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, 1970s
Bedside table mod. Componibili with a round base. The structure is cy...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Night Stands
Materials
Plastic
Carlo Bartoli for Kartell Mod.4875 Plastic Chair, Italy, 1970s
By Kartell, Carlo Bartoli
Located in Naples, IT
Modern Italian white plastic chair with rounded seat and back, Mod." 4875" by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, 1970s. The circular chair legs are ...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic, Rubber
Italian modern Green plastic metal Ashtray by Gino Colombini for Kartell, 1970s
By Gino Colombini, Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Green plastic and metal Ashtray by Gino Colombini for Kartell, 1970s
Round ashtray with black painted metal plate and with cantilevered chromed metal profile. Round ba...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Ashtrays
Materials
Metal