Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
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.
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Cotton, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Silk, Cotton
2010s Italian Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Stone, Cement, Marble, Iron
2010s Russian Minimalist Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Acrylic, Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Fiberglass
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Natural Fiber, Foam, Polyester, Wood, Fabric, Upholstery
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Antler, Horn, Fur, Sheepskin
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Natural Fiber, Foam, Polyester, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Ceramic, Stoneware
1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Velvet
2010s Russian Minimalist Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Acrylic, Wood, Paper
2010s Russian Minimalist Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Acrylic, Wood, Paper
2010s Spanish Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet