Joe Colombo

JOE COLOMBO (Italy, 1930-1971).
"Tube Chair. Italy, 1960s
PVC, polyurethane foam, chromed metal.
In good vintage condition, with signs of use commensurate with age.
Measurements: 115 x 115 x 65 cm

Designed by Joe Colombo in the late 1960s, the "Tube Chair" is one of the most emblematic pieces of radical Italian design. The seat is composed of cylindrical modules of different sizes, connected by metal rings that allow different configurations. This modular system introduces a new way of understanding furniture, in line with the research of the time on dynamic spaces.

The geometric purity of the cylinder, together with the continuity of the volume and the smoothness of the surfaces, gives the piece a futuristic character clearly linked to the pop and spatial aesthetics of the late 1960s. Beyond its function, the "Tube Chair" is presented as an experimental object that combines ergonomics, play and technology, becoming a benchmark of 20th century design.

Born in Milan, Colombo began his career as a painter and sculptor before turning to industrial design in the 1950s. An advocate of plastic as a modern and revolutionary material, he developed innovative proposals based on the flexibility of space and contemporary life. His work is part of important international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and continues to be a key reference in Italian design. He died prematurely at the age of 40.