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.
Contemporary Art Armchair - Mademoiselle Valery by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 19th-century silk velvet poltrock decorated by the author. Rose back in Pontoglio silk velvet. Trimmings
Silk
Contemporary Art Armchair - Petit Fleur by Carla Tolomeo
By Mirabili, Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. Armchair decorated by the author. Pontoglio velvet rose, trimmings.
Velvet, Wood
Contemporary Art Armchair - Sillon De Borges by Carla Tolomeo
By Carla Tolomeo, Mirabili
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 19th century armchair revisited by the author. Cotton velvet appliqué by the author with cuttings from authentic Japanese OBJ 1800-....
Cotton, Wood
Contemporary Art Armchair - Yellow Pineapple by Carla Tolomeo
By Carla Tolomeo, Mirabili
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 19th century armchairs. vintage fabrics and Dedar velvets, designer decorations with Bevilaqua, Dedar, Pontoglio fabrics, antique go...
Cotton, Wood, Silk
Art deco archer sculpture by Jean de Roncourt
By Jean de Roncourt
Located in NANTES, FR
Art deco sculpture circa 1930 in copper spelter. White bakelite arch all on a marble base black and onyx. Signed J De Rouncourt on the marble base. In very good condition, note some ...
Marble, Spelter
Sterling and Amethyst Pineapple by Grupo Gal
By Grupo Gal
Located in Greer, SC
This is a stunning piece of Grupo Gal Sterling Silver and Amethyst in the shape of a pineapple.
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
$4,640Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 28 in Dm 12 in
Art Deco Pair Pineapple Antique Decorative Rustic Finials Sculpture Los Angeles
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Art Deco Pair Pineapple Antique Decorative Rustic Finials Sculpture Los Angeles . Pair of Pineapples Metal Hand forged Cast and hand made Garden fini...
Iron
$2,907 / item
H 6.11 in W 3.15 in D 2.76 in
Contemporary 'Pear' Sculpture Amber Yellow Crystal Handcrafted by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
The sculpture evokes the romantic vision of two halves that perfectly complement each other once together and symbolize the indissoluble union. Each crystal is exclusive and unique as it has been entirely hand-worked from a block of crystal. This make impossible to create two identical ones. The crystal has been worked by hand until to a smooth and luminous surface to obtain the shape of a pear. The crystal used...
Glass
Puppy S in Orange by Eero Aarnio for Magis
By Magis, Eero Aarnio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created by Eero Aarnio, master of Scandinavian design culture and innovator on the international scene ever since the sixties, Puppy is a little dog as imagined by the great designer...
Plastic
$2,144Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.89 in W 29.14 in D 31.11 in
Contemporary Ava Armchair in Wood by Guto Indio da Costa, Brazil
By Índio da Costa
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Contemporary Wood Ava Armchair by Guto Indio da Costa, Brazil The AVA armchair is part of the collection Machina & Manus by the Brazilian designer...
Wood
$6,013 / item
H 32.29 in W 33.47 in D 27.56 in
Modern Unique Oak Wood Seating Cane Weaving Cross My Heart Armchair by Carla Baz
By Carla Baz
Located in Geneve, CH
Modern Unique Oak Wood Seating Cane Weaving Cross My Heart Armchair by Carla Baz Dimensions: W 85 x D 70 x H 82 CM Weight: 30 kg Material: French Oak, E...
Oak
Puppy M in White by Eero Aarnio for Magis
By Magis, Eero Aarnio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created by Eero Aarnio, master of Scandinavian design culture and innovator on the international scene ever since the sixties, Puppy is a little dog as imagined by the great designer...
Plastic
Puppy XL in White by Eero Aarnio for Magis
By Eero Aarnio, Magis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created by Eero Aarnio, master of Scandinavian design culture and innovator on the international scene ever since the sixties, Puppy is a little dog as imagined by the great designer...
Plastic
Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, "Invisible Personage"
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Indulge in a rare opportunity to own a piece of art history with this Limited Edition Salvador Dali Armchair, featuring the artist's iconic "Invisible Personage" design. One of only ...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Lacquer
Puppy L in White by Eero Aarnio for Magis
By Eero Aarnio, Magis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created by Eero Aarnio, master of Scandinavian design culture and innovator on the international scene ever since the sixties, Puppy is a little dog as imagined by the great designer...
Plastic
Pair of Tole Pineapples in Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of table decorations, of metal, having a distressed finish, each fashioned as a leafy pineapple, set upon a classical fluted urn, on round foot and square plinth. Can be made in...
Tôle
20th Century Rosa Flower Chairs by Italian Artist Carla Tolomeo
By Carla Tolomeo
Located in Brecht, BE
A stunning pair of Rosa flower chairs, by Italian designer Carla Tolomeo.