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Joe Colombo KD 28 Kartell Table Lamp

Materials: Red round ABS plastic base. White oval globe lampshade made of 2 ABS plastic shells. Brass rod. Bakelite E14 socket.

Height: 24 cm / 9.44”

Width:  24 cm / 9.44”

Electricity: 1 bulb E14, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, but preferably a white/opaque bulb.

Period: 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: Joe Colombo, born Cesare Colombo, Milan Italy (30 July 1930 – 30 July 1971).

Manufacturer: Kartell, Milan, Italy.

Other versions: This Joe Colombo KD 28 Kartell table lamp exists in many colours. The bigger version KD 29 is a desk lamp with a tray, as you can see below. The KD 27 is the same lamps as the KD 28. The KD 27 is chrome or brass coloured, the KD 28 all the others. Apparently, yellow, lime green and purple were only sold in Australia.

The table lamp KD 27 (and the KD 29, a larger model) is designed by Joe Colombo for Kartell in 1967. This light is stackable and sold as table or floor lamp. Made from 1967 until 1981. Early versions are made from a different kind of plastic and have the bulb and socket in the middle.

Also AB Husqvarna Borstfabrik sold these lamps in Sweden. And probably also some other companies around the globe.

Joe Cesare Colombo

Joe Colombo was born in 1930 in Milan, Italy and went to school at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera), where he studied painting and sculpture. Until 1954 he studied Architecture at Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan).

A year later, in 1955 Colombo joined the Art Concept Group, and gave up his painting to promote his design career.

Colombo had to take over the family company in 1959, which produced electric appliances. He started to experiment with new construction and production technologies and in 1962 Colombo opened his own interior design and architecture projects.

Joe Colombo designed products for Alessi, Bieffe, Boffi, Flexform, Oluce and of course Kartell.

One of his most famous lamps is the Topo. Made as a floor lamp, clamp lamp, desk lamp and table lamp and produced by Stilnovo in the 1970s.

Joe Colombo died in 1971 on his birthday. He was only 41 years old.

Kartell

Kartell is an Italian company that produces plastic contemporary furniture.  The company, head-quartered in Milan, began manufacturing auto-mobile accessories in 1949. It expanded into home furnishings in 1963. It was founded by Italian chemical engineer Giulio Castelli (1920 – 2006) and his wife and architect Anna Castelli Ferrieri (1918 – 2006). Kartell became well-known due to the work of design’s by her hand.

Joe Colombo KD27 Kartell Table Lamp - Green And White Version

Joe Colombo KD27 Kartell Table Lamp - Black And White Version

Joe Colombo KD 29 Table Lamp - Red And White Version

Joe Colombo

Joe Colombo lamps in the Kartell Museum

The museum collection consist of more than 8,000 objects, 5,000 designs and 15,000 photographs. Kartell Museo is housed in the Kartell factory in Noviglio, near Milan, the company’s general headquarters since 1967.

Take the virtual tour, click here.

Joe Colombo Lamps - Kartell Museum

Joe Colombo KD 28 Kartell table lamp, yellow version

Joe Colombo KD 27 Table Lamp - Yellow And White Version

Many thanks to Tinneke for the photo of the yellow lamp.