Tube Chair
Made by Cappellini
Designed by Joe Colombo
Joe Colombo conceived the Tube Chair in 1969 as a direct challenge to the conventions of seating. Four hollow cylinders, each upholstered independently and connected by removable metal clips, replace the fixed frame entirely. The result belongs to no single configuration, shifting between lounge chair and chaise longue according to the body that occupies it.
Colombo's thinking was rooted in adaptability as a design principle, not an afterthought. Form followed a conviction that furniture should respond to human behavior rather than dictate posture. That proposition was radical in 1969 and remains so today.
- Four interchangeable upholstered cylinders in graduated diameters
- Connected and reconfigured by removable metal clips
- No fixed frame - the structure is the seating itself
- Held in the permanent collections of MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Triennale di Milano
The Tube Chair is among the defining objects of twentieth-century Italian design, a piece that collapsed the boundary between furniture and sculpture while insisting, above all, on use.
Made to order by Cappellini, tailored to you.
Get personalized guidance on product details, customizations, swatch samples, pricing, and lead times.
Pairs Well With
Tube Chair
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Tube Chair's construction unique?
The Tube Chair is composed of four hollow, independently upholstered cylinders connected by metal clips rather than a conventional frame. This allows the sitter to detach and reposition each element, creating a range of configurations from compact armchair to extended chaise longue.
When was the Tube Chair originally designed?
Joe Colombo designed the Tube Chair in 1969, during a period of radical experimentation in Italian design. It was conceived as a critique of static, fixed-form furniture and became one of the defining objects of late-1960s avant-garde design.
Which museums hold the Tube Chair in their permanent collections?
The Tube Chair is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Triennale di Milano, reflecting its standing as a canonical work of twentieth-century design.
What upholstery options are available for the Cappellini Tube Chair?
Cappellini offers the Tube Chair in a selection of fabric and leather upholsteries. Specific options vary and are best confirmed at the time of inquiry, as the chair is produced to order.
Who was Joe Colombo and why is he significant?
Joe Colombo (1930-1971) was a Milanese designer and architect whose work consistently explored the relationship between furniture, the human body, and domestic space. His short career produced some of the most formally inventive objects of the twentieth century, and the Tube Chair is widely considered his most radical statement.