10 January 2013
At a time when plastic is regarded with suspicion, it is worth remembering that it was once seen as the material in which to invest for the future, and that it has transformed our relationship with articles of everyday use. One of the movers and shakers behind its success was undoubtedly Kartell, the Italian company that helped to change the history of furniture, introducing plastic into every area of the house. Even now that wood and glass are gaining ground again, Kartell, founded by Giulio Castelli in 1949, is holding firmly to its leading position in the field of designer furniture made in Italy. The book Kartell: the Culture of Plastics (Taschen) tells the story of the company, from its birth to the management of Claudio Luti, president for the last twenty years.
Decoration panel at the Kartell booth, Salone del Mobile, Milan, 2009. Two androids introduce the new chair Masters.
Waste-paper bin 4745/4751, design by Angelo Cortesi and Franco Scansetti, 1989.
Advertising campaign, 1967.
Claudio Luti and his children Federico and Lorenza. Photo: Fabrizio Carnelutti for Gente, 2008.