Kartell used: vintage mirrors, lamps and plastic furniture

Kartell was founded in Milan in 1949 by Giulio Castelli and made plastic acceptable in the home. Colourful, light and industrially made, yet designed by the best known names of Italian design.

At 2nd home you will find Kartell used and vintage, mostly pieces from the sixties to the eighties: frame mirrors and a trolley by Anna Castelli Ferrieri, KD27 table lamps and the Universale chair by Joe Colombo, the KD6 ceiling light by Achille Castiglioni, lounge chairs by Gae Aulenti, magazine racks and nesting tables by Giotto Stoppino, the Componibili storage system and the Louis Ghost by Philippe Starck. More pieces are under mirrors, lamps and shelves.

Plastic as a design material

Anna Castelli Ferrieri, architect and for many years art director at Kartell, designed the Componibili in the late sixties: round modules that stack and are still produced today. Joe Colombo's Universale is among the first chairs injection moulded in one piece from plastic. The later polycarbonate designs, above all the Louis Ghost, brought the brand to a new generation.

How to recognise an original

Many Kartell pieces carry the brand name and model number moulded into the underside. With vintage plastic, look for scratches, discolouration and hairline cracks, with lamps at the socket and cable. The maker is named for every piece, the designer where known, along with dimensions, condition and photos.

Used instead of new

Many early models are no longer made, colours and versions from the seventies are only available second hand. A used piece has already been produced and stays in use. Shipping method and delivery time are stated on the product page.

Buying used Kartell: plastics, mirrors, lamps and details

  • Kartell made plastic acceptable in the living room. Our focus lies on the brand's Mirrors and Lamps, joined by tables and shelving that you will find again among the Coffee and side tables.

    What the brand stands for

    • Injection moulding as a design tool, not as a saving
    • Transparent and coloured plastics in furniture quality
    • Designs by Philippe Starck, Ferruccio Laviani and Anna Castelli Ferrieri
    • Shapes that stack, swivel or slide into one another

    Milan since 1949

    Founded by Giulio Castelli, a chemical engineer, Kartell was a materials laboratory with design ambition from the outset. The Componibili units and the later Starck designs stand in collections from Milan to New York today.

  • plastic that stays

    Plastic has a poor reputation, usually deservedly, but rarely with furniture made this way. A Kartell piece from the seventies is still intact today and will be in twenty years. The longer it stays in use, the better its balance sheet looks.

    How to use Kartell

    Transparent pieces work where a solid item would block the room: in a narrow hallway, in front of a window, in a small kitchen. Coloured acrylic, by contrast, is an accent and tolerates no competition. One piece per room is almost always enough.

    What the experts look for

    • An embossed logo on the underside or inner edge
    • Scratches in acrylic: shallow ones sand out, deep ones do not
    • Yellowing on clear plastic, often the result of sunlight
    • On lamps: original socket and cable

    Keep browsing

    More icons of post-war modernism can be found under Design classics, coloured objects among the Glass decoration.

Frequently asked questions and answers

How do I recognise genuine Kartell?

Originals carry an embossed mark or a label with the logotype, often with the model name, on the underside. Material quality is a clue too: Kartell plastic looks dense and cleanly finished, without burrs.

Which Kartell classics can be found here?

Regularly the Componibili by Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Louis Ghost by Philippe Starck and the Bourgie lamp. Plus earlier designs by Joe Colombo and Gae Aulenti when they come in.

Does old Kartell plastic yellow, and what helps?

Early ABS pieces can darken over the years, which is part of the material's history. Direct sun speeds it up, so better not by a south-facing window. We show the condition of every piece honestly in the photos.

Why buy Kartell used?

Many early Kartell designs are no longer produced and can only be found used. And on current models you pay noticeably less for the same design when buying used.

Are these vintage pieces or simply used Kartell pieces?

Both terms apply: vintage describes age and design language, used describes the history. How old a piece is and its condition is always stated with the item.

How do I sell Kartell pieces through 2nd home?

Yes. On the Sell page you describe your piece with photos, we check it and come back with an assessment and the next steps.

How do you ship Kartell pieces?

Larger pieces travel by forwarding agent to the address you choose, smaller ones by parcel service. The shipping price is shown on the product page before you order.

Can I see a piece in person before buying?

It depends on the location. Many of our sellers allow a viewing by appointment. Just contact us with the item you are interested in.

  • curation, selection and active search

    Every product you find on 2nd home comes from our curation and quality process . This includes our Kartell furniture and lighting - from new to used and vintage.

    Our team is constantly looking for trends and new items to offer you high-quality vintage and second-hand goods and plenty of inspiration.

    And if you are looking for something specific, you can contact us at any time.

  • Delivery

    At 2nd home you buy what already exists: our furniture , carpets , lights and decorative objects are available and ready to ship, with no production lead time as with new furniture. Another advantage when you buy vintage and second hand.

    For more information about shipping and delivery , see Returns & Refunds .

  • service

    At 2nd home we place great importance on quality and customer satisfaction. Sellers are selected by 2nd home, and every piece is described with its condition, dimensions and photos.

    If you have any questions, our customer service will help you You can find further information about our buyer protection, legal guarantee and right of return in our cancellation policy .

  • Pre-owned instead of new

    Every piece has already been made and stays in use; there is no new production.

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