Joe Colombo Boby Trolley with 3 Drawers, 1970s

420,00 €

A unique vintage piece

An original Joe Colombo Boby trolley for Bieffeplast, in the compact low configuration with three rotating drawers. Finished in off-white ABS, this rare vintage example is made particularly distinctive by its original yellow ribbed anti-slip mats, preserved from the period.

  • Rare compact Boby with three rotating drawers
  • Original 1970s production by Bieffeplast
  • Original yellow ribbed anti-slip mats preserved
  • Mobile multifunctional storage in molded ABS

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Professionally packed and fully insured worldwide

ABOUT THIS PIECE

  • item. storage trolley
  • designer. Joe Colombo
  • maker. Bieffeplast
  • model. Boby
  • period. 1970s
  • country. Italy
  • style. space age, modernist
  • material. ABS plastic
  • color. off-white, yellow, black
  • dimensions (cm). 43 × 43 × 53 H
  • storage. 3 rotating drawers, open compartments, side storage niches, lower shelf
  • details. original yellow ribbed anti-slip mats, original castors
  • condition. very good vintage condition with visible signs of age and use, including scratches, marks and areas of discoloration to the off-white ABS. the original yellow mats also show age-related wear. carefully cleaned while preserving the original surfaces and components. structurally sound and fully functional.
  • reference. 2102

 

DESIGN CONTEXT

The Joe Colombo Boby trolley is one of the defining objects of Italian radical design. Developed in 1969 and manufactured by Bieffeplast, Boby transformed the conventional storage cabinet into a compact mobile system in which drawers, trays, shelves and open compartments are organized around a remarkably efficient vertical structure.

Colombo’s approach was based on movement and adaptability. Instead of conventional drawers sliding from a fixed cabinet, Boby’s storage trays rotate independently around their vertical axis, allowing the object to expand while in use and return to an exceptionally compact footprint when closed. Integrated open compartments and castors extend this idea of flexible storage even further.

This particular example is an especially appealing low configuration, standing only 53 cm high while incorporating three rotating drawers. Its off-white ABS structure is complemented by original yellow ribbed anti-slip mats preserved from the period. The contrast is both functional and graphic, adding a vivid accent to Colombo’s modular architecture.

The Boby belongs to a generation of objects that challenged the distinction between furniture and equipment. Conceived as an adaptable working companion rather than static cabinetry, it could move between professional, creative and domestic environments while keeping tools and everyday objects immediately accessible. Its combination of mobility, modularity and molded plastic remains remarkably relevant today.

This vintage Bieffeplast example has been carefully cleaned while preserving its original character. Scratches, marks and areas of discoloration remain visible across the off-white ABS, together with age-related wear to the original yellow mats. These traces document decades of use without compromising the functionality or unmistakable presence of the design.

To explore the story behind Joe Colombo’s revolutionary approach to mobile and modular storage, discover our in-depth guide to the Boby Trolley, tracing the ideas, versatility and design legacy behind this icon of Italian Space Age design.

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Joe Colombo Boby Trolley with 3 Drawers, 1970s

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