{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O145039"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O145039/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018LC0095/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018LC0095/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2018LC0095","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O145039","accessionNumber":"W.5:1 to 4-1992","objectType":"Trolley","titles":[{"title":"Boby","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"Cesare Colombo (1930-1971), known as Joe Colombo, was an Italian industrial designer who designed furniture, cars, air conditioning units and watches. He studied art at Milan’s Brera Academy and joined the Movimento Nucleare in the early 1950s, a group co-founded by Enrico Baj and Sergio Dangelo, who were opposed to abstract art and proposed instead the use of automatism, a creative technique for producing art without thought, will or intervention from the conscious mind.\n\r\nColombo innovated with new materials such as thermoplastics and fibreglass to construct futuristic, fluid and functional designs and collaborated with such as Kartell, Zanotta, Stilnovo, O-Luce, Alessi and Rosenthal. Many of his designs are still in production with these companies today. In 1967 he designed 'Universale' (accession number: CIRC.887-1968) the first all-plastic stacking chair to be made by the injection-moulding technique and available in five colours with legs of varying heights for use in different environments, from bars to nurseries. \n\r\nThe Boby Trolley is one of Colombo's best known designs, originally intended for use in the drawing office but also popular with the design conscious for domestic use in kitchens, bathrooms and studies. An all-in-one organization system on wheels, it includes shelves, bins and trays that can be adapted to suit the needs of the owner. \r\n","physicalDescription":"Red trolley on wheels, layered construction with several compartments","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Colombo, Joe Cesare","id":"A6741"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Bieffeplast","id":"A21230"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer","id":"AAT14418"}],"techniques":[{"text":"injection moulding","id":"AAT54070"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Injection-moulded ABS plastic","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Product design","id":"THES49025"},{"text":"Plastic","id":"THES49026"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2018LC0095"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"74","id":"THES49720"},"free":"","case":"6","shelf":"FLOOR","box":""},{"current":{"text":"74","id":"THES49720"},"free":"","case":"6","shelf":"FLOOR","box":""},{"current":{"text":"74","id":"THES49720"},"free":"","case":"6","shelf":"FLOOR","box":""},{"current":{"text":"74","id":"THES49720"},"free":"","case":"6","shelf":"FLOOR","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Trolley","id":""}],[{"text":"Tray","id":""}],[{"text":"Shelf","id":"AAT165847"}],[{"text":"Lid","id":"AAT45712"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Padua","id":"x29504"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1970","earliest":"1970-01-01","latest":"1970-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"1970","earliest":"1970-01-01","latest":"1970-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Valerie Mendes","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"73.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"42","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"43","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Joe Colombo","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signature in raised relief on bottom shelf"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"The Boby Trolley is one of Colombo's best known designs, originally intended for use in studios but picked up by the design conscious for use in kitchens, bathrooms and studies.","briefDescription":"Model 'Boby' trolley designed by Joe Colombo and manufactured by Bieffeplast, ABS plastic and metal, 1970 (designed)","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Compact space-savers\r\n\r\nAs compact living has become more common, designers have created smart, multifunctional and small-scale solutions for furniture, storage and technology. The Kubus glass boxes fit together interchangeably and are heat resistant, making them useful for storing and heating foods. The compact sink and wall-mounted CD player were both designed for smaller homes with less space, while the Boby trolley offers flexible storage on wheels suitable for any room of the house.\r\n\r\nStackable glass containers \r\nKubus, about 1938\r\nDesigned by Wilhelm Wagenfeld \r\nManufactured by Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke, Germany \r\nPress-moulded glass \r\nMuseum no. C.154&A, B, D to J, L, N, O P-1980\r\n\r\nFlexible storage trolley \r\nBoby, 1970\r\nDesigned by Joe Colombo \r\nManufactured by Bieffeplast, Italy \r\nInjection-moulded ABS plastic \r\nGiven by Valerie Mendes \r\nMuseum no. W.5:1 to 4-1992\r\n\r\nSmall sink for the Barbican Estate, London \r\n1966\r\nDesigned by L Michael Hohmann and Chamberlin, Powell and Bon \r\nManufactured by Twyfords, UK \r\n‘Ceramant’ vitreous ceramic \r\nMuseum no. CIRC.395-1967\r\n\r\nWall-mounted CD player with pull-string switch \r\n1999\r\nDesigned by Naoto Fukasawa \r\nManufactured by Muji, Japan \r\nABS plastic and electronic components \r\nMuseum no. CD.80:1, 6-2016\r\n\r\nThe object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.\r\n","date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"}},{"text":"STORAGE TROLLEY: BOBY\r\nDesigned by Joe Colombo (Italian, 1930-1971), 1970\r\nMade by Editions Bieffeplast, Caselle di Selvazzano, Padua, Italy from 1970; still in production\r\nInjection-moulded ABS plastic\r\nGiven by Valerie Mendes\r\nW.5-1992\r\n\r\nThis trolley, designed specifically for the drawing office, has been widely used in the home and is an example of expropriation of office furniture by the domestic market. The layered construction provides flexible storage, while the castors make it easy to move around at will.","date":{"text":"1992","earliest":"1992-01-01","latest":"1992-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["W.5:1-1992","W.5:2-1992","W.5:3-1992","W.5:4-1992"],"accessionNumberNum":"5","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1992,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Trolley [1]","Trolley [2]","Tray","Trolley [3]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-10","recordCreationDate":"2008-02-12","availableToBook":false}}