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Luigi Colani Rappelkiste Multifunctional Children
s Unit
$28,843.61per set
£21,428.79per set
€24,210per set
CA$39,992.97per set
A$43,009.09per set
CHF 22,997.04per set
MX$518,677.36per set
NOK 290,813.34per set
SEK 264,968.39per set
DKK 184,520.41per set
About the Item
Luigi Colani, "Rappelkiste," 1975.
Manufactured by Elbro (August Ellerbrok), Germany.
This is a rare and early example of Colani's design ethos translated into a multifunctional, child-centered landscape. Designed in 1975 by the German-Swiss designer for the northern German firm Elbro, the Rappelkiste is a multifunctional children’s island. It unites a built-in desk and seat, a small wardrobe with a blackboard door, a top area fitted with a mattress for resting or sleeping, and climbing rungs in one beechwood structure stained green. The design resonates with both Japanese spatial logic — following Colani’s visit to Japan in 1973 — and European traditions, serving as both furniture and an architectural microcosm.The piece employs wedged tusk tenons. Colani highlighted these visible joints for their decorative archaic quality, emphasizing the piece's tactile, crafted nature. The aesthetic refers back to early furniture joinery, giving the piece a monastic, Bauhütten (medieval workshop) feel. The title Rappelkiste most likely references the German children’s television program of the same name that aired from 1973 to 1984 on ZDF and was known for its playful educational format. The name situates the work within a specific cultural moment that foregrounded child-centered design and experimentation.
The Rappelkiste is part of the Centre Pompidou’s design collection (acquired in 2022). It is featured in literature on children’s furniture design, such as Mobilier Design pour Enfants by Carole Daprey (2009, p. 138). This iconic design piece stands alongside Colani’s Zocker (1972) and Tobifant desk (1977), marking his early exploration of adaptive, compact living furniture.
- Creator:Luigi Colani (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 63.78 in (162 cm)Width: 73.63 in (187 cm)Depth: 32.29 in (82 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Organic Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1975
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Petershagen, DE
- Reference Number:Seller: 51stDibs: LU10332245776772
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