The collection
Red plastic storage cart on black wheels with multiple shelves, compartments, and swiveling drawers.
1970

Storage Cart, Boby

Designed by
Cesare (Joe) Colombo (1930–1971)
Material
ABS Plastic, steel
Produced by
Bieffeplast, Caselle di Selvazzano, Italy
Dimensions
73.5 x 43.4 x 42.7 cm

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Liliane and David M. Stewart Collection, D99.136.1

Colombo’s well-known caddy cart was introduced as a space-saving multipurpose storage cabinet designed to be assembled in different combinations of open shelves and swivel drawers, with casters to move where it is needed. It is still available today in a variety of bold colors exemplifying the best Italian design in plastic.

In this example three drawers swing out from the upper level, with different types of storage shelves throughout. Pencils, pens, and paper clips could be left in the sectioned tray on top for ready access or hidden away. It was named after the canine main character of a popular series of French children’s books.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, photo: Giles Rivest.