In 1966, Piero Ambrogio Busnelli cofounded C&B Italia, a modern Italian furniture manufacturer, with Cesare Cassina in northern Milan. From the outset, Busnelli and Cassina set about recruiting the most talented modernists in Italy to conceive of creative furnishings manufactured in modern ways. In the early 1970s, the company split, with Cassina founding his own eponymous firm and Busnelli taking leadership of what became B&B Italia.
For decades, Busnelli cultivated relationships with the world’s best design talent, resulting in furniture pieces that remain iconic today — be they Gaetano Pesce’s outwardly curvaceous Up seating (made for C&B, reintroduced by B&B) or tables from industrial designer Paolo Piva, each more sophisticated than the next in their geometrically complex steel-tube bases. B&B Italia earned four prestigious Compasso d’Oro design awards: in 1979 for Mario Bellini’s Le Bambole, in 1984 for the Sisamo wardrobe system by Studio Kairos, in 1987 for Antonio Citterio’s modular Sity sofa and, in 1989, the first award given to a manufacturing company itself.
Other notable names who designed for B&B Italia over the course of its 54-year history include Patricia Urquiola, Naoto Fukasawa, Zaha Hadid, Ettore Sottsass and Vincent Van Duysen, to name a very few. And while these names bring star power to the B&B brand, in many cases, it was B&B Italia who helped usher in their celebrity, fostering a wave of design talent on the world stage.
The company’s forward-thinking vision manifested in its own headquarters, too: In 1972, B&B Italia tapped architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers to design a steel-framed, postmodern-style home for the brand, whose crisscrossing metal exoskeleton is reminiscent of the pair’s Centre Pompidou in Paris, which was built at roughly the same time. Now, B&B Italia manages a contract division and outdoor section as well as its residential arm, and it also controls production for Maxalto, a brand spun out with furniture designs by Antonio Citterio.
At 1stDibs, find a range of vintage B&B Italia furniture — including sofas, cocktail tables and more.
Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Collection Outdoor Dining Set
By B&B Italia, Richard Schultz
Located in Dronten, NL
Weathered. Unapologetic. Authentic. This is a genuine Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Collection outdoor dining set, comprising two armchairs and...
Aluminum, Steel
Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Collection Outdoor Dining Set
By B&B Italia, Richard Schultz
Located in Dronten, NL
Weathered. Unapologetic. Authentic. This is a genuine Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Collection outdoor dining set, comprising two armchairs and...
Aluminum, Steel
Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia Canasta '13 High-Back Armchair
By Patricia Urquiola, B&B Italia
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A refined garden or patio "Canasta" chair designed by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia and made in Italy. The Canasta '13 high-back armchair (Model #CNC98PA) features a dramatic wingback silhouette with sweeping shelter sides that rise and flare outward, creating a canopy effect. The wing chair frame...
Aluminum
Mid Century Salterini “Radar” Outdoor Dining Set
By John Salterini
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful Mid Century five piece set by Maurizio Tempestini for Salterini .Four classic “Radar” chairs have sculpted hoop wrought iron framework with wire mesh seats. Table also clas...
Wrought Iron
Brown Jordan 'Florentine' Collection 5-piece Outdoor Dining Set
By Brown Jordan
Located in San Francisco, CA
Consisting of a round glass top table and four armchairs with openwork metal strap-work manufactured by the iconic outdoor furniture manufacturer Brown Jordan; Brown Jordan, a manuf...
Aluminum
$3,850
H 50 in W 32 in D 23 in
Maurizio Tempestini John Salterini Black High Back Lounge Chairs With Ottomans
By Maurizio Tempestini, John Salterini
Located in Monrovia, CA
Maurizio Tempestini For John Salterini Black Metal High Back Lounge Chairs With Detachable Ottomans. Each Salterini High Back Lounge Chair H...
Metal, Iron
$1,750 / set
H 32 in W 27 in D 27 in
Russell Woodard Mid-Century Modern Green Mesh Sculptura High Back Lounge Chairs
By Woodard Furniture Co., Russell Woodard
Located in St. Louis, MO
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Russell Woodard for Woodard mesh Sculptura high back lounge chairs. Older green paint, shows some wear, loss to paint. Can be sandblasted, dipped in rust-p...
Iron
Victorian Wicker Loveseat by Maker Larkin & Co., High Back Design, USA
By Larkin & Co.
Located in Queens, NY
American Victorian natural wicker woven roll design high back loveseat with spindles and bobbins on back and apron. (LARKIN & CO. label)
Wicker
Original Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Series Coffee Table
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Peabody, MA
An outdoor coffee table with blue enamel top from Richard Schultz’s 1966 aluminum Leisure Collection for Knoll,
Aluminum, Enamel
Vintage Richard Schultz for KNOLL 5-Piece Patio Set
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in North Miami, FL
ALL ORIGINAL 1966 Vintage set of Richard Schultz for Knoll Patio Dining Table Outdoor Collection. Outdoor or indoor powder coated over aluminum frames with brown enamel top to table...
Aluminum, Enamel
$3,850
H 55 in W 27.5 in D 29.5 in
Outdoor High Back Canopy Chair by Russell Woodard in White, Wrought Iron, Steel
By Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in Kansas City, MO
Patio / Pool / Outdoor / Garden Canopy Chair designed by Russell Woodard and manufactured by Woodard Furniture Company. Fifty five inches tall, striking,...
Steel, Wrought Iron
Vintage Wrought Iron Outdoor Patio Dining Set
By Russell Woodard
Located in Cumberland, RI
Available now for your enjoyment and ready to ship is a Dining Set of 4 Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Chairs and A Matching Vintage Wrought Iron Pedestal Table. This lovely Wrought Iro...
Wrought Iron
$1,200 / set
H 33.5 in W 24.25 in D 20.5 in
Pair White Painted Swan Back Aluminum Garden Armchairs, Sweden 1960s
Located in New York, NY
This charming pair of white-painted aluminum garden armchairs, crafted in Sweden during the 1960s, features an elegant design inspired by nature. The backs showcase graceful swans wi...
Aluminum
Early Richard Schultz Leisure Dining Table
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Chicago, IL
Early Richard Schultz leisure dining table, painted aluminum base with inset brown enamel top. This height works well with vintage chairs.
Aluminum, Enamel
$1,480 / set
H 35.5 in W 20.5 in D 20 in
Pair of Iron and Brass Italian Lyre Back Armchairs with Swans, Grosfeld House
By Grosfeld House
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair of iron and brass Italian Regency lyre back armchairs with Swans attributed to, Grosfeld House. Brass swan heads and feet, black patent leather seats.
Brass, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 26.38 in W 25.99 in D 28.35 in
Richard Schultz, Pair of Low Armchairs, the Schultz Collection, B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Richard Schultz
Located in Uppsala, SE
Pair of low outdoor/indoor armchairs, in white lacquered steel with leather and net seat and back, designed på Richard Schultz in 1966 and produced by B&B Italia. They are a part of ...
Steel
Sold
H 29 in W 29 in D 29 in
B&B Italia Armchair Crinoline, Patricia Urquiola, Black & White, Indoor, Outdoor
By B&B Italia, Patricia Urquiola
Located in Brooklyn, NY
B&B Italia Armchair Crinoline, Patricia Urquiola, Black & White, Indoor, Outdoor Can you picture the dresses that women wore in the 1800s? Full, bell-shaped skirts held by crinolin...
Aluminum