Had Cini Boeri been a man, the Milanese architect and furniture designer, who died in 2020 at age 96, might be regarded today on par with such visionaries of the mid-20th century as Gio Ponti or Marco Zanuso. She worked with both. Although she’s well known and deeply respected in Italy, her renown elsewhere has been more akin to a cult following.
“I admire the work she did across architecture, interiors and furniture,” designer Faye Toogood says of Boeri’s impact. “She practiced architecture during a time when it was considered that women were too fragile to work outside.”
Boeri was one of very few women of her era to graduate from Milan Polytechnic with an architecture degree, which she did in 1951. Her illustrious career hinged on the strict economy of her designs and limited palette of materials. For example, her innovative 1971 Serpentone sofa for Arflex was crafted from just one material, polyurethane foam, and sold by the meter. Her ingenious 1987 Ghost chair for Fiam was cut from a single sheet of thick glass.
But in Boeri’s earlier days, her pieces displayed a more youthful exuberance. The circa 1968 Cubotto cabinet, produced in small numbers by Arflex, is an elegantly irregular arrangement of eight drawers of varying dimensions. The wooden cube, two feet square, was finished in laminate — in vivid orange, blue, sand or white — with color-coordinated casters and handles of black-enameled brass. Its design reflects a Space Age interest in flexible, space-saving, multiuse furnishings.
“It’s a very clean piece of design,” says Kaisha Davierwalla, owner and founder of Vaspaar Italy. “Even with its strong, square lines, somehow the vibrant colors and asymmetry have the feel of a feminine touch.”
Find vintage Cini Boeri seating, lighting and tables on 1stDibs.
strips sofa by cini boeri for arflex reupholstered
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Ghedi, IT
The Strips two-seater sofa, designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in 1968, is an iconic piece of Italian design that revolutionized modern seating with its innovative modular concept. Th...
Velvet
Cini Boeri for Arflex Strips Sofa in velvet, Italy 1968
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Cini Boeri for Arflex, two seater strips sofa in aubergine velvet, Italy 1968 The iconic Strips sofa, a comfortable and versatile design. Reupholstered in a beautiful high quality b...
Velvet
Arflex Strips Sofa By Cini Boeri In Velvet, Italy 1968
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Cini Boeri for Arflex, modular strips sofa in mustard/golden velvet, Italy 1968 The iconic Strips sofa, a comfortable and versatile design. This modular sofa features four seating e...
Velvet
$9,825 / item
H 27.56 in W 98.43 in D 39.38 in
21st Century Modern Italian Sofa Upholstered In Cotton Corduroy
Located in Milan, IT
A simple and essential sofa that integrates a sophisticated comfort and a refined image through the careful study of proportions, filling materials and surface treatment. It is a min...
Fabric
Mario Marenco Two seater Marechiaro sofa for Arflex
Located in New York, NY
The Two-Seater Marechiaro Sofa for Arflex is a distinguished example of mid-century Italian design, reflecting the visionary creativity of its designer, Mario Marenco. Known for his ...
Metal
Acerbis Free System Modular Sofa by Claudio Salocchi
By Claudio Salocchi, Acerbis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Claudio Salocchi’s design explores research in the decade from the 1970s to the 1980s, when new ways of living and experimentation were central to the work of Italian designers. Free...
Fabric, Upholstery
RAFAELLA BIO ANGULAR SOFA by Biosofa
By Biosofa
Located in Milan, IT
Rafael's angular profile gives this revival style a modern twist, and its plush cushions add comfort to the sofa. Perfect for lounging in the evening, Rafael is a delightfully cozy a...
Velvet
Mario Marenco Three seater Marechiaro sofa for Arflex
Located in New York, NY
The Three-Seater Marechiaro Sofa by Mario Marenco for Arflex is an iconic piece that exemplifies the designer’s playful yet sophisticated approach to modern furniture. Mario Marenco,...
Metal
$17,209 / item
H 30.71 in W 159.45 in D 45.28 in
Luxury Italian Contemporary Fabric Sofa Mogg Alba by Studio Nove.3 405cm - V_34
By Studio Nove3, Mogg
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Studio Nove.3 for Mogg, the Alba Modular Sofa is a contemporary seating system distinguished by its soft, enveloping forms, timeless design, and exceptional comfort. Crea...
Fabric
$23,558 / item
H 30.71 in W 159.45 in D 66.93 in
Luxury Italian Contemporary Fabric Sofa Mogg Alba by Studio Nove.3 - T61
By Mogg, Studio Nove3
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Studio Nove.3 for Mogg, the Alba Modular Sofa is a contemporary seating system distinguished by its soft, enveloping forms, timeless design, and exceptional comfort. Crea...
Fabric
Le Paresseux Chair By Pascal Mourgue for Ligne Roset
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Adjustable “Le Paresseux” Lounge Chair by Pascal Morgue for Ligne Roset. Billowy, plush leather cushions atop a heavy aluminum petal base with multiple adjustable elements and sitt...
Aluminum, Steel
Gli Abiti Chair, Paolo Nava & Giancarlo Ferre, B&B Italia 1980s
By Paolo Nava
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Rare “Gli Abiti” chair by Paolo Nava & Gianfranco Ferre for B&B Italia. Meaning clothes in Italian, the “Gli Abiti” chairs feature soft, cream-colored quilted upholstery with tan tri...
Fabric, Foam
Binta Armchair, Philippe Bestenheider for Moroso, 2009
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Binta Chair, Philippe Bestenheider for Moroso, 2009 Upholstered in multi-colored panels, each tonal shift highlights a different angle, giving the chairs a sense of movement and vis...
Rubber
Pair of Brushed Aluminum and Velvet Chairs By Acerbis, Italy 1970s
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Pair of modernist lounge chairs by Acerbis, Italy 1970s clad in brushed aluminum and newly upholstered in soft, olive green velvet. Lucite feet give a floating appearance to the desi...
Aluminum
Waterfall Chair, Charles Hollis Jones 1960s, USA
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Waterfall chair by lucite maven Charles Hollis Jones. Gorgeous curvature to the elegant and simple lucite frame this chair feels as if it is floating i...
Upholstery, Lucite
Vintage Vicario Lounge Chair by Vico Magistretti for Artemide. Pair available.
Located in Las Vegas, NV
1970s Vicario Chair by Italian designer and architect Vico Magistretti for Artemide. The Vicario was manufactured from pressed moulded fibreglass-reinforced polyester, a material ...
Fiberglass
The Italian designer’s playful piece offers an elegant storage solution.
The architect has imbued the minimalist-chic Tel Aviv stay with his signature style, while at the same time honoring the site's long history.
