Vintage Camaleonda in its original fabric by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia
About the Item
- Creator:Mario Bellini (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.78 in (68 cm)Width: 37.8 in (96 cm)Depth: 37.8 in (96 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 7
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:unknown
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Buggenhout, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5967239292522
Mario Bellini
Milan-born architect and designer Mario Bellini just may be the closest thing to a modern-day Renaissance man: His creative output spans genres, from electronics to furniture to architecture to cars, comprising iconic designs in each. Vintage Mario Bellini sofas, dining chairs and other seating pieces are widely coveted, and the designer has been the recipient of multiple prestigious Compasso d’Oro awards. More than 20 of his works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Born in 1935, Bellini studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan before founding his own firm in his native city in the early 1960s. He soon branched out beyond architecture, however, first for the tech manufacturer Olivetti, where he served as chief industrial design consultant from 1963 to 1991. During that time, Bellini oversaw the design of some of Olivetti’s most popular typewriters.
His penchant for electronic design didn’t stop there: Bellini also designed cameras for Fuji, televisions for Brionvega and a slew of audio devices for Yamaha, then served as design consultant for Renault and devised the interior of the 1980 Lancia Trevi for Fiat. Meanwhile, his architecture work spans continents, including such modern gems as the Museum of Islamic Arts at the Louvre, the National Gallery of Victoria extension in Melbourne, the Dubai Creek Complex and the Milan Convention Centre in his hometown.
And then there’s the furniture: Over the last 70 years, Bellini has designed office furniture for Vitra; lamps for Artemide, Erco and FLOS; porcelain for Rosenthal and long-admired sofas and other seating for Kartell, Natuzzi, B&B Italia, Cassina and more.
His oft-imitated 1977 Cab chair for Cassina, comprising 16 individual pieces of saddle leather that create a “skin” over a minimal metal frame, remains one of the manufacturer’s best sellers today. His pudgy-legged, round tables for Cassina foreshadow Faye Toogood’s widely loved Roly Poly line. His postmodern Summa armchairs for Kartell, as well as his elegant Chiara floor lamp, still lure collectors on vintage furniture websites.
Bellini’s most famous contribution to furniture design, though, may be his 1970 Camaleonda sofa for B&B Italia (then C&B Italia). An entrant to the 1972 MoMA show “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape,” the seat takes its name from the Italian words for chameleon and wave. Its bulbous, modular form makes it infinitely flexible. The sofa was a runaway hit at the show and, once discontinued, remained so popular among vintage dealers that B&B Italia reissued it in 2020 with all recycled materials and interchangeable seat covers. “Of all the objects I have designed, Camaleonda is perhaps the best in terms of its sense of freedom,” Bellini said.
Browse an expansive collection of vintage Mario Bellini furniture — including dining tables, armchairs, mid-century sofas and more — today on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Dendermonde, Belgium
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Exceptional Le Bambole set in cognac leather by Mario Bellini by B & B ItaliaBy Mario BelliniLocated in Buggenhout, Oost-VlaanderenStunning vintage ‘Le Bambolé’ living room set in new cognac leather.Designed by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia. Le Bambole series won the Compasso ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsLeather
- Le Bambole in Original Fabric with Label by Mario Bellini for B&B ItaliaBy Mario BelliniLocated in Buggenhout, Oost-VlaanderenGreat, stylish ‘Le Bambole’ sofa in its original grey fabric. Designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia 1970s. Mint condition - professionally cleaned - with label. Dimensions ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- El Dom table + 6 Cab 413 chairs - Hannes Wettstein/Mario Bellini - CASSINA ItalyBy CassinaLocated in Buggenhout, Oost-VlaanderenStunning CASSINA dining set. The perfect combination : the El Dom xl dining table (270cm) in Santos Rosewood combined with a vintage set of CAB 413 leather armchairs in burgundy red....Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsLeather
- Stunning vintage DS-88 set in original black leather by Team De Sede for De SedeBy De SedeLocated in Buggenhout, Oost-VlaanderenWonderful, patinated & modular patchwork DS-88 sofa. Still 100% original and in a perfect black leather. Designed by Team De Sede for De Sede Swiss. A timeless masterpiece designed...Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsLeather
- Stunning Excelsior sofa in black leather by Mario Bellini for B&B Italy, 1985.By Mario BelliniLocated in Buggenhout, Oost-VlaanderenStunning & rare Excelsior sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italy, 1985. Full black leather! Still 100% original. No damage. The leather has some normal wear for its age. Measurement...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Great Vintage Nuvolone set in bouclé by Rino Maturi for MiMo Padova ItalyBy Mimo PadovaLocated in Buggenhout, Oost-VlaanderenNice set of matching Nuvolone chairs & coffee tables in a new bouclé-style fabric. This modular sofa was designed by Rino Maturi for MiMo Padova Italy -...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsBouclé
- Mario Bellini 'Camaleonda' Mid-Century Modular Sofa B&B ItaliaBy Mario BelliniLocated in London, GBA five piece modular sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. Italy, c1970s, not a contemporary edition. Infamous 'Camaleonda' model. The modular nature of the sofa allows f...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsFabric
- Set of 8 Camaleonda Sittings Designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia, 1970By Mario Bellini, C&B ItaliaLocated in Varese, LombardiaSet of modular armchairs and poufs in brown corduroy, mod. Camaleonda designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia in 1970. The set consists of 8 elements: - 5 armchairs (cm 71H x 65...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Living Room Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Set of 7 Camaleonda Sittings Designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia, 1970By Mario Bellini, C&B ItaliaLocated in Varese, LombardiaSet of modular armchairs and poufs in brown corduroy, mod. Camaleonda designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia in 1970. The set consists of 7 elements: - 4 armchairs ( cm 71 H x ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Living Room Sets
MaterialsMetal
- Camaleonda by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia 1970By Mario BelliniLocated in Arezzo, ItalyDivano modulare Camaleonda disegnato da Mario Bellini nel 1970 per C&B Italia. Una prima produzione C&B Italia ( Cassina - Busnelli ) in velluto mohair...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Italian Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini le Bambole for B&B Italia 1970sBy Mario BelliniLocated in Byron Bay, NSWMario Bellini for B&B Italia, 'Le Bambole' sofa, brown patinated leather, Italy, 1972. This piece is one of the very rare prototypes or early editions, and still 100% original, read ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Camaleonda Sofa by Mario Bellini for C&B ItaliaBy Mario BelliniLocated in Los Angeles, CACamaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. Made in Italy circa 1970s. PRICED PER ITEM. Original Label intact.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Sofas
MaterialsMohair