"Camaleonda" Set by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
View Similar Items
"Camaleonda" Set by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
About the Item
- Creator:Mario Bellini (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 26.38 in (67 cm)Width: 35.44 in (90 cm)Length: 26.38 in (67 cm)Seat Height: 14.57 in (37 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1971
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Melbourne, AU
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2201314238152
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.
- Saratoga Sofa Set by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova, Italy, 1968By Poltronova, Massimo and Lella VignelliLocated in Melbourne, VICThe Saratoga sofa, designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova, is a modernist masterpiece. The sofa features a bold, cubic form that is both elegant and functional, adding...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Wood, Lacquer
- Cornaro Sofa by Carlo Scarpa for Studio Simon, Italy, 1973By Studio Simon, Carlo ScarpaLocated in Melbourne, VICThe Cornaro sofa, designed by Carlo Scarpa in 1973 and produced by Simon, is a remarkable piece of furniture known for its unique style and excellent craftsmanship. Scarpa's vision b...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsHardwood, Fabric
- Environ Zero sofa by Ennio Chiggio for Nikol International, Italy, 1970'sBy Ennio ChiggioLocated in Melbourne, VICEnviron Zero sofa by Ennio Chiggio for Nikol International, Italy, 1970's. Newly Restored and upholstered in Italy.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- ABCD 2 Seater sofa by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands, 1969By Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Melbourne, VICThe ABCD sofa, designed by Pierre Paulin in 1968, is indeed a remarkable piece of furniture that exemplifies his innovative and forward-thinking approach to design. This sofa is high...Category
20th Century Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- ABCD 3 Seater Sofa by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherlands, 1969By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Melbourne, VICThe ABCD sofa, designed by Pierre Paulin in 1968, is indeed a remarkable piece of furniture that exemplifies his innovative and forward-thinking approach to design. This sofa is high...Category
20th Century Dutch Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Soriana Lounge Chair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Italy, 1970'sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, CassinaLocated in Melbourne, VICThe Soriana Lounge Chair, a timeless creation by Italian designers Afra and Tobia Scarpa in 1969, is a masterpiece of furniture design. Its signature features include soft, inviting ...Category
20th Century Italian Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- 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
$6,500 / item - "Camaleonda" Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970sBy B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in Lasne, BESofa in green fabric. There are 4 large pieces and an ottoman. Seat height: 35 cm. Dimensions of one piece: H: 65 cm W: 93 cm D: 93 cm Dimensions of the ottoman : H : 35 cm W : 93 cm...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Camaleonda Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1973By Mario Bellini, B&B ItaliaLocated in Milano, ITThe iconic Camaleonda Sofa newly upholstered in an Italian 100% black cotton fabric designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1973. Two pieces with single armrest. Marked on the bott...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsCotton
- Mario Bellini Camaleonda Modular Sofa for B&B ItaliaBy B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in Los Angeles, CACamaleonda Modular Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Italy, c.2000's. This sofa features all modular seating elements to be arranged in a variety of seating arrangements. The sea...Category
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsLinen, Upholstery
$45,000 / set - Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" Modular Sofa for B&B Italia, 1970By B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in Lonigo, VenetoMario Bellini "Camaleonda" modular sofa for B&B Italia, velvet, metal and plastic, Italy, 1970, four elements. "Camaleonda" is an icon, rediscover...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" Modular Sofa for B&B Italia, 1970By B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in Lonigo, VenetoMario Bellini "Camaleonda" modular sofa for B&B Italia, velvet, metal and plastic, Italy, 1970, three elements. "Camaleonda" is an icon, rediscove...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsMetal