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Le Bambole Settee by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
Le Bambole Settee by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

Le Bambole Settee by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

By Mario Bellini

Located in Chicago, IL

Signed with manufacturer's mark to underside: [B&B Italia Modelo Le Bambole Designe Mario Bellini].

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Settees

Materials

Leather

Le Bambole Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
Le Bambole Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

Le Bambole Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Antwerpen, BE

Mario Bellini designed the Bambola lounge chair as part of the Le Bambole series in 1972 for B&B Italia. The series has earned numer­ous awards, includ­ing the pres­ti­gious Compasso...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Sofas

Materials

Fabric

Vintage Mario Bellini Two-Seat Sofa, Le bambole, 1980s
Vintage Mario Bellini Two-Seat Sofa, Le bambole, 1980s

Vintage Mario Bellini Two-Seat Sofa, Le bambole, 1980s

By Mario Bellini

Located in Ulft, Gelderland

Vintage two-seat sofa, ” Le Bambole “, by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Sofas

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' Group of Four Modular Elements, Italy, 1976
Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' Group of Four Modular Elements, Italy, 1976

Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' Group of Four Modular Elements, Italy, 1976

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Vienna, AT

Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' Group of four modular elements, Italy, 1976.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets

Materials

Fabric

"Le Bambole" Leather Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
"Le Bambole" Leather Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

"Le Bambole" Leather Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

By Mario Bellini

Located in Atlanta, GA

Beautiful "Le Bambole" chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in rich warm brown leather.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini (Italy 1935-) Pair of Chairs-"Le Bambole"
Mario Bellini (Italy 1935-) Pair of Chairs-"Le Bambole"

Mario Bellini (Italy 1935-) Pair of Chairs-"Le Bambole"

Located in TUJUNGA, CA

Furniture brand B&B Italia is the maker of Mario Bellini’s iconic "Le Bambole" armchairs. Originally designed in 1972.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Club Chairs

Le Bambole '07 Re-Upholstered in Full Grain Cognac Leather
Le Bambole '07 Re-Upholstered in Full Grain Cognac Leather

Le Bambole '07 Re-Upholstered in Full Grain Cognac Leather

By Mario Bellini

Located in Ostend, BE

Le Bambole '07 in the version of two-seat sofa (Bibambola) Icon of modern design, comfortable shapes without stiff supports, pleasant to touch.

Category

Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Le Bambole Chaise Longue by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia
Le Bambole Chaise Longue by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia

Le Bambole Chaise Longue by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia

By Mario Bellini

Located in Berkeley, CA

Orange Suede Le Bambole by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia.

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues

Materials

Suede

Mario Bellini Iconic Le Bambole Sofa in Original Fabric for B&B Italia
Mario Bellini Iconic Le Bambole Sofa in Original Fabric for B&B Italia

Mario Bellini Iconic Le Bambole Sofa in Original Fabric for B&B Italia

By Mario Bellini

Located in Chicago, IL

Iconic three-seat Le Bambole sofa for B&B Italia designed by Mario Bellini in 1973 in original velvet fabric.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Velvet

Le Bambole Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
Le Bambole Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

Le Bambole Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in London, GB

A 1970's classic, Le Bambole by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. This is the full chair version with arms and is covered in it's original red twill canvas.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Armchairs

Materials

Canvas

Le Bambole Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970s
Le Bambole Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970s

Le Bambole Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970s

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Savona, IT

This two-seat sofa, model Le Bambole, was designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather, Wood

Le Bambole Sofa design Mario Bellini for B&B Italia 1980s
Le Bambole Sofa design Mario Bellini for B&B Italia 1980s

Le Bambole Sofa design Mario Bellini for B&B Italia 1980s

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Jersey City, NJ

Available soon two Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" sofa medium size, designed in 1980s manufactured by B&B Italia, production of this sofa 1980s.

Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Foam, Velvet

Two Mario Bellini Sofas Model 'Le Bambole' for B&B Italia in brown leather 1977
Two Mario Bellini Sofas Model 'Le Bambole' for B&B Italia in brown leather 1977

Two Mario Bellini Sofas Model 'Le Bambole' for B&B Italia in brown leather 1977

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Köln, NRW

Combining research and creative flair, Le Bambole are a very personal response to the aspect of sitting.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Sofas

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini Sofa Model 'Le Bambole' for B&B Italia in fabric green
Mario Bellini Sofa Model 'Le Bambole' for B&B Italia in fabric green

Mario Bellini Sofa Model 'Le Bambole' for B&B Italia in fabric green

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Köln, NRW

Icon of the seventies and winner of the "Compasso d'Oro" in 1979, Le Bambole is timeless. What makes it so unique is the apparent absence of a supporting frame, the exceptionally n...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Foam

Mario Bellini Le Bambole Sofa Sectional  B&B Italia 1970s
Mario Bellini Le Bambole Sofa Sectional  B&B Italia 1970s

Mario Bellini Le Bambole Sofa Sectional B&B Italia 1970s

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Jersey City, NJ

It seems almost natural that Le Bambole won the Compasso D’Oro award in 1979.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Bouclé

Pair of "Le Bambole" Armchairs by Mario Bellini, B&B Collection Italy, 1979
Pair of "Le Bambole" Armchairs by Mario Bellini, B&B Collection Italy, 1979

Pair of "Le Bambole" Armchairs by Mario Bellini, B&B Collection Italy, 1979

By Mario Bellini

Located in Florence, IT

Icon of modern design, COMPASSO D'ORO international award in 1979, one of the most effective expressions of made in Italy that combines research and creative flair. "Le Bambole" armc...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Le Bambole Sofa by Mario Bellini
Le Bambole Sofa by Mario Bellini

Le Bambole Sofa by Mario Bellini

By Mario Bellini

Located in Berlin, DE

NEWLY upholstered Bambole Sofa , designed in 1972 by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Sofas

"Le Bambole" Armchairs by Mario Bellini
"Le Bambole" Armchairs by Mario Bellini

"Le Bambole" Armchairs by Mario Bellini

By Mario Bellini

Located in Fossano, IT

two armchairs by Mario Bellini for B&B italia designed in 1972 , upholstered with cotton fabric flowers

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Armchairs

Materials

Cotton

VINTAGE MARIO BELLINI Le BAMBOLE LOVESEAT
VINTAGE MARIO BELLINI Le BAMBOLE LOVESEAT

VINTAGE MARIO BELLINI Le BAMBOLE LOVESEAT

Located in Los Angeles, CA

an amazing loveseat by mario bellini with fantastic age and patina.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Loveseats

Materials

Leather

Le Bambole Bamboletto Collection by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia New Leather
Le Bambole Bamboletto Collection by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia New Leather

Le Bambole Bamboletto Collection by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia New Leather

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Jersey City, NJ

Bamboletto daybed - dormeuse from the 'Le Bambole' collection design Mario Bellini for B&B Italia.

Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds

Materials

Leather

Le Bambole Lounge Chairs by Mario Bellini
Le Bambole Lounge Chairs by Mario Bellini

Le Bambole Lounge Chairs by Mario Bellini

Located in Lisbon, PT

Le Bamboozle chair by Mario Bellini, produced by B&B Italian, Italia, 1970s. Awarded by Compasso d'Oro in 1979. In polyurethane foam with beige suede upholstery. Printed marking on u...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Suede, Polyurethane

Vintage "Le Bambole" sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia with custom fabric
Vintage "Le Bambole" sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia with custom fabric

Vintage "Le Bambole" sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia with custom fabric

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Milan, IT

Up for sale is a rare and iconic "Le Bambole" sofa designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia (then C&B) in between 1970 and 1972.

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric

Le Bambole Armchair and Sofa by Mario Bellini
Le Bambole Armchair and Sofa by Mario Bellini

Le Bambole Armchair and Sofa by Mario Bellini

Located in Epagny, FR

1 large SOFA & 1 large ARMCHAIR

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Living Room Sets

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini 'le Bambole' 3-seater , Italy 1970
Mario Bellini 'le Bambole' 3-seater , Italy 1970

Mario Bellini 'le Bambole' 3-seater , Italy 1970

By Mario Bellini

Located in Los Angeles, CA

mario bellini's award winning design in it's original patinated leather.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Sofas

Materials

Leather

Sofa "Le Bambole" by Mario Bellini Prod B&B
Sofa "Le Bambole" by Mario Bellini Prod B&B

Sofa "Le Bambole" by Mario Bellini Prod B&B

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Fossano, IT

Four seats sofa designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in 1972, beautiful cotton checkered fabric in very good condition, dove gray, brown and ecru color. Also the upholstery is i...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Foam

B & B Italia Le Bambole Chairs and Ottoman by Mario Bellini
B & B Italia Le Bambole Chairs and Ottoman by Mario Bellini

B & B Italia Le Bambole Chairs and Ottoman by Mario Bellini

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Bridport, CT

Set of Le Bamboozle chairs with ottoman designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. Dark grey denim style upholstery with red stitching. Excellent condition, very comfortable and extre...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Modular Sofa Le Bambole by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
Modular Sofa Le Bambole by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

Modular Sofa Le Bambole by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Savona, IT

Three-Seat designed by Mario Bellini and produced by B & B Italia since, 1972. Two linear and one corner modules can be arranged in a variety of ways. Metal frame covered in ex...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Canvas

Mario Bellini Bambole Sofa for B & B Italia
Mario Bellini Bambole Sofa for B & B Italia

Mario Bellini Bambole Sofa for B & B Italia

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Chicago, IL

“Le Bambole” sofa designed by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia Italy, circa 1970s Freshly reupholstered in leather Measures: 29 ?”

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini Le Bamboie Settee for B&B Italia
Mario Bellini Le Bamboie Settee for B&B Italia

Mario Bellini Le Bamboie Settee for B&B Italia

By Mario Bellini

Located in Chicago, IL

Signed with makers mark to underside: (B&B Italia Modelo Le Bambole Desegno Mario Bellini). Original fabric.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Settees

Chaise longue design Mario Bellini
Chaise longue design Mario Bellini

Chaise longue design Mario Bellini

By Mario Bellini

Located in Verona, IT

Rare Chaise long design Mario Bellini, brown leather, perfect condition, model Le Bambole, manufacturing B & B.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Chaise Longues

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini Sofa
Mario Bellini Sofa

Mario Bellini Sofa

Located in High Point, NC

Brown soft cushion sofa with two ottomans from the "Le Bambole" line by MARIO BELLINI for B&B Italia

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Sofas

Chaise Lounge by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
Chaise Lounge by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

Chaise Lounge by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Savona, IT

Chaise lounge designed by Mario Bellini for the Le Bambole series produced by B & B Italia since 1972.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues

Materials

Leather, Canvas, Polyurethane

Mario Bellini II Colonnato Oval Dining Table, 1977
Mario Bellini II Colonnato Oval Dining Table, 1977

Mario Bellini II Colonnato Oval Dining Table, 1977

By Mario Bellini

Located in South San Francisco, CA

Milanese architect Mario Bellini is well known for creating monumental and conceptual pieces of design, such as the Camaleonda sofa (1971) and Le Bambole. His distinctive architectur...

Category

Vintage 1970s Dining Room Tables

Materials

Marble

"Le Bambole" Ottoman by Mario Bellini
"Le Bambole" Ottoman by Mario Bellini

"Le Bambole" Ottoman by Mario Bellini

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Waltham, MA

Rarely seen "Le Bambole" ottoman by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Upholstery

Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' Two Modular Elements, Pair of Lounge Chairs, Italy
Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' Two Modular Elements, Pair of Lounge Chairs, Italy

Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' Two Modular Elements, Pair of Lounge Chairs, Italy

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Vienna, AT

Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' two modular elements, pair of lounge chairs, Italy 1976.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric

Le Bambole Leather Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B, Italia, 1970s
Le Bambole Leather Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B, Italia, 1970s

Le Bambole Leather Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B, Italia, 1970s

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Savona, IT

The Le Bambole chair was designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in the 1970s.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Upholstery, Wood

B&B Italia Le Bambole Designer Sofa Fabric Grey Black Two-Seat Couch Modern
B&B Italia Le Bambole Designer Sofa Fabric Grey Black Two-Seat Couch Modern

B&B Italia Le Bambole Designer Sofa Fabric Grey Black Two-Seat Couch Modern

By B&B Italia

Located in Cologne, DE

Dark grey colored original B&B Italia Le Bambole designer sofa in a minimalistic and modern design, made for pure comfort and style.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sofas

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini Le Bambole Cognac Leather Lounge Chairs for B&B Italia, Italy 1975
Mario Bellini Le Bambole Cognac Leather Lounge Chairs for B&B Italia, Italy 1975

Mario Bellini Le Bambole Cognac Leather Lounge Chairs for B&B Italia, Italy 1975

By De Sede, Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Pair of cognac leather "Le Bambole" lounge chairs by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Fully Restored Le Bambole Sofa Design Mario Bellini, Cotton Velvet
Fully Restored Le Bambole Sofa Design Mario Bellini, Cotton Velvet

Fully Restored Le Bambole Sofa Design Mario Bellini, Cotton Velvet

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Jersey City, NJ

Marion Bellini "Le Bambole" sofa designed in 1970s manufactured by B&B Italia, production of this sofa 1980s.

Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Velvet, Foam

Mario Bellini 1972, Le Bambole Sofa
Mario Bellini 1972, Le Bambole Sofa

Mario Bellini 1972, Le Bambole Sofa

By Mario Bellini

Located in New York, NY

Manufactured in Italy during the 1970s. Really comfortable two-seat sofa in original thick chocolate neck leather. Almost 40 years old, but the sofa remains in good condition.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini 1972, Le Bambole Sofa, Three-Seat
Mario Bellini 1972, Le Bambole Sofa, Three-Seat

Mario Bellini 1972, Le Bambole Sofa, Three-Seat

By Mario Bellini

Located in New York, NY

Manufactured in Italy during the 1970s. Really comfortable three-seat sofa in original thick chocolate neck leather. Almost 40 years old, but the sofa remains in good condition.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets

Materials

Leather

Double Bed "Le Bambole" by Mario Bellini for B&B, 1970s
Double Bed "Le Bambole" by Mario Bellini for B&B, 1970s

Double Bed "Le Bambole" by Mario Bellini for B&B, 1970s

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Savona, IT

Double bed produced by B&B in the 1970s based on a design by Mario Bellini. Metal skeleton, padded with polyurethane foam of different densities and lined with fabric. Headboard wi...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Fabric

Pair of Le Bambole Lounge Armchairs B&B Italia by Mario Bellini
Pair of Le Bambole Lounge Armchairs B&B Italia by Mario Bellini

Pair of Le Bambole Lounge Armchairs B&B Italia by Mario Bellini

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Chicago, IL

Original matched pair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. Done in a Light mint colored canvas type material. Extremely comfortable and in great condition.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Canvas, Upholstery

Four Le Bambole Sofa Chairs by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia
Four Le Bambole Sofa Chairs by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia

Four Le Bambole Sofa Chairs by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia

By Mario Bellini

Located in Canaan, CT

1976 first run sofa set my by Mario Bellini. Rare and quite collectible, this set consists of two generous size armchairs and two slipper chairs. Slipper chairs can be connected to ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas

Materials

Cotton

Vintage Le Bambole Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970s
Vintage Le Bambole Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970s

Vintage Le Bambole Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970s

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Berlin, DE

This leather sofa was designed by Mario Bellini and produced by B&B Italia during the 1950s. The icon of modern design won the “Compass D’oro International Award” in 1979. The lovese...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini Bambole Sofa for B & B Italia
Mario Bellini Bambole Sofa for B & B Italia

Mario Bellini Bambole Sofa for B & B Italia

By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini

Located in Chicago, IL

“Le Bambole” sofa designed by Mario Bellini for B & B Italia Italy, circa 1970s leather Measures: 29 ?”

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather

1970s Red Bambola Lounge Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
1970s Red Bambola Lounge Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

1970s Red Bambola Lounge Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Dorchester, MA

Mario Bellini designed Le Bambole for B&B Italia in 1972, armchairs and sofas shaped in their entirety like large cushions.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Lounge Chairs

Materials

Wool

Mario Bellini 'Bambole' leather Large Sofa for B&B Italia, circa 1980s restored
Mario Bellini 'Bambole' leather Large Sofa for B&B Italia, circa 1980s restored

Mario Bellini 'Bambole' leather Large Sofa for B&B Italia, circa 1980s restored

By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia

Located in Jersey City, NJ

Original 1980s Le Bambole sofa design by Mario Bellini produced by iconic company B&B Italia, completely restored with leather or high quality material.

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather

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Le Bambole For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the le bambole you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A le bambole — often made from animal skin, leather and fabric — can elevate any home. There are many kinds of the le bambole you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right le bambole, those designed in Mid-Century Modern and Modern styles are of considerable interest. Many designers have produced at least one well-made le bambole over the years, but those crafted by Mario Bellini, B&B Italia and Atelier International are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Le Bambole?

Prices for a le bambole can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $618 and can go as high as $36,000, while the average can fetch as much as $8,800.

Mario Bellini for sale on 1stDibs

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.

Finding the Right Seating for You

With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.

Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.

Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.

The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.

Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.

With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.

Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.

No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.