From its unorthodox beginnings, Italian manufacturer Arflex grew into one of the leaders of 20th-century furniture design. Its furniture came to be known for its integration of new materials and bold appeal, and today a variety of vintage Arflex chairs, sofas and tables are emblems of mid-century modernism.
Arflex was established in Milan in 1947 by Pirelli employees Carlo Barassi, Pio Reggiani, Renato Teani and Aldo Bai. Barassi, a Milan Polytechnic graduate and visionary engineer at the Italian tire manufacturer, explored innovative technology and new uses for synthetic materials in domestic products (for Kartell, he codeveloped a ski rack for automobiles). The four founders partnered with a young architect named Marco Zanuso, who also desired to create furniture that featured an application of novel materials such as elastic tape and polyurethane foam.
One of Arflex’s inaugural pieces was Zanuso’s Lady armchair, a seat made of polyurethane foam that was manufactured in pieces and assembled at the very end of the production process. It won a gold medal at the 1951 Milan Triennale. A couple of years later, Arflex collaborated with Studio BBPR to create the office-chic Elettra and Neptunia chairs. The flourishing furniture company quickly established a reputation for compelling products and attracting and working with up-and-coming designers such as Roberto Menghi, who created Hall, a luxurious line of seating that would earn the Compasso d’Oro – Honorable Mention in 1959.
In the 1960s, Arflex continued to welcome the use of new and cutting-edge materials. Popular designs from this decade include Carlo Bartoli's fiberglass and polyester resin Gaia lounge chair and Cini Boer’s Bobo Relax lounger, one of history’s first seating pieces made of polyurethane foam (it has no internal frame). Boer, a pioneer of furniture design in Italy, also created the Strips sofa for the brand in 1972. Part of a plush modular seating system, the Strips sofa became an Arflex icon and was awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 1979.
Arflex continues to work with innovative designers to this day. Among their more recent collaborations is with Swedish design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune. The company's legendary creations are also on display at museums worldwide. The Lady chair, for example, is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of vintage Arflex lounge chairs, armchairs, coffee tables and other furniture.
| Average Sold Price |
| $7,068 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
The virgola chair by Yaacov Kaufman for Arflex
By Yaacov Kaufman, Arflex
Located in Toronto, ON
The ‘virgola’ chair was designed by Yaacov Kaufman for Arflex and made in 1991. This chair is named after its shape ‘virgola’ which translates to ‘comma’. This iconic shape is both b...
Chrome
$7,814
H 25.6 in W 141.74 in D 31.5 in
Tito Agnoli modular sofa, Novemila 9000 Mod. for Arflex, original fabric, label
By Tito Agnoli, Arflex
Located in Milano, IT
Modular Sofa "Novemila 9000" by Tito Agnoli for Arflex, 1969 An extraordinary example of Italian design from the late 1960s and 1970s, the "9000" seating system designed by Tito Agn...
Fabric, Wood
Erberto Carboni 'Delfino' Lounge Chair for Arflex 1954
By Erberto Carboni, Arflex
Located in Tilburg, NL
Erberto Carboni 'Delfino' Lounge Chair designed in 1954 for Arflex, Italy. New, Current production. Delfino armchair by Erberto Carboni is a significant example of the so-called "or...
Metal
$12,800
H 30 in W 28 in D 28 in
Sculptural Italian Chair by Arflex in Hand Sewn Champagne Shearling Hides c.1991
By Arflex
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Ride in style atop this Post Modern Italian Arflex lounge chair newly upholstered in hand sewn shearling hides. What can only be described as the modern Italian chariot of lounge cha...
Chrome
Pair of Marco Zanuso Lady Chair Arflex Old Edition
By Marco Zanuso, Arflex
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Pair of old edition Marco Zanuso lady chair for Arflex 1950's. Brass legs. Newly reupholstered in a luxurious, premium, Ivory, 100% wool velvet fabric.
Brass
Tito Agnoli '9000' Sofa for Arflex 240cm
By Arflex, Tito Agnoli
Located in Tilburg, NL
Tito Agnoli '9000' Sofa 1969 for Arflex, Italy. New, current production. Modular seating system, this listing is for a 3 seater 240cm. The modular seating system '9000' by Tito Agn...
Fabric
Mario Marenco 'Marenco' 2 Seater Sofa 254 for Arflex
By Arflex, Mario Marenco
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mario Marenco 'Marenco' 2 Seater Sofa 254 for Arflex in fabric. New, current production. The unmistakable design and wide modularity still make the Marenco sofa a must-have in contemporary furniture. Designed by Mario Marenco in 1970, it is still a great classic of Italian design. With this large-rounded cushions sofa, Mario Marenco has combined strength and comfort. In 2007 the Marenco collection won the Wallpaper Design Awards Best Reissues. The Sofa is available in a wide variation of fabrics and leather upholstery. This listing is for a sofa with fabric upholstery. Please ask us about the possibilities. Designed by Mario Marenco (1933-2019) 1957 degree at Naples University. 1957/1960 he gained 5 awards for research at Stockholm and Chicago universities. 1960 he formed the DEWG Studio in Rome : community buildings. 1970 designer for arflex, Artemide, Bernini, B&B, Comfortline 1982 collaboration with FIAT, LANCIA, ALFA ROMEO for display stands. 1985 watches...
Fabric
Mario Marenco 'Marenco' 3 Seater Sofa 255 for Arflex
By Arflex, Mario Marenco
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mario Marenco 'Marenco' 3 Seater Sofa 255 for Arflex. New, current production. The unmistakable design and wide modularity still make the Marenco sofa a must-have in contemporary furniture. Designed by Mario Marenco in 1970, it is still a great classic of Italian design. With this large-rounded cushions sofa, Mario Marenco has combined strength and comfort. In 2007 the Marenco collection won the Wallpaper Design Awards Best Reissues. The Sofa is available in a wide variation of fabrics and leather upholstery. Please ask us about the possibilities. Designed by Mario Marenco (1933-2019) 1957 degree at Naples University. 1957/1960 he gained 5 awards for research at Stockholm and Chicago universities. 1960 he formed the DEWG Studio in Rome : community buildings. 1970 designer for arflex, Artemide, Bernini, B&B, Comfortline 1982 collaboration with FIAT, LANCIA, ALFA ROMEO for display stands. 1985 watches...
Fabric
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| $7,068 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $650-$19,700 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |