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.
$3,000Sale Price|50% Off
Benefits of Progress Painting by Artfux, 1992
By Arflex
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great image by the collaborative group Artfux founded in 1990. This work was most likely influenced by one of the founders Ray Arcadio. From his website the following; To artist R...
Paper
Headless Leader Painting by Artfux
By Arflex
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great image by the collaborative group Artfux founded in 1990. This work was most likely influenced by one of the founders Ray Arcadio. From his website the following; To artist R...
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 20 in W 25.5 in D 1.75 in
Reverse Painting on Glass of George and Martha Washington by W. M. Prior
By William Matthew Prior
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th century reverse painted on glass portrait of George and Martha Washington by William Matthew Prior (1806 - 1873), one of New England'...
Glass
$5,200
H 51 in W 28 in D 2 in
Large Antique 19th Century Genre Portrait of a Boy by Adolf Heller, Oil Painting
By Adolphe Keller
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large antique 19th century Genre Portrait of a boy by listed artist Adolf Heller, (German , 1874 -1914) A beautifully executed portrait that captures the ...
Wood, Paint
Abstract Painting by Ingemar Callenberg, circa 1970 "Branning"
By Ingemar Callenberg
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Important abstract painting by Ingemar Callenberg (1926-1973). Title : Branning, circa 1960. Beautiful colours en effects.
$16,475Sale Price|33% Off
H 58.08 in W 82.68 in D 1.19 in
A large painting by Moacir Andrade, Brazil, 1960s "A Lenda Do Pacu"
By Moacir Andrade
Located in London, GB
A large stunning painting from the legendary Amazonian artist Moacir Andrade "A Lenda Do Pacu" (The legend of the Pacu) Acrylic on canvas depicting a central Pacu which is a lar...
Canvas, Acrylic, Wood
$2,000
H 30 in W 30 in D 0.001 in
Large Midcentury Oversize Oil on Canvas Painting of Tigers by Peter Colby
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Oil on canvas painting by artist Peter Colby. Large oversize canvas featuring two lions resting upon a patch of green grass. The background of this piece i...
Canvas, Paint
$4,080Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 27 in W 35 in D 1.5 in
Pair Of Scandinavian Rococo Folk Art Wooden Paintings
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of early Swedish Rococo Folk Art wooden paintings or table tops.
Wood
Whimsical Outsider, Folk Art Oil Painting by William R. Straly
By William R. Straly
Located in Buffalo, NY
Whimsical outsider, Folk Art oil painting by William R. Straly, excellent use of color. Texture and space.
Paint
$6,200
H 48 in W 60 in D 2 in
Monumental Modernist Oil Painting on Canvas by Alexander Gore "Point Stroke"
By Alexander Gore
Located in Buffalo, NY
About Alexander Gore, The artist as an observer decided after many years of visiting non-western places of culture to put his memories to use on visible surfaces for people to see...
Canvas, Paint
Oil Painting on Canvas of a 16th Century Building
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Architectural oil painting on canvas of Heydon Hall executed in a rustic naive style with contrived aging and presented in a maple frame. Signed Dan Dunton.
Paint
French Framed Oil Painting of Seaside Village by Maurice Barle
Located in Austin, TX
A fine French oil painting on canvas of a harbor scene, featuring a view of a sailboat and a picturesque town, signed M. Barle in bottom left facing corner, mounted in a rectangular painted wooden frame. Maurice Barle...
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Four French Oil Paintings on Board of Chickens
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming set of four oil painting on board depicting chickens and roosters of the French city of Rennes. Presented in wood frames and signed ...
Wood
$3,000Sale Price|40% Off
H 19.5 in W 27.5 in D 0.1 in
Painting on Canvas, "La Cuisine Aux Fleurs" by Gerard Economos
By Gerard Economos 1
Located in New York, NY
Painting. Acrylic on canvas by Gerard Economos (French,1935-) Gerard Economos is known for his passionate, intensely colored abstract compositions and large acrylic paintings that have been performed live in front of audiences in 12 countries. Economos has had over 88 events over the last 57 years and his work is now in collections in over 34 countries. He started Live Performances with the Greek avante-garde composer and architect, Iannis Xenakis during a Sound Festival; Subsequently he developed the "Une Musique a Voir" (A music to see) concept. 'La Cuisine aux Fleurs' (Cooking with Flowers) was a series of paintings initiated at the request of the renowned French Chef, Raymond Oliver in 1975 who wished to have his recipes illustrated. They have been rarely shown in public. For an illustrated 15 page biography of Economos please contact Thomas Gallery Ltd...
Canvas, Acrylic