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.
Strips Long Lounger by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1960s
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in amstelveen, NL
Very rare strips lounger by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1960s, It is reupholstered in a sand color recycled fabric. The upholstery can be zipped off so you can snuggle under a blanket. On...
Fabric
Cini Boeri Strips Daybed for Arflex Italy
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Skokie, IL
Cini Boeri Strips Daybed for Arflex Italy. "arflex / Made in Italy" label to underside. Dimensions: 25" H x 57" W x 30" D
Steel
Italian postmodern padded blue and white cubes chaise longue by Arflex, 1990s
By Arflex
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern padded blue and white cubes chaise longue by Arflex, 1990s Padded chaise longue with rectangular seat. The backrest, armrest and seat are made up of eighteen padde...
Fabric
Italian Chaise Longue silk
Located in Long Island, NY
Italian Chaise Longue .Elegant and Timeless. Beautiful Reds and Gold Colors in Silk .
Silk
Italian Channeled Leather and Chrome Chaise Longue, 1970
Located in New York, NY
A handsome chocolate brown channeled Italian leather chaise longue from the 1970's. The sloping contoured wavy curved frame sits in harmony with...
Chrome
Arflex Botolo Chair in Heidi Fabric by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Botolo Chair is designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex. An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit,...
Metal
$1,633
H 35.04 in W 56.7 in D 27.56 in
Vintage IKEA Karlskrona Wicker Chaise Longue by Carl Öjerstam, 1990s
By IKEA, Carl Öjerstam
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century Modern style chaise longue or lounge chair. Design by Carl Öjerstam for Ikea. Striking Swedish design from the 1990s. Executed in wicker and rattan, an idyllic p...
Wicker, Rattan
Cini Boeri for Arflex Strips Sofa in velvet, Italy 1968
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Cini Boeri for Arflex, two seater strips sofa in aubergine velvet, Italy 1968 The iconic Strips sofa, a comfortable and versatile design. Reupholstered in a beautiful high quality b...
Velvet
$2,890
H 28.74 in W 31.5 in D 33.85 in
Boborelax Chair Cini Boeri For Arflex Red Velvet, Italy, circa 1955
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Vienna, AT
Boborelax lounge chair, designed by Cini Boeri, Italy circa 1965 Measures: 33.85" x 21.5" x 28.74" - seat height is circa 16.5". Very stylish chaise-lounge Boborelax upholstered in alcantara faux leather fabric, which resembles suede leather but is more durable and resilient. It has been designed by Cini Boeri and is a modern take on traditional seating...
Steel
'Brigadier' Loveseats by Cini Boeri for Knoll, Italy, 1980s
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Antwerp, BE
Exceptional sofa from the award-winning Brigadier Series by renowned Italian architect and designer, Cini Boeri (1924–2020). Crafted in the 1980s for Knoll, these sofas feature a sle...
Leather, Lacquer
$6,716 / item
H 29.53 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in
Arflex Botolo High Back Armchair in Black Fur and Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit, relax and be creative.Cini Boeri designed Botolo in 1973, giving life to a new design style, where you could choose the height of the legs to have a dining chair in the high version or a style, at that time modern, "the living at a low level", a way of living...
Fur
$6,716 / item
H 29.53 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in
Arflex Botolo High Back Armchair in Natural Fur & Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit, relax and be creative.Cini Boeri designed Botolo in 1973, giving life to a new design style, where you could choose the height of the legs to have a dining chair in the high version or a style, at that time modern, "the living at a low level", a way of living...
Fur
Postmodern Italian chaise longue in faux fur brown
Located in Milano, IT
Italian Postmodern chaise longue, late 1970s - early 1980s This remarkable chaise longue is a true expression of Italian Postmodern design, a period defined by bold experimentation,...
Faux Fur, Wood
$19,914 / item
H 37.41 in W 122.05 in D 49.22 in
Arflex Strips Modular Sofa S3 in White Fabric and Aluminium Feet by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
At the end of the 60s, the architect Cini Boeri revolutionizes the furniture market with her model, that is now an ""evergreen"": the seat system Strips. Additional information: ...
Aluminum
Arflex Strips Sofa By Cini Boeri In Velvet, Italy 1968
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Cini Boeri for Arflex, modular strips sofa in mustard/golden velvet, Italy 1968 The iconic Strips sofa, a comfortable and versatile design. This modular sofa features four seating e...
Velvet
Cini Boeri x Arflex Linen Chaise Longue
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Astoria, NY
Cini Boeri for Arflex Linen Upholstered Chaise Longue, on wheels, "arflex / Made in Italy" label to underside. 25" H x 57" W x 30" D. Provenance: From a Long Island Estate.
Linen, Upholstery
Bobo Relax Lounge Chair by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1960s
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare chaise longue lounge chair armchair by the italian designer Cini Boeri for the editor Arflex. New upholstery in bouclé fabric. Famous design like Gio Ponti, Gianfranco Frattini,...
Fabric, Bouclé, Foam
Sold
H 32.29 in W 27.56 in D 72.84 in
Bobo Relax Lounge Chair with Ottoman by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1960s
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare chaise longue lounge chair armchair with his pouf ottoman footstool by the italian designer Cini Boeri for the editor Arflex. New upholstery in bouclé fabric. Famous design like...
Fabric, Bouclé, Foam
Bobo Chair with Ottoman by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1960s
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in amstelveen, NL
Rare Bobo easy chair designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in the 1960s. Reupholstered in a creme bouclé by Bisson Bruneel. This original example represents one of the first attempts...
Bouclé
Sold
H 24.81 in W 49.61 in D 49.61 in
1980, Fabrizio Ballardini, 2 (3?) Couches Ribcalta in Original Soft Terra Fabric
By Arflex
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
Arflex couch Ribalta from designer Fabrizio Ballardini in the original very soft, suede like, terra colored fabric. The height of the corners of th...
Steel