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.
Bernhardt & Vella Set of 4 'Alba' Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcases by Arflex
By Arflex, Bernhardt & Vella
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ellen Bernhardt and Paola Vella for Arflex, Set of 4 'Alba' Sectional Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcases. This is a wonderful and very versatile freestanding bookcase with many p...
Metal
Italian modern wood and red metal self-supporting bookcase by Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern wood and red metal self-supporting bookcase by Arflex, 1970s. Self-supporting bookcase with curved metal structure and glossy red enamel, with solid wood shelves and c...
Metal
Bernhardt & Vella 'Alba' Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcase 2 Sections Arflex
By Arflex, Bernhardt & Vella
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ellen Bernhardt and Paola Vella for Arflex, 'Alba' Sectional Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcase. This is a wonderful and very versatile freestanding bookcase with many possibilitie...
Metal
Cini Boeri Double-sided Rotating Bookcase / Cabinet in Red Lacquer by Arflex, 1980
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Conversano, IT
Overview An extraordinary double-sided rotating bookcase/display cabinet designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex, produced in Italy during the 1980s. This remarkable piece is one of the mo...
Glass, Wood, Lacquer
Bernhardt & Vella Pair of 'Alba' Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcases for Arflex
By Arflex, Bernhardt & Vella
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ellen Bernhardt and Paola Vella for Arflex, 'Alba' Sectional Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcase. This is a wonderful and very versatile freestanding bookcase with many possibilitie...
Metal
Bernhardt & Vella 'Alba' Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcase '6' for Arflex
By Arflex, Bernhardt & Vella
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ellen Bernhardt and Paola Vella for Arflex, 'Alba' Sectional Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcase. This is a wonderful and very versatile freestanding bookcase with many possibilitie...
Metal
Bernhardt & Vella Pair of 'Alba' Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcases for Arflex
By Arflex, Bernhardt & Vella
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ellen Bernhardt and Paola Vella for Arflex, 'Alba' Sectional Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcase. This is a wonderful and very versatile freestanding bookcase with many possibilitie...
Metal
Bernhardt & Vella 'Alba' Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcase for Arflex
By Arflex, Bernhardt & Vella
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ellen Bernhardt and Paola Vella for Arflex, 'Alba' Sectional Freestanding Ceiling Fixed Bookcase. This is a wonderful and very versatile freestanding bookcase with many possibilitie...
Metal
Kinu Sideboard by Motomi Kawakami for Arflex 1980 – XL Version
By Motomi Kawakami, Arflex
Located in Conversano, IT
Kinu sideboard by Arflex, designed by Motomi Kawakami around 1980, here presented in the larger version. This model represents one of the most interesting examples of Kawakami’s rese...
Wood, Lacquer
Mogens Koch Pair of Bookcases for Rud. Rasmussen
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch pair of bookcases in mahogany. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DANMARK.
Mahogany
$1,057
H 48.04 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Triangular Bamboo and Rattan Italian Corner Bookcase, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing mid-century bamboo and Rattan triangular corner bookshelf. Franco Albini inspired the design of this piece, produced in Italy during the 1970s. This piece is fantastic thank...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood, Wicker, Cane
$240
H 42.33 in W 19.1 in D 13.55 in
Vintage 4 Tier Freestanding Corner Whatnot Shelves Bookcase Display Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Here we have for sale this vintage 4 tier freestanding corner Whatnot bookcase, shelves, display stand. Perfect for the corner of any room to stand book...
Bamboo, Pine
$8,919 / set
H 120.87 in W 79.53 in D 12.8 in
Large 1950s Italian Mid Century Teak Maple Freestanding Shelving System 18 Piece
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Recently imported from Italy, this is a good example of post war Italian Avant Garde design. Measuring an impressive 3-metres from floor to ceiling – a common height in Italian apartments – with opportunity to arrange the shelves to suit. This impressive freestanding storage...
Brass
A pair of bench made sculptural walnut bookcases.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These stunning curved bookcases, each having seven shelves, are two-toned with the interiors having blonde walnut. The rear of bookcases are fully fin...
Walnut
Mogens Koch Bookcases for Rud, Rasmussen
By Mogens Koch, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Mogens Koch two wall-mounted bookcases of mahogany. Executed by Rud Rasmussen. Reverse with paper labels ‘RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/KØBENHAVN/DENMARK.
Mahogany
$4,983Sale Price|20% Off
H 98.43 in W 31.5 in D 11.82 in
Freestanding Wall unit, Bookshelves, Roomdivider, Midcentury Modern, 1950s
By Van den Berghe-Pauvers 1, Jos De Mey
Located in Antwerp, BE
Modular wall unit or room divider designed by Jos De Mey for Van den Berghe-Pauvers, Ghent Belgium. 1958. Four black metal mounted on oblique, four tapering legs, brass stretchers ad...
Metal
$5,654
H 118.12 in W 28.75 in D 30.71 in
Osvaldo Borsani E22 Double Sided Freestanding Wall Unit for Tecno, Italy, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
This double-sided freestanding E22 bookcase is a rare and peculiar example of Borsani's innovative design and the Tecno manufacturing expertise. Its construction of metal, wood, and ...
Metal
$114,600
H 27.96 in W 141.74 in D 13 in
Rare Charlotte Perriand Nuage Bookcase for Steph Simon, Circa 1962
By Steph Simon, Charlotte Perriand
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Nuage" wall-mounted shelving designed by Charlotte Perriand for the housing of the Cansado mining town, developed for MIFERMA in Mauritania in the early 1960s. Crafted in mahogany v...
Metal
Pair of Modern Black Bookcases in Solid Wood
Located in North York, ON
Pair of modern black bookcases in solid wood. Finished in a satin black finish with sleek modern styling. Sold in a pair, 4 total available. P...
Wood
$1,728Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 36.42 in W 36.03 in D 14.38 in
Pair of Shaws of London Flamed Hardwood Dwarf Open Library Bookcases Small Suite
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this stunning matching pair of Shaws of London dwarf open library bookcases in flamed mahogany which are part of a suite I have two matching pairs of the...
Hardwood
Pair of French Mahogany and Bronze Open Bookcases
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in London, GB
A pair of Petit Bibliotheques in the manner of Adam Weisweiler constructed using a finely patinated mahogany, brass and bronze; rising from bronze shod turned and tapering circular ...
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 33.86 in W 64.97 in D 19.69 in
Kinu Sideboard by Motomi Kawakami for Arflex 1980 – Small Version
By Arflex, Motomi Kawakami
Located in Conversano, IT
Kinu sideboard by Arflex, designed by Motomi Kawakami around 1980, here presented in the smaller version. This model represents one of the most interesting examples of Kawakami’s res...
Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 69.3 in W 69.3 in D 14.97 in
Valiant bookcase from Carla Venosta & Guido Zimmerman for Arflex, 1970s Italy.
By Carla Venosta, Guido Zimmerman, Arflex
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Rare Valiant bookcase from Carla Venosta & Guido Zimmerman for Arflex, 1970s Italy. This is a modular free standing system, that also can be used as room devider. 4 stainless steel s...
Stainless Steel
Carla Venosta for Arflex Bookcase Mod. Valiant, Italy 1970s
By Arflex, Carla Venosta
Located in Naples, IT
Italian modern freestanding bookcase designed by Carla Venosta for the company Arflex, with curved metal frame and glossy black enamel, with solid wood shelves and central pull-out ...
Glass, Wood
Eton Sideboard by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, 1960s
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in bruxelles, BE
Black wooden sideboard with a mirror on top and a metal bar on the bottom. 4 doors with two drawers and two shelves inside. Wear due to time and age of the sideboard. For shipping, r...
Metal
Sold
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Cini Boeri for Arflex, Rare Mid-Century "Cubotto" Chest of Drawers, circa 1968
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Milan, IT
Cini Boeri for Arflex, Mid-Century Orange "Cubotto" chest of drawers, circa 1968 Wonderful jewel like multi drawer 'cubotto' cabinet designed by Italian architect, Cini Boeri for ...
Wood
"Eton" Sideboard by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, 1960's
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in Melbourne, VIC
1960's sideboard by Marco Zanuso for Arlfex with mirrored glass top & new Italian lacquer.
Lacquer
Sold
H 69.3 in W 69.3 in D 14.97 in
Minimalist Postmodern Steel Bookcase by Venosta and Zimmerman for Arflex, 1971
By Carla Venosta, Arflex
Located in Antwerp, BE
Arflex is a company that marked the history of Italian design employing great designers such as Marco Zanuso, Carlo Mollino, Joe Colombo. Carla Venosta and Guido Zimmerman designed ...
Stainless Steel
"Cubotto" Multi-Use Piece by Cini Boeri for Arflex
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Milan, IT
Rare "Cubotto" (big cube) multi-use piece of furniture by Cini Boeri for Arflex. Compact shape, It can be used as bar cart with its functional p...
Wood