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.
Kinu Sideboard by Motomi Kawakami for Arflex 1980 - XL Version
By Arflex, Motomi Kawakami
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
$5,034
H 28.35 in W 93.12 in D 19.1 in
Large KW85 Sideboard by Martin Visser for 'T Spectrum, the Netherlands
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum Bergeijk
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This minimalistic and modernist sideboard, model KW85, was designed by Martin Visser for ’t Spectrum in the Netherlands in 1965. It is made from black lacquered veneer wood and has w...
Metal
Milo Baughman Designed Sideboard for Directional
By Directional, Milo Baughman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern sideboard with bi-fold doors, matte black base, and matching black exposed hinges. Designed for Directional by Milo Baughman, and manufactured by Johnson Furniture...
Walnut
$3,511
H 28.94 in W 100.79 in D 17.13 in
Italian modern Sideboard Parioli by Stoppino and Acerbis for Acerbis, 1980s
By Lodovico Acerbis, Giotto Stoppino, Acerbis Design
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Sideboard Parioli by Giotto Stoppino and Marco Acerbis for Acerbis, 1980s Sideboard mod. Parioli composed of 4 modules with solid wood structure with matt black finis...
Aluminum
Torbecchia sideboard by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Ravenna, IT
Furniture designed by Michelucci and manufactured by Poltronova. The cabinet consists of two lower hinged doors, which can be opened by a handle, and two upper hinged doors, which ca...
Walnut
Slide Series Sideboard by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe
By Pastoe
Located in Izegem, VWV
The Slide series were created in the late 1990s by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe. This black sideboard features a silver metallic lacquered aluminum sliding door. There are six storage ...
Aluminum, Steel
Kawakami Antique Finish Solid Oak Cabinet with Leather Doors
By Brett Paulin
Located in Toronto, Ontario
This Kawakami cabinet features a faux antique finish on distressed solid oak with beautiful natural leather doors and cabinet handles from Bacman and Berglund. This cabinet is not short on fine details, such as an inner solid walnut frame allowing for inset doors...
Leather, Oak, Walnut
$12,518
H 31.7 in W 94.1 in D 18.51 in
Rosewood Sideboard by Henry Rosengren Hansen for Brande Møbelindustri, Denmark.
By Henry Rosengren Hansen, Brande Møbelindustri
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Elegant rosewood sideboard by Henry Rosengren Hansen. Nice details like the joinery of the legs and sculpted handles that meet at the center of the front.
Rosewood
Angle Cabinet by Francesco Binfare for Cassina, 1980
By Francesco Binfaré, Cassina
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Angle cabinet designed by Francesco Binfare for Cassina Very versatile piece of storage with plentiful shelving, with sliding glass door with Binfares signature 80's pattern on the ...
Glass, Wood
$16,099 / item
H 31.5 in W 43.31 in D 19.69 in
Believe Metal Sideboard by Lorenza Bozzoli for Mingardo
By Mingardo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Be-Lieve Decorative and at the same time essential, the enclosing console designed by Lorenza Bozzoli is a timeless piece of furniture. The line is si...
Brass, Iron
$7,245 / item
H 61.82 in W 43.31 in D 15.75 in
Prospecto sideboard, in canaletto walnut and brass, by DebonaDemeo for Medulum
By Debonademeo
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Prospecto is a collection of wooden furniture skilfully decorated by inlaid thin brass profiles.This ancient inlay technique is here re-proposed to generate new three-dimensional effects that refer to optic art...
Brass
$13,468
H 38.98 in W 117.33 in D 20.08 in
Italian Teak Sideboard by Vittorio Dassi for Consorzio Mobili Cantù, 1950s
By Consorzio Esposizione Mobili Cantù
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This exceptional sideboard, produced by the Consorzio Esposizioni Mobili Cantù designed by Vittorio Dassi during the 1950s–1960s, is a remarkable example of the innovation and extra...
Glass, Maple, Teak
Midcentury Sideboard by Founders
By Founders Furniture Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern sideboard by Founders with drawer and cabinet storage. Great for home or office use. Warm teak wood with accenting chrome hardware. Please confirm location NY or NJ.
Teak
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