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.
Arflex 'Goya' Dining Table in Lacquered Metal and Red Travertine
By Arflex
Located in Tilburg, NL
Arflex 'Goya' Dining Table in Lacquered Metal and Red Travertine. New, current production. 160 cm version with top in red travertine / travertino rosso. Goya is a table with round,...
Travertine, Metal
$3,207Sale Price|20% Off
Sculptural Dining Table by Sergio Mazza for Arflex, Italy, 1962
By Arflex, Sergio Mazza
Located in Milano, IT
Sculptural Dining Table - Italian Collectible Design - Sergio Mazza Stainless Steel Table Beautiful and timeless dining table designed by Sergio Mazza for Italian furniture brand Ar...
Stainless Steel
Made To Order Red Travertine Dining Table
Located in London, London
Dining table Made to order in Italy Red travertine Oval top Tapering oval shaped column base Size can be customised Contemporary.
Travertine
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 36 in D 72 in
Sculptural Travertine Dining Table - Light Travertine Stone Table
Located in İnegöl, TR
TRAVERTINE MARBLE DINING TABLE Type of Marble: Travertine Dimensions: 72" x 36" Leg Model: Travertine Customizable: Available! Production Time: 3-4 Weeks Shipping Cost: Free! Packa...
Travertine, Marble
$4,154Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 39.38 in D 78.75 in
Oteyza Dining Table Red Iranian Travertine Marble Glass Top Sculptural Design
By Joaquín Moll, Meddel
Located in VALVERDE DEL MAJANO, CL
Oteyza Dining Table Red Iranian Travertine Marble Glass Top Sculptural Design The Oteyza Dining Table, designed by Joaquín Moll, is a sculptural pie...
Crystal, Travertine, Marble
Bespoke Round Italian Dining Table in Travertine
Located in London, London
Travertine dining table Made to order in Italy Round top Honed or polished finish Rounded or straight edges Travertine pedestal. The photos show a selection of tables we have m...
Travertine
$7,500
H 28.75 in W 78.75 in D 39.38 in
Sapo Dining Table by Sergio and Giorgio Saporiti, Italy, 1970s
By Sergio and Giorgio Saporiti, Saporiti
Located in Antwerp, BE
Model Sapo dining table by Sergio and Giorgio Saporiti, crafted for Saporiti, Italy in 1972. This architectural masterpiece marries brutalist aesthetics with minimalist sensibilities...
Concrete, Metal
$4,160Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 35 in D 75 in
Travertine Dining Table - Travertine Stone Table - Marble Dining Room Table
Located in İnegöl, TR
TRAVERTINE MARBLE TABLE Type of Marble: Travertine Dimensions: 75" x 35" (190 x 90 cm) Leg Model: Travertine Customizable: Available! Production Time: 3-4 Weeks Shipping Cost: Free!...
Travertine, Marble
$937Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.75 in W 52.76 in D 52.76 in
Smoked Glass & Chromed Steel Square Dining Table by Sergio Mazza for Cinova
By Sergio Mazza
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Midcentury Modern Italian Design Smoked Glass & Chromed Steel Large Square Dining Table. Designed by Sergio Mazza for Cinova. Made in Italy...
Metal, Chrome
$11,000Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 118.12 in D 47.25 in
DIning Table With Sculptural Lacquered Pedestals & Oval Ceramic Travertine Top
By Antonio Facco
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Stylish and versatile piece that combines innovative design with high-quality materials: Key features includes: Base: The base is crafted from four curved plywood elements to create ...
Wood, Lacquer
$11,000
H 29.53 in W 59.06 in D 51.19 in
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia 'Tobio' Dining Table in Red Travertine
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, 'Tobio' dining table, leather, red travertine, Italy, design 1974 Gorgeous dining table designed by the iconic duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa....
Travertine
Dining table Redig, by Sergio Rodrigues, Brazil 1960's
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Whitstable, GB
Mid-Century Modern "Redig" dining table by Brazilian Designer Sergio Rodrigues, 1950s. The name of the piece is certainly a reference to architect Olavo Redig de Santos, a fellow ar...
Hardwood
Sergio Mazza for Artemide Italian Space Age Bacco Bar Cart
By Sergio Mazza, Artemide
Located in Chattanooga, TN
The “Bacco” bar cart, designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the late 1960s, is a space-age masterpiece of Italian design—playful, sculptural, and wholly functional. Cast from mold...
Glass, Plastic
$3,200
H 14.25 in W 35.5 in D 33.5 in
Occasional Table by Sergio Mazza and Giuliana Gramigna for Cinova
By Giuliana Gramigna, Sergio Mazza
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Polished stainless steel and smoked glass occasional table. Designed by Sergio Mazza & Giuliana Gramigna. Made by Cinova in Italy.
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 28.35 in W 64.97 in D 47.25 in
1960s Sergio Mazza Midcentury Italian Dining Rosewood Oval Table for Arflex
By Arflex, Sergio Mazza
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian dining table designed by Segio Mazza and manufactured by Arflex in 1962. Curved stainless steel, adjustable feet, and rosewood veneered top, midcentury design. Literature s...
Steel