B&B Italia Furniture
Italian
In 1966, Piero Ambrogio Busnelli cofounded C&B Italia, a modern Italian furniture manufacturer, with Cesare Cassina in northern Milan. From the outset, Busnelli and Cassina set about recruiting the most talented modernists in Italy to conceive of creative furnishings manufactured in modern ways. In the early 1970s, the company split, with Cassina founding his own eponymous firm and Busnelli taking leadership of what became B&B Italia.
For decades, Busnelli cultivated relationships with the world’s best design talent, resulting in furniture pieces that remain iconic today — be they Gaetano Pesce’s outwardly curvaceous Up seating (made for C&B, reintroduced by B&B) or tables from industrial designer Paolo Piva, each more sophisticated than the next in their geometrically complex steel-tube bases. B&B Italia earned four prestigious Compasso d’Oro design awards: in 1979 for Mario Bellini’s Le Bambole, in 1984 for the Sisamo wardrobe system by Studio Kairos, in 1987 for Antonio Citterio’s modular Sity sofa and, in 1989, the first award given to a manufacturing company itself.
Other notable names who designed for B&B Italia over the course of its 54-year history include Patricia Urquiola, Naoto Fukasawa, Zaha Hadid, Ettore Sottsass and Vincent Van Duysen, to name a very few. And while these names bring star power to the B&B brand, in many cases, it was B&B Italia who helped usher in their celebrity, fostering a wave of design talent on the world stage.
The company’s forward-thinking vision manifested in its own headquarters, too: In 1972, B&B Italia tapped architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers to design a steel-framed, postmodern-style home for the brand, whose crisscrossing metal exoskeleton is reminiscent of the pair’s Centre Pompidou in Paris, which was built at roughly the same time. Now, B&B Italia manages a contract division and outdoor section as well as its residential arm, and it also controls production for Maxalto, a brand spun out with furniture designs by Antonio Citterio.
At 1stDibs, find a range of vintage B&B Italia furniture — including sofas, cocktail tables and more.
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Creator: B&B Italia
Dealer: Aged Modern
Post Modern Italian Leather Alanda Sofa by Paolo Piva
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in Las Vegas, NV
SUPER RARE. These Paolo Piva Alanda sofas are rarely available in the US and NEVER IN THIS COLOR. This sofa is vintage patinated leather perf...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern B&B Italia Furniture
Materials
Leather
Landscape Chaise Lounge by B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Jeffrey Bernett
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Landscape chaise by Jeffrey Bernett for B & B Italia. Airy and agile, the Landscape chaise longue, featuring an essential design with a lsteel frame, is a B&B Italia genuine bestsel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern B&B Italia Furniture
Materials
Chrome
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Iconic + Rare 'Grasshopper' Chaise Lounge by Preben Fabricius + Jørgen Kastholm
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Orange Cord Camaleonda Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Original
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Giorgetti Royal Sofa by Antonello Mosca, Italy, 1970s
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Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" Sofa for B&B Italia, Black Leather, 1970, Set of 4
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
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Le Bambole Chaise by Mario Bellini B&B Italia
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
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B&B Italia chaise lounge Le Bambole
1972 design by Mario Bellini
Italian chaise made of heavy foam and newly upholstered in leather
A great design from ...
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1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage B&B Italia Furniture
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Paolo Piva, Alanda, Sofa, B&B Italia, 1980s
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Paris, FR
Paolo Piva
Alanda
A rectangular two-seater sofa with mobile headrests and armrests covered with its multicolored original fabric upholstery.
Original edition by B&B Italia.
With B&B Italia label.
Italy.
Circa 1980.
Dimensions
Height : 74 cm With headrests raised : 88 cm
Width : 210 cm With armrests raised : 194 cm
Depth : 106 cm With headrests raised : 86 cm
Height of seat : 42 cm
Literature
Domus 633, November 1982, p.26-29
Domus 634, December 1982, p.22-23
Giuliana Gramigna, Repertorio del design italiano 1950-2000 per l'arredamento domestico, Umberto Allemandi, 2003, p.277
Mario Mastropietro, Rolando Gorla, Un’industria per il design : la ricerca i designers, l’immagine B&B Italia, Edizioni Lybra Immagine, Milano, 1986, p.394-397.
Paolo Piva
Paolo Piva was born in Adria in 1950. He studied architecture at the Venice Istituto Universitario di Architettura under the direction of Carlo Scarpa and Carlo Aymonino.
He practiced architecture and industrial design mainly in Italy and Austria.
In 1990, he became a professor at the Hochschule für Angewande Kunst in Vienna.
He designed factories in Italy, such as in Misinto for B&B Italia, galeries such as Schullin in Vienna for which he was awarded the « Adolf Loos » prize in 1994.
In 1996, he designed book-shops and cafeterias for the Venetian Civic Museums.
The same year, he participated in the 6th International Exhibition of Architecture at the Venice Biennale.
Alanda
The idea behind the Alanda was to create a « mobile » piece of furniture.
Developed with the B&B Research Centre, the mechanism allows different positions following the changing needs of the user.
« Alanda was conceived as an open object...
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1980s French Modern Vintage B&B Italia Furniture
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B&B Italia "Diesis" Chaise Lounge by Antonio Citterio & Paolo Nava
By Paolo Nava, B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
B&B Italia leather "Diesis" chaise lounge by Antonio Citterio & Paolo Nava. Designed in 1979, this is an oversized, equally chic and comfy piece you can spend hours reading in. Leath...
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"Tufty Time" Lounge Chaise by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, New Upholstery
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Previously Available Items
B&B Italia Donna Up Chair Five by Gaetano Pesce
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This is an all original up five armchair designed by Gaetano Pesce, also known as Donna, Pesce said “In this design I have expressed my idea of women." "“Donna” consists of a molded ...
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B&b Italia furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
B&B Italia furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of fabric and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of B&B Italia furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 329 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 4 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by B&B Italia were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Mario Bellini, Osvaldo Borsani, and Gianfranco Frattini. Prices for B&B Italia furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $550 and can go as high as $52,300, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,530.
Creators Similar to B&B Italia
Questions About B&B Italia Furniture
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023The Camaleonda sofa was made in 1970. Mario Bellini designed this modular seat, which can double as a sculpture in any interior. The Milanese architect and designer came up with the concept in 1970 for B&B Italia (then known as C&B Italia). The piece became a hit after its star turn in the 1972 exhibition, “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape,” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. B&B brought the design back in 2020 with a few modern upgrades (namely, all recycled materials and interchangeable seat covers). Shop a range of Camaleonda sofas on 1stDibs.
- Where is B&B Italia made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022B&B Italia makes their furniture at a company-owned factory in Novedrate, Como, Italy. The brand's headquarters are also in the city. To ensure quality, skilled artisans produce each piece by hand. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of B&B Italia furniture.
- What does R&B mean on silver?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The maker’s mark R&B is from the company Roberts & Belk. Originally known as Furniss, Poles and Turner in 1809, the company went through many different names until it landed on Roberts & Belk in 1864. Known for their silver flatware and cutlery, the brand became quite desirable. Shop a collection of authentic Roberts and Belk silver from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- When was Hamilton 992B made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Hamilton 992B Railroad Watch was first produced in November, 1940, nine years after design and research began. The 992B featured brand-new technologies and was made with gold, steel and gilt parts and the newly designed Elinvar Extra hairspring. The last Hamilton 992B was sold in 1969. Shop Hamilton 992B Railroad Watches from top sellers worldwide on 1stDibs.
- Is B. Altman still in business?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, B. Altman is not still in business. The last remaining B. Altman store closed in 1990 after the company went bankrupt. Benjamin Altman founded the retail department store chain in New York, New York, in 1865. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of B. Altman apparel.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022How you style Dior B23 sneakers is largely a matter of personal preference. High-top styles tend to look best worn with socks no higher than the collar, while low-top options work well with socks of varying heights. Feel free to get creative and wear your sneakers with everything from dresses to jeans. Shop a range of Dior sneakers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022How to clean a Bulgari B Zero ring depends on the material. You can clean the metal with a soft-bristled toothbrush, warm water and dish soap, and then rinse with lukewarm water. Use a cleaning product formulated for leather to clean leather rings. Wipe gemstones with a soft cloth. Bulgari recommends that you visit a Bulgari boutique once every year for professional cleaning. On 1stDibs, find a range of Bulgari B Zero rings.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024The difference between Steelcase Grade A and Grade B is condition. A previously owned chair that has been inspected by Steelcase and found to be in like-new condition receives the Grade A designation. On the other hand, a piece that has minor issues, such as scuffs on the frame, receives a Grade B classification. Shop a collection of Steelcase chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022What was most innovative about Marcel Breuer's Model B3 chair was its frame. Also known as the Wassily lounge chair, the piece featured a lightweight, sturdy tubular steel frame inspired by the artist's Adler bicycle. His use of the metal started a radical shift in furniture design. You’ll find a variety of Marcel Breuer Model B3 chairs 1stDibs.