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.
Leather armchairs and sofa Mario Bellini model Le stelle for B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of 60s/70s armchairs by Italian designer Mario Bellini, published by B&B Italy, “La Stelle” model. Entirely in mustard yellow leather (original leather), this model is recogniza...
Leather
Mario Bellini for B&B Italia 3Sits Cameleonda with armrests
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Brussels, BE
The Original Camaleonda modular sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia is a renowned piece of furniture from the 1970s. It includes two large seating elements with back and armrests a...
Fabric, Wood
Mario Bellini, ‘Le Bambole’ Sofa, B&B Italia, 1970s
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Mario Bellini, ‘Bambole’ Two-Seater Sofa, B&B Italia, 1970s Mario Bellini's iconic 'Le Bambole' loveseat for B&B Italia showcases the revolutionary soft form design that defined 197...
Fabric, Foam, Wool
Sold|$18,919
H 28.75 in W 129.93 in D 33.47 in
Mario Bellini Le Bambole Modular Sofa, Upholstered in Alpaca, B&B Italia, 1970s
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A beautiful Mario Bellini Le Bambole four piece modular sofa / chair set, produced by B&B Italia, Italy in the 1970s, newly upholstered in luxurious 100% alpaca. Marked on the un...
Alpaca
$1,440
H 14.18 in W 35.44 in D 11.82 in
Mario Bellini "Gli Scacchi" Chess Side Tables 'for Cameleonda' for B&B Italia
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Discover the timeless charm of the Mario Bellini-designed "Gli Scacchi" Side Tables/Stools, a perfect complement to the iconic Camaleonda sofa. Crafted in 1971 for B&B Italia, th...
Plastic
$7,600
H 28.35 in W 48.04 in D 35.04 in
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” Armchair for B&B Italia, Brown Suede, 1971
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” armchair for B&B Italia, brown suede, Italy, 1971. The search for a new shape for upholstered furniture: ...
Foam
$6,062
H 28.35 in W 70.08 in D 38.59 in
Le Bambole sofa in velvet By Mario Bellini For B&B Italia, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Beautiful Le Bambole sofa in coral/pink coloured velvet designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in the 1970s. This beautiful edition is reupholstered in a high quality cotton velve...
Velvet
$16,900 / set
H 29.53 in W 63 in D 33.47 in
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa for B&B Italia, 1971, Set of 2
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” sofa for B&B Italia, Mongolian faux-fur, Italy, 1971, set of two. This is a timeless Postmodern design icon. The starting point was a shopping bag contain...
Faux Fur, Foam
$5,595
H 29.53 in W 90.56 in D 33.47 in
Jacquard fabric Sofa, Mario Bellini, "Le stelle" B&B Italia, 1970
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Sofa by Italian designer Mario Bellini, produced by B&B Italia, model "La Stelle". Made with a metal frame and upholstered in the original linen and cotton jacquard fabric. The origi...
Metal
$16,000
H 29.14 in W 96.46 in D 35.44 in
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa for B&B Italia, Ivory Chenille, 1972
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” three seater sofa for B&B Italia, ivory chenille, Italy, 1971. The search for a new shape for upholstered furnitur...
Foam, Chenille
$10,811
H 29.53 in W 68.9 in D 37.41 in
Mario Bellini Le Bambole Sofa, Upholstered in Alpaca, B&B Italia, 1970s
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A beautiful Mario Bellini Le Bambole sofa, produced by B&B Italia, Italy in the 1970s, newly upholstered in luxurious 100% alpaca. Marked on the underside. Fast shipping worldwid...
Alpaca
$10,811
H 29.53 in W 66.93 in D 33.86 in
Mario Bellini Le Bambole Sofa, Upholstered in Alpaca, B&B Italia, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A beautiful Mario Bellini Le Bambole sofa, newly upholstered in luxury cream alpaca velvet, produced by B&B Italia, Italy in the 1970s. Marked on the underside. Fast shipping world...
Alpaca
Le Bambole sofa By Mario Bellini For B&B Italia, 1970s
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Beautiful Le Bambole sofa in original structured fabric in aubergine tones designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in the 1970s. This beautiful edition comes in its original high q...
Fabric
$7,920
H 28.35 in W 48.04 in D 35.04 in
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” Armchair for B&B Italia, Mohair Velvet, 1971
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” armchair for B&B Italia, mohair velvet, Italy, 1971. The search for a new shape for upholstered furniture: all parts are shaped like a large soft cushion....
Foam
$10,492 / set
H 27.17 in W 125.99 in D 33.47 in
AMANTA Modular Sofa Set by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By C&B Italia, Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Midcentury Modern Italian Design "AMANTA" Modular Sofa / Lounge Chair set by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia / C&B Italia. Made in Italy, 1970's period. Marked with original lab...
Leather, Plastic
Sold
H 28.75 in W 63 in D 33.47 in
Mario Bellini, 'Le Bambole' 2-Seater Sofa, Original Fabric, Italian Modern, 1972
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Odense, DK
Exceptionel Fine version of Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' sofa, produced by B&B Italia, Italy in the 1970s. This beautiful sofa comes with the original fabric + two cushions in a great ...
Fabric
Sold
H 29.53 in W 85.83 in D 55.12 in
Diesis Sofa by Antonio Citterio & Paolo Nava Brown for B&B Italia, 1980S
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in bruxelles, BE
Black leather sofa. stamped under the seat (see photo). Wear due to time and age of the sofa. Seat height: 38cm.
Metal
Sold
H 29.53 in W 108.67 in D 35.83 in
Diesis Sofa by Antonio Citterio & Paolo Nava Brown for B&B Italia, 1980S
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in bruxelles, BE
Black leather sofa. stamped under the seat (see photo). Wear due to time and age of the sofa. Seat height: 38cm.
Metal
Golden Le Bambole Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Aartselaar, BE
Two seater model, Bibambola, designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, ca 1970s. The Bibambola is a design classic. With the golden reupholstery we wanted to make classic meet conte...
Faux Leather, Leather
Sofa B&B By Paolo Piva
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in Brussels, BE
Original vintage B&B Italia sofa in very good condition. It concerns the very rare 2 seat (170 cm) in very high-quality, supple Perle leather, colour black, with back and armrests...
Metal
Sofa B&B By Paolo Piva
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in Brussels, BE
Original vintage B&B Italia sofa in very good condition. It concerns the very rare 3 seat (210 cm) in very high-quality, supple Perle leather, colour black, with back and armrests...
Metal