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.
1986 Antonio Citterio "Sity" Corner Chairs for B&B Italia in Black Leather, Pair
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Extremely chic and versatile. This pair of fully leather-wrapped Italian corner chairs / armchairs by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia can be positioned in a myriad of arrangements, i...
Steel
Sity Sofa by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1986
By Antonio Citterio
Located in Premariacco, IT
Classic of Italian design, this Sity sofa by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia presents itself in its elegance and refinement with a two-seater section, a corner section and a single s...
Fabric, Plastic
Antonio Citterio Woven Leather Longue Chair For B&B Italia
By Antonio Citterio
Located in Čelinac, BA
Antonio Citterio Wovn Leather Longoe Chair for B&B Italia 1980s
Leather
Baisity Lounge Chair by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1986
By Antonio Citterio
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
The Baisity lounge chair, designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia in 1986, reflects the refined balance between comfort and architectural clarity that characterizes Italian d...
Leather, Fabric
$4,426
H 32.68 in W 87.01 in D 39.77 in
Baisity sofa designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1980s.
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Athens, Attiki
Baisity sofa designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1980s. Original fabric with extraordinary paisley pattern and leather. Excellent condition
Leather, Fabric, Silk
$914Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30.32 in W 24.81 in D 22.05 in
Side Chairs - B&B Italia Iuta by Antonio Citterio
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Highclere, Newbury
Pair of white metal mesh and fabric B&B Italia Iuta side chairs by Antonio Citterio. Antonia Citterio’s work encompasses furniture, architecture and interiors and spans the last 30 years; most notably with B&B Italia, Vitra and Kartell. The Iuta collection is a B&B Italia icon that dates back to the late 1980s and has been produced and re-introduced over the years in a number of versions. The seating range uses...
Steel, Chrome
"Le Stelle" Loveseat Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By Knoll, Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Le Stelle" loveseat sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Italy, circa 1970s. Newly reupholstered in white Knoll boucle, the sofa features angled arm rests and Bellini's signatu...
Bouclé
$6,850
H 25.25 in W 107 in D 37 in
Off White Leather "Simplice Sofa" by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia Maxalto
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Kansas City, MO
Cream / Ivory color leather Simplice sofa designed by Antonio Citteria for B&B Italia. Very good condition with no holes scuffs or repairs. A few small spots may be found on cl...
Steel
$5,084 / set
H 31.89 in W 114.18 in D 106.3 in
Postmodern 'Sity' Modular Sectional Sofa, Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1972
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Zagreb, HR
An amazing, rare and early production, three-piece modular Sity sofa designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia. Original upholstery, leather pole armrests, loose back and seat cushions, pink upholstered frames. Original B&B Italia labels. This sculptural Memphis sofa...
Leather, Fabric
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.75 in W 29 in D 34.25 in
Italian J.J. Leather Rocking Armchair by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 2012
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Elevate your living space with this exquisite Italian J.J. Rocking Armchair, masterfully designed by the renowned Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia in 2012. Wrapped in luxurious cream ...
Steel
Baisity lounge chair by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in Athens, Attiki
Black leather lounge chair Baisity designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1980s The Baisity armchair has some unique design features. The front is raised on castors, the back ...
Leather
$4,154 / set
H 35.44 in W 27.56 in D 35.83 in
Pair of B&B Italia Maxalto Imprimatur Antonio Citterio Armchairs
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of high back B&B Italia hand made in Italy Maxalto Imprimatur armchairs designed by Antonio Citterio RRP £6000. The chairs ar...
Chrome, Nickel
$820 / item
H 27.56 in W 25.6 in D 21.66 in
Solo Armchairs by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, Italy, 2002
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, these Solo armchairs exemplify a rigorous yet understated approach to contemporary seating. The softl...
Chrome
Sold
H 26.38 in W 31.5 in D 30.32 in
Italian Armchairs Model Tulip Designed by Jeffrey Bernett for B&B, 2000s
By Jeffrey Bernett, B&B Italia
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Couple of Italian armchairs model Tulip designed by Jeffrey Bernett for B&B Italia in 2000. Tulip is a 360-degree swivel armchair with remarkably flexible use, whose highlight is th...
Metal
Sold
H 27.56 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Armchairs "Le Bambole" in Black Leather by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful pair of Le Bambole armchairs designed and engineered by Mario Bellini made entirely in black leather for B&B Italia. Icons of the Seventies and winners of the "Compasso d'O...
Animal Skin
Sold
H 26.38 in W 31.5 in L 26.38 in
Italian Armchairs Model Tulip Designed by Jeffrey Bernett for B&B, 2000s
By Jeffrey Bernett, B&B Italia
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Couple of Italian armchairs model Tulip designed by Jeffrey Bernett for B&B Italia in 2000. Tulip is a 360-degree swivel armchair with remarkably flexible use, whose highlight is th...
Metal