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.
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” Easy Chairs for B&B Italia, Black, 1971, Set of 2
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” easy chairs for B&B Italia, black leather, Italy, 1971, set of two. The search for a new shape for upholstered furniture: all parts are shaped like a larg...
Leather, Foam
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa for B&B Italia, Olive Green Velvet, 1971
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” two-seater sofa for B&B Italia, olive green velvet, Italy, 1971. This is a timeless Postmodern design icon. The starting point was a shopping bag cont...
Velvet, Foam
1990s Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia Cina Two Seat Sofa in Cream Fabric
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a ‘Cina’ two-seater sofa, initially designed by Antonio Citterio for B & B Italia in the early 1990s. The listed price includes one sofa, and we currently have two availa...
Steel
Mario Bellini B&B 'Camaleonda' Lounge Chairs in cognac leather
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Argelato, BO
Mario Bellini B&B Italia 'Camaleonda' Lounge chair in original cognac leather, 1973 The Camaleonda sofa, designed by renowned Italian architect and designer Mario Bellini in 197...
Metal
B&B Italia “Arne A252C_1” 4-Seat Curved Sofa in Purple Velvet
By B&B Italia
Located in Barrowford, GB
This is a sublime, rare “Arne A252C_1” curved, 4-Seat Sofa from the world renown Italian furniture house of B&B Italia. In a world of temporary pleasures, B&B Italia create beaut...
Velvet
set of 3 Mario Bellini, Le Bambole Armchair, B&B Italia, 1970s, brown leather
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Introducing the Le Bambole sofa by renowned designer Mario Bellini, upholstered in luxurious bouclé fabric, an exquisite addition to elevate any interior space. With its sleek lines ...
Bouclé
2x Original B&B Italia Recamiere Charles Sofa Design Couch
By B&B Italia
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten zwei wunderschöne Zweisitzer Sofas vom renommierten italienischen Hersteller B&B Italia zum Verkauf an. Bei den Sofas handelt es sich um das Modell "Charles", das durc...
Metal
Space Age Vintage Modular Sofa Le Bambole Purple Lavender Mario Bellini 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage authentic modular sofa Le Bambole by Mario Bellini in purple and lavender striped colors from textile fabric 1970s, Italy. A great design icon modular sofa elements Le Bambole by Mario Bellini designed 1972 for B & B Italia consists of two ( 2 ) corner elements and one ( 1 ) seater. Two modular elements show labels, all elements show underneath original jute fabric stamped with company´s name. Beautiful original striped textile fabric in purple and lavender colors. These modular sofa elements gives a lot of options for installing a space and could perfectly create a thrilling contrast with contemporary environments. The condition is fair, it shows signs of age and use like stains, abrasions, fading, damages at the fabric and worn corners. Perfect for design connoisseurs, who love and appreciate preloved authentic design icons. Images are part of the description approx. measures: 2 corner elements: width 90 cm, depth 87 cm, height 71 cm, seat height 44 cm 1 one seater: width 79 cm, depth 87 cm, height 71 cm, seat height 44 cm Mario Bellini ( 1935 ) Italian architect and designer Mario Bellini designed many important furniture designs throughout its organic and complex shapes as Le Bambole Sofa, Amante or CAB Chair. This sofa design Le Bambole features cuddly and organic spirit and helps B & B Italia to earn many awards. Also the provocative advertising campaign with the female model Donna Jordan...
Textile, Upholstery
Divano in pelle nera modello Coronado di Tobia Scarpa per B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Ghedi, IT
splendido divano Coronado disegnato da Tobia Scarpa (in collaborazione con Afra Scarpa) per B&B Italia, icona del design italiano degli anni '60 ancora oggi in produzione e amatissim...
Leather
Le Bambole Leather pouf foot rest Design Mario Bellini 1978 for B&B Italia
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Le Bambole leather pouf or foot rest, designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. Price for the foot rest only ! The Le Bambole Sofas are available i...
Leather, Foam
B&B Italia “George” Sofa 2.5-Seat Sofa in Brown Alcantara Suede
By B&B Italia
Located in Barrowford, GB
This is a rare, superb “George GS197” 2.5-Seat Sofa from the world renown Italian furniture house, B&B Italia. In a world of temporary pleasures, B&B Italia create beautiful furni...
Suede
B&B Italia “Imprimateur Apta” 4-Seat Sofa in Dark Grey “Gamma” Leather
By B&B Italia
Located in Barrowford, GB
A superb “Imprimateur Apta 9863N” Large 4-Seat Sofa from the “Maxalto” range of seating from the world renown Italian furniture house of B&B Italia. In a world of temporary pleasu...
Leather
Baisity sofa by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1980
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Premariacco, IT
Italian design sofa produced by B&B Italia based on a design by Antonio Citterio circa 1986. Modern and eye-catching piece of furniture, designed to be placed in any kind of environ...
Fabric, Plastic
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Pouf for B&B Italia, 1971
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” pouf for B&B Italia, lapin fur, Italy, 1971. This timeless Postmodern design icon came into being between 1970 and 1972. The...
Fur, Foam