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.
B&B Italia “Marcel” 2.5-Seat Sofa in Blue Velvet
By B&B Italia
Located in Barrowford, GB
This is superb, immaculately-presented example of large-scale seating, it being a “Marcel” Large 2.5-Seat Sofa dressed in the most-luxurious, short-pile, soft-velvet in mid-blue, fro...
Velvet
Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" Sofa for B&B Italia, Ivory Bouclè, 1970, Set of 3
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" modular sofa for B&B Italia, ivory bouclé, Italy, 1970, set of three. "Camaleonda" is an icon, rediscovered. It was one of the truly modular sofa des...
Bouclé, Plastic
Le Bambole Sofa And Lounge Chair By Mario Bellini For B&B Italia, 1970s
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Beautiful Le Bambole sofa and lounge chair in original cognac leather upholstery, designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in the 1970s. This stunning pair brings calm comfort t...
Jute, Linen
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa with Ottoman for B&B Italia, 1971
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” two-seater sofa with ottoman for B&B Italia, lapin fur, Italy, 1971. This timeless Postmodern design icon came into being between 1970 and 1972. The searc...
Fur, Foam
Divano Camaleonda in velluto rosso di Mario Bellini per B&B Italia
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Ghedi, IT
Scopri il fascino intramontabile del divano Camaleonda, capolavoro di design firmato Mario Bellini per B&B Italia. Questo esemplare iconico degli anni ’80 è composto da 4 moduli ...
Velvet
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa for B&B Italia, Black Lapin Fur, 1971
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” sofa for B&B Italia, black lapin fur, Italy, 1971. This timeless Postmodern design icon came into being between 1970 and 1972. The search for a new shape ...
Foam, Fur
Mario Bellini Camaleonda Set of Five for B&B Italia in Dedar Milano Mohair c1980
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Dublin, IE
Details Camaleonda Modular Sofa by Mario Bellini B&B Italia Offered as a complete set of five modules Italy, 1980s Private Collection, Sicily Materials Biscuit-toned Dedar Mil...
Metal, Steel
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Living Room Set for B&B Italia, 1971, Set of 3
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" living room set for B&B Italia, sofa and two armchairs, faux-fur, foam and metal, Italy, 1971, set of three. The search for a new shape for upholstered fu...
Faux Fur, Foam
"Baia Mode" 2-module sofa, designed by Antonio Citterio and Paolo Nava for B&B
By B&B Italia, Paolo Nava, Antonio Citterio
Located in Firenze, FI
"Baia Mode" modular sofa with two modules, designed by Antonio Citterio and Paolo Nava for B&B Italia in the 1970s. It consists of two independent modules that can be docked. The so...
Velvet
$10,009Sale Price|30% Off
B&B Italia Harry Large Sofa
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Rochester, England
The Harry Large Sofa by B&B Italia is a timeless statement of comfort and elegance. Designed with exceptional craftsmanship, it combines a modern silhouette with deep, inviting c...
Aluminum
Mario Bellini Taupe “Le Bambole” Two-Seater Sofa for B&B Italia, 1976
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Vicenza, IT
“Bibambola” sofa designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. Original vintage version from 1976, recently reupholstered by the previous owner with a light grey fabric. This comfortab...
Cotton, Foam
Mario Bellini “Camaleonda” Sofa for B&B Italia, Dark Brown, 1970, Set of 8
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" modular sofa for B&B Italia, dark brown leather, Italy, 1970, set of eight. “Camaleonda” is an icon, rediscovered. It was one of the truly modular sof...
Leather
Original Erasmo Couch Modul Sofa B&B Italia Afra & Tobia Scarpa
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B Italia
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes 3-teiliges Modulsofa von B&B Italia aus den 1970er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Afra & Tobia Scarpa und wurde unter dem Namen "E...
Fabric
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
B&B ITALIA Afra & Tobia Scarpa Modell Coronado Leather Sofa
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Munich, Bavaria
B&B Italia black leather sofa Modell Coronado designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa in the late 1960s. Big loose cushions. This small sofa is comfortable. The leather is in good conditio...
Leather
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
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