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.
Steel and Glass Coffee Table "Alanda" by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, 1980s
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in taranto, IT
"Alanda" model coffee table, design Paolo Piva for B&B italia, 1980s inverted pyramid structure in black steel , light signs of wear due to age Size cm 120 x 120 x 26 will be shi...
Steel
Basilan 1 dining set by Afra &Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, 1974
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B Italia
Located in Athens, Attiki
The iconic Basilan 1 dining set designed by Afra &Tobia Scarpa in 1974 for B&B Italia - under the division of Compagnia dells Filippine. Afra &Tobia Scarpa initiated the design proje...
Bamboo
$781Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Rosewood Coffee Table for Cassina 1960s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Conversano, IT
Beautiful model 771 side table designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina in the mid-1960s, originally produced and sold with the iconic 121 chairs from the same series. Entirely ...
Palisander
Alanda metal coffee table by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia 70s
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Padova, IT
The Alanda coffee table, an iconic piece that ushered in the 1980s, is reissued as a tribute to Paolo Piva, the great architect and designer. A highly successful classic and one of t...
Metal
$1,400
H 10.63 in W 39.38 in D 39.38 in
Italian Design Coffee Table in The Style of Alanda by Paolo Piva, 1980s
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in Vicenza, IT
Coffee table in the style of Alanda by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia. Step into the world of timeless elegance with the Alanda Coffee Table, a celebrated artifact that heralded the 80s ...
Steel
$5,848
H 28.75 in W 29.53 in D 51.19 in
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Midcentury “778” Extensible Dining Table for Cassina, 1967
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
The “778” model is an example of solid wood boards arranged to form a C-shaped frame. The table, with a top that opens, is supported by four trestles, two of which are a few centimet...
Walnut
$44,449 / set
H 30.71 in W 18.5 in D 22.05 in
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Africa Dining Room Set for Maxalto, 4 Chairs and Table, 1976
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
A dining set composed of four “Africa” dining chairs and an “Artona” table, designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto in 1975. Made of walnut, burl...
Brass
B&B Italia by Paolo Piva Tav Athos Oak Veneer Dining Table
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Rochester, England
Originally designed by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia in 2001, the Athos dining table perfectly showcases Piva’s architectural style. The table featur...
Chrome
$1,505
H 12.01 in W 23.63 in D 47.25 in
Italian modern rectangular coffee table Alanda by Paolo Piva for B&B, 1980s
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern rectangular coffee table Alanda by Paolo Piva for B&B, 1980s Coffee table mod. Alanda with rectangular glass top. The black painted metal rod structure is made up of f...
Metal
Alanda Square Coffee Table by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, 1980s
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Antwerp, BE
Alanda; Paolo Piva; 1980s; Italy; B&B Italia; coffee table; Modern Design; Late 19th century; Glass; Steel; Carlo Scarpa; Alanda coffee table by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia. one of I...
Steel
$3,733
H 10.24 in W 47.25 in D 47.25 in
Alanda Coffee Table by Paolo Piva with Square Glass and Metal Structure
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Renens, CH
Alanda coffee table by Paolo Piva with square glass and metal structure This beautiful and minimalist coffee table is composed by a glass top with rounded edges sitting on an almo...
Metal
$4,433
H 10.24 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
Paolo Piva "Alanda" Rectangular Glass and Iron Mid-Century Coffee Table, 1979
By Paolo Piva
Located in Roma, Lazio
Astonishing Paolo Piva production B&B Italia, 1979 coffee table in black metal frame and glass top. Pleasant, linear and minimalist. Aesthetically, t...
Iron
$4,929Sale Price|35% Off
H 28.75 in W 51.19 in D 66.93 in
mAXALTO oval dining table by Afra and Tobia Scarpa Artona series
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Fantastic oval-shaped dining table in burl, walnut, and brass by Afra & Tobia Scarpa. This table designed by the famous designers Afra and Tobia Scarpa was produced by Maxalto. Maxa...
Brass
$1,960
H 12.21 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
"Alanda" coffee table in the style of Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, 1980s
By Paolo Piva
Located in Roma, RM
"Alanda" coffee table in the style of Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, 1980 Dimensions 120 W x 30.5 H x 60 D cm
Metal
Sold
H 28.35 in W 55.12 in D 55.12 in
Vico Magistretti Black Lacquered Tema Dining Table for B&B Italia, 1974
By Vico Magistretti, B&B Italia
Located in Vicenza, IT
Tema dining table designed by Vico Magistretti for B&B Italia in 1974. This square dining table features: - Seats up to 8 people - Table-top and legs made of black lacquered wood pan...
Beech
Sold
H 29 in W 94.5 in D 35.5 in
B&B Italia Dining Set by Antonio Citterio with Dining Table and 6 Leather Chairs
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in West Hartford, CT
Exquisite B&B Italia dining room set with table that expands with hidden leaf attached to the underside of dining room table. Table is 71”wide witho...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 29 in W 78.5 in D 35.5 in
B&B Italia Italy Dining Room Suite Set Designed Antonio Citterio Chairs & Table
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in West Hartford, CT
B&B Italia dining suite with six Melandra B&B Italia chairs and the Simposio dining table; all designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia/Maxalto. Seat measurements are: 19 x 21.5 x...
Metal
Sold
H 29 in W 78.5 in L 29 in
B&B Italia Italy Dining Room Suite Set Designed Antonio Citterio Chairs & Table
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in West Hartford, CT
B&B Italia dining suite with six Melandra B&B Italia chairs and the Simposio dining table; all designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia/Maxalto. Seat measurements are: 19x21.5x32 ...
Metal
Sold
H 29 in W 78.5 in D 35.5 in
B&B Italia Italy Dining Room Suite Set Designed Antonio Citterio Chairs & Table
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in West Hartford, CT
B&B Italia dining suite with six Melandra B&B Italia chairs and the Simposio dining table, all designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia/Maxalto. Seat measurements are: 19 x 21.5 x...
Metal
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Dialogo Dining Chairs, Set of 10
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of "Dialogo" model dining chairs, designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, Italian, circa 1970s. They retain their original natural color textured buffalo leather ...
Metal
Sold
H 28.5 in W 109 in D 39.5 in
B&B Italia Signed Hans Extendable Dining Room Table and Eight EL Chairs Set
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in West Hartford, CT
An Antonio Citterio classic nine piece dining room set for B&B Italia. Features the extendable Hans table and eight leather EL chairs. Table frame is solid br...
Leather, Glass, Wood
Sold
H 33.86 in W 18.12 in D 19.69 in
Dining Room Bamboo design Afra e Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia Rattan Italian
By B&B Italia
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Bamboo design Afra e Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, made of bamboo with cushions with sugar cane, elegant design for a beautiful terrace or garden, the tabletop has small, round copper...