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.
White Quattro Gatti by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
These four nesting tables, known as the Quattro Gatti, were designed by Mario Bellini in 1967. The Italian manufacturer B&B Italia produced them in white-colored fiber. In 1966, Ces...
Plastic
MARIO BELLINI Set of Four 'Quattro Gatti' Stacking Tables For B&B Italia c.1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in London, GB
Mario Bellini Set of Four 'Quattro Gatti' Stacking Tables For B&B Italia, c.1970s A striking example of 1970s Italian design, this set of four 'Quattro Gatti' stacking tables was des...
Plastic
$1,520 / set
H 10.04 in W 20.48 in D 20.48 in
Set of 4 B&B Italia Nesting/Stackable Tables, “Quattro Gatti", 1960s
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This set of four white plastic "Quattro Gatti" sofas was designed by Mario Bellini in the 1960s for B & B Italia/C & B Italia and manufactured in Italy. ...
Fiberglass
$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, these ...
Plastic
$15,676
H 28.75 in W 55.12 in D 55.12 in
Travertine Dining Table Il Colonnato by Mario Bellini for Cassina, 1970s
By Mario Bellini
Located in Brussels, BE
Travertine dining table Il Colonnato by Mario Bellini for Cassina, 1970s.
Travertine
$1,520
H 13.78 in W 33.47 in D 33.47 in
c.1972 C&B Italia Square Amanta Coffee Table by Mario Bellini Satin Black
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini, C&B Italia
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Very early Organic Modern coffee table by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia (before B&B Italia) dating to 1971-1973. Constructed of heavy rigid molded fiberglass, not plastic like modern ...
Fiberglass
$4,039 / set
H 15.56 in Dm 23.23 in
Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina Large Nesting / Stacking Tables, Italy, 1970s
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Gianfranco Frattini stacking nest of three tables for Cassina, Italy, 1970s. Rare white version in larger, wider size. Wooden frames in original white paint with reversible laminat...
Laminate, Walnut
$3,158 / set
H 14.57 in W 35.44 in D 11.82 in
Set of 3 low tables/pouf “Gli Scacchi” by Mario Bellini per B&B Italia 70’s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Padova, IT
With a playful character, the Gli Scacchi series is made up of three inspired elements as the name reveals at most classic game, in particular the Queen, Knight and Tower pieces. Lig...
Acrylic
$2,500
H 19.5 in W 22 in D 18 in
Angelo Cortesi for Fiam Italia Set of Three waterfall Nesting Tables.
By FIAM, Angelo Cortesi
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of three waterfall bent and checker board scored glass nesting tables by Angelo Cortesi for FIAM Italia. Fantastic condition with no chips, cracks or deep scratches. Rubber runne...
Glass
$1,462
H 20.08 in W 22.05 in D 16.15 in
Vintage 1970s set of 3 Nesting / Stacking Oak Tables, style of Henning Kjærnulf
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
Presenting a rare and complete set of three solid oak nesting tables, each bearing the unmistakable stylistic imprint of Danish designer Henning Kjærnulf. In remarkable condition, th...
Oak
$1,250 / set
H 26 in W 19.75 in D 14.25 in
Vintage Rosewood Ming Style Nesting Tables, Set of Four, Ca. 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Set of four vintage rosewood Ming style nesting tables. A very simple and elegant design.
Rosewood
Mid-Century Stacking Tables- Set of Three
Located in Trenton, NJ
n exceptional trio of mid-century modern nesting tables, this set captures the architectural precision and refined material play that defined the period’s design ethos. Each table fe...
Metal
$2,562
H 18.51 in W 22.25 in D 18.9 in
"Tango" Glass Nesting Table Set by Fabio Di Bartolomei for Fiam Italia
By Fabio Di Bartolomei, FIAM
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
This lovely and rare nesting table set was designed in 1996 by Fabio di Bartolomei for Fiam Italy. The tables are made of very solid curved glass. It is no longer in production. ...
Glass, Wood
$1,375Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 15.75 in W 20.48 in D 13 in
Giotto Stoppino Elco Scorze, 1970s Scagno stacking coffee tables, set of 3
By Giotto Stoppino, Elco
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Set of 3 plastic space age Scagno coffee tables or stools by architect Giotto Stoppino. Made for Elco in Italy in the 1970s The pieces are versatile. You can stack them and use them...
Plastic
Sold
H 28.35 in W 34.26 in D 32.68 in
Mario Bellini, B&B Italia, Le Stelle armchair 1974 leather beautiful mid century
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in London, GB
Mario Bellini, Italy (designer) ‘Le Stelle’ Armchair Designed 1974, produced 1976 by B&B Italia, Italy Tan leather on foam upholstered tubular steel frame. Label to underside of c...
Leather
Sold
H 8.5 in W 39.75 in D 35 in
Pair of 'Solo' Nesting Coffee Tables by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This sleek pair of minimalist 'Solo' nesting cocktail tables by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia features glossy lacquered wood tops over modern aluminum bases. The pair of tables wor...
Aluminum
Set of Three Nesting Tables by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three nesting tables designed by Antonio Citterio from his "Solo" series and manufactured by B&B Italia. The tables are low and they can be used together or separately, the t...
Aluminum