In 1966, Piero Ambrogio Busnelli cofounded C&B Italia, a modern Italian furniture manufacturer, with Cesare Cassina in northern Milan. The Camaleonda sofa — a darling of the design world — is an iconic C&B piece created in 1970 by Milanese architect and designer Mario Bellini, which became a hit after its star turn in the 1972 exhibition “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Soon afterward, however, the company split, with Cassina founding his own eponymous firm and Busnelli taking leadership of what became B&B Italia.
From the outset at C&B, Busnelli and Cassina set about recruiting the most talented modernists in Italy to conceive of creative furnishings manufactured in modern ways. As B&B, for decades, Busnelli cultivated relationships with the world’s best design talent, resulting in furniture pieces that remain legendary 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 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. 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 vintage C&B Italia furniture including sofas, armchairs, tables and more.
Quattro Gatti Nesting Tables by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia
By Mario Bellini, C&B Italia
Located in VENLO, NL
Set of four stackable tables, designed by Mario Bellini and produced by C&B Italia in the 1960s. The tables are made of molded fiberglass. They are in good overall condition, wit...
Fiberglass
Set of 4 stackable nesting tables “I 4 gatti” by M.Bellini - C&B Italia 70S
By Mario Bellini, C&B Italia
Located in Padova, IT
Mario Bellini (Milan, February 1, 1935) is an Italian designer. He graduated in architecture in 1959 at the Milan Polytechnic where his professors were Ernesto Nathan Rogers, Gio Pon...
Plastic
$2,717
H 19.69 in W 10.24 in D 20.87 in
Nesting Table in Faux Tortoiseshell Curved Lucite attributable to Dior Home, 70s
By Dior Home
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer for sale a rare set of 1970s faux tortoiseshell Lucite nesting tables, attributed to Dior Home. Dating from the 1970s to the early 1980s, this elegant and hig...
Lucite, 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
$1,536 / 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
$1,800 / set
H 22 in W 22 in D 20 in
Semi-Circle Bamboo & Cane Nesting Tables / Stacking Tables Handcrafted, Set of 3
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Bohemian style semi-circle bent bamboo & handwoven cane top set of 3 nesting tables or stacking tables. Each occasional table has a hand braided cane Top Border. ...
Bamboo, Cane
$1,063
H 14.18 in W 33.08 in D 33.08 in
Coffee Table "Amanta" Fiberglass Black by Mario Bellini for C&B, Italy, 1960
By C&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Roma, IT
This side table or coffee table is made of fiberglass (Fiberlite) in Black. It is square with an indented tabletop. It was designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia in the 1960s. Thi...
Fiberglass
$1,772 / set
H 20.08 in W 18.9 in D 18.9 in
Mid Century Nesting Tables Designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Meblo, Italy 70s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Meblo
Located in Lucija, SI
A set of three coffee nesting tables made in the former Meblo furniture factory in the former Yugoslavia. The tables are designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina. Gianfranco Frat...
Glass, Wood
1970s Nesting Tables by Luciano Frigerio
By Luciano Frigerio
Located in Milan, IT
1970s Stunning nesting tables by Luciano Frigerio.
Wood
$1,536
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 C&B Italia, B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
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
Nesting Tables by Haslev
By Haslev Mobelsnedkeri
Located in Long Island City, NY
A set of two nesting tables with inlaid stoneware tiles by Nils Thorsen for Royal Copenhagen. Produced by Haslev Møbelsnedkeri.
Stoneware, Wood
Set of Nesting Tables, by Barbara Barry for Baker
By Barbara Barry
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Designed by Barbara Barry for the Baker Furniture company, This set of 3 nesting tables w/ splayed legs is finished in a rich mahogany, Dimensions of all tables: Large: 29h x 15"w x ...
Wood
$2,800 / set
H 24.75 in W 24.25 in D 17.25 in
Palecek Coconut & Chrome Nesting Tables / Stacking Tables Handcrafted, Set of 3
By Palecek Furniture
Located in Miami, FL
Asian modern chrome & handcrafted fossilized coconut top set of 3 nesting tables or stacking tables made by Palecek Furniture in the Philippines. Restored condition and ready for...
Chrome
Table by Mario Bellini
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
The “La Basilica” table stands out for its sturdy, clean-lined design. It has six legs and is crafted from solid walnut. It was designed by Italian designer and architect Mario Belli...
Walnut
Quattro Gatti by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia
By Mario Bellini, C&B Italia
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
These four nesting tables, known as the Quattro Gatti, were designed by Mario Bellini in 1967. The Italian manufacturer C&B Italia produced them in white-colored fiber. In 1966, Ces...
Plastic
Sold
H 36.23 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Mario Bellini 'Quattro Gatti' Nesting Tables C&B in Mustard Yellow Resin 1960s
By C&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
A rare and collectible example of radical Italian design, this original set of Quattro Gatti nesting tables was designed by Mario Bellini and produced by C&B Italia in the late 1...
Plastic
Sold
H 36.23 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Mario Bellini 'Quattro Gatti' Nesting Tables for C&B in Black Fiberlite, 1960s
By Mario Bellini, C&B Italia
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
The ‘Quattro Gatti’ nesting tables, designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Meda Italia in 1967, are an exemplary work of 1960s Space Age furniture...
Plastic
Sold
H 36.23 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Mario Bellini 'Quattro Gatti' Nesting Tables for C&B in Orange Fiberlite, 1960s
By C&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
The ‘Quattro Gatti’ nesting tables, designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Meda Italia in 1967, are an exemplary work of 1960s Space Age furniture...
Plastic