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Cini Boeri

Italian, 1924-2020

Had Cini Boeri been a man, the Milanese architect and furniture designer, who died in 2020 at age 96, might be regarded today on par with such visionaries of the mid-20th century as Gio Ponti or Marco Zanuso. She worked with both. Although she’s well known and deeply respected in Italy, her renown elsewhere has been more akin to a cult following.

“I admire the work she did across architecture, interiors and furniture,” designer Faye Toogood says of Boeri’s impact. “She practiced architecture during a time when it was considered that women were too fragile to work outside.”

Boeri was one of very few women of her era to graduate from Milan Polytechnic with an architecture degree, which she did in 1951. Her illustrious career hinged on the strict economy of her designs and limited palette of materials. For example, her innovative 1971 Serpentone sofa for Arflex was crafted from just one material, polyurethane foam, and sold by the meter. Her ingenious 1987 Ghost chair for Fiam was cut from a single sheet of thick glass.

But in Boeri’s earlier days, her pieces displayed a more youthful exuberance. The circa 1968 Cubotto cabinet, produced in small numbers by Arflex, is an elegantly irregular arrangement of eight drawers of varying dimensions. The wooden cube, two feet square, was finished in laminate — in vivid orange, blue, sand or white — with color-coordinated casters and handles of black-enameled brass. Its design reflects a Space Age interest in flexible, space-saving, multiuse furnishings.

“It’s a very clean piece of design,” says Kaisha Davierwalla, owner and founder of Vaspaar Italy. “Even with its strong, square lines, somehow the vibrant colors and asymmetry have the feel of a feminine touch.”

Find vintage Cini Boeri seating, lighting and tables on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$5,666
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Cini Boeri for Arflex Modular 'Strips' Two-Seater Elements
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Arflex, modular 'strips' sitting elements, chrome, fabric upholstery, Italy, 1970s Stunning 'Strips' elements designed by Italian designer Cini Boeri for Arflex. Note...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Cini Boeri

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Fabric

Cini Boeri for Arflex Modular Strips Sofa with Ottomans in Beige Upholstery
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Arflex, modular 'strips' sofa with ottomans, fabric, chrome, Italy, 1968 The iconic Strips sofa, designed by Italian designer Cini Boeri for Arflex, offers both versa...
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1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Cini Boeri

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Chrome

Cini Boeri for Knoll 'Brigadiere' Chair in Black Leather
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Knoll, armchair, model 'Brigadiere', leather, lacquered wood, Italy, 1976. Architectural 'Brigadiere' chair designed by Italian designer Cini Boeri for Knoll. This p...
Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Cini Boeri

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Leather, Wood

Cini Boeri for Knoll 'Brigadiere' Sofas in Black Leather
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Knoll, sofas, model 'Brigadiere', leather, lacquered wood, Italy, 1976. Architectural 'Brigadiere' living room set designed by Italian designer Cini Boeri for Knoll....
Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Cini Boeri

Materials

Leather, Wood

Cini Boeri for Knoll 'Brigadiere' Chairs in Black Leather
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Knoll, armchairs, model 'Brigadiere', leather, lacquered wood, Italy, 1976. Architectural 'Brigadiere' living room set designed by Italian designer Cini Boeri for Kn...
Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Cini Boeri

Materials

Leather, Wood

Cini Boeri for Knoll ‘Gradual’ Modular Set in Black Leather
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Knoll, 'Gradual' elements, black leather, fiberglass, Italy, 1971. This stunning black modular set was designed by Cini Boeri for Knoll. The frame of the elements is ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Cini Boeri

Materials

Leather, Fiberglass

Cini Boeri for Knoll Sofa ‘Gradual’ in Black Leather
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Knoll, sofa, 'Gradual', black leather, fiberglass, Italy, 1971. This stunning black sofa was designed by Cini Boeri for Knoll. The frame of this sofa is made out of b...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Cini Boeri

Materials

Leather, Fiberglass

Cini Boeri for Knoll Three Seater Sofa in Black Leather
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Knoll, three seater sofa, model 'Brigadier', leather, lacquered wood, Italy, designed in 1976. Architectural sofa model 'Brigadier' designed by Italian designer Cini...
Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Cini Boeri

Materials

Leather, Wood

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Cini Boeri furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Cini Boeri furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Cini Boeri furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 84 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 10 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Cini Boeri were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Giovanni Offredi, Vivai del Sud, and Giotto Stoppino. Prices for Cini Boeri furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $895 and can go as high as $32,283, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,939.

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