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.
"Accademia Tavolo" Table lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, 1970s
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in bruxelles, BE
Metal and fabric table lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide. Model: Accademia Tavolo . Wear due to time and age of the lamp For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Metal
Brontes Table Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, 1980s
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Rotterdam, NL
An exceptional table lamp model Brontes, designed by Cini Boeri and produced by Artemide, 1981. The model consists of a heavy red lacquered cylindrical metal base and a pivoting sha...
Metal
Cini Boeri Accademia Floor Lamp by Artemide, Italy ca. 1978
By Cini Boeri
Located in Geneva, CH
Rare vintage Accademia floor lamp by Cini Boeri produced by Artemide in 1978. Off white fabric stretched on a metal frame and hung on a black steel triangular structure. The double ...
Steel
Arflex Pecorelle Armchair in Denver Fabric with Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The architect Cini Boeri tells that she was inspired by Christo Vladimirov Javasev's and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon's works, masters in the art of landscape painting. Nature pr...
Metal
Arflex Pecorelle Armchair in Denver Fabric and Black Fur Corners by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The architect Cini Boeri tells that she was inspired by Christo Vladimirov Javasev's and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon's works, masters in the art of landscape painting. Nature pr...
Metal
Fiberglass Daybed by Cini Boeri for Elco, Italy, 1960s
By Elco, Cini Boeri
Located in Milan, IT
Rare daybed by Cini Boeri for Elco. Reinforced white fiberglass daybed
Fiberglass
"Lunario" Low Table by Cini Boeri for Gavina, Italy, 1970s
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Milan, IT
Iconic Lunario low table by Cini Boeri for Gavina. Polished chrome-plated brass base supports a large oval glass surface. One of the first exam...
Metal
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Armchair for Gavina, Camel Velvet, 1970
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri “Gradual System” armchair for Gavina, camel velvet, Italy, 1970. Designed in 1970 by Cini Boeri for Gavina, this armchair belongs to the iconic “Gradual System”—a groundb...
Velvet
$1,005Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of White Plastic Table Lamps by Cini Boeri for Stilnovo Italy
By Stilnovo, Cini Boeri
Located in Vienna, AT
This Pair of white plastic Lucetta table lamps or desk lights were designed by Cini Boeri and produced by Stilnovo. In Italy, 1970s. They can also be utilized as a wall light. Both L...
Plastic
Letto Strips di Cini Boeri per Arflex
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Ghedi, IT
The Strips bed, designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in 1972, is an iconic piece that blends innovation with timeless elegance. Its revolutionary design features a wooden structure padd...
Fabric
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Living Room Set for Gavina, Velvet, 1970, Set of 4
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" living room set, camel velvet, Italy, 1970, set of four. (2 two-seater sofas + 2 armchairs) Designed in 1970 by Cini Boeri for Gavina, this armchair belo...
Velvet
Set of Two Fiam Italia Ghost Glass Chairs by Cini Boeri - Customizable colors
By Cini Boeri, FIAM
Located in New York, NY
ARMCHAIRS IN CURVED GLASS Monolithic chair in 12 mm-thick curved glass. “ I would never have thought of making a chair from glass… My initial distrust of an idea which seemed quite ...
Glass
Cini Boeri - Glass top coffee table Lunario model for Knoll
By Cini Boeri
Located in Paris, IDF
The Lunario coffee table from Knoll International features an oval glass plate and a metal base. It is characterized by its asymmetrical appearance and its simple and timeless design...
Steel, Chrome
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Living Room Set for Gavina, Velvet, 1970, Set of 3
By Cini Boeri, Gavina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" living room set, camel velvet, Italy, 1970, set of three (two-seater sofa + two armchairs) Designed in 1970 by Cini Boeri for Gavina, this armchair belon...
Velvet
$11,930 / item
Cini Boeri 'Strips' Large Bed for Arflex 220 x 186cm
By Cini Boeri
Located in Tilburg, NL
Cini Boeri 'Strips' Large Bed for Arflex. Designed in 1972, current production. At the end of the 60s, the architect Cini Boeri revolutionizes the furniture market with her model, t...
Fabric
Model Chiara Floor Lamp by Cini Boeri for Venini, 1985
By Cini Boeri, Venini
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Illuminate your space with the ethereal elegance of the Model Chiara Floor Lamp by Cini Boeri for Venini, a radiant masterpiece signed "Venini 1985." Crafted from pristine white glas...
Iron
Accademia Floor Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, Italy, 197
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Brussels, BE
Accademia Floor Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, Italy, 197 Sculptural form and a minimalist aesthetic Diffused lighting Frame in textured black lacquered steel Black metal base pr...
Metal, Steel
Cini Boeri - Pair of Lounge Chairs / Loveseats "Gradual" for Knoll, 1970s
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Pair of “Loft” Lounge Chairs by Cini Boeri for Knoll International, Italy, 1970s Striking pair of “Loft” lounge chairs (also referred to as loveseats) designed by Cini Boeri for Kno...
Leather
Cini Boeri Hand Blown Murano Glass Light Pink Table Lamp
By Fontana Arte, Cini Boeri
Located in London, England
An elegant table lamp made from layered and blown Murano glass and a circular cast iron metal base. Signed. A single piece of glass forms the shade, connecting to the fluted glass s...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Reeded Glass
Gae Aulenti “Stringa” Sofa for Poltronova, Black Leather, 1962
By Poltronova, Cini Boeri
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gae Aulenti “Stringa” sofa for Poltronova, stainless steel & black leather, Italy, 1962. Designed by Gae Aulenti in 1962 and originally produced by Poltronova, this “Stringa” so...
Stainless Steel
$3,648 / item
Cini Boeri 'Taboga' Lounge Chair for Arflex 1976
By Cini Boeri
Located in Tilburg, NL
Cini Boeri 'Taboga' Lounge Chair for Arflex 1976. Designed in 1976. New, current production. Price noted is for a Taboga in fabric upholstery T5. Taboga armchair was designed by Ci...
Fabric
Italian modern Murano glass Chiara floor lamp, Cini Boeri for Fontana Arte 1980s
By Cini Boeri, Fontana Arte
Located in MIlano, IT
Chiara floor lamp, modern Italian, by Cini Boeri for Fontana Arte, 1980s. Chiara model floor lamp with round metal base, grooved blue Murano glass stem and opaline Murano glass lamps...
Metal
Knoll Brigadier Dreisitzer Leder schwarz Cini Boeri Hochlehner
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Dreisitzer Sofa von Knoll aus den 1980er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Cini Boeri, einer der einflussreichsten Möbeldesignerinnen des 20....
Leather, Wood
$11,088 / item
Smoked Glass Fiam Italia Ghost Glass Chair by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, FIAM
Located in New York, NY
ARMCHAIR IN CURVED GLASS Monolithic chair in 12 mm-thick curved glass. “ I would never have thought of making a chair from glass… My initial distrust of an idea which seemed quite u...
Glass
Rare Cini Boeri Model 235 Wall Light for Arteluce, Italy, 1970s
By Cini Boeri
Located in Weesp, NL
Rare Cini Boeri Model 235 Wall Light for Arteluce, Italy, 1970s Designer: Cini Boeri Manufacturer: Arteluce Design Period: 1970s Origin: Italy Materials: Powder-coated metal Color: ...
Metal
Arflex Pecorelle Sofa in Denver Fabric with Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The architect Cini Boeri tells that she was inspired by Christo Vladimirov Javasev's and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon's works, masters in the art of landscape painting. Nature pr...
Metal
"Strips" Bed Designed By Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Weehawken, NJ
“Strips” Bed Designed By Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1972 A celebrated piece of Italian modernist design, the Strips bed was designed by Cini Boeri in 1972 for Arflex, reflecting her dis...
Foam, Wood
Vintage Cini Boeri for Knoll Lunario Cantilevered Table/Desk
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This elegant Mid-Century Modern desk features a polished stainless steel base with a 1/2 inch thick cantilever glass top. By Cini Boeri for Knoll ...
Stainless Steel
Lamp mod. 268 by Cini Boeri for Arteluce
By Cini Boeri
Located in Milano, IT
Discover the iconic Mod. 268 lamp by renowned designer Cini Boeri, crafted by Arteluce. This exquisite brown lamp combines timeless Italian design with modern elegance to create a wa...
Metal, Aluminum
Accademia table lamp by Cini Boeri, Artemide 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Renens, CH
"Accademia" table lamp designed by Cini Boeri and manufactured by Artemide, Italy 1978. This minimalist architectural lamp features a triangular shaped black metal base and a white...
Metal
Blue Chiara Floor Lamp by Cini Boeri for Venini, Italy, 1980s
By Cini Boeri
Located in Brussels, BE
Chiara Floor Lamp by Cini Boeri for Venini, Italy, 1980s
Glass
Cini Boeri Hand Blown Murano Milk Glass White Table Lamp
By Cini Boeri, Fontana Arte
Located in London, England
An elegant table lamp made from hand blown Murano glass and a circular metal base. A single piece of glass forms the shade, connecting to the fluted glass stem via three screws. Li...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Reeded Glass