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.
Rare Accademia Floor Lamp, Designed by Cini Boeri for Artemide, Italy, 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Milano, IT
The Accademia floor lamp, designed by Cini Boeri in 1978, is a rare and monumental lighting piece created for Artemide. It stands as a powerful example of Boeri’s minimalist design p...
Steel
Accademia Tavolo Picoli by Cini Boeri for Artemide 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Accademia lamp, designed by Cini Boeri in 1978, is a small-scale version of the popular table lamp created for Artemide. This lamp is an impressive example of Boeri's minimalist ...
Iron
1st Edition Accademia Table Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, Italy, 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Milano, IT
Conceived in 1978 by Italian architect and designer Cini Boeri for Artemide, the Accademia table lamp represents a striking synthesis of architectural rigor and minimalist sensibilit...
Metal
Accademia Tavolo Picoli by Cini Boeri for Artemide 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Accademia lamp, designed by Cini Boeri in 1978, is a small-scale version of the popular table lamp created for Artemide. This lamp is an impressive ...
Iron
$11,350 / item
Accademia Floor Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Accademia lamp, designed by Cini Boeri in 1978, is a floor lamp version of the popular table lamp created for Artemide. This lamp is an impressive example of Boeri's minimalist a...
Iron
Accademia Wall Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, Italy 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Milano, IT
Accademia Wall Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, Italy 1978. The Accademia sconce (or wall lamp) designed by Cini Boeri in 1978 is one of the variations manufactured by Artemide of t...
Metal
Model 235 Wall or Ceiling Light by Cini Boeri for Arteluce
By Arteluce, Cini Boeri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Single Model 235 Wall or Ceiling Light by Cini Boeri for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, in 1971. Sleek slant cut flush mount with a concave socket housing, receiving a...
Aluminum, Steel
Accademia Medium Wall Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Accademia medium wall lamp, designed by Cini Boeri in 1978, is a lamp version of the popular table lamp created for Artemide. This lamp is an impressive example of Boeri's minima...
Iron
$3,828Sale Price|20% Off
Early Cini Boeri Accademia Floor Lamp for Artemide, Italy 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Milan, IT
An Early Cini Boeri Accademia Floor Lamp for Artemide, Italy 1978
Metal
$5,376 / item
Accademia Wall Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Accademia lamp, designed by Cini Boeri in 1978, is a lamp version of the popular table lamp created for Artemide. This lamp is an impressive example...
Iron
Cini Boeri, Lucetta Wall Light, Acrylic, Italy, 1973
By Stilnovo, Cini Boeri
Located in High Point, NC
An off-white acrylic Lucetta wall light or table lamp designed by Cini Boeri and produced by Stilnovo, Italy, 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 9.5” H x 7.5” W x 12“D Back Pla...
Acrylic
'Abat Jour' table lamp designed by Cini Boeri for Arteluce, then Tronconi
By Arteluce, Cini Boeri
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Elegant and sculptural, the 'Abat Jour' table lamp designed by Cini Boeri for Arteluce in 1975 is an icon of Italian design. The black marble pyramid base lends solidity and prestige...
Marble, Metal
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 ...
Plastic
$923Sale Price|20% Off
VENINI Mid-Century Modern "Chiara" Pink Glass Italian Chandelier by Cini Boeri.
By Venini, Cini Boeri
Located in Sacile, PN
"Chiara" pink glass chandelier designed by Cini Boeri for VENINI, dated 1985. Black varnished metal top and pink glass shade. Signed VENINI.
Metal, Steel
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
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
Zeus floor lamp by Cini Boeri for Gavina, 1970s
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in MONTESSON, FR
This floor lamp was created by Italian designer Cini Boeri for Gavina in the 1970s. It is the Zeus model. The structure is made of red and chrome-painted metal, while the spherical d...
Metal
Model 235 Wall or Ceiling Light by Cini Boeri for Arteluce
By Arteluce, Cini Boeri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 235 Wall or Ceiling Lights by Cini Boeri for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, in 1971. Sleek slant cut flush mounts with a concave socket housing, receiving a chro...
Aluminum, Steel
Accademia table lamp from Cini Boeri for Artemide, 1970s Italy.
By Artemide, Cini Boeri
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Accademia table lamp from Cini Boeri for Artemide, 1970s Italy. Elevate your interior with the minimalist elegance of the Accademia table lamp by renowned Italian designer Cini Boeri...
Metal
"Accademia Tavolo" Table lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, 1970s
By Artemide, Cini Boeri
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
Italian table lamp 1970s Accademia model Cini Boeri for Artemide
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Milano, MI
Particular table lamp model Accademia designed in 1978 by Cini Boeri for Artemide. The Lamp is triangular in cross-section with a metal frame and a wide fabric diffuser. The Lamp ...
Metal
Accademia table lamp by Cini Boeri, Artemide 1978
By Artemide, Cini Boeri
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
White Wall or Ceiling Lamp No. 235/B by Cini Boeri for Arteluce, 1970s
By Arteluce, Cini Boeri
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Wall or ceiling fixture, No. 235/b, designed by Cini Boeri and manufactured by Arteluce in 1971. The lamp consists of two parts: the cylindrical outside and the inside (a reflector)...
Metal
'Accademia' lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide 1970s
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Milano, IT
1970s table lamp with enameled steel base and fabric shade.
Steel
Italian modern Murano glass Chiara floor lamp, Cini Boeri for Fontana Arte 1980s
By Fontana Arte, Cini Boeri
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
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
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
Cini Boeri Hand Blown Murano Glass Light Pink Table Lamp
By Cini Boeri, Fontana Arte
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
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