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 Medium Wall Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide 1978
By Artemide, Cini Boeri
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
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 Wall Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, Italy 1978
By Artemide, Cini Boeri
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
Cini Boeri, Lucetta Wall Light, Acrylic, Italy, 1973
By Cini Boeri, Stilnovo
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
$5,424 / item
Accademia Wall Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide, 1978
By Artemide, Cini Boeri
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
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
Model 235 Wall or Ceiling Lights 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
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
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Model 237/2 Wall Lamp, Italy 1960s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Naples, IT
Rare and Original two pair of vintage wall sconces, model 237/2 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Milan. Italy, 1960 Two spherical diffusers with clear glass, resting on black lacquered...
Metal
Stilnovo adjustable wall light sconce, Italy 1950s
By Stilnovo
Located in Milan, IT
Stilnovo adjustable wall light sconce model 2024, Italy 1950s
Chrome, Aluminum, Metal
Model 235 Wall or Ceiling Lights 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
Italian Postmodern Wall Light, 1970s
Located in Milan, IT
Monumental Italian Postmodern wall light. Carries 3 light bulbs.
Metal
Model 50 Wall Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, 1968
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Off-white lacquered Model 50 wall lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, designed in 1968 and manufactured in the 1970s. Marco Romanelli and Sandra Severi describe the wall lamp in '...
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
Set of 2 'Mania' wall lamps by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Italy
By Vico Magistretti, Artemide
Located in Argelato, BO
Set of 2 "Mania" wall lamps in white glass and metal by Vico Magistretti. "Mania" is one of the first lamps designed by Vico Magistretti, presented at the XIII Triennale di Milano (1...
Brass
$3,857Sale Price|20% Off
H 63 in W 22.05 in D 11.42 in
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
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
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Model 238/2 Wall Lamp, Italy 1960s
By Arteluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Naples, IT
Stunning three-light wall lamp model 238/2 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce 1950s. In excellent original condition. The brass wall plate with arms bent to form circles houses translucen...
Metal
Stilnovo style wall light, Italy circa 1960s
By Stilnovo
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Stilnovo style wall light. Made in Italy in 1960s. Opalescent glass, nickel plated brass. One medium socket. Complimentary US rewiring upon request. 1 sconces is available. Price is ...
Metal, Nickel
$4,580
H 12.21 in W 13.39 in D 13 in
Limited Edition Shogun Wall Lamps by Mario Botta for Artemide, 1980s
By Mario Botta, Artemide
Located in Renens, CH
Vintage Artemide Wall Lamps, model Shogun – a design by the architect Mario Botta (1986). The silver edition of these sconces are collectors items', they were only produced in a ver...
Aluminum
Wall or Ceiling Lamp 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 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
Cini Boeri for Arteluce Mod.235 Wall Lamp, Italy 1970s
By Arteluce, Cini Boeri
Located in Naples, IT
An ivory and cracquele' lacquered aluminium wall light, it can be mounted downwards or as an upward light.
Metal
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 minimalist approach to design, with its elegant and refined aesthetics expressed through geometric shapes and a timeless combination of black and white. These lamps are from a new old stock If you are an architect or interior designer, there is the possibility that we can have some more pieces of this model from a private collection. The structure of the Accademia lamp...
Iron
“Academia” Wall Light by Cini Boeri, Italy circa 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Culver City, CA
*Please note the price is per unit, and the lights are sold individually* “Academia” Wall Light by Cini Boeri Italy Circa 1978 Designed by Cini Boeri and produced by Artemid...
Metal
Cini Boeri Model 235 Wall Lamps Arteluce, Italy, 1971
By Arteluce, Cini Boeri
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Early set of large wall lamps model 235 designed by Cini Boeri and manufactured by Arteluce, Italy, 1971. These large cylindrical shaped wall lamps have a very nice wrinkle paint whi...
Aluminum
Sold
H 7.88 in Dm 9.45 in
Set of 9 Wall or Ceiling Fixtures, No. 235/b, by Cini Boeri for Arteluce, 1970s
By Arteluce, Cini Boeri
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Set of 9 wall or ceiling fixtures, No. 235/b, designed by architect Cini Boeri and manufactured by Arteluce in 1971. Each lamp consists of two parts: the cylindrical outside and t...
Metal
Set of Three Sconces 235 by Cini Boeri for Arteluce
By Cini Boeri
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Sconce 235 was designed by Cini Boeri in 1971. They are made of white lacquered aluminium.
Pair of Angular Modern Sconces by Cini Boeri for Arteluce
By Arteluce, Cini Boeri
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Angular Modern Sconces, designed by Cini Boeri for Arteluce, Italy, designed circa 1971, these examples are probably circa 1980's. Sculptural angular forms in a deep brown co...
Metal