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.
Cini Boeri Strips armchair for Arflex
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Great armchair by Cini Boeri for Arflex. The Strips model was designed by Cini Boeri in the late 1960s and was a revolution in the furniture industry. The seating elements were immed...
Fabric
$5,372Sale Price / item|20% Off
Arflex Botolo High Back Armchair in Natural Fur & Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit, relax and be creative.Cini Boeri designed Botolo in 1973, giving life to a new design style, where you could choose the height of the legs to have a dining chair in the high version or a style, at that time modern, "the living at a low level", a way of living...
Fur
$5,783Sale Price / item|20% Off
Arflex BOBORELAX Armchair by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Boborelax, created from Bobo, and together with it, makes up a curious and unusual family of essential furnishings, an example of pure design, without labels and adjectives. Dimensi...
Fabric
$5,372Sale Price / item|20% Off
Arflex Botolo Low Back Armchair in Natural Fur & Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit, relax and be creative.Cini Boeri designed Botolo in 1973, giving life to a new design style, where you could choose the height of the legs to have a dining chair in the high version or a style, at that time modern, "the living at a low level", a way of living...
Fur
$5,820Sale Price / item|20% Off
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
$5,372Sale Price / item|20% Off
Arflex Botolo High Back Armchair in Black Fur and Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit, relax and be creative.Cini Boeri designed Botolo in 1973, giving life to a new design style, where you could choose the height of the legs to have a dining chair in the high version or a style, at that time modern, "the living at a low level", a way of living...
Fur
$3,359Sale Price / item|20% Off
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
Strips Long Lounger by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1960s
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in amstelveen, NL
Very rare strips lounger by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1960s, It is reupholstered in a sand color recycled fabric. The upholstery can be zipped off so you can snuggle under a blanket. On...
Fabric
Studio BBPR Urania Armchair for Arflex, Italy, 1954
By Arflex, Studio BBPR
Located in Milan, IT
Studio BBPR "Urania" Armchair for Arflex, Italy, 1954 reupholstered in bright curry yellow fabric.
Metal
$789
H 78 in W 71 in D 68 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchair in Black Leather and Black Metal, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern armchair in black leather and black metal, 1970s Armchair in black leather with round padded seat. The padded back is in the shape of a semi-circle. On the sides it has two curved and slightly padded armrests. Exposed seams. At the base it has 4 spoke paw in black painted metal, with wheels. 1970s. Good conditions. The leather has slight scratches caused by use. The measurements are in cm 71 x 68 x 78 H 50 H seat 70...
Metal
$874Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 38.98 in W 28.35 in D 31.89 in
Two 'Carmina' Carlo Santi Armchairs for Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of vintage armchairs with ash wood frame and original checked fabric in brick tones model 'Carmina', designed by Carlo Santi and produced by Arflex from 1975.
Fabric, Ash
$1,719Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 31.11 in W 25.59 in D 31.11 in
Black Leather Armchair with Walnut Finish and Wraparound Back – Abra Collection
By Uultis Design
Located in Miami, FL
An Abra armchair by Uultis in black leather with walnut wood finish. *Please check availability prior to purchase*. The Abra armchair, designed by Uulti...
Upholstery, Walnut, Leather, Wood
$2,416Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in
Arflex Botolo Chair in Heidi Fabric by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Botolo Chair is designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex. An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit,...
Metal
$12,753
H 40.56 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Armchair "Fiorenza" designed by Franco Albini in 1952 for Arflex, Italy.
By Arflex, Franco Albini
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Armchair "Fiorenza," designed by Franco Albini in 1952 for Arflex, Italy. A highly collectible model produced for only one year by Arflex. This stunning pair of armchairs features sc...
Fabric, Wood
$2,890
H 28.74 in W 31.5 in D 33.85 in
Boborelax Chair Cini Boeri For Arflex Red Velvet, Italy, circa 1955
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Vienna, AT
Boborelax lounge chair, designed by Cini Boeri, Italy circa 1965 Measures: 33.85" x 21.5" x 28.74" - seat height is circa 16.5". Very stylish chaise-lounge Boborelax upholstered in alcantara faux leather fabric, which resembles suede leather but is more durable and resilient. It has been designed by Cini Boeri and is a modern take on traditional seating...
Steel
$3,400
H 25.99 in W 42.52 in D 39.38 in
Italian Modern Brown Suede Marenco Armchair by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex, Mario Marenco
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern brown suede Marenco armchair by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s. Marenco model armchair, with invisible metal structure and wooden base, to which the cushions that compose it are anchored, covered in suede. Project by Mario Marenco for Arflex, around 1970. Perfect condition, new leather upholstery. Measurements in cm 108x100x66h Il design inconfondibile e l’ampia modularità rendono ancor oggi il divano Marenco...
Metal
$15,931Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 37.41 in W 122.05 in D 49.22 in
Arflex Strips Modular Sofa S3 in White Fabric and Aluminium Feet by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
At the end of the 60s, the architect Cini Boeri revolutionizes the furniture market with her model, that is now an ""evergreen"": the seat system Strips. Additional information: ...
Aluminum
$2,477
H 23.63 in W 43.31 in D 39.38 in
Italian modern red armchair Marenco by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex, Mario Marenco
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern red armchair Marenco by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s Square shaped armchair mod. Marenco. The seat and backrest are composed of t...
Metal
Bamboo-Form Cabriole Leg Cane Back Armchair
Located in Chicago, IL
Faux bamboo framed armchair with cabriole front and back legs, cross and side stretchers and a caned back and seat. Sold with original ivory cut velvet button tufted seat cushion.
Cane, Velvet, Wood
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...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 28.75 in W 31.5 in D 33.86 in
Boborelax Chaise Longue by Cini Boeri for Arflex, Italy (First Edition)
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare and original Boborelax Chaise Longue by Cini Boeri for Arflex, Italy 1967 Bobo, designed by Cini Boeri in 1967, is one of the first examples of a monobloc seat made exclusively...
Fabric
Sold
H 24.81 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Set of two 'Pecorelle Armchiars' designed by Cini Boeri for Artflex, 1968
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Milan, IT
Set of two 'Pecorelle Armchiars' designed by Cini Boeri for Artflex, 1968 . The original armchairs in their shape have been reupholstered with an ocher fabric. The feet are made of w...
Fabric, Wood
Strips Armchair by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1970
By Cini Boeri
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Strips armchair designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in 1970, the project won the gold compass in 1979, fabric and upholstery in excellent condition.
Fabric, Cotton
Pair of Armchairs in Red Fabric by Cini Boeri for Arflex
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Milano, IT
Extravagant pair of vintage fabric armchairs designed by Cini Boeri for the fine Italian manufacture Arflex in the 1960s. The armchairs have v...
Fabric
Sold
H 24.41 in W 51.19 in D 27.56 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Pecorelle Set by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1972
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern Pecorelle set by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1972 Pecorelle sofa and two armchairs with padding and original white fabric, remova...
Metal
Sold
H 24.41 in W 169.3 in L 24.41 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian "Strips" Velvet Sofa by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1970s
By Cini Boeri
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian 5 modules sofa by Cini Boeri completely newly upholstered in emerald green velvet. The sofa sits on a very low chromed base. The ’Strips’ sofa is one of t...
Chrome