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.
$10,064 / item
Cini Boeri 'Strips' Sofa Bed for Arflex
By Cini Boeri
Located in Tilburg, NL
Cini Boeri 'Strips' Sofa Bed for Arflex. Designed 1972, current production. At the end of the 60s, the architect Cini Boeri revolutionizes the furniture market with her model, that ...
Fabric
$10,064 / item
Cini Boeri 'Strips' Sofa Bed for Arflex
By Cini Boeri
Located in Tilburg, NL
Cini Boeri 'Strips' Sofa Bed for Arflex. Designed 1972, current production. At the end of the 60s, the architect Cini Boeri revolutionizes the furniture market with her model, that ...
Fabric
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
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
$4,450
H 31.5 in W 70.87 in D 35.44 in
Cini Boeri for Knoll 'Brigadier' 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...
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
Mid Century Teak Daybed, 1960s
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very nice teak daybed, fabricated in The Netherlands in the 60's. It has 4 folding feet, see the last pictures. The mattress is renewed with new foam and it has just been uphols...
Bouclé, Teak
1960s Teak Daybed, Italy
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
1960s daybed made of teak wood and of Italian manufacture. The daybed has been completely restored recently. It is complete with bolster that can be positioned as desired. N...
Fabric, Teak
$5,372Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in
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
$9,958
H 24.41 in W 90.56 in D 36.23 in
Cini Boeri - Leather Sofa "Gradual" for Knoll International, 1970s
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Cini Boeri “Gradual” Sofa for Knoll International, Italy, 1972 Rare “Gradual” sofa designed by Cini Boeri for Knoll International in 1972. Upholste...
Leather
$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
Pietro Arosio Sliding Bed Sofa for Taccini
By Tacchini, Pietro Arosio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Freshly reubholsted in butter yellow mohair, practical design, convertable sofa. This sofa transforms to a comfortable daybed by lowering the backrest. The sculptural base comprised ...
Aluminum
Gianni Songia Daybed Model GS 195 for Sormani, Italy, 1960s
By Gianni Songia
Located in Brussels, BE
Gianni Songia daybed model GS 195 for Sormani, Italy, 1960s.
Leather
$3,643Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.32 in W 70.87 in D 38.19 in
Cini Boeri Two-Seat Sofa for Knoll International, 1970s
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Den Haag, NL
Two-seat sofa designed by Cini Boeri for Knoll International. Upholstered in smooth black Leather. Model ''Brigadier'' Love the design, low and wide. So 1970s. The wooden base has re...
Leather
1960s French Rattan Daybed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible vintage rattan daybed from France, 1960s. Long rattan frame with croisillon detail. Original rattan shows nice age and patina. Newly a...
Linen, Rattan
Strips Sofa Bed by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in amstelveen, NL
Strips sofa bed designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in the late 60s. Can be used as a sofa and can be converted into a single bed. Removable fabric cover...
Fabric
Strips Sofa Bed by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in amstelveen, NL
Strips sofa bed designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in the late 60s. Can be used as a sofa and can be converted into a single bed. Removable fabric cover...
Fabric
Cini Boeri Brigadier Sofa in Boucle, 1977 Knoll Gavina
By Knoll, Cini Boeri, Gavina, Gae Aulenti, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful award winning sofa designed by Italian Architect Cini Boeri for Knoll in 1977. This was the low back and largest sofa from the Brigadier Lounge Collection, The Brigadier Sofa...
Bouclé, Wood, Lacquer