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.
$9,729 / 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
$9,729 / 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 Cini Boeri, Elco
Located in Milan, IT
Rare daybed by Cini Boeri for Elco. Reinforced white fiberglass daybed
Fiberglass
Italian Daybed - 1960s
Located in Paris, FR
Italian production 1960s Daybed Bamboo and bent wicker frame; upholstered seat covered in a beige fabric. Dimensions H67/45 x W205 x D95 cm
Fabric, Bamboo
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
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
Sofa / Daybed "GS195" by Gianni Songia for Sormani, 1960s
By Sormani, Gianni Songia
Located in bruxelles, BE
Sofa convertible into a daybed with black leather cushion and wooden frame designed by Gianni Songia for Sormani. Model: GS195. Stamped Sormani. Wear due to time and age. FOR SHIPPIN...
Leather, Wood
'Brigadier' Loveseats by Cini Boeri for Knoll, Italy, 1980s
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Antwerp, BE
Exceptional sofa from the award-winning Brigadier Series by renowned Italian architect and designer, Cini Boeri (1924–2020). Crafted in the 1980s for Knoll, these sofas feature a sle...
Leather, Lacquer
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
Cini Boeri for Arflex Strips Sofa in velvet, Italy 1968
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Cini Boeri for Arflex, two seater strips sofa in aubergine velvet, Italy 1968 The iconic Strips sofa, a comfortable and versatile design. Reupholstered in a beautiful high quality b...
Velvet
$15,500
H 24.81 in W 90.56 in D 36.23 in
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Sofa for Gavina, Camel Velvet, 1970
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri “Gradual System” two-seater sofa for Gavina, camel velvet, Italy, 1970 Designed in 1970 for Gavina, the “Gradual System” by Cini Boeri i...
Velvet
$19,914 / item
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
1960s Cleopatra Daybed by Cordemeijer for Royal Auping
By Auping, A.R. Cordemeijer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Cleopatra narrow daybed by A.R. Cordemeijer for Royal Auping features a bone white painted enameled metal frame with gently rounded corners and four splayed painted wood legs in ...
Metal
Pair of 1960s French Daybed
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of 1960s daybed, modernism style, steel frame, newly reupholstered.
Steel
Daybed in Teak Anni '60, Italia
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Daybed anni '60 in legno di teak e di manifattura italiana. Il daybed è stato completamente restaurato di recente. E' completo di bolster che può essere posizionato a piacere. ...
Fabric, Teak
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 Cini Boeri, Gavina, Gae Aulenti, Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Knoll
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