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.
$9,968 / 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
$9,968 / 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
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
'Brigadier' Loveseats by Cini Boeri for Knoll, Italy, 1980s
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
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
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
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
Glass "Ghost" Chair by Cini Boeri for Fiam Italy, 1980s
By Cini Boeri, FIAM
Located in amstelveen, NL
Ghost chair designed by Cini Boeri and Tomu Katayanagi and manufactured by Fiam, Italy, 1980s. This fantastic transparent 12mm glass chair is made of thick curved & hardened glas...
Glass
$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
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
$6,716 / item
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
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
"Locus Solus" daybed by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, 1960s
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in bruxelles, BE
Daybed, meridian with cushion in yellow fabric with white stitching and metal structure by Gae Aulenti. Model: Locus Solus. Wear due to time and age FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RE...
Metal
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
Oak Daybed by Guillerme & Chambron, 1960s
By Guillerme et Chambron
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Guillerme & Chambron in the 1960s, this French oak daybed reflects the duo’s instinct for sculptural simplicity and everyday utility. This example is fitted with a c...
Linen, Oak
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, Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Gae Aulenti, Gavina, Cini Boeri
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