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.
$9,576 / 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
$9,510 / 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
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
Daybed GE 19 - Hans J. Wegner for Getama, Denmark 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Classic daybed model GE 19 in the standard version, designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Getama. The piece stands out for its clean, timeless design language and the high-q...
Wool, Teak
$14,791
H 23.63 in W 36.62 in D 90.56 in
Vintage Sofa "Gradual Lounge" by Cini Boeri for Knoll Gavina, Italy, 1970s
By Gavina, Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Sofa "Gradual Lounge" is an original design item realized it Italy in 1970s. Top Rare sofa, designed by Cini Boeri for Knowll Gavina. A totally innovative modular syste...
Leather
$1,695
H 15.75 in W 81.75 in D 36.75 in
1960s Cleopatra Daybed by A.R. Cordemeyer for Auping, Teak and Black Metal
By A.R. Cordemeijer, Auping
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cleopatra daybed by A.R. Cordemeyer combines sleek enameled metal with warm teak end caps and includes a new black mattress and cylindrical bolster. Developed in 1953 for Royal Aupin...
Metal
$3,213
H 21.26 in W 84.65 in D 38.19 in
Bamboo Daybed, Mid-Century Modern, Italy, New Upholstery, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Bamboo Daybed, Italy, 1960s - New Upholstery
Bamboo, Wood
Cini Boeri, Sofa, Plastic, Leather, Gavina Knoll, Italy 1970s
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in High Point, NC
A three-seater black ABS plastic and white / light grey leather sofa, designed by Cini Boeri, and produced by Gavina, Knoll, 1970s. Backside features a built in shelf. Seat Height ...
Leather, Plastic
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
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
Hans Wegner GE258 Sofa Bed for Getama, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Kampen, NL
Designed by Hans Wegner for Getama in the 1950s, the GE258 is a versatile Danish sofa that can easily be transformed into a bed. Made from solid oak, it features Wegner’s characteris...
Fabric, Oak
$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
Pair of 1960s French Daybed
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of 1960s daybed, modernism style, steel frame, newly reupholstered.
Steel
$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
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, Knoll, 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