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 - Pair of Lounge Chairs / Loveseats "Gradual" for Knoll, 1970s
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Pair of “Loft” Lounge Chairs by Cini Boeri for Knoll International, Italy, 1970s Striking pair of “Loft” lounge chairs (also referred to as loveseats) designed by Cini Boeri for Kno...
Leather
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Living Room Set for Gavina, Velvet, 1970, Set of 3
By Cini Boeri, Gavina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" living room set, camel velvet, Italy, 1970, set of three (two-seater sofa + two armchairs) Designed in 1970 by Cini Boeri for Gavina, this armchair belon...
Velvet
Living room set by Mobilgirgi, 1970s
By Mobil Girgi
Located in Buzzò, Emilia-Romagna
Experience the fusion of wood and velvet from the 1970s, with this exclusive living room set by Mobilgirgi. The set is composed of 1 sofa (depth: 80cm x width: 152cm x height: 83cm) ...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
$14,986
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, Knoll, Cini Boeri
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
$35,125 / set
H 27.56 in W 94.49 in D 39.38 in
Gianfranco Frattini Brown Alpaca Velvet Sesann Living Room Set for Cassina, 1972
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Vicenza, IT
Sesann living room set, designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1972 and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina. The set is composed of a three-seater sofa and three armchairs. It ...
Chrome
Cini Boeri, Sofa, Plastic, Leather, Gavina Knoll, Italy 1970s
By Cini Boeri, Gavina
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
$8,441
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
$2,324
H 33.08 in W 89.77 in D 36.23 in
Original Knoll Brigadier Dreisitzer Leder weiß Cini Boeri 1980
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes, weißes Dreisitzer Sofa (Modell: Brigadier) von Knoll aus den 1980er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Ciri Boeri, einer der einflussreichste...
Leather, Wood
$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 Cini Boeri, Gavina
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
'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
$17,000
H 24.81 in W 90.56 in D 36.23 in
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Sofa for Gavina, Black Leather, 1970
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri “Gradual System” two-seater sofa for Gavina, black velvet, Italy, 1970 Designed in 1970 for Gavina, the “Gradual System” by Cini Boeri is a visionary example of modular d...
Leather, Plastic
$8,500
H 26.78 in W 51.97 in D 36.23 in
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Armchair for Gavina, Camel Velvet, 1970
By Cini Boeri, Gavina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri “Gradual System” armchair for Gavina, camel velvet, Italy, 1970. Designed in 1970 by Cini Boeri for Gavina, this armchair belongs to the iconic “Gradual System”—a groundb...
Velvet
$16,000 / set
H 26.78 in W 51.97 in D 36.23 in
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Armchairs for Gavina, Camel Velvet, 1970, Set of 2
By Cini Boeri, Gavina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri “Gradual System” armchairs for Gavina, camel velvet, Italy, 1970, set of 2. Designed in 1970 by Cini Boeri for Gavina, this armchair bel...
Velvet
Albert Jacob Lounge Chairs for Grosfillex, 1970
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful and rare pair of lounge chairs edited by Grosfillex Designer Albert Jacob: Lounge chair (Seat height 38 cm) in ABS with cushions in brown woven ...
Fabric, Plastic
Sold
H 28.75 in W 43.31 in D 37.8 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Strips Sofa and Armchair Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern strips sofa and armchair by Cini Boeri for Arflex, 1970s Strips model two-seater sofa and armchair, with fully removable checkered cover, with black hinge...
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
Modular Sofa by Cini Boeri for Gavina Knoll
By Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modular sofa designed by Cini Boeri for Gavina Knoll. The sofa consists of one sofa and three loveseat sofas upholstered in leather. Each sofa is...
Fiberglass