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.
Lunario table by Cini Boeri for Gavina, 1970
By Cini Boeri
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Lunario table designed by Cini Boeri, characterized by an elegant and peculiar shape. Oval glass top fixed to the base with a chromed steel plate. Heavily weighted double height elli...
Steel
"Lunario" Low Table by Cini Boeri for Gavina, Italy, 1970s
By Cini Boeri, Gavina
Located in Milan, IT
Iconic Lunario low table by Cini Boeri for Gavina. Polished chrome-plated brass base supports a large oval glass surface. One of the first exam...
Metal
Cini Boeri 'Malibu' Black and Blue Swivel Table or Desk for Arflex, Italy c1980.
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Renens, CH
Introducing the Cini Boeri Malibu table – an exquisite creation by renowned Italian designer Cini Boeri in collaboration with the iconic Italian edition house Arflex. The Malibu ta...
Steel
Vintage Cini Boeri for Knoll Lunario Cantilevered Table/Desk
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This elegant Mid-Century Modern desk features a polished stainless steel base with a 1/2 inch thick cantilever glass top. By Cini Boeri for Knoll ...
Stainless Steel
Tavolo 'Lunario' di Cini Boeri per Knoll 1970-1980
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Milano, IT
Tavolo da pranzo o da ufficio con piano in vetro e base eccentrica stampata in acciaio con contrappesi interni.
Steel
Lunario 6 Seater Dinning Table Cini Boeri Gavina 1970 Glass Top Steel Grey
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Lunario table by Cini Boeri, characterized by its elegant and peculiar shape. Oval crystal top with chrome-plated steel plate base attachment plate. Double-height chromed steel ellip...
Steel
$16,500
H 28.75 in W 78.75 in D 46.46 in
Carlo Scarpa “Argo” Oval Table for Simon Gavina in Red Travertine, 1975
By Carlo Scarpa, Gavina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa “Argo” oval table for Simon Gavina in red travertine marble, Italy, 1975. The “Argo” travertine console-table is part of the ‘Ultrarazionale’ collection by Simon Gavina...
Marble
Stainless Steel Lunario Table by Cini Boeri for Knoll
By Gavina, Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Originally designed in the 1970s the Lunario table is a truly unique cantilevered table. The table top is a clear polished oval glass with polished stain...
Stainless Steel
$14,600
H 29.14 in W 70.08 in D 49.61 in
Carlo Scarpa "Samo" Oval Table for Simon Gavina, White Carrara Marble, 1971
By Simon Gavina Editions, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa "Samo" oval table for Simon Gavina, white Carrara marble, Italy, 1971. The Scarpa's way of thinking the architecture is particularly visible in this piece. The “Samo” d...
Carrara Marble
Cini Boeri Chromed Steel and Glass 'Lunario' Table by Knoll
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A striking design by Cini Boeri for Knoll from the 1970’s called the “Lunario” table. Cini Boeri was a contributing designer to Gavina Spa which Knoll acquired in the late 1960’s. Sh...
Steel
Cini Boeri - Glass top coffee table Lunario model for Knoll
By Cini Boeri
Located in Paris, IDF
The Lunario coffee table from Knoll International features an oval glass plate and a metal base. It is characterized by its asymmetrical appearance and its simple and timeless design...
Steel, Chrome
Acier Black Dinning Table in Handcrafted Steel
Located in Paris, FR
Raw steel dinning table, black-dark finish, French manufacture, colorless varnished. Chairs not included. Available on request in: L 200 x D 100 x H 75 cm, price: € 7900.00 L 250 x D...
Steel
Ole Wanscher Desk in Mahogany for A. J. Iversen
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Ole Wanscher desk in mahogany with two drawers. Executed by A. J. Iversen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mahogany
$21,151
H 30.32 in W 79.53 in D 43.31 in
Angelo Mangiarotti, tavolo serie "Eros", per Skipper Company, 1971
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Como, CO
Angelo Mangiarotti (1921-2012) Tavolo della serie "Eros" Per Skipper Company 1971 Misure: 202 x 110 cm - altezza 77 cm Realizzato in marmo Mondragone La cava di marmo Mondragone si ...
Marble
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Mid Century Tulip Table
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll mid century Tulip table This dining table measures: 47.25 wide x 47.25 deep x 28.5 inches high, with a chair clearan...
Metal
Ernest H. Igl for Bayer AG 'Hadi' Desk
By Ernest Igl
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernest Igl for Bayer AG, 'Hadi' desk, polyurethane, Germany, 1970s This design by Ernest Igl truly resembles the ethos of the seventies, featuring the commonly used material of that time: polyurethane. Ernest Igl strived for the creation of a desk that focused on functionality combined with an aesthetically pleasing design for daily use. This is discernible in the playful composition of curved lines and round shapes executed in the whole construction. On the left side, three drawers are situated hidden perfectly in the column of the design. At the right side there is a storage compartment placed. Taking every stylistic realization into account, this writing desk feels retro, without clashing with contemporary interiors. Ernest Hofmann...
Plastic
Early Franco Albini for Knoll Model '80' Desk
By Knoll, Franco Albini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Albini for Knoll, model 80, glass, lacquered wood, lacquered steel, Italy, 1949 Franco Albini’s model 80 desk combines glass, steel and wood which resu...
Chrome
Ico Parisi Desk for Mim Rome from 1960s
By MIM Roma, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in bari, IT
Ico Parisi desk in wood and steel including leg protectors for MIM Rome. MIM (Mobili Italiani Moderni) was founded in Rome in 1957 as a company for the des...
Metal
Cini Boeri Lunario Coffee Table Gavina, Italy, 1970
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very imposing Lunario low coffee table designed by Cini Boeri and manufactured by Gavina, Italy 1970. This early table has a chrome plated weighted base and an oval hardend glass top...
Chrome
Sold
H 27.56 in W 43.31 in D 59.06 in
Beautiful Cini Boeri 'Lunario' Table or Desk, Original Gavina Edition, Italy
By Cini Boeri
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Stunning and rare 'Lunario' dining table by Italian architect Cini Boeri, a true Minimalist masterpiece, this wonderful example is from the original Italian edition released by Gavin...
Steel, Chrome
Mid-Century Modernist Cini Boeri Lunario Desk/Table by Gavina for Knoll
By Cini Boeri, Gavina
Located in New York, NY
This Mid-Century Modernist Cini Boeri Lunario desk/table by Gavina for Knoll features an elliptical shaped half inch piece of glass that is cantilev...
Cini Boeri Coffee Table
By Knoll, Cini Boeri
Located in New York, NY
A modernist cantilevered cocktail table designed by Cini Boeri for Knoll International. A chrome elliptical shaped base with a half-inch tempered glass top.
Steel
Cini Boeri Cantilever Coffee Table
By Cini Boeri
Located in Chicago, IL
"Lunario" cantilevered glass coffee table designed Cini Boeri. Early production for Gavina.
Steel
Extraordinary 1970’s Cini Boeri Lunario Glass Table
By Cini Boeri
Located in Greding, DE
Lunario glass table by Cini Boeri (born 1924) for Gavina from the 1970’s. The polished chrome base is off centre, the glass plate of oval shape. Due to its rare hight the Lunario is ...
Chrome
Lunario Table by Cini Boeri for Knoll
By Cini Boeri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Originally designed in the 70's the Lunario table is a truly unique cantilevered table. The table top is a clear polished oval tempered plate glass with...
Steel