Mario Bellini 1972, Le Bambole Sofa, Three-Seat
View Similar Items
Mario Bellini 1972, Le Bambole Sofa, Three-Seat
About the Item
- Creator:Mario Bellini (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.5 in (72.39 cm)Width: 98 in (248.92 cm)Depth: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1972
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2959310600081
Mario Bellini
Milan-born architect and designer Mario Bellini just may be the closest thing to a modern-day Renaissance man: His creative output spans genres, from electronics to furniture to architecture to cars, comprising iconic designs in each. Vintage Mario Bellini sofas, dining chairs and other seating pieces are widely coveted, and the designer has been the recipient of multiple prestigious Compasso d’Oro awards. More than 20 of his works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Born in 1935, Bellini studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan before founding his own firm in his native city in the early 1960s. He soon branched out beyond architecture, however, first for the tech manufacturer Olivetti, where he served as chief industrial design consultant from 1963 to 1991. During that time, Bellini oversaw the design of some of Olivetti’s most popular typewriters.
His penchant for electronic design didn’t stop there: Bellini also designed cameras for Fuji, televisions for Brionvega and a slew of audio devices for Yamaha, then served as design consultant for Renault and devised the interior of the 1980 Lancia Trevi for Fiat. Meanwhile, his architecture work spans continents, including such modern gems as the Museum of Islamic Arts at the Louvre, the National Gallery of Victoria extension in Melbourne, the Dubai Creek Complex and the Milan Convention Centre in his hometown.
And then there’s the furniture: Over the last 70 years, Bellini has designed office furniture for Vitra; lamps for Artemide, Erco and FLOS; porcelain for Rosenthal and long-admired sofas and other seating for Kartell, Natuzzi, B&B Italia, Cassina and more.
His oft-imitated 1977 Cab chair for Cassina, comprising 16 individual pieces of saddle leather that create a “skin” over a minimal metal frame, remains one of the manufacturer’s best sellers today. His pudgy-legged, round tables for Cassina foreshadow Faye Toogood’s widely loved Roly Poly line. His postmodern Summa armchairs for Kartell, as well as his elegant Chiara floor lamp, still lure collectors on vintage furniture websites.
Bellini’s most famous contribution to furniture design, though, may be his 1970 Camaleonda sofa for B&B Italia (then C&B Italia). An entrant to the 1972 MoMA show “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape,” the seat takes its name from the Italian words for chameleon and wave. Its bulbous, modular form makes it infinitely flexible. The sofa was a runaway hit at the show and, once discontinued, remained so popular among vintage dealers that B&B Italia reissued it in 2020 with all recycled materials and interchangeable seat covers. “Of all the objects I have designed, Camaleonda is perhaps the best in terms of its sense of freedom,” Bellini said.
Browse an expansive collection of vintage Mario Bellini furniture — including dining tables, armchairs, mid-century sofas and more — today on 1stDibs.
- Vintage Sergio Rodrigues "Tonico Three" Sofa, Jacaranda/ Leather, Brazil 1960sBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in New York, NYA natural derivative of the homonymous armchair, Tonico couch brings the same comfort solution with a rather large roll to support the head. In the couch, it comes attached and it ha...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Sofas
MaterialsBrass
- "Bolle Three" - Table Lamp by Massimo Castagna for Gallotti & RadiceBy Gallotti & Radice, Massimo CastagnaLocated in New York, NYThe "Bolle Three" table lamp is made from a cluster of mouthblown crystal glass spheres, each featuring a single halogen light point inside. The metal base is finished in handcrafted...Category
2010s Italian Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Vintage Sergio Rodrigues "Tonico Two" Sofa, Jacaranda/ Leather, Brazil 1960sBy Sergio RodriguesLocated in New York, NYA natural derivative of the homonymous armchair, Tonico couch brings the same comfort solution with a rather large roll to support the head. In the couch, it comes attached and it ha...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Sofas
MaterialsBrass
- Massimo & Lella Vignelli "Incontro 5080" Armchair, Black Leather/ Walnut, 1991By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, BerniniLocated in New York, NYA Black Leather armchair with a Walnut outer wood finish. Designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Bernini. A set of 4 rolling wheels on the bottom.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Massimo & Lella Vignelli "Incontro 5050" Armchair, Black, Leather, Italy 1991By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, BerniniLocated in New York, NYA Black Leather armchair Designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Bernini. Both seat and backrest are covered in Black Leather.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather
- Roberto Lazzeroni "Saturn Armchair", Beige Leather/ Fabric, Walnut, Italy 2015By Roberto Lazzeroni, CeccottiLocated in New York, NYArmchair made in solid American walnut, curved plywood. Head-rest cushion upholstered in a beige leather, seat cushion upholstered in a matching fabric.Category
2010s European Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood, Leather, Walnut, Plywood
- Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa for B&B Italia, Faux-Fur, 1972By B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in Lonigo, VenetoMario Bellini "Le Bambole" three-seater sofa for B&B Italia, faux-fur, foam and metal, Italy, 1972. The search for a new shape for upholstered furniture: all parts are shaped like a...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa for B&B Italia, Lapin Fur, 1971By Mario Bellini, B&B ItaliaLocated in Lonigo, VenetoMario Bellini “Le Bambole” two-seater sofa for B&B Italia, lapin fur, Italy, 1971. This timeless Postmodern design icon came into being between 1970 and 1972. The search for a new...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsIron
- Italian Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini le Bambole for B&B Italia 1970sBy Mario BelliniLocated in Byron Bay, NSWMario Bellini for B&B Italia, 'Le Bambole' sofa, brown patinated leather, Italy, 1972. This piece is one of the very rare prototypes or early editions, and still 100% original, read ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Sofa for B&B Italia, Faux-Fur, 1971, Set of 2By B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in Lonigo, VenetoMario Bellini “Le Bambole” two-seater sofa for B&B Italia, Mongolian faux-fur, Italy, 1971, set of two. This is a timeless Postmodern design icon. The starting point was a shopping ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsIron
- Space Age Vintage Modular Sofa Le Bambole Purple Lavender Mario Bellini 1970sBy Mario Bellini, B&B ItaliaLocated in Vienna, ATSpace Age vintage authentic modular sofa Le Bambole by Mario Bellini in purple and lavender striped colors from textile fabric 1970s, Italy. A great design icon modular sofa elements Le Bambole by Mario Bellini designed 1972 for B & B Italia consists of two ( 2 ) corner elements and one ( 1 ) seater. Two modular elements show labels, all elements show underneath original jute fabric stamped with company´s name. Beautiful original striped textile fabric in purple and lavender colors. These modular sofa elements gives a lot of options for installing a space and could perfectly create a thrilling contrast with contemporary environments. The condition is fair, it shows signs of age and use like stains, abrasions, fading, damages at the fabric and worn corners. Perfect for design connoisseurs, who love and appreciate preloved authentic design icons. Images are part of the description approx. measures: 2 corner elements: width 90 cm, depth 87 cm, height 71 cm, seat height 44 cm 1 one seater: width 79 cm, depth 87 cm, height 71 cm, seat height 44 cm Mario Bellini ( 1935 ) Italian architect and designer Mario Bellini designed many important furniture designs throughout its organic and complex shapes as Le Bambole Sofa, Amante or CAB Chair. This sofa design Le Bambole features cuddly and organic spirit and helps B & B Italia to earn many awards. Also the provocative advertising campaign with the female model Donna Jordan...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Sofas
MaterialsTextile, Upholstery
- Mario Bellini "Le Bambole" Pouf for B&B Italia, Lapin Fur, 1971By B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in Lonigo, VenetoMario Bellini “Le Bambole” pouf for B&B Italia, lapin fur, Italy, 1971. This timeless Postmodern design icon came into being between 1970 and 1972. The search for a new shape for ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsIron