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.
Arflex Strips Sofa By Cini Boeri In Velvet, Italy 1968
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Cini Boeri for Arflex, modular strips sofa in mustard/golden velvet, Italy 1968 The iconic Strips sofa, a comfortable and versatile design. This modular sofa features four seating e...
Velvet
$19,914 / item
H 37.41 in W 122.05 in D 49.22 in
Arflex Strips Modular Sofa S3 in White Fabric and Aluminium Feet by Cini Boeri
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
At the end of the 60s, the architect Cini Boeri revolutionizes the furniture market with her model, that is now an ""evergreen"": the seat system Strips. Additional information: ...
Aluminum
strips sofa by cini boeri for arflex reupholstered
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Ghedi, IT
The Strips two-seater sofa, designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in 1968, is an iconic piece of Italian design that revolutionized modern seating with its innovative modular concept. Th...
Velvet
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
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
Cini Boeri Strips Daybed for Arflex Italy
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Skokie, IL
Cini Boeri Strips Daybed for Arflex Italy. "arflex / Made in Italy" label to underside. Dimensions: 25" H x 57" W x 30" D
Steel
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
Strip sofa / armchair modules by Cini Boeri for Arflex
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in RIDDERKERK, NL
The Strips sofa, designed by the Italian architect Cini Boeri in 1968, is one of Arflex 's most iconic collections and a highly acclaimed design from the 1970s. We have two modules ...
Fabric, Velvet
$9,406 / set
H 29.93 in W 94.49 in D 43.31 in
Bengodi" Set - Design Cini Boeri for Arflex Italia (2 Sofas + Armchair)
Located in Manzano, IT
Bengodi complete set, designed by the legendary Cini Boeri for Arflex. This set embodies the philosophy of extreme comfort typical of the 1970s. Characterized by generous volumes,...
Leather
Arflex BOBORELAX Armchair by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Boborelax, created from Bobo, and together with it, makes up a curious and unusual family of essential furnishings, an example of pure design, without labels and adjectives. Dimensi...
Fabric
'Brigadier' Loveseats by Cini Boeri for Knoll, Italy, 1980s
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
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 Modular Lounge Chairs for Arflex, Italy, 1970s
By Tito Agnoli
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed by Tito Agnoli for Arflex in 1970s Italy, this modular lounge seating system reflects a thoughtful balance between sculptural form and functional adaptability, characteristi...
Wool, Cotton, Wood
Camaleonda Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Italy, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Antwerp, BE
Camaleonda modular sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, a timeless piece of furniture that emerged in the design scene during the 1970s. Comprising four large and two smaller seatin...
Velvet
On the Rocks Sofa by Francesco Binfaré for Edra, Italy, 2004
By Edra, Francesco Binfaré
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed by Francesco Binfaré for Edra in 2004, On the Rocks is a bold, sculptural sectional sofa made up of three seating elements and one large, freely positioned backrest. With no...
Fabric
Ornate Camaleonda Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Italy, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Antwerp, BE
Camaleonda modular sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, a timeless piece of furniture that emerged in the design scene during the 1970s. Comprising three large and three smaller...
Fabric
Sofa DS-470 by Thomas Althaus for De Sede, Switzerland
By De Sede, Thomas Althaus
Located in Antwerp, BE
The De Sede DS-470 is a luxurious modular sectional sofa that showcases the pinnacle of Swiss craftsmanship and ergonomic innovation. Its unique semicircular design is composed of in...
Leather
The Italian designer’s playful piece offers an elegant storage solution.
The architect has imbued the minimalist-chic Tel Aviv stay with his signature style, while at the same time honoring the site's long history.
