Aged Cognac Leather Tentazione Three-Seat Sofa by Mario Bellini for Cassina
View Similar Items
Aged Cognac Leather Tentazione Three-Seat Sofa by Mario Bellini for Cassina
About the Item
- Creator:Mario Bellini (Designer),Cassina (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)Width: 91 in (231.14 cm)Depth: 34 in (86.36 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Incredibly beautiful aged leather with light to moderate distressing throughout. No rips or tears or issues. Leather is stable and ready for regular every-day use. No weak spots or areas of concern. Place this in your room for a cover worthy photo.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1330219446382
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.
Cassina
Furniture manufacturer Cassina is a prolific design house for more reasons than one: It not only owns the licenses to an exquisite collection of iconic chairs, sofas, tables and other pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries but also produces original works that are characterized by innovation and the finest Italian craftsmanship.
Cassina’s illustrious legacy includes being one of the first companies to bring industrial design to Italy in the 1950s. Founded in 1927 in Meda, Italy, by brothers Cesare and Umberto Cassina, the Italian manufacturing giant originally specialized in bespoke woodworking. In nearly a century since its founding, the company has shown incredible foresight about design trends and the evolution of technology.
In 1964, Cassina signed an exclusive licensing agreement to manufacture furniture by Le Corbusier and his collaborators — such as the LC4 chaise longue made with trailblazing French modernist Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret — a move that would shape the future of the company. Cassina’s I Maestri collection is an ongoing initiative to restyle landmark designs from the 20th century, such as pieces by Gerrit Rietveld (the Red and Blue armchair from 1918), Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Erik Gunnar Asplund, Franco Albini and Frank Lloyd Wright. The company preserves the intentions and original styles of their designs but adds updated techniques, materials and processes — rendering them the best possible combination of past, present and future. The brand has also worked with contemporary icons like Zaha Hadid, Gio Ponti and Philippe Starck.
Cassina’s original designs are cutting-edge as well. They include pieces for everyday use, the development of which is guided by comfort and the marriage of Italian craftsmanship with industrial technology.
Some of Cassina’s pieces, both from its contemporary and I Maestri collections, can be found in the collections of museums like the Museum of Modern Art and the Vitra Design Museum. In 2014, the company became part of Haworth in its acquisition of Italian furniture group Poltrona Frau, and in 2015, Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola joined Cassina as its art director, leading the brand into its next century of inventive style.
Find a collection of new and vintage Cassina furniture on 1stDibs.
- Original 932-Quartet Leather Sectional Sofa by Mario Bellini for Cassina, 1964By Cassina, Mario BelliniLocated in Los Angeles, CAIt doesn't get much cooler than this early year (original) collectors set of the model-932 'Quartet' sectional by Mario Bellini for Cassina. Released in 1964, this example has incred...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Canvas
- Early Year LC2 Black Leather Three-Seat Sofa by Le Corbusier for Cassina, SignedBy Cassina, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Pierre JeanneretLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis incredibly comfortable Le Corbusier for Cassina 'LC2' three-seat sofa (authentic signed and earlier year production example with low number production number stamped on the fram...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Bauhaus Sofas
MaterialsSteel
$11,400 Sale Price25% Off - Burgundy Leather Sofa by Pierluigi Cerri for Poltrona Frau, c 1990, SignedBy Poltrona Frau, Pierluigi CerriLocated in Los Angeles, CAThe burgundy leather is incredible on this Poltrona Frau circa 1990 Post-Modern sofa by Pierluigi Cerri. Featuring soft and supple Italian leather cushions over a ribbed leather wrapped (over steel) frame with smoked chrome legs, the rear has a floating leather shelf with manufactures brand embossed. The color is superb - see the close ups for better color representation. Ideal for rooms where you need a pop of deep beautiful color in comfortable seating. Use as a loveseat or settee but this two-seat sofa is large enough to fit three when needed. Comfortable cushioned armpads make it a nice place to take a nap. This burgundy leather couch...Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Loveseats
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
$4,100 Sale Price38% Off - Buffalo Leather Sofa by Robert and Trix Haussmann for Knoll, c. 1988, SignedBy Robert and Trix Haussmann, KnollLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis phenomenal buffalo leather three-seat sofa is by Robert and Trix Haussmann for Knoll International (designed in 1988) and signed with Knoll decking fabric and Knoll Made in Ital...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Sofas
MaterialsAluminum
$12,700 Sale Price29% Off - 'Camaleonda' in Original Leather by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1976, SignedBy B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in Los Angeles, CAIf you are someone who seeks the absolute best of the best - this is for you. This is an all original modular Camaleonda sectional by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia made within the fir...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsLeather
$49,300 Sale Price / set24% Off - Vladimir Kagan for American Leather 'Zoe' Sofa in Grey Alcantara, SignedBy American Leather, Vladimir KaganLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis spectacular example of Vladimir Kagan design was produced by American Leather in 2012, in its original Alcantara (ultrasuede) in a medium grey color called 'Otter', signed under...Category
2010s American Modern Sofas
MaterialsUltrasuede
$8,600 Sale Price21% Off
- 1970s Mario Bellini for Cassina Tentazione LoveseatBy Cassina, Mario BelliniLocated in Miami, FLLooking for a statement piece that's as stylish as it is comfortable Check out our 1970s Mario Bellini for Cassina Tentazione loveseat, in a luxuri...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
MaterialsLinen
- Mario Bellini "Tentazione" Leather Sofa or Loveseat for Cassina, 1970sBy Cassina, Mario BelliniLocated in The Hague, NLThis lounge two-seat sofa or loveseat designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina manufacture in 1970s period, Italy. Model No: 685, Creme color leather original upholstery, steel frame ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- 1980s Tentazione Two-Seater Sofa / Settee by Mario Bellini for Cassina Model 685By Cassina, Mario BelliniLocated in Philadelphia, PAThis is a Tentazione two-seater sofa, model 685, originally designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina in 1973. Its frame is made of steel, and the seat and back are formed from pliant mo...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Mario Bellini "Tentazione" Crème Leather Living Room Set for Cassina, 1970sBy Mario Bellini, CassinaLocated in The Hague, NLStunning Italian design living room set (two-seat sofa/ loveseat and 2 lounge chairs) designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina manufacture in 1970s period, Italy. Sofa- Model No: 685. ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Mario Bellini Bambole 2 Seat Sofa B&B Italia, Italy, 1973By Mario Bellini, B&B ItaliaLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantHighly cosy so called 'Bambole' 2-seater sofa designed by Mario Bellini and manufactured by B&B Italia, Italy 1973. This sofa was designed in 1973 and turned quickly to one of B&B It...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- "Le Stelle" Loveseat Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B ItaliaBy Knoll, Mario Bellini, B&B ItaliaLocated in Los Angeles, CA"Le Stelle" loveseat sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Italy, circa 1970s. Newly reupholstered in white Knoll boucle, the sofa features angled arm rests and Bellini's signature z...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsBouclé
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Who Is Mario Bellini, and Why Is His 1970s Camaleonda Sofa Everywhere Right Now?
Get the lowdown on the ultrachic modular sofas that are currently taking up real estate in your Instagram saved folder.
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.