Lunar Sofa by J. Irvine for B&B Italia

About the Item

In the world of vintage collecting, James Irvine's Lunar sofa for B&B Italia is a work of art that embodies the exceptional design of the 1990s. Crafted with a metallic gray-painted metal frame, this sofa represents the pinnacle of Italian craftsmanship. The seat and backrest, both composed of a single polyurethane-padded element, offer unparalleled comfort, while the original-era fabric in vibrant, glossy red adds a touch of luxury and authenticity to its design. But what truly makes the Lunar sofa special is its functional innovation. The mechanism to lower the backrest transforms this design marvel into a spacious and comfortable bed for two, making it perfect for your daily needs and unexpected guests. This vintage sofa is not just a piece of furniture; it's a living testament to the history of Italian design. The subtle imperfections in the metal and the wear associated with the passage of time add a touch of authenticity, while the lines and form continue to embody the unique aesthetics of the 1990s. In conclusion, James Irvine's Lunar sofa is a timeless masterpiece of Italian design. Add a touch of history, sophistication, and emotion to your home with this extraordinary piece. Let yourself be enchanted by its beauty, functionality, and originality, and bring home an authentic icon of Italian design. Sofa dimensions Height: 73 cm (22.83 inches) Width: 225 cm (88.58 inches) Depth: 83 cm (32.68 inches) Seat Height: 42 cm (16.54 inches) Bed Size Height: 40cm (15.75 inches) Width: 225 cm (88.58 inches) Depth: 132 cm (51.97 inches)

Creator:

James Irvine (Designer),B&B Italia (Manufacturer)

Dimensions:

Height: 28.75 in (73 cm)Width: 88.59 in (225 cm)Depth: 32.68 in (83 cm)Seat Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)

Style:

Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Fabric,Metal

Place of Origin:

Italy

Period:

1990-1999

Date of Manufacture:

1990

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa is in excellent and original condition, the fabric is original from the period, slight scratches in the metal and wear are consistent with its age and use.

Seller Location:

Milano, IT

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU4911237060862

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B&B Italia

In 1966, Piero Ambrogio Busnelli cofounded C&B Italia, a modern Italian furniture manufacturer, with Cesare Cassina in northern Milan. From the outset, Busnelli and Cassina set about recruiting the most talented modernists in Italy to conceive of creative furnishings manufactured in modern ways. In the early 1970s, the company split, with Cassina founding his own eponymous firm and Busnelli taking leadership of what became B&B Italia.

For decades, Busnelli cultivated relationships with the world’s best design talent, resulting in furniture pieces that remain iconic today — be they Gaetano Pesce’s outwardly curvaceous Up seating (made for C&B, reintroduced by B&B) or tables from industrial designer Paolo Piva, each more sophisticated than the next in their geometrically complex steel-tube bases. B&B Italia earned four prestigious Compasso d’Oro design awards: in 1979 for Mario Bellini’s Le Bambole, in 1984 for the Sisamo wardrobe system by Studio Kairos, in 1987 for Antonio Citterio’s modular Sity sofa and, in 1989, the first award given to a manufacturing company itself.

Other notable names who designed for B&B Italia over the course of its 54-year history include Patricia Urquiola, Naoto Fukasawa, Zaha Hadid, Ettore Sottsass and Vincent Van Duysen, to name a very few. And while these names bring star power to the B&B brand, in many cases, it was B&B Italia who helped usher in their celebrity, fostering a wave of design talent on the world stage.

The company’s forward-thinking vision manifested in its own headquarters, too: In 1972, B&B Italia tapped architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers to design a steel-framed, postmodern-style home for the brand, whose crisscrossing metal exoskeleton is reminiscent of the pair’s Centre Pompidou in Paris, which was built at roughly the same time. Now, B&B Italia manages a contract division and outdoor section as well as its residential arm, and it also controls production for Maxalto, a brand spun out with furniture designs by Antonio Citterio.

At 1stDibs, find a range of vintage B&B Italia furniture — including sofas, cocktail tables and more.