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.
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
Arflex Strips Sofa by Cini Boeri in linen, Italy 1968
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Cini Boeri for Arflex, modular strips sofa in a terra cotta linen, Italy 1968 The iconic Strips sofa is a comfortable and versatile design. This modular sofa features two seating el...
Linen
$19,469 / set
H 23.63 in W 110.24 in D 87.8 in
Vintage Modular Sofa Tito Agnoli for Arflex, Model 9000
By Tito Agnoli, Arflex
Located in Munich, Bavaria
An exceptional six-piece modular sofa designed by Tito Agnoli for Arflex, Model 9000, originally conceived in 1969. Characterized by its low profile, generous proportions, softly ro...
Fabric, Upholstery, Plastic, Beech
Arflex Marius&Marius Two-seater Sofa by Mario Marenco
By Mario Marenco, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Mario Marenco for Arflex in 1970, the Marius&Marius sofa and armchair stem from a precise reflection on the balance between function and design. The generous shapes, ...
Metal
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
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 1...
Fabric, Velvet
$2,853Sale Price|50% Off
H 35.04 in W 87.8 in D 35.44 in
Flexform Feel Good Ten Alto Three Seater Sofa by Antonio Citterio
By Antonio Citterio
Located in Rochester, England
Introducing the ultimate in luxury and comfort - the Feel Good Ten Alto Three Seater Sofa by Flexform. This stunning piece features a sleek and modern design, crafted with the highes...
Metal
Patricia Urquiola Ardys Sofa for Cassina
By Patricia Urquiola
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ardys Sofa for Cassina. AN AESTHETIC THAT ENVELOPS THE GAZE Patricia Urquiola designs Ardys, a low-slung sofa that expresses softness as a visual quality as much as a tactile one. ...
Upholstery
$24,486 / item
H 31.5 in W 106.7 in D 39.38 in
Patricia Urquiola Ardys Sofa for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ardys Sofa for Cassina. AN AESTHETIC THAT ENVELOPS THE GAZE Patricia Urquiola designs Ardys, a low-slung sofa that expresses softness as a visual quality as much as a tactile one. ...
Upholstery
$20,614
H 28.35 in W 37.01 in D 37.01 in
Mid-Century Modern Camaleonda Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By Mario Bellini
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Camaleonda Sofa By Mario Bellini For B&B Italia - New Upholstery.
Fabric
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.
