1970's Le Bambole Loveseat in Chocolate Mohair by Mario Bellini
View Similar Items
1970's Le Bambole Loveseat in Chocolate Mohair by Mario Bellini
About the Item
- Creator:Mario Bellini (Designer),B&B Italia (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.35 in (72.01 cm)Width: 67 in (170.18 cm)Depth: 36 in (91.44 cm)Seat Height: 16.5 in (41.91 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. There is one small rub spot on the left arm, as photographed, not noticeable under casual observation. The sofa is in good vintage condition.
- Seller Location:Culver City, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1139226350682
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. He has been the recipient of multiple prestigious Compasso d’Oro design awards, and 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 Mario Bellini furniture — including dining tables, armchairs, mid-century sofas and more — today on 1stDibs.
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.
- Monumental Modern Original Abstract Painting by Alain Le Yaouanc, 1960sBy Alain Le YaouancLocated in Culver City, CAAlain Le Yaouanc (1931-2012) was a French painter and printmaker associated with the abstraction movement of the mid-twentieth century. He was known for his...Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Paintings
MaterialsCanvas, Paint
$9,600 Sale Price20% Off - 10 Piece Jack Cartwright Modular Sectional Sofa Seating in Bouclé, Tweed, 1970sBy Jack CartwrightLocated in Culver City, CAAvailable right now, we have an exceptional 10-piece modular sectional sofa designed by Jack Cartwright. This 1970s modular sofa is absolutely stunning! It features two tone upholst...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsSteel
$6,930 Sale Price30% Off - Set of 4 Milo Baughman Thin Line Dining Chairs in Ivory Boucle, 1970sBy Milo Baughman, Thayer CogginLocated in Culver City, CAThese chairs are stunning! Originally introduced in the 1950s, Milo Baughman's Thin Line dining chairs are a Classic Mid-Century Modern design that is highly regarded for its sleek and Minimalist aesthetic. These chairs quickly became a popular choice for interior designers and homeowners alike and have since been a staple of modern design-- absolutely timeless and chic. The Thin Line dining chairs feature a slim, tubular metal frame and this set is in a polished chrome finish. The seat and backrest are upholstered in a performance bouclé by Kravet, which only adds to the luxurious feel of these sleek modernist chairs. One of the defining features of the Thin Line dining chairs is their Minimalist design. The chairs have a clean and simple Silhouette that is free from any unnecessary ornamentation, making them an ideal choice for modern and contemporary interiors. Despite their Minimalist design, the Thin Line dining chairs are also very functional. The chairs are lightweight and easy to move around, and they can be stacked for convenient storage when not in use. Today, Milo Baughman's Thin Line dining chairs remain a popular choice for those seeking a Mid-Century Modern aesthetic in their home or commercial space. They are often seen in stylish restaurants, hotels, and high-end residences around the world. These chairs would look stunning in any Mid-Century Modern, modern, or contemporary home. With their sleek, clean Minimalist design, they're an excellent choice for accompanying a bold Paul Evans style...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsChrome
$3,840 Sale Price20% Off - Vladimir Kagan Crescent Lounge Chair in Ivory Boucle and Black Leather, 1970'sBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Culver City, CAThis chair is incredible. Designed by Vladimir Kagan for Vladimir Kagan Designs, this crescent chair is about as luxurious and beautiful as it gets. Completely overhauled and upholstered in a thick, high-pile, sherpa style boucle and wrapped in the most high-quality Italian black leather hide, this chair is great design at its best. Equal parts gorgeous and comfortable, this chair begs to be touched, sat in, and enjoyed. This Kagan crescent chair...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- 1970's Space Age Bed in Brown Suede, Chrome and Rosewood, Cal KingBy Guido FaleschiniLocated in Culver City, CAStep into the cosmic groove of unparalleled luxury with this Space Age Dream Bed – the epitome of swanky 1970s chic that's so fabulous it practically moonwalks through time! Crafted ...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsChrome
- Postmodern Les Amisca Quebec 69 Spider ChairBy Les AmiscaLocated in Culver City, CAAn absolutely stunning Quebec 69 spider chair by Canadian Postmodern Design Group Les Amisca. This chair was designed in the 1980s and features a rounded steel Art Deco style body wi...Category
Vintage 1980s Post-Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Mario Bellini Le Bambole Sofa, Upholstered in Alpaca, B&B Italia, 1970sBy B&B Italia, Mario BelliniLocated in London, GBA beautiful Mario Bellini Le Bambole sofa, produced by B&B Italia, Italy in the 1970s, newly upholstered in luxurious 100% alpaca. Marked on the underside. Fast shipping worldwide.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsAlpaca
- Mario Bellini Le Bambole Sofa, Upholstered in Alpaca, B&B Italia, 1970sBy Mario Bellini, B&B ItaliaLocated in London, GBA beautiful Mario Bellini Le Bambole sofa, newly upholstered in luxury cream alpaca velvet, produced by B&B Italia, Italy in the 1970s. Marked on the underside. Fast shipping world...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsAlpaca
- Mario Bellini Le Bambole Sofa, Upholstered in Alpaca, B&B Italia, 1970sBy Mario Bellini, B&B ItaliaLocated in London, GBA beautiful Mario Bellini Le Bambole sofa, produced by B&B Italia, Italy in the 1970s, newly upholstered in a beautifully soft premium, ivory, pure alpaca fabric. Marked on the under...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsAlpaca
- Mario Bellini for B&B Italia 'Le Bambole' Loveseat, Italy, 1972By Mario BelliniLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis comfortable brown original fabric settee is bulky and playful, shaped as if it is merely a large cushion and the accompanying feeling is the same. It is designed by Mario Bellin...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
MaterialsFabric, Foam, Wood
$7,840 Sale Price20% Off - 1972 Mario Bellini Leather 'Le Bambole' Sofa for B&B ItaliaBy Mario Bellini, B&B ItaliaLocated in Los Angeles, CADark brown leather soft form sofa 'Le Bambole' designed by legendary Italian designer Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1972 and awarded with the Compasso d'Oro in 1979. An absolute icon...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
MaterialsLeather
- "Le Stelle" Loveseat Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B ItaliaBy Mario Bellini, B&B Italia, KnollLocated 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.
Rooms We Love: 11 Splendid Living Rooms
Common wisdom used to declare the kitchen the hub of the house. These days, the living room seems to have assumed the role of domestic focal point. Unlike the Victorian parlor, stiffly furnished and reserved for guests, today’s living room is a central place for reading, conversation and, well, living, with furnishings that lend themselves to both casual lounging and elegant entertaining.