Description

Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 'Le Bambole' sofa, brown patinated leather, Italy, 1972. This piece is one of the very rare prototypes or early editions, and still 100% original, read on. In the Bambole, the piece is reduced to an archetypical idea of a cushion. The first prototypes of this collection where stuffed with a material that was the forerunner of memory foam. Later, in order to improve comfort, the metal frame that was inside in the beginning, and that was required for support, was removed and it was filled with the stuffing itself. Le Bambole was awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 1979. On the bottom of the sofa there is the original mark of authenticity of the manufacturer and the designer. Mario Bellini (1935) is trained as an architect and became one of the leading designers in postwar Italian style. In the beginning of his career, he worked together with Olivetti and Cassina which resulted in an early knowledge of synthetic resins and polyurethanes. His furniture is exciting, both in its use of material as in the originality of his designs. Phaidon, 2008, p. 98 - 99. - Graminga, Giuliana. Repertorio del Design Italiano 1950-2000 per L'Arredamento Domestico. Allemandi: Torino, 2003, p. 198.