Mario Bellini

MARIO BELLINI (Milan, Italy, 1935).
Set of five Amanta modular armchairs. Designed in 1966.
Manufactured by B&B Italia, Italy, 1980s.
Frames made of reinforced plastic, foam padding, and black leather upholstery.
Upholstery recently reupholstered; original period frames.
In very good condition, with slight signs of use.
Measurements of each: 70 × 80 × 80 cm.

The Amanta model plays a pivotal role in the early stages of Mario Bellini’s career. Originally designed for C&B Italia in 1966, it brought the possibilities of molded plastic materials to home furnishings, enabling the creation of a seamless, lightweight shell suitable for industrial production. The seats can be used independently or linked together to create different configurations, anticipating the spatial flexibility that would characterize Italian design in the decades to come.

The combination of a rigid, visible structure with padded sections expresses a concept of comfort distinct from that of the traditional sofa. Its nature as a homogeneous set of five modules fully brings out the project’s architectural and adaptable nature. The model is part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York, a fact that confirms its significance in the history of contemporary design.

Mario Bellini is a key figure in Italian design. He has received eight Compasso d’Oro awards, and MoMA—which holds numerous works by him—dedicated a retrospective to him in 1987.