Set of 8 Cab Side Chairs by Mario Bellini for Cassina in Oxblood Leather, 1970s
For your consideration, a stunning set of eight 'Cab' dining chairs (model '412') designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina. They are wrapped in a rich, luxurious, and moody oxblood red leather, which will imbue any space with the striking elegance of Italian modernism.
Conceptually, the chair was designed to become marked and shaped over time by its user. The leather skin fits like a glove and is fastened with four zippers. The design boasts simplicity, yet the combination of the material and sharp lines merge into a masterful expression. Conceived in 1977, the Cab is one of Mario Bellini's most precise propositions. A tubular steel skeleton is dressed in a single continuous skin of hand-stitched saddle leather, held taut by zippers that run discreetly along the inner legs and beneath the seat. No bolts, no external fasteners. The leather itself gives the chair its form and its finish.
Bellini approached the Cab as an extension of the body rather than a surface for the body to occupy. The construction method is borrowed from the tradition of equestrian saddlery, lending the chair a physical integrity that deepens with use. Over time, the leather yields and conforms, carrying the memory of its user. Each chair quietly becomes singular.
MARIO BELLINI (1935 - ): is an acclaimed Italian (b. Milan) designer and architect whose work is noted for his novel combination of organic aesthetics with contemporary Italian design. The result is a body of work that has been lauded with eight prestigious Compasso d’Oro awards and a Medaglia d’Oro from the Triennale di Milano.
In 1963, Bellini opened his own design studio, Studio Bellini, and would go on to create an array of innovative Italian furniture design pieces. In 1970, he designed the Colonato table, inspired by the ancient Roman columns. His Kar-a-sutra concept car was included in the pivotal 1972 exhibition “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Throughout the decade, he created some of his most prolific designs, including Le Bambole arm chair and sofa for B&B Italia; the Camaleonda sofa for C&B Italia; the CAB leather chair and lounge chairs for Cassina; and the Persona office chair for Vitra. From 1985 until 1991, Bellini also served as editor of Domus magazine, In 1987, the MoMA, which holds 25 of Bellini’s works as part of its permanent collection, launched a retrospective of Bellini’s furniture design. Bellini continues to be a vibrant contributing member of the international design and architectural community.
DIMENSIONS: Height: 32 inches | Width: 19 inches | Depth: 18.5 inches | Seat height: 18 inches
CONDITION: In original vintage condition, with wear commensurate of age and use. Some minor scratches and indentations.
Tear Sheets Are Available For Trade Members.
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