Set of Eight Mario Bellini Amanta Lounge Chairs for C&B Italia, Late 1960's.

An exceptional and unusually large set of eight “Amanta” lounge chairs designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Italia, Italy, circa late 1960s–early 1970s.

Designed in 1966, the Amanta was one of Mario Bellini’s earliest and most important experiments in modular upholstered seating. Bellini’s own archive identifies the Amanta as a 1966 design created specifically for C&B Italia.

Each chair is constructed around a sculptural molded fiberglass shell with generously padded cushions upholstered in supple neutral-toned leather. The fiberglass structure sweeps continuously from beneath the seat upward around the back, creating the distinctive architectural profile that gives the Amanta its combination of visual lightness and substantial comfort.

The low-slung proportions, broad seat, tufted cushions, exposed molded shell, and discreet rounded feet are characteristic of Bellini's progressive approach to furniture during the period. The chairs can be used individually or arranged together as a modular seating composition, allowing this remarkable group of eight to function as anything from paired lounge chairs to an expansive sectional installation.

Dimensions:

Height: 27 in.
Width: 31.5 in.
Depth: 35 in.

Seat Height: 17.75 in.

Why These Are C&B Italia — Not B&B Italia

The distinction is historically important.

C&B Italia was founded in 1966 as a partnership between Piero Ambrogio Busnelli and Cassina. B&B Italia's own company history confirms that the business began under the name C&B in 1966. Mario Bellini designed the Amanta that same year for C&B Italia; his official archive lists the client specifically as C&B Italia S.p.A.

The company did not become B&B Italia until 1973, when the corporate structure changed and the B&B Italia name was adopted. MoMA's historical study of Bellini likewise describes C&B Italia as the Cassina-Busnelli partnership that lasted until 1973.