Le Bambole Modular Leather Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Italy, 1970s

Designed by Mario Bellini in 1972 for C&B Italia, later B&B Italia, Le Bambole marked an important development in the history of Italian upholstered furniture. Bellini approached seating as a composition of soft, generously proportioned volumes, moving away from the conventional distinction between structural frame, padding and upholstery. The original construction combined an internal supporting structure with moulded polyurethane foam, allowing the furniture to retain its shape without visually exposing its framework. This technical innovation gave Le Bambole its distinctive appearance, with the upholstery becoming an integral part of the object's form. The collection was awarded the prestigious Compasso d'Oro in 1979 and is represented in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

This modular configuration brings together individual seating elements and upholstered ottomans, allowing the arrangement to be adapted to different spatial settings. The generously padded seats, softly defined backrests and rounded contours create a continuous composition without visible legs or rigid exterior framing. Upholstered in brown leather, the individual elements display tonal variations and a developed patina that emphasise the material's natural character. A manufacturer's stamp on the underside identifies B&B Italia.