CAB Chairs in Burgundy Leather by Mario Bellini for Cassina, Italy, 1970s, Set of 6

Of course, known for their presence in the MoMa in New York are these CAB chairs by the Italian architect and designer Mario Bellini. Its design communicates an exercise in simplicity, craftsmanship, and beauty. This set consists of four dining chairs model 412 without an armrest and two model 413 with an armrest.

Design
The burgundy or ‘oxblood red’ saddle leather has undergone sixteen steps before it can be used for this chair. One is the thinning of the leather so that it can be pulled over the steel frame without tearing or cracking. The frame is slender and pleasantly weighted and ensures that the leather sets beautifully. When you see this chair up close, the craftsmanship involved in producing it becomes really clear. The stitching with which the leather parts are sewn together is done manually and shows the splendor of the craftsmanship. At the bottom of the seat, the Cassina logo adorns the plastic cover that hides the steel frame. The leather cover is removable by opening the robust zippers that run from each leg to the bottom of the seat. The patina of this set of chairs is sublime and shows that they have been treated with love over time. And last but not least a small note on the seating comfort which is very good.

Condition
This is a set in good condition, but with some weare and tear due to its age. Scratches are part of this. We particularly like the patina and color on this timeless set.  

Model 412 without armrest: 81 cm height x 47 cm width x 42 cm depth and seating height 45 cm
Model 413, with armrest: 81 cm heights x 58 cm width x 46 cm depth and seating height 45 cm