Item Description
Mario Bellini’s Cab is one of the landmark chairs of Italian design. Introduced by Cassina in 1977, it was the first chair to wear its upholstery as a skin: thick saddle leather is stretched over a slim steel frame and closed with zippers running down the legs. The idea earned the collection the Compasso d’Oro in 1979. The 414 is the lounge version, wider and lower than the dining chair, with generous armrests and a deep, relaxed seat. This is a matching pair from 1978, one of the earliest years of production. They are upholstered in the rare elephant hide grey, a deep, slightly warm grey that has aged beautifully. The leather has the thickness and firmness of early Cab production, and it has developed a soft sheen and depth of colour that new chairs don’t have. Tone and patina vary slightly between the two chairs, which is typical of original vintage leather and gives the pair a lived-in character. The loose seat cushions are in a darker grey leather. Both chairs carry the embossed “B-9 Cassina” mark. Contrast stitching traces the seams, and the upholstery folds and drapes naturally across the back and arms. The silhouette is strong and architectural, and the chairs are comfortable in a way their severe lines don’t suggest. They work well as a pair flanking a sofa or fireplace, in a library or study, or around a low table in a living space, and they sit equally well in modern, classic and industrial interiors. Condition: Good vintage condition with honest signs of age and use. The leather shows a natural patina, light scratches and creasing on the seat cushions, and edge wear on the arms and the leg seams where the underlying colour shows through. The structure and stitching are sound. Priced as a pair.
