Sofa and Pouf by Mario Marenco for Arflex, Italy, 1971, Set of 2

Super cosy lounge sofa designed by Mario Marenco and manufactured by Arflex in Italy in 1970s. The Marenco sofa from Arflex is all about top-notch comfort and quality and is stil relevant today. This sofa is like a big hug, thanks to its extremely comfortable cushions. The metal frame that gives the sofa its shape and sturdiness. When it came to the market in the 70s, it was a game-changer because each cushion got its own padding and cover. This is a newer version and it’s upholstered in this nice linen-look fabric that can be washed. It’s in excellent condition. This sofa is the biggest version you can get, and it comes with a matching poof which a hard-to-find combination. The sofa is marked with the Arflex label. Kindly note that the price is for the sofa and poof together. Literature; Repertorio Del Design Italiano 1950~2000 Volume 1 Giuliana Gramigna, page 191. In 1947 Carlo Barassi, engineer of Pirelli, together with Renato Teani, in the financial dpt. of Pirelli, Pio Reggiani and Aldo Bai, founded the company Ar-flex (flexible furniture), that became later arflex. They worked together with a young architect Marzo Zanuso and began to experiment the use of foam rubber and elastic tapes for the furniture market. In history and life of a company there are events and moments of special meaning, which are awards for merit acknowledged by everybody. Those first memorable moments in the history of arflex coincide with the company’s creation, in modest premises in Milan’s Corso di Porta Vittoria. It was there that the first manufacturing and sales team was formed, but the arflex company was only presented to the public for the first time in 1951, at the IX Triennale in Milan, after two years of experimentations. This early contact with a wider audience in the context of an avant-garde artistic event is very significant in the company’s history. This experimental interest, if not separated from commercial purposes, shows the will of creating high technological and esthetical level products, based on deep research and experimentation. The golden medal at the IX Triennale assigned to Lady armchair was above all recognition of Arflex manufacturing philosophy.