Marius & Marius Armchairs and Pouf by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s, Set of 3

About This Piece

Vintage Design

Set of 2 Marius & Marius armchairs and poufs designed by Mario Marenco for Arflex in the 70s.
Painted metal structure, wooden base, foam rubber cushions, cotton covering and plastic feet.
Excellent condition, new soft cotton lining.

Armchair measurements: 104 cm x 90 cm H 61 cm - H seat 37 cm
pouf: 64 cm x 64 cm H 37 cm

Mario Marenco (Foggia, 9 September 1933 – Rome, 17 March 2019) was an Italian comedian, humorist, actor, television author, as well as architect and designer. He graduated in architecture in 1957, in Naples, later obtaining research grants in Stockholm and Chicago. In 1960 he opened his own architecture and design atelier: Studio DEGW, based in Rome. His activity in these sectors, which he always carried forward together with his artistic career, is demonstrated by projects developed for well-known industries: the aluminum chandelier with references to Op art Cynthia, distributed in 1960 by Artemide, the Marius & Marius sofa of 1970, designed for Arflex according to modular concepts, in 1984 the Movie armchair, Marenco also collaborated with the most important Italian car manufacturers for the creation of their exhibition stands.

ARFELX:

In 1947 Carlo Barassi, a Pirelli engineer together with Renato Teani, from the Pirelli financial sector, Pio Reggiani and Aldo Bai, founded the company Ar-flex ('flexible furnishings') later arflex, who together with a young architect Marco Zanuso, they began to experiment with the use of foam and elastic ribbons for furnishings.
In the history and life of a company there are events and moments of special significance, which constitute titles of merit recognized by all. The first memorable facts about arflex coincide with its birth, in a small factory in Corso di Porta Vittoria in Milan. The first organizational production and sales unit was established there, but the first meeting with the public took place on the occasion of the IX Triennale di Milano in 1951, after two years of experiments. It is precisely this first emergence into the limelight in a strictly cultural avant-garde field that must be kept in mind when covering the history of the company, because this experimental interest, if not separated from commercial purposes, reveals the desire to create products of high technological and aesthetic, based on in-depth research and experimentation. The Gold Medal of the IX Triennale, awarded to the Lady armchair, rewarded first and foremost this aspect of Arflex production.

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Creator	Mario Marenco
Manufacturer	Arflex
Design Period	1970 to 1979
Year	1970
Production Period	1970 to 1979
Country of Manufacture	Italy
Identifying Marks	This piece has been attributed based on archival documentation, such as vintage catalogs, designer records, or other literature sources
Style	Mid-Century
Detailed Condition	Restored — This vintage/antique item is in very good condition because it has been refreshed through new upholstery and/or refinishing.
Restoration and Damage Details	Reupholstered, Partially restored, Surface has been polished, Reupholstered
Product Code	DXK-1983786
Materials	Cotton, Metal, ABS, Compressed Wood, Polyurethane
Color	Ivory
Width	104 cm 40.9 inch
Depth	90 cm 35.4 inch
Height	61 cm 24.0 inch
Seat Height	14.6 inch
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	Italy
Duties Notice	Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order.
Returns	Returns accepted within two days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

About the Maker

Arflex

Italian furniture manufacturing company Arflex was originally founded in Milan 1947 by a team of engineers—Carlo Barassi, Renato Teani, Pio Reggiani, and Aldo Bai—from Italian tire company Pirelli. While exploring new technologies in rubber production, they developed a new polyurethane foam and elastic tape that held great potential for modernist furniture design. Italian architect-designer Marco Zanuso (1916-2001) was brought in to create the first collections, guided by the principle that the new materials would inform the aesthetic result.

In 1951, Arflex unveiled its first piece, Zanuso’s Lady Armchair, which won the gold medal at Milan’s IX Triennale and helped catapult Arflex to international acclaim. Other successful designs by Zanuso were introduced over the years, such as the Sleep-o-matic Sofa (1951), the Martingala Armchair (1952), and the Fourline Armchair (1964).

Starting in 1952, Arflex began to work with other Italian architect-designers to broaden their product line. Standouts from the postwar era include the Fiorenza Armchair (1952) by Franco Albini, the Neptunia (1953) and Elettra (1954) collections by BBPR, the Delfino collection (1954) by Erberto Carboni, and the Bobo Lounge (1967) and Serpentone Lounge (1971) by Cini Boeri. Through the decades, Arflex has worked with an astounding roster of influential talents: Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Roberto Manghi, , Joe Colombo, Tito Agnoli, Carlo Mollino, Michele De Lucchi, Yaacov Kaufman, Ettore Sottsass, and Angelo Mangiarotti.

Between 1951 and 1954, Arflex also produced car seats for Fiat. These seats, designed by Barassi, were adjustable and offered superior comfort thanks to the suppleness of the polyurethane foam rubber. In 1966—in collaboration with Italian furniture brands Cassina, Tecno, and Bernini—Arflex created the legendary design magazine Ottagono, which is still in publication today. In 1969, Arflex Japan was founded, followed by Arflex du Brazil in 1970.

The company trademark was bought by Seven Salotti Spa in 1995, and a number of discontinued designs were put back into production. In 2007, Arflex celebrated its 60th anniversary with a large-scale exhibition of works from the brand’s historical mounted in Milan during Salone del Mobile.

Arflex is celebrated for its incredible legacy working with iconic designers who have won numerous awards, and Arflex designs can be found in museums around the world, like the Triennale Museum in Milan, the Triennale Museum in Tokyo, the MoMa in New York, and the Chicago Athenaeum.

*All images courtesy of Arflex