Cassina • CAB 413
Chair
Frame in black coated tubular steel. Seat shell in black plastic material. Flexible cold moulded polyurethane foam, covered in leather. Black plastic feet. Designed by Mario Bellini. Cassina edition.
The entire Cassina collection can be ordered in our physical stores.
REF. 93885
W.62 x H.82 x D.52cm
Seat H.45cm
In Stock
"This was a new kind of chair, constructed totally out of leather, much cloned since then.” Thus Mario Bellini describes Cab, a best-seller that he designed in the 1970s, which is now a signature piece in Cassina’s I Contemporanei collection.
Cab was the first-ever chair to feature a free-standing leather structure, inspired by how our skin fits over our skeleton. They undergo fourteen discrete procedures, again by hand. The pieces are sewn together only when their outer edges have been trimmed to ensure a perfect fit. Once assembled, the cover is attached to the chair’s steel skeleton and held in place by means of a zipper fastening, as in a bespoke tailored garment.
Mario Bellini (b. 1935, Milan) is a celebrated Italian architect and designer known for his influential work across industrial design, furniture, and architecture. Trained at the Politecnico di Milano, he rose to prominence in the 1960s through collaborations with leading brands like Olivetti, Brionvega, Cassina, and B&B Italia.
His designs, such as the sculptural Divisumma 18 calculator (Olivetti, 1973) and the modular Camaleonda sofa (B&B Italia, 1970), reflect a pioneering blend of innovation and form. The Cab chair (Cassina, 1977) revolutionized seating design with its self-supporting leather cover. Many of his products are now part of MoMA’s permanent collection. In architecture, Bellini has executed major projects including the Tokyo Design Center, Milan Convention Centre, and the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre (2012, with Rudy Ricciotti). He has received numerous honors, including eight Compasso d’Oro awards and a 1987 retrospective at MoMA. Bellini’s legacy bridges disciplines, reflecting a uniquely Italian synthesis of art, technology, and design.
Established in 1927 by Cesare and Umberto Cassina in Meda, near Milan, Cassina launched industrial design in Italy in the 1950s, based on a totally innovative approach that marked the transition from artisan production to mass production. Throughout its history, Cassina has been a melting pot of design luminaries. In the 1950s, it forged an iconic partnership with architects like Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand, creating legendary pieces such as the LC1 Sling Chair and LC2 Grand Confort sofa. These collaborations revolutionized furniture design, emphasizing form and function in equal measure.
One of Cassina's remarkable aspects is its ability to transcend eras. The brand's reissues of iconic designs retain their original essence while adapting to modern sensibilities, appealing to new generations of design enthusiasts. This blend of heritage and contemporary relevance is exemplified in pieces like the LC4 Chaise Longue, a timeless icon of comfort and style. Cassina's collaborations extend beyond mid-century architects. It has partnered with contemporary designers like Philippe Starck, Patricia Urquiola, and Jaime Hayon, infusing fresh perspectives into its collections. These collaborations merge diverse design philosophies, resulting in eclectic yet harmonious pieces that resonate with a broad audience.
In the present design landscape, Cassina stands as a bastion of innovation and heritage, continuously pushing boundaries while honoring its rich legacy. Its commitment to craftsmanship, combined with a forward-thinking approach, ensures its relevance and enduring influence in the ever-evolving world of design.
