An "Anfibio" sofa bed by Alessandro Becchi for Giovannetti Collezioni, Italy, 1970s
An "Anfibio" sofa bed by Alessandro Becchi for Giovannetti Collezioni, Italy, 1970s
One of the rarest of mid-century design sofas, the “Anfibio” sofa bed was a design by Alessandro Becchi for Giovannetti Collezioni in 1972. The Anfibio is a cult item of its genre. It combines aesthetics with practicality; with a few simple manoeuvres it can be transformed from comfortable sofa to a full sized double bed. This particular example is in superb condition considering its age. The vast majority of these sofas that are available to buy have either been reupholstered or they are of recent production. Although impossible to attribute the exact date of production, this is a very early example, almost certainly dating to the 1970s and is still in its original tan leather upholstery. There has been some sympathetic restorations to the sofa over the years but these minor flaws do not detract from the overall beauty and originality of the object. The Anfibio is a wonderful conversation piece, an icon of pop-art design and can be seen at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Born in 1946, after his studies at the ISIA (design academy) in Florence, Alessandro Becchi began his career as a designer. In 1972 he was invited to the exhibition "ltaly: the new domestic landscape" at the MoMA in New York, presenting Anfibio. This date inaugurates a close collaboration with Giovannetti, for whom he designs a series of sofas with the function of bed, such as Only You, Brando, Diletto and the famous series of Le Bugie armchairs. A designer with remarkable skills, Becchi brings innovation, freshness, love for design to the whole company, establishing, in addition to an excellent professional relationship with Benito Giovannetti, also and above all a deep emotional bond. It was probably this intense human relationship that gave "that something extra" to products of recognized success. The collaboration was interrupted in 1987, with the death of Becchi.
Condition: good condition consistent with age. One of the straps to the rear has is a replacement, some discolouration of the leather, small hole to interior bedding fabric, label partially torn off, old hole repair to seating area, about the size of a thumbnail. Zipper sliders at the back of the sofa missing. Please refer to photographs.
Dimensions: 63cm high, 231cm wide, 99cm deep
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REFERENCE: F2293