Every so often a company produces a design so iconic that it comes to symbolize its entire history. For Studio 65, the Italian avant-garde design collective cofounded by Franco Audrito, Piero Gatti and others, this was the Bocca sofa — alternatively known as the “lips sofa,” “red lip sofa,” “Dalí sofa” or Marilyn sofa.”
Studio 65’s lip-shaped seat — modeled after a singular feature from Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí’s portrait of Mae West — became a design icon shortly after its release in 1970 and remains a beloved collector’s item today. The Bocca symbolizes Studio 65’s playful, subversive approach to design. The collective took shape in Turin in 1965 with the goal of avant-garde experimentation. The group would eventually grow to comprise artists, designers and poets, including Roberta Garosci, Enzo Bertone, Paolo Morello and Paolo Rondelli. It would also play a central role in the Italian Radical design movement, the practitioners of which found inspiration in Pop art, minimalism and Arte Povera.
The Bocca sofa was born of one of Audrito’s earliest commissions — to design a gym in Milan — which he accepted just a year after graduating from architecture school. The collective enlisted Italian manufacturer Gufram, a firm at the forefront of Italian Radical design, to create a bold red sofa in the shape of plump lips; it was dubbed Marilyn after Ms. Monroe and was an instant sensation when installed at the fitness center.
Studio 65 would follow this with the also iconic Capitello side chair (another Gufram collaboration, now in the permanent collection at The Met), whose reimagining of a decapitated marble classical architectural column in squishy foam was an on-the-nose expression of the group’s pushback to traditional design. It’s a nod they iterated with the Attica coffee table, whose form appears sliced from an oversize column.
Though Studio 65 still operates as an architecture studio under the leadership of Audrito today, the original collective broke up in the late 1970s, making its output from the past decade sought-after fodder for collectors of postmodern, Radical and Italian design.
Find Studio 65 chairs, sofas and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1970s Colorful Sculptural Wood Base Swivel Chair
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The beautiful rare swivel chair is statement piece which is also extremely comfortable and packed with personality! Attributed to Adrian Pearsall. Just look at the gorgeous lines and...
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Organic Wood Sculptural Carved Cerused Oak Barrel Swivel Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The extremely rare and stylish hand carved solid wood swivel chairs are packed with personality! Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. Hand carved cerused oak from a single woo...
Wood
1960s Dali Style Artistic Sculptural Wood Figural Faces Folk Art Chair, Set of 2
By (after) Salvador Dali
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, artistic chairs you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the be...
Wood, Paint
1950s Organic Wood Sculptural Cerused Oak Barrel Curved Swivel Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The extremely rare and stylish hand carved solid wood swivel chairs are packed with personality! Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. Hand carved cerused oak from a single woo...
Wood
1960s Italian Biomorphic Sculptural Double Octagonal Pedestal Marble Desk
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Extremely rare and one of a kind biomorphic marble desk. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. Just look at the gorgeous curves on this beauty! This beutiful beige marble desk ...
Marble
1970s Rare Biomorphic Free Form Wood Sculptural Coffee Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, coffee table you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best,...
Laminate, Wood
Large Mid Century Stoneware Apple Sculpture by Hans Hedberg for Biot France 1950
By Hans Hedberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A very rare and unique oversized Swedish mid century stoneware apple in yellow, red and green glaze by Hans Hedberg produced for Biot in south of France, 1950s. In good original cond...
Stoneware
Terracotta Apple Sculpture – Tuscany, 1950s
Located in Madrid, ES
"Terracotta Apple Sculpture – Tuscany, 1950s" Materials: Terracotta and bronze Origin: Tuscany, Italy Period: 1950s Dimensions: 44 x 35 x 18 cm Unique decorative sculpture in the sh...
Terracotta
Apple Sculpture by Per Hammarström, Sweden, 1980’s / 1990’s
By Per Hammarström
Located in Stockholm, SE
Apple sculpture by Per Hammarström, Sweden, 1980’s / 1990’s. Stoneware. Signed. Per Hammarström is one of Sweden’s most highly regarded ceramicists. Per’s work doesn’t conform to the Swedish style of simplicity; instead he loves colour and texture, and exploring the multi-faceted function of ceramics. Per began his training at the Gustavsbergs Porcelain Studio in 1978, which is sadly no longer in existence. In 1984 he opened his own studio in Strängnäs, and has worked in this manner ever since. Per’s work is characterised by organic forms and his own distinctive glazes, often in bright colours and strong contrasts. His work is unique, each piece starting out as a roughly thrown form, which is worked and transformed into bowls that are characterised by their delicacy and translucency. The organic form is embodied in the textured ceramics of Per. His works are either made from stoneware or porcelain. The inspiration of much of his work is the sea, but he also draws from flora and fauna; and the changing of the seasons. The undulating colours of the sea, sky and land manifest themselves in his delicately crafted and vividly coloured ceramics. Through elaborate dining-ware and ceramic ornaments...
Stoneware
Wendell Castle "Castle Chair" Fiberglass Lounge Chair / Sculpture
By Wendell Castle
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wendell Castle Red Fiberglass "Castle Chair" red fiberglass,, aRT / sCULPTURE Iconic fiberglass chair from Wendell Castle's Molar Series in very desirable red color. Original condit...
Fiberglass
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Hand Chair in the Style of Pedro Friedeberg, 1970s
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Almelo, NL
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Hand Chair in the Style of Pedro Friedeberg, 1970s A captivating example of Mid-Century Modern surrealism, this sculptural hand chair, carved entirely ...
Wood
Monumental Apple Sculpture by Selma Calheira, Fired Clay, Brazil
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Monumental Apple sculpture by Selma Calheira for Cores Da Terra. This fired clay apple is a true show stopper. Very realistically done.
Pottery
