Dalí based the sofa design on the lips of Mae West, an American actress during the 1930s
You can add a bit of romance to your home with the famous Bocca Lips Sofa, a unique sofa design that has become ever-present as it is recognised all over the world and found in numerous hotels, restaurants, museums and galleries.
The original Bocca Sofa concept dates back to 1936 when it was designed by Salvador Dalí, who was influenced by the Dada and Surrealist movements. Dalí based the sofa design on the lips of Mae West, an American actress during the 1930s. He not only designed a sofa based on her lips but also designed a room that represented her entire body.
The sofa has been renamed many times over the years. First it was called Sofa Mae West and later the Bocca Sofa, the Lips Sofa or the Marilyn Bocca Sofa.
The sofa has been renamed many times over the years
However, the commonest version today was designed by Studio 65 for Gufram Italy in 1972. It was based on the lips of Marilyn Monroe and was created as a tribute to Dalí.
Today, the Bocca Sofa is regarded as a symbol of contemporary art and a representation of modern furniture design. It is included in the permanent collection of New York’s MoMA, Paris’ Louvre, Milan’s Permanent Design Collection and Denver’s Museum of Modern Art. You can also see it in the foyer of the Sanderson London, UK.
It is available online at www.nova68.com. Price: N248, 750.00 ($1,250.00)