Designed by Mario Bellini in 1971 for C&B Italia, the Gli Scacchi series is a notable example of radical Italian design, comprising a modular system that challenged conventional ideas of furniture ownership and use.

The innovation lies in both material and concept. Constructed from moulded polyurethane, the pieces are formed as simple geometric blocks that can be combined and arranged in different configurations. The use of industrial foam technology allowed Bellini to create furniture with both a strong visual presence and a flexibility of use previously uncommon in domestic design – the blocks are typically viewed as tables but can also serve as seating.

Rather than prescribing a final composition, Bellini created a system in which the owner determines the arrangement and, in doing so, becomes part of the design process.

At the time of their creation, this was a radical departure from traditional furniture design, where the designer determined the final appearance and intended use of the object. Bellini instead created a system in which the user became an active participant, deciding how the individual elements should be arranged and used.

Gli Scacchi can be translated as 'chess' or 'chess pieces', and each piece represents a Queen, Knight or Rook. The pieces have a characterful layer of surface scratches and a small number of surface impressions consistent with age and the nature of the material, and the condition is good amongst typical examples.

A highly influential work from Bellini’s early career, Gli Scacchi remains notable for its originality of concept, its innovative use of materials and its redefinition of the relationship between designer, object and owner.