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Mario Bellini Chairs

Italian, b. 1935

Milan-born architect and designer Mario Bellini just may be the closest thing to a modern-day Renaissance man: His creative output spans genres, from electronics to furniture to architecture to cars, comprising iconic designs in each. Vintage Mario Bellini sofas, dining chairs and other seating pieces are widely coveted, and the designer has been the recipient of multiple prestigious Compasso d’Oro awards. More than 20 of his works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

Born in 1935, Bellini studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan before founding his own firm in his native city in the early 1960s. He soon branched out beyond architecture, however, first for the tech manufacturer Olivetti, where he served as chief industrial design consultant from 1963 to 1991. During that time, Bellini oversaw the design of some of Olivetti’s most popular typewriters.

His penchant for electronic design didn’t stop there: Bellini also designed cameras for Fuji, televisions for Brionvega and a slew of audio devices for Yamaha, then served as design consultant for Renault and devised the interior of the 1980 Lancia Trevi for Fiat. Meanwhile, his architecture work spans continents, including such modern gems as the Museum of Islamic Arts at the Louvre, the National Gallery of Victoria extension in Melbourne, the Dubai Creek Complex and the Milan Convention Centre in his hometown.

And then there’s the furniture: Over the last 70 years, Bellini has designed office furniture for Vitra; lamps for Artemide, Erco and FLOS; porcelain for Rosenthal and long-admired sofas and other seating for Kartell, Natuzzi, B&B Italia, Cassina and more.

His oft-imitated 1977 Cab chair for Cassina, comprising 16 individual pieces of saddle leather that create a “skin” over a minimal metal frame, remains one of the manufacturer’s best sellers today. His pudgy-legged, round tables for Cassina foreshadow Faye Toogood’s widely loved Roly Poly line. His postmodern Summa armchairs for Kartell, as well as his elegant Chiara floor lamp, still lure collectors on vintage furniture websites.

Bellini’s most famous contribution to furniture design, though, may be his 1970 Camaleonda sofa for B&B Italia (then C&B Italia). An entrant to the 1972 MoMA show “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape,” the seat takes its name from the Italian words for chameleon and wave. Its bulbous, modular form makes it infinitely flexible. The sofa was a runaway hit at the show and, once discontinued, remained so popular among vintage dealers that B&B Italia reissued it in 2020 with all recycled materials and interchangeable seat covers. “Of all the objects I have designed, Camaleonda is perhaps the best in terms of its sense of freedom,” Bellini said.

Browse an expansive collection of vintage Mario Bellini furniture — including dining tables, armchairs, mid-century sofas and more — today on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Mario Bellini
Mario Bellini "CAB 413”Chairs for Cassina, Hazelnut Leather, 1977, Set of 10
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, hazelnut leather, Italy, 1977, set of ten. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the rela...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chair for Cassina, Bordeaux Leather, 1977
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, bordeaux leather, Italy, 1977. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relationship bet...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, China Red Leather, 1978, Set of 10
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, China Red leather, Italy, 1978, set of ten. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the rel...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux Leather, 1977, Set of 8
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux leather, Italy, 1977, set of eight. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the re...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Mustard Leather, 1977, Set of 12
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Mustard yellow leather, Italy, 1977, set of twelve. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Hazelnut Leather, 1977, Set of 14
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, hazelnut leather, Italy, 1977, set of fourteen. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Mustard Leather 1977, Set of 10
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Mustard yellow leather, Italy, 1977, set of ten. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by th...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather, 1978, Set of 12
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, tobacco brown leather, Italy, 1978, set of twelve. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Mustard Leather, 1977, Set of 8
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Mustard yellow leather, Italy, 1977, set of eight. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413”Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather. 1977, Set of 4
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Tobacco dark brown leather, Italy, 1977, set of four. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, China Red Leather, 1978, Set of 12
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, China Red leather, Italy, 1978, set of twelve. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux Leather, 1977, Set of 4
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux leather, Italy, 1977, set of four. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the rel...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux Leather, 1977, Set of 16
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux leather, Italy, 1977, set of sixteen. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather, 1977, Set of 16
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Tobacco dark brown leather, Italy, 1977, set of sixteen. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, inform...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather, 1977, Set of 8
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, dark brown tobacco leather, Italy, 1977, set of eight. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, China Red Leather, 1978, Set of 4
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, China Red leather, Italy, 1978, set of four. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the re...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux Leather, 1977, Set of 12
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux leather, Italy, 1977, set of twelve. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the r...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Set of Six Cab 413 Armchairs Mario Bellini Cassina Dark Grey / Black Leather
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Basel, BS
Fabulous, RARE set of 6 Mario Bellini for Cassina 413 Cab Armchairs in dark grey / matte black. Complete set, in beautiful leather. Very good condition thr...
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Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Metal

Mario Bellini "CAB 413" Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather, 1977, Set of 3
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina in dark brown tobacco leather, Italy, 1977, set of three. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, inform...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

“Le Bambole” Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia - 1970s - New Upholstery
By Mario Bellini
Located in Brussels, BE
Le Bambole” Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia - 1970s - New Upholstery
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Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413" Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1977, Set of 6
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1977, set of six. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relatio...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413" Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1977, Set of 12
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1977, set of twelve. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the rela...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather, 1977, Set of 14
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Tobacco dark brown leather, Italy, 1977, set of fourteen. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, infor...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux Leather, Set of 6
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux leather, Italy, set of six The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relationshi...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413" Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1977, set of 2
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1977, set of two. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relatio...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather, 1977, Set of 12
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Tobacco dark brown leather, Italy, 1977, set of twelve. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informe...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini for Cassina Pair of Black Leather Chairs "Cab T4," Italy 1970s
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Naples, IT
Iconic pair of chairs Mod. Cab designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina, circa 1970s,. The chairs feature the original saddle leather deep black, wrapped in a steel frame. The back leg...
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Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux Leather, 1977, Set of 14
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Bordeaux leather, Italy, 1977, set of fourteen. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413" Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1977, Set of 8
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1977, set of eight. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relat...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413" Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1977, Set of 10
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1977, set of ten. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relatio...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1978, Set of 2
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1978, set of two The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relation...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Hazelnut Leather, 1978, Set of 10
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, hazelnut leather, Italy, 1978, set of ten. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the rela...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Hazelnut Leather, 1978, Set of 8
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, hazelnut leather, Italy, 1978, set of eight. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the re...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chair for Cassina, Black Leather, 1978
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chair for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1978 The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relationship between ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Mustard Leather, 1977, Set of 6
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Mustard yellow leather, Italy, 1977, set of six. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by th...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini Cab Chair
By Mario Bellini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mario Bellini cab chair manufactured by Cassina Italy, circa 1970’s Buttery soft Oxblood leather Light surface markings on the seat Perfectly ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Hazelnut Leather, 1978, Set of 2
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chair for Cassina, hazelnut leather, Italy, 1978, set of two. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relat...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1978, Set of 8
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1978, set of eight The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relati...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

“Le Bambole” Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia - 1970s - New Upholstery
By Mario Bellini
Located in Brussels, BE
Le Bambole” Chair by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia - 1970s - New Upholstery
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1978, Set of 6
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1978, set of six The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relation...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 412” Chairs for Cassina, Black Leather, 1978, Set of 4
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 412" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1978, set of four The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relatio...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather, 1977, Set of 2
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Tobacco dark brown leather, Italy, 1977, set of two. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed b...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Cassina Model Tentazione Mario Bellini Small Armchair Chair Oxred Leather
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Munich, Bavaria
These 2 chairs are designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina in 1973. The Model Tentazione is the small version of the armchair. It can be used in the Living room and also as a dining ch...
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1970s Italian Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Tobacco Leather, 1977, Set of 10
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, Tobacco dark brown leather, Italy, 1977, set of ten. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed b...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini "CAB 413” Chairs for Cassina, Hazelnut Leather, 1977, Set of 4
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, hazelnut leather, Italy, 1977, set of four. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the rel...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Break Armchair by Mario Bellini for Cassina, 1976
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sublimely spare and masterfully constructed arm or dining chair having a lean rectilinear form wrapped in supple oiled leather with piping, zippered side panels and a down-filled ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mario Bellini Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mario Bellini chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Mario Bellini chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of animal skin and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Mario Bellini chairs, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 51 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original chairs by Mario Bellini were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chairs by Gastone Rinaldi, Molteni, and Mobil Girgi. Prices for Mario Bellini chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,061 and can go as high as $50,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,880.
Questions About Mario Bellini Chairs
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    Whether or not a Mario Bellini sofa is comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, many people find that the designer's sofas provide plush support due to their thick backrests and seat cushions. With its sumptuous tufted cushions, seductive low profile and endless rearrangement possibilities, the Bellini–designed Camaleonda sofa, for example, is infinitely flexible and can double as sculpture in any interior. Shop a selection of Mario Bellini furniture on 1stDibs.

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