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Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Italian

Widely recognized as superstars of postmodern Italian design, husband-and-wife team Afra and Tobia Scarpa (1937–2011; b. 1935) collaboratively created chairs, sofas and other furniture that work equally well in both traditional and cutting-edge environments.

Ranging from architecture and interior design to furniture and clothing, the Scarpas’ practice from its beginnings in the mid-1950s to the 21st century has included a diverse scope of projects combining new technology with thoughtful function and sculptural yet simple forms.

Afra Bianchin and Tobia Scarpa met as architecture students at the Università Iuav di Venezia. In a class led by architect and furniture designer Franco Albini, they created their first collaborative piece, the Pigreco armchair, later produced with Gavina. After graduating in 1957, Tobia worked for Murano glass company Venini & Co. before the couple opened a studio in Afra’s hometown, Montebelluna, in 1960. (Tobia, the son of famed glass artist and architect Carlo Scarpa, was born in Venice.)

For Afra and Tobia, a close collaborative process was pivotal to the success of their designs. The duo was also prolific — they designed for the most influential European manufacturers, including B&B Italia, Cassina, Knoll and FLOS. With respect to the latter, Afra and Tobia were among the legendary Italian lighting maker’s earliest collaborators, and their pioneering designs for the brand included the Papillon lamp, one of the first fixtures to use halogen technology. Their most recognized designs include the Bastiano sofa (1962), the Vanessa bed (1959), the Coronado sofa (1966) and the Soriana seating collection (1970). Work on the Soriana sofa began in late 1969 for an early 1970 debut, and it feels as radical today as it did in its heyday.

Architecture was also a central part of Afra and Tobia’s practice, which spanned residential buildings and factories for Italian companies such as Benetton. Their commissions for the global fashion brand included numerous industrial projects, from textile plants to storefronts. By 1985, Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s work was celebrated in a 30-year retrospective at Center Four in Queens, New York. Looking around the 30,000-square-foot exhibition space, Afra joked to the New York Times, “Seeing all those things makes us feel very tired, and now we feel that maybe we worked too much.”

It was not too much for their legacy, as Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s work continues to inspire new generations. Scarpa designs are in collections at the Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The couple was awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1970 for the Soriana armchair.

Find vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa lounge chairs, dining chairs, floor lamps and other furniture today on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$7,209
Styles
Materials
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Artona dining table by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, produced by Maxalto Italy, 1970
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Artona dining table by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, produced by Maxalto Elegant dining table from the Artona series, designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa. Crafted with a solid walnut wood struct...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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set of 5 Afra and Tobia Scarpa “Foglio” wall lights, 1970s Italy
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Located in Den Haag, NL
The Foglio wall lamp, designed by the renowned Italian duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa in 1966, is a timeless icon of minimalist elegance and functional design. Produced by Flos, the lamp ...
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1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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Steel

Nictea Pendant by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Flos
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Flos
Located in Berlin, DE
The Nictea pendant is composed of two rounded sections, seamlessly connected by carefully integrated metal components that are central to its design. Light gently passes through the ...
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1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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Nictea Pendant by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Flos
Nictea Pendant by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Flos
$5,346 / item
H 13 in Dm 18.12 in
Africa Chairs (8) By Afra And Tobia Scarpa Maxalto Walnut, Black Leather, Italy
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vienna, AT
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Africa" dining chairs for Maxalto, black leather, walnut, brass, Italy, circa 1975-1980, set of eight. Very good original condition. This set of 8 matching chai...
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1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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Brass

Square Coffee Table Signed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Italy 1960s
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century coffee table Model 771 in walnut wood designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and produced by Cassina, in Italy during the 1960s. The table is signed underneath one of...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Abatina table lamp designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy 1980s
By Flos, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, IT
Designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Flos, the ‘Abatina’ table lamp is a true celebration of the elegance and excellence that defined Italian design in the 1980s. This sophisticat...
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1980s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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Metal

Coffee Table in Wood and Glass Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Italy 1960s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Rome, IT
midcentury Rectangular coffee table in solid wood and smoked glass top by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Made in Italy in the 1960s. Wood has been polished by a professional ...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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Smoked Glass, Wood

New and Made to Order Customizable Tacchini Africa Chair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa
By Tacchini, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in New York, NY
Price listed for starting fabric and Walnut Stained ash wood Africa is a chair that encapsulates a perfect synthesis of structure, form, and functionality in a sculpture that highli...
Category

2010s Italian Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Wood, Ash

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Afra & Tobia Scarpa Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$13,002Armchairs, Lounge ChairsMetal, Leather, Wood1970s
2025$9,061Dining Room ChairsCanvas, Walnutcirca 1970
2025$3,200Beds and Bed FramesMetal1950s
2025$6,984Living Room SetsLeather, Wood1960
2025$3,129Floor LampsFabric, Aluminum, Enamel1980s
2025$2,511Coffee and Cocktail Tables, TablesWood, Walnut1960s
2025$19,300Dining Room Chairs, ChairsLeather, Walnut1970s
2025$8,575Chairs, Dining Room ChairsLeather, Walnut1967
2025$4,000SideboardsLeather, Walnut1980
2025$4,700Dining Room Chairs, ChairsLeather, Beech1974
2025$1,598Tables, Coffee and Cocktail TablesGlass, Smoked Glass, Wood, Walnut1960s
2025$4,100Dining Room TablesTravertine1970s
2025$7,400Dining Room ChairsCanvas, Walnut1970s
2025$1,150Sofa Tables, Coffee and Cocktail TablesSmoked Glass, Mahogany1960s
2025$1,790Tables, Coffee and Cocktail TablesGlass, Smoked Glass, Wood, Walnut1960s
2025$5,400LoveseatsLeather, Rosewood1960
2025$1,100Dining Room ChairsMetal, Canvas, Wood1974
2025$2,750Coffee and Cocktail Tables, TablesWood, Walnut1960s
2025$15,000SofasMetal, Fabric1970s
2025$4,386Dining Room TablesWood1975
$7,209
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$400-$41,850
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Afra & Tobia Scarpa furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Afra & Tobia Scarpa furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Afra & Tobia Scarpa furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 599 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 2 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Afra & Tobia Scarpa were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Mario Bellini, Gio Ponti, and Vico Magistretti. Prices for Afra & Tobia Scarpa furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $373 and can go as high as $109,295, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,728.
Questions About Afra & Tobia Scarpa
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 6, 2024
    Yes, Tobia Scarpa is related to Carlo Scarpa. A well-known architect and designer in his own right, Tobia is the son of the legendary architect Carlo Scarpa. Tobia studied architecture at the Università Iuav di Venezia in Venice, where he met designer Afra Bianchin, who would become his wife and long-time collaborator. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Tobia Scarpa furniture.

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