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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
$7,490
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Materials
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Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” Sofa for Cassina, Bouclé, 1969
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Milan, IT
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” Sofa for Cassina, Bouclé Wool, 1969 Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina Mid-Century two seater "Soriana" sof...
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1970s Italian Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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"Marly" Bookcase by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni
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Marly free standing bookcase by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni. The piece "develops the theme of tensile structure; the main supports are ...
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1980s Italian Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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  • "Marly" Bookcase by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni
  • "Marly" Bookcase by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni
  • "Marly" Bookcase by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni
  • "Marly" Bookcase by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni
H 85.83 in. W 74.81 in. D 11.82 in.
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto 'Artona' Cabinet in Pau Ferro
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, cabinet, model 'Artona', pau ferro, glass, leather and brass, Italy, circa 1975. This cabinet is designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa during the first per...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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Afra & Tobia Scarpa Velvet Lauriana Sofa
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B Italia
Located in Dronten, NL
Lauriana 2-seater sofa designed in 1978 by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia. Eggplant removable velvet upholstery with camel leather piping. Mounted on a steel frame with plastic...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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  • Afra & Tobia Scarpa Velvet Lauriana Sofa
  • Afra & Tobia Scarpa Velvet Lauriana Sofa
  • Afra & Tobia Scarpa Velvet Lauriana Sofa
  • Afra & Tobia Scarpa Velvet Lauriana Sofa
H 32.68 in. W 63.78 in. D 33.47 in.
Seven Bastiano Armchairs in Leather by Tobia Scarpa, Haimi Finland, 1960s
By Haimi, Tobia Scarpa, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Helsinki, FI
Seven Bastiano armchairs in leather by Tobia Scarpa for Haimi Finland, from the 1960s. Palisander frame with congac leather seats. Good vintage condition, minor wear consistent with ...
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1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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Three Bastiano Sofas in Leather by Tobia Scarpa for Haimi Finland, 1960s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Haimi, Tobia Scarpa
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Three Bastiano sofas in leather by Tobia Scarpa for Haimi Finland, from the 1960s. Palisander frame with original cognac leather seats. Good vintage condition, minor wear consistent ...
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Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto 'Artona' Side Table in Ash
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 'Artona' side table, ash, Italy, 1975 The famous furniture line ‘Artona’ that Afra and Tobia Scarpa designed for Maxalto in 1975 also features thi...
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1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Ash

Vintage Soriana Sofa Design Afra and Tobiai Scarpa for Cassina, 1970s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Impeccably restored, this authentic vintage Afra and Tobia Scarpa Soriana medium sofa (settee) exude timeless charm. Painstakingly restored and expertly upholstered with exquisite It...
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20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Afra & Tobia Scarpa

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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 483 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, Vico Magistretti, and Osvaldo Borsani. Prices for Afra & Tobia Scarpa furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £270 and can go as high as £80,430, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £7,411.

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