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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
$8,216
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Materials
Related Creators
Midcentury Soriana sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Italy 1969
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Set composed by two seater sofa and two ottoman by Afra e Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Original label Cassina. The idea for this armchair that changed the face of upholstered furniture ...
Category

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

Materials

Metal

Vintage Soriana Sofa by Afra & Tobia Scarpa in Original Natural Leather, 1970
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The above sofa is part of a suite of three total pieces including lounge chair and ottoman from the same estate, please enquire to acquire the entire suite. Designed by Afra and Tob...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Leather, Plastic, Foam

Vintage Soriana Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Afra & Tobia Scarpa in Leather, 1970
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The above lounge chair and ottoman is part of a suite of three total pieces including a two seater sofa from the same estate, please enquire to acquire the entire suite. Designed b...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Steel

Bastiano Four Seater Sofa by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Gavina
By Dino Gavina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Pasadena, CA
This rare 4 seater "Bastiano" Sofa designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa was manufactured in solid ash by Gavina . It retains its original Label. Newly Reupholstered in an off-white cotton...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Upholstery, Ash

Pigreco chair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Gavina, 1960s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Pigreco chair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Gavina, 1960s, Made in Italy.  Restored and reupholstered chair with light gray leather seat.  The price of shipping is for the Italian terri...
Category

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

Materials

Leather, Wood

Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black & Red Leather Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 12
By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of twelve “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973. Made of English red and black leather and walnut. Fully restored in Italy. Interesting is t...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Leather, Walnut

'Butterfly' Floorlamp by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Flos Italy 1985
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Flos
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Important Post Modern 'Butterfly' Floorlamp by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Flos Italy 1985 The heat-resistant synthetic fabric 'butterfly' wings can be adjusted in size and position to...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Chrome

Set of 6 Monk leather Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, Italy 1974
By Tobia Scarpa, Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & C, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Argelato, BO
Set of 6 leather and wood chairs model Monk, Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, Italy It is one of the most iconic and refined models by the famous Italian architect and designer coup...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Materials

Leather, Wood

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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 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.

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