Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
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.
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Creator: Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Giacomino Armachair Design Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Meritalia, 1998
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in taranto, IT
Wonderful and rare "giacominbo" armchair, design afra & tobia scarpa fo Meritalia, 1998.
New, never used, from a closed store.
Perfect conditions, as pics, red color.
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Polyester
Set of 2 Black Leather "121" Chairs by Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Italy, 1967
By Tobia Scarpa, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Argelato, BO
Set of 2 Black Leather "121" Chairs by Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Italy, 1967
The chair, which has now become an icon of Italian style, features Scarpa's typical double trestle struc...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Wood
Black Leather & Walnut Modular Sofas Mod. 920 by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina
By Figli di Amadeo Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Pair of modular sofas in black leather and walnut designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and produced by Cassina since 1967.
Their conception is very...
Category
1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Wood, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "New Harmony" Dining Chairs for Maxalto, 1987, Set of 6
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "New Harmony" dining chairs for Maxalto, walnut and ebony, Italy 1987, set of six.
The “New Harmony” dining chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, designed for Maxalto i...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Dialogo" Dining Chairs for B&B Italia, 1973, set of 12
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Dialogo" dining chairs with armrests for B&B Italia, leather, Italy, 1973, set of twelve.
"Dialogo", in substance, is a return to the formal solution of the 121...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
20th Century, Afra & Tobia Scarpa Pair of Armchair mod. Ciprea for Cassina
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Turin, Turin
Afra Bianchin and Tobia Scarpa started their collaboration in the 1959 sharing numerous important projects, in particular in the supply sector, establishing themselves as exponents o...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Fabric
Pair of 'Ronda' Armchairs By Tobia & Afra Scarpa for Casas, Spain
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of 'Ronda armchairs by Tobia & Afra Scarpa for Casas, Spain. Rare version with tiny casters the allow you to roll forward and backwards. Reupholstered in Paris L' Apres-Midi / Q...
Category
1970s Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Fabric
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Africa" Chairs for Maxalto, Reddish Brown, 1975, Set of 6
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Africa" dining chairs for Maxalto, reddish brown leather, walnut, burl and brass, Italy, 1975, set of six.
Originally hand finished and assembled one-by-one, "...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Brass
Set of Six 'Africa' Mid-Century Italian Dining Chairs by Scarpa
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in London, GB
A rare set of dining chairs by Afra and Tobia Scarpa (re-upholstery included).
Italy, c1975.
For Maxalto.
Designed as part of the 'Artona' line these scarce chairs are some of ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Off White Canvas Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 8
By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of eight “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973.
Made of off white canvas and walnut.
Fully restored in Italy.
Interesting is the ‘flat’ shap...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Walnut, Canvas
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black Leather and Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 14
By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of fourteen “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973.
Made of black leather and ash wood.
Fully restored in Italy.
Interesting is the ‘flat’ sh...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Ash
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Chairs for Molteni, Ivory Canvas, 1974, Set of 12
By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" dining chairs for Molteni, ivory canvas and walnut, Italy, 1974, set of twelve.
The particular feature of this model is the support structure composed of ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Canvas, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Chairs for Molteni, Black Canvas, 1974, Set of 14
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & C
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" dining chairs for Molteni, black canvas and walnut, Italy, 1974, set of fourteen.
The particular feature of this model is the support structure composed o...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Canvas, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Dialogo" Dining Chairs for B&B Italia, 1973, Set of 10
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Dialogo” dining chairs for B&B Italia, white leather and black walnut, Italy, 1973, set of ten.
The “Dialogo” chair is a return to the formal solution of the “1...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Extremely Comfortable Pair of Armchairs by Afra e Tobia Scarpa Italy 70'
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Rome, IT
A Very comfortable pair of vintage "Coronado" lounge chairs in very good original condition. Original brown leather designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia. Gorgeous Italian...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Wood, Leather
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Libertà" Dining Chairs for Meritalia, 1989, Set of 6
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Meritalia
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Libertà" dining chairs for Meritalia, aluminium, Italy, 1989, set of six.
Manufactured by Meritalia in 1989, the "Libertà" chair features a minimalistic and fun...
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Aluminum
Italian brown leather armchairs Coronado by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B, 1970s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B Italia
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern brown leather armchairs Coronado by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B, 1970s
Pair of armchairs mod. Coronado in brown leather ...
Category
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Plastic
$2,888 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Dialogo" Dining Chairs for B&B Italia, 1973, Set of 12
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Dialogo” dining chairs for B&B Italia, white leather and black walnut, Italy, 1973, set of twelve.
The “Dialogo” chair is a return to the formal solution of the...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Poltrone in pelle originale ''Ciprea'' di Afra e Tobia Scarpa, Cassina, 1970s, 2
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Quarrata, IT
Poltrone in pelle nera originale, modello ''Ciprea'' di Afra e Tobia Scarpa per Cassina, 1970s, set di 2.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Red Leather 121 Dining Chair for Cassina, 1967, Set of 10
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of ten Model 121 dining chairs, designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina in 1967.
They feature English red leather upholstery and a walnut structure.
Fully restored in Italy.
Afra and Tobia Scarpa designed the 121 chair in 1965.
A sketch from 1943 made by Carlo Scarpa (Tobia’s father) inspired its shape. Two thin plywood “petals” compose the seat and the backrest. They are available with leather upholstery or aniline-dyed.
The back has cut in the lower part, required due to a reinforcement that reacts to torsion stress, which is strongest at this point. Furthermore, the basis is a solid wood double trestle. Eight screws link...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black Leather Dialogo Chair for B&B Italia, 1973, Set of 4
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of 4 Dialogo chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia in 1973.
The chairs are composed of a natural ash structure and a fib...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Ash
Dialogo chairs by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, IT
Set of four Dialogo Chairs. Structure in black wood and seats in white plastic. High quality chairs with an unmistakable design, they are perfect for giving warmth, style and eleganc...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Plastic, Wood
Pair of RONDA armchairs by Afra et Tobia Scarpa
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Isle Sur Sorgue, FR
Pair of RONDA armchairs by Afra and Tobia Scarpa
*2 pairs available*
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Fabric
Set of 8 Monk chairs, Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni 1970
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This set of 8 black leather "Monk" chairs, designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973, represents an icon of Italian design. Featuring a sleek, minimalist silhouette, thes...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Wood
Afra & Tobia Scarpa, a Soriana Ottoman, Cassina, 1970s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Paris, FR
Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Soriana
A very beautiful ottoman of square shape with rounded corners.
Covered with its original brown velvet in very good condition.
On four castor feet....
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Velvet
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black Leather 121 Dining Chair for Cassina, 1967, Set of 10
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of ten Model 121 dining chairs, designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina in 1967.
They feature black leather upholstery and a walnut structure.
Fully restored in Italy.
Afra and Tobia Scarpa designed the 121 chair in 1965.
A sketch from 1943 made by Carlo Scarpa (Tobia’s father) inspired its shape. Two thin plywood “petals” compose the seat and the backrest. They are available with leather upholstery or aniline-dyed.
The back has cut in the lower part, required due to a reinforcement that reacts to torsion stress, which is strongest at this point. Furthermore, the basis is a solid wood double trestle. Eight screws link...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Leather Model 121 Dining Chair for Cassina, 1967, Set of 10
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of ten Model 121 dining chairs, designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina in 1967.
They feature black and English red leather upholstery...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black Canvas Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 10
By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of ten “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973.
Made of black canvas and walnut.
They present a white sewing on the front of the seat and the u...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Canvas, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Africa" Chairs for Maxalto, Dark Brown, 1975, Set of 6
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Africa" dining chairs for Maxalto, dark brown leather, walnut, burl and brass, Italy, 1975, set of six.
Originally hand finished and assembled one-by-one, "Afr...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Brass
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Dialogo" Dining Chairs for B&B Italia, 1973, Set of 14
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Dialogo” dining chairs for B&B Italia, white leather and black walnut, Italy, 1973, set of fourteen.
The “Dialogo” chair is a return to the formal solution of t...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Pair of "Soriana" Armchairs Designed by Tobia Scarpa Edited by Cassina, 1960s
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of "Soriana" armchairs designed by Tobia Scarpa and edited by Cassina. Structure in chromed steel. Afra (1937-2011) and Tobia (1935-) Scarpa studied at the Venice Institute of A...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Steel
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Chairs for Molteni, Black Canvas, 1974, Set of 12
By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" dining chairs for Molteni, black canvas and walnut, Italy, 1974, set of twelve.
The particular feature of this model is the support structure composed of ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Canvas, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Dialogo" Dining Chairs for B&B Italia, 1973, Set of 6
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Dialogo” dining chairs for B&B Italia, white leather and black walnut, Italy, 1973, Set of six
The “Dialogo” chair is a return to the formal solution of the “12...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Dialogo" Dining Chairs for B&B Italia, 1973, Set of 4
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Dialogo” dining chairs for B&B Italia, white leather and black walnut, Italy, 1973, Set of four
The “Dialogo” chair is a return to the formal solution of the “1...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black & Red Leather Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 10
By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of ten “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 the ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Coronado Armchairs by Tobia & Afra Scarpa , Italy
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Coronado Armchairs by Tobia & Afra Scarpa , Italy, 1960s
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Fabric
Afra e Tobia Scarpa, Sei sedie mod. Damasco, Prod. MaxAlto anni '70
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Max Alto
Located in Rivoli, IT
Rarissimo set di 6 sedie mod. Damasco, progettate da Afra e Tobia Scarpa negli anni '70, prodotte da Max Alto.
La pregiata struttura in doghe di massello di noce impiallacciate incon...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Set of 4 Chairs by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1960s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern set of 4 chairs by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1960s.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Wood
2-Seat Sofa Model Bastiano Tobia and Afra Scarp, 1975
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
2-seat sofa model Bastiano
Tobia and Afra Scarpa
Knoll,
1975
Measures: Length 153 x 80 x 70
Rosewood and nude leather 4500.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "121" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1965, Set of 10
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "121" dining chairs for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1965, set of ten.
Iconic and charming, the model "121" by Afra & Tobia Scarpa shows once again the Scarpa'...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
Materials
Leather, Walnut, Plywood
Afra & Tobia Scarpa seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Afra & Tobia Scarpa seating 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 Afra & Tobia Scarpa seating, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 418 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 1 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original seating 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 seating by Mario Bellini, Vico Magistretti, and B&B Italia. Prices for Afra & Tobia Scarpa seating can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $605 and can go as high as $108,801, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $11,467.
Creators Similar to Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Questions About Afra & Tobia Scarpa Seating
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 6, 2024Yes, 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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