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Afra & Tobia Scarpa Canapes

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
Midcentury Orange Soriana Three-Seater by Tobia & Afra Scarpa for Cassina
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brussels, BE
Midcentury Orange Soriana Three-seater by Tobia & Afra Scarpa for Cassina, 1970s - New Upholstery ( 2 available).
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa Canapes

Materials

Velvet

Afra & Tobia Scarpa Sofa '920' for Cassina, 1970s
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brussels, BE
Afra & Tobia Scarpa sofa '920' for Cassina, 1970s.
Category

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

Materials

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 Canapes

Materials

Leather

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Afra & Tobia Scarpa canapes for sale on 1stDibs.

Afra & Tobia Scarpa canapes are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of fabric and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Afra & Tobia Scarpa canapes, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original canapes by Afra & Tobia Scarpa were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. Prices for Afra & Tobia Scarpa canapes can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $4,436 and can go as high as $24,491, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $11,672.
Questions About Afra & Tobia Scarpa Canapes
  • 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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