Carlo Scarpa was born in Venice in 1906 and became one of the leading figures of architecture and international design during the 20th century. At merely 21 years old — and still a student at the Academy of Fine Arts — Scarpa began working as a designer for master Murano glassmaker M.V.M. Cappellin. Within a few years, he completely revolutionized the approach to art glass.
In a short time, under the guidance of Scarpa, the Capellin furnace not only established itself as the top glass company, but above all it introduced modernity and international fame to Murano glassmaking. Scarpa created a personal style of glassmaking, a new vision that irreversibly changed glass production.
The young Scarpa experimented with new models and colors: his chromatic combinations, impeccable execution and geometric shapes became his modus operandi. Thanks to Scarpa’s continuous research on vitreous matter, Cappellin produced a series of high-quality glass objects, that saw the company revisiting ancient processing techniques such as the watermark and Phoenician decoration.
When he encountered the challenge of opaque glass, Scarpa proposed introducing textures of considerable chromatic impact, such as glass pastes and glazed glass with bright colors. Scarpa also collaborated in the renovation of Palazzo da Mula in Murano, the home of Cappellin. At the academy, he obtained the diploma of professor of architectural design and obtained an honorary degree from the Venice University Institute of Architecture of which he was director.
In 1931, Scarpa's collaboration with Cappellin ended, following the bankruptcy of the company because it was not able to withstand the economic crisis linked to the Great Depression. But Scarpa did not go unnoticed by Paolo Venini — in 1933, the young designer became the new artistic director of the biggest glass company in Murano.
Master glassmakers thought Scarpa's projects and sketches were impossible, but the passionate and curious designer always managed to get exactly what he wanted. Until 1947 he remained at the helm of Venini & Co., where he created some of the best known masterpieces of modern glassmaking. Scarpa’s work with Venini was characterized by the continuous research on the subject, the use of color and techniques that he revisited in a very personal way, and the development of new ways of working with master glassmakers.
At the beginning of the 1930s, "bubble", "half filigree" and "submerged" glass appeared for the first time on the occasion of the Venice Biennale of 1934. A few years later, at the Biennale and the VI Triennale of Milan, Venini exhibited its lattimi and murrine romane pieces, which were born from a joint idea between Scarpa and Paolo Venini.
In 1938 Scarpa increased production, diversifying the vases from "objects of use" to sculptural works of art. In the same year he laid the foundation for the famous "woven" glass collection, exhibited the following year. In the subsequent years, Scarpa–Venini continued to exhibit at the Biennale and in various other shows their the "black and red lacquers," the granulari and the incisi, produced in limited series, and the "Chinese," which was inspired by Asian porcelain.
Scarpa's creations for Venini garnered an international response and were a great success, leaving forever an indelible mark on the history of glassmaking. The last Biennale in which Carlo Scarpa participated as artistic director of Venini was in 1942. He left the company five years later.
The time that Scarpa spent in the most important glass factory in Murano would attach a great artistic legacy to the company. His techniques and styles were resumed in the postwar period under the guidance of Tobia Venini, Paolo's son. In the 1950s, after the departure of Scarpa, Fulvio Bianconi was the new visionary at the Biennials with Venini.
On 1stDibs, vintage Carlo Scarpa glass and lighting are for sale, including decorative objects, tables, chandeliers and more.
(Biography provided by Ophir Gallery Inc.)
$10,756 / item
Carlo Scarpa Orseolo Table For Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Orseolo Table For Cassina A modern table but, above all, an absolute masterpiece and unsurpassed model of formal beauty, inspired by the in...
Wood
$24,610 / item
Doge Large Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa for Cassina
By Cassina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Doge Large Dining Table designed by Carlo Scarpa. Manufactured by Cassina (Italy) ULTRARATIONAL EMBLEM A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademar...
Aluminum
Early Carlo Scarpa Quatour Table for Simon Gavina, Italy, 1974
By Carlo Scarpa, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Milan, IT
Early and Large version Carlo Scarpa Quatour table for the Metamobile series by Simon Gavina, Italy 1974.
Wood, Pine
$18,607 / item
Doge Large Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa for Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Doge Large Dining Table designed by Carlo Scarpa. Manufactured by Cassina (Italy) ULTRARATIONAL EMBLEM A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademar...
Aluminum
"Argo" Oval Dining table by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, 1970s
By Simon Gavina Editions, Carlo Scarpa
Located in bruxelles, BE
Green marble table designed by Carlo Scarpa. Model: Argo. Wear due to time and age. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST PRICE
Marble
$24,610 / item
Doge Large Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa for Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Doge Large Dining Table designed by Carlo Scarpa. Manufactured by Cassina (Italy) ULTRARATIONAL EMBLEM A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademar...
Aluminum
Quatour wooden table by Carlo Scarpa, 1974
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Quatour table by Carlo Scarpa. A large wooden table, a project that derives from a 1947 sketch by Scarpa for a “simple slat” table conceived for his home. The table top has the two...
Wood
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table for Cassina, Aluminum Base, Mid-Century Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table For Cassina A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademark of the new ultrarational ...
Aluminum
Carlo Scarpa “Argo” Oval Table for Simon Gavina in Red Travertine, 1975
By Gavina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa “Argo” oval table for Simon Gavina in red travertine marble, Italy, 1975. The “Argo” travertine console-table is part of the ‘Ultrarazionale’ collection by Simon Gavina...
Marble
Carlo Scarpa "Argo" Oval Table for Simon Gavina, 1975
By Carlo Scarpa, Simon Furniture
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa "Argo" oval table for Simon Gavina, Roman travertine, Italy, 1975. The "Argo" travertine console-table is part of the 'Ultrarazionale' ...
Travertine
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table for Cassina, Aluminum Base, Mid-Century Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table For Cassina A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademark of the new ultrarational ...
Aluminum
$18,607 / item
Doge Large Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa for Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Doge Large Dining Table designed by Carlo Scarpa. Manufactured by Cassina (Italy) ULTRARATIONAL EMBLEM A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademar...
Aluminum
Italian modern round marble table Samo by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, 1970s
By Gavina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern round marble table Samo by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, 1970s Dining table mod. Samo in white arabesque marble, with round t...
Marble
Carlo Scarpa Doge Laguna Table: Steel & Glass, Mid-Century Modern
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Doge laguna Table For Cassina Cassina celebrates the induction of Carlo Scarpa into the iMaestri collection with a limited edition of 5...
Steel
$18,607 / item
Doge Large Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa for Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Doge Large Dining Table designed by Carlo Scarpa. Manufactured by Cassina (Italy) ULTRARATIONAL EMBLEM A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademar...
Aluminum
Gritti Table by Carlo Scarpa with crystal top, 1976
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Gritti table by Carlo Scarpa produced by Simon in 1976. A large table made with solid wood cylinders, crystal top, plexiglass feet ends. Bibliography: ...
Crystal
Carlo Scarpa "Samo" Oval Table for Simon Gavina, White Carrara Marble, 1971
By Carlo Scarpa, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa "Samo" oval table for Simon Gavina, white Carrara marble, Italy, 1971. The Scarpa's way of thinking the architecture is particularly visible in this piece. The “Samo” d...
Carrara Marble
"Forian" Low Table by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, Italy, 1970s
By Gavina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Milan, IT
"Florian" coffee table by Carlo Scarpa for Simon - Gavina. Masterly detailed steel base supporting a large glass top. From the same collection also currently available a Doge extra l...
Steel
$11,128 / item
Carlo Scarpa Sarpi Table For Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Sarpi Table For Cassina Carlo Scarpa designed this design table in 1974, successor to the popular Doge, with which it appears in the ...
Glass
Carlo Scarpa Oval Table for Simon Gavina 1970s
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
The Scarpa's way of thinking the architecture is particularly visible in this piece. The “Samo” dining table, designed in 1971 for 'Ultrarazionale' collection by Simon Gavina, consis...
Granite
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table for Cassina, Aluminum Base, Mid-Century Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table For Cassina A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademark of the new ultrarational ...
Aluminum
$16,999 / item
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table For Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table For Cassina A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademark of the new ultrarational ...
Aluminum
$24,610 / item
Doge Large Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa for Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Doge Large Dining Table designed by Carlo Scarpa. Manufactured by Cassina (Italy) ULTRARATIONAL EMBLEM A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademar...
Aluminum
Carlo Scarpa Sarpi Table for Cassina, Glass & Metal, Mid-Century Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Sarpi Table For Cassina Carlo Scarpa designed this design table in 1974, successor to the popular Doge, with which it appears in the ...
Glass
Carlo Scarpa “761” Square Table for Bernini, 1978
By Carlo Scarpa, Bernini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa “761” Square Table for Bernini, wood, Italy, 1978 Designed in 1978 by Carlo Scarpa for Bernini, the model 761 square table reflects the architect’s late and most distil...
Wood
Carlo Scarpa Sarpi Table for Cassina, Glass & Metal, Mid-Century Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Sarpi Table For Cassina Carlo Scarpa designed this design table in 1974, successor to the popular Doge, with which it appears in the ...
Glass
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table for Cassina, Aluminum Base, Mid-Century Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table For Cassina A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademark of the new ultrarational ...
Aluminum
Carlo Scarpa Sarpi Glass Dining Table with Brushed Metal Base, Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Sarpi Table For Cassina Carlo Scarpa designed this design table in 1974, successor to the popular Doge, with which it appears in the ...
Glass
Marcel Breuer And Carlo Scarpa Delfi Marble and Glass Table by Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa, Marcel Breuer, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Marcel Breuer And Carlo Scarpa Delfi Marble and Glass Table Manufactured by Cassina (Italy) ELEGANCE OF LINE The design table with rectangular to...
Marble
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table for Cassina, Aluminum Base, Mid-Century Italy
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Carlo Scarpa Doge Table For Cassina A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademark of the new ultrarational ...
Aluminum
$24,610 / item
Doge Large Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa for Cassina
By Carlo Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Doge Large Dining Table designed by Carlo Scarpa. Manufactured by Cassina (Italy) ULTRARATIONAL EMBLEM A sculptural structure that has become an emblem of Italian design, a trademar...
Aluminum