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.
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 Scarpa 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.)
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.
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 Tobia Scarpa table lamps, sofas, dining chairs and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
Dining Table 'Andre' by Tobia Scarpa for Gavina, Italy, 1960s
By Gavina, Knoll, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Antwerp, BE
The 'Andre' dining table, designed by Tobia Scarpa for Gavina Italy in 1968 and later manufactured by Knoll International, showcases a sleek, minimalist design with a solid chrome fr...
Chrome
Italian Modern Carrara Marble Table Lamp Biagio by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1970s
By Flos, Tobia Scarpa
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Carrara marble table lamp Biagio by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1970s Iconic and fantastic table lamp mod. Biagio with direct light and rounded structure obtained from a s...
Carrara Marble
Russola pendant lamp, Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1962
By Flos, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, Lombardia
"Russola" hanging lamp, designed in 1961 by Tobia Scarpa and produced by Flos in 1962. It appears as a deep-drawn metal shell, lacquered black on the outside and white on the inside...
Aluminum, Brass, Metal
Tobia Scarpa “ Venini “ Vase Murano Battuto, 1959, Italy
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, IT
Venini vase “Tobia Scarpa”.
Murano Glass
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1970s – Original Upholstery
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Almelo, NL
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1970s – Original Upholstery This exceptional set of six dining chairs was designed by renowned Italian architect and designer Tobia ...
Fabric, Beech
Large Tamburo Floorlamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy 1970s
By Tobia Scarpa, Flos
Located in Hellouw, NL
Tobia Scarpa is a near-mythical figure in the world of design. Celebrated for a wide-ranging body of work—much of it created alongside his wife, Afra—Scarpa’s contributions occupy a central place in the history of Italian modernism. It’s no surprise that Flos, a pioneering force in Italian lighting, has collaborated with Scarpa multiple times throughout his illustrious career. Design One of the most commanding examples of his bold, forward-thinking aesthetic is the Tamburo lamp, shown here in its rarest and largest version—an impressive 250 cm in height. As its name suggests (tamburo meaning “drum” in Italian), the design centers around a striking circular form, mounted at a precise 60-degree angle atop a sharply geometric stem.On both sides of the wide green housing, dark green rings...
Metal
Tacchini Sempronia Chair by Tobia Scarpa in STOCK
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in New York, NY
SEMPRONIA CHAIR 50x53 CAT. V - VITE 03 MATT BLACK NICKEL RINGS T148 WITH INTERLINER CAL117 Circular elements fit together in a double circle that evoke...
Fabric
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Pendant Lamp: Modern Aluminium & Brass Design
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Line Lamp For Cassina A pendant light designed by Tobia Scarpa, that takes shape as a seemingly simple structure with sophisticated, innovative technology, availa...
Aluminum, Brass
Customizable Tacchini Sempronia Chair by Tobia Scarpa
By Tacchini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in New York, NY
Circular elements fit together in a double circle that evokes the signature of the great master who designed it. Twin legs, created by the intersection of two cylinders, extend up to...
Textile
$750Sale Price / item|25% Off
Tobia Scarpa for Flos White Foglio Applique Set of Four 1970s
By Flos, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Tobia Scarpa for Flos White Foglio Applique Set of 4 1970s The price it's for all 4
Metal
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Pendant Lamp: Modern Aluminium & Brass Design
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Line Lamp For Cassina A pendant light designed by Tobia Scarpa, that takes shape as a seemingly simple structure with sophisticated, innovative technology, availa...
Aluminum, Brass
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Table Lamp for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern Design
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Table For Cassina A table lamp designed by Tobia Scarpa, that takes shape as a seemingly simple structure with sophisticated, innovative technology. The lamp is ...
Metal
$5,523 / item
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Triangle Wall Lamp For Cassina
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Triangle Wall Lamp For Cassina A wall lamp designed by Tobia Scarpa, that takes shape as a seemingly simple structure with sophisticated, innovative technology, a...
Silver
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Table Lamp for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern Design
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Table For Cassina A table lamp designed by Tobia Scarpa, that takes shape as a seemingly simple structure with sophisticated, innovative technology. The lamp is ...
Metal
$5,523 / item
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Triangle Wall Lamp For Cassina
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Triangle Wall Lamp For Cassina A wall lamp designed by Tobia Scarpa, that takes shape as a seemingly simple structure with sophisticated, innovative technology, a...
Silver
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Table Lamp for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern Design
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Tobia Scarpa Eitie Table For Cassina A table lamp designed by Tobia Scarpa, that takes shape as a seemingly simple structure with sophisticated, innovative technology. The lamp is ...
Metal
Tobia Scarpa Geometrie Nascoste limited edition signed print, 2020
By Tobia Scarpa, Paradisoterrestre
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
An artistic project by the Venetian architect who, on the occasion of the exhibition Tobia Scarpa _ Dall’arte della misura silenziosamente (Paradisoterrestre Gallery – Bologna, 2020)...
Aluminum
Tobia Scarpa Nictea Pendant Lamp in Nickel-Plated Brass by Flos 1960s
By Flos, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Nictea pendant lamp in nickel-plated brass, and glass was designed by Tobia Scarpa in 1961 and produced by Flos. The Nictea lamp gives filtered and concentrated light thanks to the ...
Brass, Nickel
Italian mid-century modern Glass Chandelier Bilobo by Tobia Scarpa Flos, 1960s
By Flos, Tobia Scarpa
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern Glass Chandelier Bilobo by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1960s Chandelier mod. Bilobo with rounded diffuser in Murano bollicine glass. The structure that supports...
Aluminum
Italian mid-century modern Glass Chandelier Bilobo by Tobia Scarpa Flos, 1960s
By Flos, Tobia Scarpa
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern Glass Chandelier Bilobo by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1960s Chandelier mod. Bilobo with rounded diffuser in Murano bollicine glass. The structure that supports...
Aluminum
Italian Mid-Century White Metal Jucker Table Lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1963
By Tobia Scarpa, Flos
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century white metal Jucker table lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1963 Jucker adjustable table lamps in white metal. Produced by Flos in 1963 on a project by Tobia Scarpa. Tobia Scarpa it is an important Italian designer famous for the Soriana sofa, the africa chairs and more iconic lamps like the beautiful Biagio lamp...
Metal
Italian Dark Green Murano Vase by Tobia Scarpa Buttato Series, Venini, 1960
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
incredible vase signed by scarpa 1960 in murano glass from the series battuto for Venini signature on the bottom of vase.
Murano Glass
Fantasma floor light, designed by Tobia Scarpa 1961 for Flos, Italy
By Flos, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Tobia Scarpa Fantasma floor light, designed 1961 made by Flos, Italy The Fantasma, designed by Italian architect Tobia Scarpa and introduced by Flos in 1961, is an iconic example of...
Brass
21st Century Occhi Small Glass Vase in Coral/Crystal by Tobia Scarpa
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in murano, IT
Tobia Scarpa creates a fine exchange of glances: glass lenses with thin coloured rims form an interplay of softly rounded volumes. Tall or short, rounded or slender, this vase never ...
Glass
21st Century Occhi Large Glass Vase in Coral/Crystal by Tobia Scarpa
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in murano, IT
Tobia Scarpa creates a fine exchange of glances: glass lenses with thin coloured rims form an interplay of softly rounded volumes. Tall or short, rounded or slender, this vase never ...
Glass
21st Century Occhi Medium Glass Vase in Coral/Crystal by Tobia Scarpa
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in murano, IT
Tobia Scarpa creates a fine exchange of glances: glass lenses with thin coloured rims form an interplay of softly rounded volumes. Tall or short, rounded or slender, this vase never ...
Glass