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.
VENINI 90th Opachi Ivory Murano Glass Vase by Tobia Scarpa, Signed 2012, Italy
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Venini Opachi vase 90th anniversary, model 513.00, in Ivory Murano opaline glass, designed by Tobia Scarpa in 1960 and produced in 2012. Part of Venini’s refined Opachi collection, ...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI Opachi Black Murano Glass Vase by Tobia Scarpa, Signed 2011, Italy
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Venini Opachi vase, model 513.04, in Black Murano opaline glass, designed by Tobia Scarpa in 1960 and produced in 2011. Part of Venini’s refined Opachi collection, these vases are a...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
VENINI Opachi Ivory Murano Glass Vase by Tobia Scarpa, Signed 2002, Italy
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Venezia, IT
Venini Opachi vase, model 513.04, in ivory Murano opaline glass, designed by Tobia Scarpa in 1960 and produced in 2002. Part of Venini’s refined Opachi collection, these vases are a...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Tobia Scarpa Occhi Vase for Venini
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A nice vintage example. Classic form.
Art Glass
Tobia Scarpa Vase Occhi Cristalo Zolfo, Venini, Murano, Italy 1960s
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Bochum, NRW
Tobia Scarpa Occhi Vase, Venini, Murano, Italy 1960s. An Occhi Zolfo vase, made of colorless, sulfur yellow, and olive-edged glass, Tobia Scarpa for ...
Murrine
Tobia Scarpa Purple and Black Crystal 'Occhi' Bottle, 1960, Venini & Co.
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Bochum, NRW
Tobia Scarpa. 'Occhi' bottle. Entwurf: 1959-60. Executed by Venini & Co. Rectangular bottle shape with corresponding neck. Clear crystal glass with chessboard-like murrine in black,...
Crystal
Venini Opachi 513.00 Pagliesco Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Tobia Scarpa Model: Opaque 513.00 Collection: Opaque Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass va...
Glass
Tobia Scarpa Red and Black Crystal "Occhi" Bottle, 1960, Venini & C
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Bochum, NRW
Rare shape 'Occhi' crystal bottle designed by Tobia Scarpa. Design: 1959-1960. Executed by Venini & C. Rectangular bottle shape with corresponding neck. Clear crystal glass with ...
Crystal
Tobia Scarpa Battuto Vase for Venini
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Chicago, IL
Tobia Scarpa Battuto Vase for Venini, model no. 8067, blown glass with acid frosted surface, engraved 'venini italia' Dimensions: 12.25" high 7.2...
Blown Glass
Venini Vase 516.01 Acquamare Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Tobia Scarpa & Ludovico Diaz De Santilliana Model: Vase 516.01 Collection: Beats / Canoes Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your inte...
Glass
Occhi by Tobia Scarpa – Quadrangular shaped vase
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Uccle, BE
Occhi by Tobia Scarpa – Quadrangular shaped vase “Occhi” vase by Tobia Scarpa. Quadrangular shaped vase from the occhi series. Made up of an arrangement of white and clear glass murr...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Venini Opachi 513.04 Corallo Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Tobia Scarpa, Verpan
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Tobia Scarpa Model: Opaque 513.04 Collection: Opaque Made in: Italy Add an artistic and refined touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass vase. Th...
Glass
Venini Coppa 516.12 Acquamare Murano Glass Bowl Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Tobia Scarpa & Ludovico Diaz De Santilliana Model: Cup 516.12 Collection: Beats / Canoes Made in: Italy Add an artistic and sophisticated touch to your inter...
Glass
Venini Opachi 513.03 Nero Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
Brand: Venini Designer: Tobia Scarpa Model: Opaque 513.03 Collection: Opaque Made in: Italy Add an artistic and refined touch to your interior with this iconic Murano glass vase. Th...
Glass
$14,146 / item
Tobia Scarpa Battuti Vase in Amber Murano Glass
By Tobia Scarpa, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Battuti vase in Amber Murano glass by Tobia Scarpa and Ludovico Diaz De Santillana for Venini. It evokes a lily standing tall, in tones of Amber and Grape. Its translucent appearance...
Murano Glass
Venini Art Glass Vase 'Cinesi' by Tobia Scarpa, Murano 1960
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass Vase 'Cinesi' by Tobia Scarpa, Murano 1960 A vintage art glass vase of the 'Cinesi' o 'Opaconi' series. Mouthblown opaque indigo glass with an iridized finish. Desi...
Art Glass
$14,146 / item
Tobia Scarpa Battuti Vase in Grape Murano Glass
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Battuti vase in grape Murano glass by Tobia Scarpa and Ludovico Diaz De Santillana for Venini. It evokes a lily standing tall, in tones of Grape and Amber. Its translucent appearance...
Murano Glass
Tobia Scarpa Vase 'occhi' for Venini, ca. 1970
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Tobia Scarpa Vase 'occhi' for Venini, ca. 1970 A white 'occhi' murrine vase designed by Tobia Scarpa in 1960, manufactured by Venini, Venice ca. 1970. Etched signature 'venini itali...
Art Glass
Tobia Scarpa “ Venini “ Vase Murano Battuto, 1959, Italy
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, IT
Venini vase “Tobia Scarpa”.
Murano Glass
Tobia Scarpa Scudo Magico, iron & brass limited edition sculpture, 2020
By Paradisoterrestre, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Materials: metal structure with brass welds, circular base in natural iron, brass sphere that allows manual rotation of the sculpture 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), creates three limited edition artworks for Paradisoterrestre, starting from an interpretation of Melencolia I, enigmatic masterpiece realized by Albrecht Dürer in 1514. Tobia Scarpa breaks down the representation, extrapolating two of the key elements present in Dürer’s engraving related to the geometric-mathematical field: the polyhedron and the magic square. Scudo Magico...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Italian Dark Green Murano Vase by Tobia Scarpa Buttato Series, Venini, 1960
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
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
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
Venini Two-Tone Tall Vase 'Signed'
By Venini
Located in North Miami, FL
Reverse cone shape with vivid turquoise blue glass ring on black glass base. SIGNED and dated to bottom.
Murano Glass
Carlo Scarpa for Venini Rare Murano Crystal Glass Bottle with Stopper
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Carlo Scarpa for Venini, this rare and exquisite Murano crystal glass bottle with its original matching spherical stopper was created in Italy circa 1937. An exceptional ...
Glass, Art Glass
Glass Vase by Tomaso Buzzi for Venini
By Venini, Tomaso Buzzi
Located in New York, NY
"Incamiciato" Italian art glass vase by Tomaso Buzzi for Venini. Cased glass, clear, white and grey, deep purple foot. Marked: Venini itali...
Art Glass
"Pezzato" Vase by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Milan, IT
Remarkable "Pezzato" vase by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini. Signed with three-line acid stamp to underside.
Murano Glass
Venini Art Glass Vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956 A vintage art glass vase in erba pesante (grass green) glass with layered...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$4,235 / item
H 11.82 in Dm 3.15 in
Venini Occhi Vase in Coral Red by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana & Tobia Scarpa
By Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Occhi glass vase in coral red by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa. Blown handmade glass vases with the “Murrine” technique. Color: Cor...
Blown Glass
$4,235 / item
H 8.27 in W 3.75 in D 3.75 in
Venini Square Occhi Vase in Red by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa
By Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Occhi glass vase in coral red by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa. Blown handmade glass vases with the “Murrine” technique. Color: Cor...
Blown Glass
Venini Sommersi Oro Vase, Italy, 1993
By Venini, Laura Diaz de Santillana
Located in New York, NY
Laura Diaz de Santillana (b. 1955) for Venini rare Sommersi Oro vase from "Laura" series, Italy, 1993. This elegant hand-blown Murano glass vase is an exquisite blue color with gold ...
Art Glass
Venini Carlo Scarpa Mezza Filigrana Bottle
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Doraville, GA
A bottle designed by Carlo Scarpa for Venini in the mid 1930s. The bottle is a very faint blue green color and displays the mezza filigrana method of glass ...
Blown Glass
Venini Satin Large Glass Vase in Gray
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Satin glass vase, designed and manufactured by Venini, features the same shape of the iconic opalino vase with a frosted finish. Indoor use only. Dimensions: Ø 20 cm, H 42 cm. ...
Glass
$8,833 / item
H 12.6 in Dm 6.7 in
Venini Battuti Blue Glass Vase by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana & Tobia Scarpa
By Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Battuti glass vase in crystal aquamarine by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa. Numbered edition for year. Color: Crystal Aquamarine Technique: Beaten Dimens...
Crystal
$4,235 / item
H 8.47 in Dm 5.52 in
Venini Occhi Vase in White Glass by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa
By Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Occhi glass vase in crystal by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa. Blown handmade glass vases with the “Murrine” technique. Color: Cryst...
Blown Glass
Sold
H 9.26 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in L 9.26 in
Tobia Scarpa ‘Occhi’ Vase by Venini, Colorless Glass, Murano, 1960s
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Bochum, NRW
Tobia Scarpa ‘Occhi’ bottle, Venini, Italy, 1960s. Colorless glass, red bordered murinne, arranged like a chessboard and merged. Quadrangular shape, rounded at the corners, square n...
Murano Glass, Murrine
Sold
H 11.82 in W 9.06 in D 48.43 in
1970s Tomato Red & Cream Tobia Scarpa Murano Glass Vases, The Oriental Series
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Florence, Tuscany
A pair of exceptional Tobia Scarpa Vases from the 'Oriental Series' made by Venini in Venice. Both vases come with cap, one in tomato red and the taller one in cream. These elegant, ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Tobia Scarpa Mid Century Italian Planter or Jardiniere
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Atlanta, GA
Modernist Italian Planter or Jardiniere, designed by Tobia Scarpa, Italy, circa 1960s. This jardiniere is documented in Sotheby's catalog, "Fine 20th Century Design", London, April 2...
Metal, Zinc
Tobia Scarpa by Morellato Rare Edition signed 1970's Italy
By Morellato, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vancouver, BC
Made in Italy, a large modern design steel vase with crimson balls. Marked on bottom. An extremely rare and hard to find vase. Unique as well as beautiful, powerful and elegant. Of course all objects I have are statements, but this Tobia Scarpa masterpiece will be sure to steal some breaths away from guests. Biography Architect and designer, Tobia Scarpa (son of Carlo Scarpa) graduated in 1969 from the University of Venice and that same year he won the “Compasso d'Oro” for his “Soriana” chair designed for Cassina. Since then he has received many other design awards and many of his designs can be found in some of the world's leading museums, including the Libertà chair...
Metal, Chrome
Tobia Scarpa set of cream-colored vases, Venini "Chinese" model, 1960s
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vigevano, PV
Tobia Scarpa set of cream-colored vases, Venini "Chinese" model, 1960s Drawing 513.4 from the Venini Green Catalogue. Pointed signature under the base "Venini italia" Bibliography Pa...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 5.5 in Dm 5.5 in
Tobia Scarpa for Venini Murano Blown Glass MidCentury Modern Occhi Murrine Vesse
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A fantastic collector’s item for enthusiasts of Mid-Century Modern – a Tobia Scarpa designed Murano “occhi” brown and clear blown glass vessel for Venini of Italy. Original product o...
Murano Glass
Vase Murano Glass by Tobia Scarpa and L. Diaz De Santillana for Venini
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Blown glass vase from the Battuti / Canoe collection designed by Tobia Scarpa and Ludovico Diaz De Santillana in 1962. Shapes with wavy edges stretch out from the massive blown glas...
Murano Glass
Vintage Red Murano Glass Vase by Tobia Scarpa for Venini, 1960
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, IT
A particular vintage vase in Murano glass by Tobia Scarpa for Venini, designed in 1960. The vase was made with the techniques of blown glass and Murrina. The vase by Tobia Scarpa has...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 8.08 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Occhi Vase by Tobia Scarpa, Model Referenced under Number 8524, Venini, Italy
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Uccle, BE
"Occhi" vase (model referenced under number 8524) Quadrangular shaped vase from the occhi series. Made up of an arrangement of red and clear glass murrines and black and clear glas...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Sold
H 6.11 in W 5.71 in D 4.73 in
Occhi Vase by Tobia Scarpa, Model Referenced under Number 8524, Venini, Italy
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Uccle, BE
Occhi vase (model referenced under number 8524) Occhi vase of oval shape on the top. Composed of an arrangement of latimo glass murrines in the center of clear glass and green and ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Tobia Scarpa for Venini Murano Blown Glass Midcentury "Occhi" Murrine Vase
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Uccle, BE
A beautiful "occhi" brown and clear Murano Murrine glass vase. Murrine is the name given to these pieces, the name comes from the technique used. The technique consists of an arrangement of transparent glass pieces with a brown strapping, these pieces are then melted to give shape when the material is melted. Tobia Scarpa is the son of Carlo Scarpa, he worked at the Venini and reinterpreted forms and techniques developed by his father before the war...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Tobia Scarpa, Italy Murano Blown Glass Large "Occhi" Murrine Vase
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Uccle, BE
A large "occhi" vase with quadranglular base in "talpa" (mole grey) murrine with a clear centre. Known as model 8526 in venini archives. We are located in Belgium, we present Po...
Art Glass, Murano Glass