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.
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
Venini Opachi 513.00 Pagliesco Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Alcamo, IT
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 Tobia Scarpa, Venini
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
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
Tobia Scarpa Occhi Vase for Venini
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A nice vintage example. Classic form.
Art Glass
$14,146 / item
Tobia Scarpa Battuti Vase in Amber Murano Glass
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa, Ludovico Diaz de Santillana
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
$7,600Sale Price|20% Off
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 Opachi 513.04 Corallo Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Verpan, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Alcamo, IT
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
$4,545Sale Price|20% Off
Tobia Scarpa Velati Vase Model 515.2, Murano Glass, Italy, 1965
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Zurich, CH
Velati vase, model #515.2 Venini Italy, c. 1965 wheel-carved glass 13 × 17 cm Excellent condition, signed with Venini paperlabel
Murano 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
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 Art Glass Vase 'Cinesi' by Tobia Scarpa, Murano 1960
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
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
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
$14,146 / item
Tobia Scarpa Battuti Vase in Grape Murano Glass
By Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa, Venini
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
Venini Opachi 513.03 Nero Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Alcamo, IT
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
Venini Coppa 516.12 Acquamare Murano Glass Bowl Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Alcamo, IT
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
Tobia Scarpa “ Venini “ Vase Murano Battuto, 1959, Italy
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milano, IT
Venini vase “Tobia Scarpa”.
Murano Glass
Venini Vase 516.01 Acquamare Murano Glass Vase design Tobia Scarpa - Damiani
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
Located in Alcamo, IT
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
$11,641 / item
Scudo Magico by Tobia Scarpa Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Tobia Scarpa, Paradisoterrestre
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
21st Century Occhi Small Glass Vase in Coral/Crystal by Tobia Scarpa
By Tobia Scarpa, Venini
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 Tobia Scarpa, Venini
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 Tobia Scarpa, Venini
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 Murano glass vase - signed "Venini Italia," ca. 1960s-70s.
By Venini
Located in Vicenza, IT
Elegant Murano blown glass vase, Venini production, with engraved signature on the base "Venini Italia".The body, with a flattened globular shape, has a delicate amethyst hue with a ...
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
Italian Murano Art Glass Handkerchief Vase Venini Style
By Venini
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Murano art glass 'handkerchief' vase in the style of Venini, circa mid to late-20th century, Italy. This is a finely handcrafted Murano art glass vase in clear/transparent...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$5,491Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.85 in Dm 4.73 in
"Tessuto Velato", Iconic Vase by Carlo Scarpa for Venini
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Bochum, NRW
A "tessuto velato" iconic piece by Carlo Scarpa for Venini. Clear glass with green and black or green and white, vertically fused threads.(essuto). Opaque surface matt finish, horiz...
Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
$1,242Sale Price|58% Off
H 11.03 in Dm 5.91 in
Round Venini Vase Murano Glass 1985 Multi-Color Italian Design
By Venini
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Round Venini vase Murano glass 1985 multi-color Italian design.
Murano 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 Murano Glass Vase
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning Murano glass vase by Venini, featuring luminous cobalt blue glass with a vibrant red rim. A bulbous, spherical form with saturated sapphire color and a contrasting red glass rim provide striking visual punctuation, while the hand-blown construction displays the fluid, organic quality that defines masterful Murano glass. Venini represents the pinnacle of Murano glassmaking tradition, combining centuries-old Venetian techniques with contemporary design sensibility. Founded in 1921, the house became renowned for pushing glass as an art form through collaborations with leading designers and architects. The bold color saturation and clean modernist form exemplify Venini's approach—honoring traditional Murano craftsmanship while creating pieces that feel thoroughly modern and sculptural. In excellent condition with minor surface scuffs consistent with age and display. Etched "VENINI 2000" signature on base with "VENINI MURANO...
Glass
Large Tessuto Vase by Carlo Scarpa for Venini Murano
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Tessuto Vase by Carlo Scarpa for Venini Murano Item e7111 A rare example of the 'Tessuto' series designed by Carlo Scarpa ca. 1940. Manufactured by Venini Murano Venice. Thin v...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Napoleone Martinuzzi Attr. for Venini 'A Bolle' Vase, ca. 1927
By Napoleone Martinuzzi, Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Napoleone Martinuzzi attr. for Venini 'A Bolle' Vase ca. 1927 A large 'soffiato a bolle' vase in amber glass with regular air bubbles. Attributed to Napoleone Martinuzzi, manufactur...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$2,071Sale Price|50% Off
H 6.3 in Dm 5.91 in
Laura de Santillana for Venini Blown Glass Klee Vase, 1984
By Laura de Santillana, Venini
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare Laura de Santillana for Venini blown glass designed in the 1980s, “Klee” model, signed Venini Italia Laura 84. This beautiful murano piece feat...
Glass
$23,672Sale Price|20% Off
H 12.21 in Dm 7.88 in
Carlo Scarpa 'Bugne' Vase by Venini, Hand-Blown Murano Glass, 1940
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Zurich, CH
Carlo Scarpa, 'Bugne' vase, 1940 Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978), 'Bugne' vase, 1936 hand-blown glass, iridescent surface modell 3739 produced by Venini & C., Murano, Italy ca. 31.5 cm (h...
Murano Glass
Venini Style Italian Murano Art Glass Handkerchief Vase
By Venini
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian Murano fazzoletto (handkerchief) vase in clear/transparent art glass with alternating stripes of white, light blue and light pink...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
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 Ludovico Diaz de Santillana and Tobia Scarpa, Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Milan, Italy
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
Tobia Scarpa, Battuto Rose Bowl, Venini, Murano, Italy
By Venini, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Uccle, BE
The battuti series was imagined by Tobia Scarpa in collaboration with Ludovico de Santillana who had taken over the role of artistic director upon the death of Paolo Venini. This se...
Blown Glass