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.
Geometrie Nascoste Print by Tobia Scarpa Paradisoterrestre Edition
By Paradisoterrestre, Tobia Scarpa
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
$564 / item
H 18.9 in W 15.36 in D 0.04 in
DESENHO – Silkscreen Print, Limited Edition by Álvaro Siza Vieira
By Alvaro Siza
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Desenho (Man Painting) - The painting shows someone who begins a drawing, looking on the paper with a pen in the hand. Álvaro Siza describes the very special moment of taking the decision to make a painting, facing the white paper. A reproduction of his situation, doing this series of paintings: not knowing what to do until the decision to draw was being made. Then the idea of mythology came to his mind. “It is, in some way, an expression of my personal moment making drawings. But it is not a self-portrait, I am quite different than this man. It is not a specific person on purpose, because everyone makes drawings. Maybe not everyone does it, but everyone could do it.” Álvaro Siza started drawing at the age of six. With a great variety of drawings on his portfolio, many of them are inspired by mythology and historic scenes. “The drawings are what came to my mind in this very moment. I like mythology and expressing the stories in images. I have made a lot of mythological drawing...
Paper
Limited Edition Untitled Woodblock Print by Margaret Wenstrup '1958'
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An untitled abstract woodblock print by Margaret Wenstrup (1930-2008) dated 1958. Wenstrup was a well-known Cincinnati, OH artist who graduated from ...
Paper
"Orpheus" Limited Edition Archival Print by Louis Shields, 2018
By Hastening Designs
Located in Middleburg, VA
A haunting and poetic composition from artist Louis Shields, "Orpheus" is a limited edition archival print from the artist's 2018 Dancer Series. The original mixed-media painting on ...
Paint, Paper
Swoon: Daniella Limited Edition Print
By Phaidon
Located in New York, NY
Print Digital archival print on Moab Entrada 335 gsm Measures: 16.00 x 13.00 in 40.6 x 33.0 cm Edition of 50 This work comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity. In partnership with Maison de...
Paper
Tomás Saraceno: Biosphere 3 Limited Edition Print
By Phaidon
Located in New York, NY
Photograph Inkjet print Measures: 14.59 x 24.00 in 37.1 x 61.0 cm Edition of 50 This work comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. This Artspace edition print supports the Stanlee and Gereald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts' 10th anniversary featuring artists who engage in disruptive, alternative, and collective interactions with space and space technology. This print by Tomás Saraceno...
Paper
$150 / item
H 12 in W 18 in D 0.01 in
"Enchanted Path" Limited Edition Archival Print by Louis Shields
By Louis Shields
Located in Middleburg, VA
A whimsical and finely rendered limited edition print by artist Louis Shields, "Enchanted Path," depicts a dapper anthropomorphic hare guiding the viewer down a winding cobblestone t...
Paper
Dana Schutz Adversaries Limited Edition Print
By Phaidon
Located in New York, NY
Print: Full color digital archival print on Epson Hot Press Natural 330g/m2 Size: 610 x 508 mm (24 x 20 in) Edition of 100 This work will come with a signed and numbered archival label adhered to the back of the print, (2019) Produced with the support of Kering, a global luxury group committed to the empowerment of women, this charitable limited-edition print is part of a portfolio celebrating Phaidon's Great Women Artists, the most extensive illustrated book on women artists ever published. One of the most celebrated painters of her generation, Dana Schutz...
Paper
$35
H 8.75 in W 5.75 in D 0.07 in
Original Limited Edition Print by Frederick S. Coburn, " Shadow ", 1902
By Goya
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Sensational image by Frederick Simpson Coburn In the style of one of my favourite artists, Goya Photogravure Limited edition of 300. This is No. 84 From The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe...
Paper
$850
H 36 in W 36 in D 0.19 in
"1 H Sustaining, " Limited Edition Print by Renée Rey from a Series of Four
Located in New York, NY
"1 H Sustaining," is an orange, white and gray archival Fine Art print in a limited edition of 75 by Renée Rey. Each signed Archival Pigment numbered work is printed on hot press rag...
Paper
Four Limited Edition Prints By Yaacov Agam 89 / 180
By Yaacov Agam
Located in Toledo, OH
Four limited edition by Yaacov Agam all signed and numbered 89 / 180. Overall framed size is 13" x 33.5". Image size is 3.25" x 19.25".
Paper
Matt Mullican MIT Print Project Limited Edition Print
By Phaidon
Located in New York, NY
Print Rubbing Measures: 40.00 x 28.25 in 101.6 x 71.8 cm Edition of 108 This work is signed and numbered by the artist. This work is part of the Vera List Anniversary Print P...
Paper
Limited Edition Print by Peter Max "Dega Man"
By Peter Max
Located in Pasadena, TX
Limited edition print by Peter Max Dega Man 1990" Limited edition print : Serigraph on Paper Framed : 18 x 22.50 in Certificate of Authenticity.
Paper