Leather Armchairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, Artona Model 8552, Italy
About the Item
- Creator:Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer),Maxalto (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 20.87 in (53 cm)Depth: 21.26 in (54 cm)Seat Height: 18.51 in (47 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Style:Post-Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1985
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Beograd, RS
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7443231502512
Afra & Tobia Scarpa
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.
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.
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 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.)
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 Afra & Tobia Scarpa furniture today on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Beograd, Serbia
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Pair of Leather Armchairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, Italy 1985By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Beograd, RSIn this listing you will find a pair of very rare leather armchairs designed by Italian duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa. The armchairs were manufactured by Maxalto as a part of their Arton...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather
- MCM Coffee Table in Walnut and Smoke Glass by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Italy 1960sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Beograd, RSIn this listing you will find a very rare Mid Century Modern coffee table designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, the Italian duo who is behind some of the most iconic pieces of Mid Centu...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsSmoked Glass, Walnut
- Leather Dining Chairs by Tito Agnoli for Matteo Grassi, Model Korium, Italy 1979By Matteo Grassi, Tito AgnoliLocated in Beograd, RSIn this listing you will find a set of 4 cognac brown postmodernist dining chairs, designed by Tito Agnoli for Matteo Grassi in 1979 in Italy. This model of the chair or armchair is ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Bauhaus Style Leather Armchair with Chrome Tubular Frame, Switzerland, 1970sLocated in Beograd, RSIn this listing you will find a gorgeous, geometrical armchair done in leather, with tubular chrome frame. The armchair features the backrest with two cylinders and the square seat, ...Category
Vintage 1970s Swiss Bauhaus Armchairs
MaterialsChrome
- Pair of Mid Century Modern Armchairs in style of Marco Zanuso, Italy 1950sBy Marco ZanusoLocated in Beograd, RSIn this listing you will find a pair of Mid Century Modern Armchairs designed in style of Marco Zanuso's "Lady Chair". Chairs are upholstered in forest green vinyl and feature elegan...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Folding Chairs by Arrben, model Tamara, in cognac leather, Italy 1970sBy ArrbenLocated in Beograd, RSIn this listing you will find a pair of exceptionally rare postmodern folding chairs manufactured by Arrben. They feature chrome plated steel frames and cognac leather seats and back...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Italian modern brown armchair Artona by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 1980sBy Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in MIlano, ITItalian modern brown armchair Artona by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 1980s Cockpit armchair mod. Artona with backrest and seat in brown leather. The backrest and the seat have ...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsMetal
- Italian modern Black armchair Artona by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 1970sBy Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in MIlano, ITItalian modern Black armchair Artona by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 1970s Vintage and fantastic armchair mod. Artona with seat, armrests and backrest composed of soft cushions...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Tobia & Afra Scarpa Armchair in Wood and Leather by Maxalto 1975 ItalyBy Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Montecatini Terme, ITA single armchair with a frame in wood and cushions upholstery with leather (cognac shade) designed by Tobia and Afra Scarpa and manufactured by Maxalto from the Artona series 1975 c...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Afra and Tobia Scarpa Artona Settee by MaxaltoBy MaxaltoLocated in Chicago, ILAfra and Tobia Scarpa Artona settee by Maxalto Made by Maxalto, Italy, 1975 Additional information: Material: Walnut, mohair, ebony...Category
20th Century Italian Settees
MaterialsUpholstery
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa ‘Artona’ Sofa in Elm and linen for Maxalto, 1975By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, MaxaltoLocated in ABCOUDE, UTBeautiful Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 'Artona' sofa, elm, Italy 1975 This sofa shows absolute stunning craftsmanship. The absolute highlight of this incredible sofa is the woo...Category
Vintage 1970s Sofas
MaterialsLinen, Elm, Walnut
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa Pair of 'Artona' Lounge Chairs in AshBy Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Waalwijk, NLAfra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, pair of 'Artona' lounge chairs, ash, checkered fabric, Italy, 1975/1979 Pair of cubic ‘Artona’ lounge chairs by Italian designer couple Afra and Tob...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Ash