Set of 6 Dining Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1970's
View Similar Items
Set of 6 Dining Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1970's
About the Item
- Creator:Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.93 in (76 cm)Width: 20.08 in (51 cm)Depth: 18.12 in (46 cm)Seat Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 6
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. The original canvas of the chairs has been cleaned professionally.
- Seller Location:Oud Beijerland, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5578224089862
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.
- Set of 2 Dining Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1970'sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLRare set of 2 dining chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1970's. A minimal and striking design with strong graphic lines and interesting det...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Augusto Savini for Pozzi Set of Four 'Pamplona' Chairs, Italy 1970'sBy Augusto Savini, PozziLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLSet of 4 beautiful "Pamplona" chairs by Augusto Savini for Pozzi, Italy 1970's. The chairs are just restored with new fabric and new foam so they are in perfect condition. They a...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Set of 4 Italian Metal Dining Chairs, 1960'sLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLVery nice set of 4 Italian armchairs, 1960s. Made of black lacquered steel. The chairs are restored with new fabric and new foam, they are in perfect condition. They are reuphol...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsSteel
$3,270 / set - Set of 4 Italian Metal Dining Chairs, 1960'sLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLBeautiful set of 4 Italian armchairs, 1960s. Made of black lacquered steel. The chairs are restored with new fabric and new foam, they are in perfect condition. They are reupholster...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsSteel
$3,598 / set - Set of 6 Bamboo Dining Chairs from Gasparucci Italo, 1970sLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLVery nice set of 6 Italian dining chairs, fabricated in the 1970s by Gasparucci Italo. They are made of bamboo. The chairs are in good vintage condition. We work with professi...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsBamboo
- Set of 6 Mid Century Italian Teak Dining Chairs, 1950sLocated in Oud Beijerland, NLLovely set of 6 dining chairs, designed and fabricated in Italy in the 50's. The teak wooden structure is very elegant but solid. The chairs are just reupholstered with new won...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak, Fabric
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Set of Six 'Dialogo' Dining ChairsBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B ItaliaLocated in Waalwijk, NLAfra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, set of six ‘Dialogo’ dining chairs, black lacquered wood, fiberglass, Italy, 1970s The ‘Dialogo’ dining c...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFiberglass, Wood
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Set of Eight 'Dialogo' Dining ChairsBy B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Waalwijk, NLAfra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, set of eight ‘Dialogo’ dining chairs, black lacquered wood, fiberglass, Italy, 1970s The ‘Dialogo’ dining chair was designed by Afra and Tobia...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFiberglass, Wood
- Afra Scarpa & Tobia Scarpa Uncommon Dining Chairs for Molteni & C, Italy, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Skokie, ILAfra Scarpa & Tobia Scarpa uncommon dining chairs for Molteni & C, Italy circa 1970s. These chairs are in exceptional condition.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Monk Dining Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, 1970s, Set of 4By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Lasne, BESet of 4 chairs in brown leather and wood designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa. Model: Monk. Seat height: 43cm Wear due to time and age of the chairs.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa Plywood Dining Chairs, 1973, Set of 8By Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Lonigo, VenetoAfra & Tobia Scarpa plywood dining chairs, metal and plywood, Italy, 1973, set of eight. Following the typical geometric line of the Scarpa duo, this particular chair features an ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Set of Four Africa Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto, Italy, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, MaxaltoLocated in London, GBA rare set of four stunning Africa chairs designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa in the 1970s, and produced by Maxalto, Italy. These are great examples in rare exotic hardwood, burl, black ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBrass