rare dialogue chair design afra and tobia scarpa for b&b italia 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.71 in (78 cm)Width: 20.87 in (53 cm)Depth: 20.48 in (52 cm)Seat Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1974
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. excellent condition !
- Seller Location:taranto, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5829236913152
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: taranto, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Two-Seater Sofa "Coronado" Design Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B ItaliaLocated in taranto, IT"coronado" model two-seater sofa, designed by Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, 1970s Made on iron structure, colonial color leather upholstery Measures 150 x 78 x 93 In very goo...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Six Monk Chairs Design Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, Italy, 1974By Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in taranto, ITwonderful set of 6 Monk Chairs designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, Italy, 1974. Wood structure with red/brick leather, as pics. Very go...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Giacomino Armachair Design Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Meritalia, 1998By Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in taranto, ITWonderful and rare "giacominbo" armchair, design afra & tobia scarpa fo Meritalia, 1998. New, never used, from a closed store. Perfect conditions, as pics, red color.Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsPolyester
- Vintage Chair "Dafne", Design Gastone Rinaldi for Thema, 1970sBy Thema Italy 1, Gastone RinaldiLocated in taranto, IT"dafne" model folding chair, design Gastone Rinaldi for Thema, late 1970s bright red color, 83 cm high, 35 cm wide and seat diameter, 48 c...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Chair "Dallas" Design Paolo Favaretto for Kinetics, Talin, 1970sBy Kinetics, Favaretto & PartnersLocated in taranto, ITIndustrial design chair by paolo favaretto, designed for the canadian kinetics and distributed in Italy by Talin. Bright yellow metal structure, sta...Category
Vintage 1970s Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Chair "Modus" Tecno Design Ovaldo Borsani Eugenio Gerli, 1970s Rare VersionBy Eugenio Gerli, Osvaldo Borsani, TecnoLocated in taranto, ITvery rare, unique in the world, this original Tecno chair, designed by osvaldo borsani in the 70s probably a prototype that has never entered the market, there is no such trace in...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Set quattro Sedie 'Monk' Afra e Tobia Scarpa per Molteni anni 70By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Milano, ITSet di quattro sedie anni '70 modello 'Monk' con struttura in legno di faggio massello, seduta e schienali in cuoio color cognac. Buone condizioni generali, presentano qualche segno ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech
- Four Italian Mastro Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, c.1970sBy Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in London, GBFour Mastro chairs in metal and fabric by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, c.1970s Lacquered metal and fabric Dimension: W50 x D46 x H76 cm.Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Soriana Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Original Fabric, Italy, 1970sBy Cassina, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in London, GBA superb pair of original Soriana chairs, designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa and produced by Cassina in the 1970s. These examples are a rare find indeed - all in great condition with or...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Monk Dining Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, 1970s, Set of 4By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & CLocated 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 Black Leather Dialogo Chair for B&B Italia, 1973, Set of 4By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Vicenza, ITSet of 4 Dialogo chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia in 1973. The chairs are composed of a natural ash structure and a fib...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Ash
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Africa ChairsBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in LAGUNA BEACH, CAAfra & Tobia Scarpa Africa Chairs 1970 Brass, Rosewood, Leather, Steel 30.71 H x 18.12 W x 22 d inches (Set of 2)Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Chairs
MaterialsBrass