Tobia Scarpa Pigreco Prod. Gavina Teak Wood and Leather Armchairs, 1959 Italy
View Similar Items
Tobia Scarpa Pigreco Prod. Gavina Teak Wood and Leather Armchairs, 1959 Italy
About the Item
- Creator:Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27.56 in (70 cm)Width: 22.84 in (58 cm)Depth: 21.26 in (54 cm)Seat Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1959
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Restored.
- Seller Location:Rome, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU952816058382
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 lounge chairs, dining chairs, floor lamps and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
- Biedermeier Walnut Wood and Velvet Austrian Chair, 1820By BiedermeierLocated in Rome, ITElegant single chair, of the early Austrian Biedermeier period. All veneered in walnut wood, with inlays in lighter woods. As you can see from the photos, the back legs and the back...Category
Antique 1820s Austrian Biedermeier Chairs
MaterialsWalnut, Velvet
- Josef Maria Olbrich for Thonet Armchair, 1910By Joseph Maria OlbrichLocated in Rome, ITWonderful armchair of the very early Art Nouveau period, very particular shape for a very particular design, enriched by a very original striped velvet fabric. Elegant and sober design but truly one of a kind. The armchair was designed by Josef Maria Olbrich...Category
Vintage 1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Velvet
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa per Cassina Model 121 Leather Walnut Dinning Chairs, 1967By Cassina, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Rome, ITExciting Italian style for this group of six chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Linear and clean design, but at the same time amazing for the combination of materi...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Wood and Leather Chairs, 1960By Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Rome, ITSimple structure but much elegance to this set of 6 chairs of Italian design of the 1950s. Six Osvaldo Borsani punched Chairs from 1960. All covered in red leather ( the leather is ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Midcentury Beech Wood White and Red Velvet Italian Chairs, 1950Located in Rome, ITBeautiful chairs in characteristic Italian style of Osvaldo Borsani. Backrest of the chair with a very nice design and very rich fabric. The chairs have a wooden structure and they ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Beech
- Pierluigi Colli Ash Wood and Brown Fabric Italian Dinning Room Chairs, 1950By Pier Luigi ColliLocated in Rome, ITVery elegant for the precious fabric with which they have been coated. Perfect marriage between two classic upholstery fabrics. Classic, but very elegant design. All covered in double combined brown fabric. Seat upholstered in fabric with geometric brown velvet, matching with a brown fabric for the backrest. While in the back part the backrest is always covered in fabric with geometric brown velvet; the back is straight, but has a slight rounding along the side. The four legs are made of ash wood and are polished with shellac. Wear consistent with age and use. Every item the warehouse Hannau Roma...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Velvet, Ash
- Pigreco armchairs Tobia Scarpa for Gavina 1960'sBy Tobia Scarpa, GavinaLocated in Milano, MIPair of armchair chairs model Pigreco designed in the 1960s by Tobia Scarpa for Gavina. Light Wood frame and light blue fabric seat. The armchairs are presented in excellent condition.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsCotton, Oak
$3,836 / set - Tobia Scarpa, Set of four Pigreco wooden Chairs for Gavina, Italy (1959)By Gavina, Tobia ScarpaLocated in Argelato, BOThe Pigreco chair was designed by the famous Italian architect Tobia Scarpa in 1959 for the Gavina company. This is an extremely important work in Scarpa's artistic career, in fact i...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Set of Four Pigreco Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Gavina, Italy 1960sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, GavinaLocated in Roma, ITFabulous set of four "Pigreco" chairs. These iconic chairs were designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and produced by Gavina in Italy in the 1960s. The chairs feature a stunning black...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Wood
- Set of Six Pigreco Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Gavina, Italy, 1960sBy Gavina, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Rovereta, SMFabulous set of Six "Pigreco" chairs. These iconic chairs were designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and produced by Gavina in Italy in the 1960s. An incredibly charming and rare se...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Tobia Scarpa, two Pigreco wooden chairs for Gavina, set of two (1959)By Tobia ScarpaLocated in Argelato, BOThe Pigreco chair was designed by the famous Italian architect Tobia Scarpa in 1959 for the Gavina company. This is an extremely important work in Scarpa's artistic career, in fact i...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Midcentury Walnut Armchair, Afra and Tobia Scarpa Style "Pigreco Chair"By Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Vigonza, PaduaOriginal 1960s walnut armchair Afra and Tobia Scarpa style Measures cm: H 64/42, W 53, D 46 About -Afra and Tobia Scarpa (Italy) Afra & Tobia Scarpa are award winning postmodern Italian architects and designers. Their pieces can be found in museums across the United States and Europe, including collections in MoMA and the Louvre Museum. They have collaborated with companies such as B&B Italia, San Lorenzo Silver...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsCotton, Walnut