Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Chairs, Set of 6
View Similar Items
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Chairs, Set of 6
About the Item
- Creator:Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)Width: 19 in (48.26 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)Seat Height: 18.25 in (46.36 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU808028095642
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.
- Tobia Scarpa Leather DresserBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Beverly Hills, CAAfra & Tobia Scarpa sideboard for the Artona series for Maxalto. Gorgeous chocolate brown leather featuring four drawers with leather loop handles on one side and open door storage ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Dressers
MaterialsLeather, Wood
$15,500 - Tobia Scarpa Leather DresserBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Beverly Hills, CARare Chest of drawers by Afra & Tobia Scarpa in walnut and black leather drawers. Manufactured for the Artona series for Maxalto production. Italy, circa 1975 Beautiful grain in w...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Dressers
MaterialsBrass
$14,500 - French Brutalist Dining Chairs, Set of 2Located in Beverly Hills, CASet of 2 Brutalist chairs with thick construction and ladder backs Carved legs and exposed hardware France, circa 1950s Great patina.Category
Vintage 1950s French Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsWood
$3,125 / set - Maison Regain Dining Chairs - Set of 6By Maison RegainLocated in Beverly Hills, CAMaison Regain dining chairs - set of 6 France, 1960s Signature leather sling seats and backs with wood frames - great joinery In the style of Pierre Chapo with wonderful patina to...Category
Vintage 1960s French Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Elm
$14,500 / set - Charles Dudouyt Dining Chairs - Set of 6By Charles DudouytLocated in Beverly Hills, CASet of 6 dining chairs by Charles Dudouyt France, 1940s Wonderful sculptural ladder backs with "wings" Great patina to oak Woven straw seats Substantial in size & scaleCategory
Vintage 1940s French Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsOak, Rush
$14,500 / set - French Dining Chairs, Set of 10By Pierre ChapoLocated in Beverly Hills, CAWonderful set of solid wood dining chairs with great shape and craftsmanship Constructed out of pine in the style of Pierre Chapo France, circa 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s French Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsPine
$14,000 / set
- Set of 4 "Monk" Chairs by Afra & Tobia ScarpaBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Long Island City, NYSet of 4 "Monk" Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa in cognac leather with walnut legs. About Afra & Tobia Scarpa: Tobia Scarpa was born in Venice in 1935, where he graduated in archit...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsWalnut, Leather
- Set of Monk Chairs by Tobia & Afra Scarpa, Italy 1970sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Waasmunster, BESet of Monk Chairs by Tobia & Afra Scarpa, Italy 1970sCategory
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Chairs for Molteni, 1974, Set of 8By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Lonigo, VenetoAfra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" chairs for Molteni, canvas and walnut, Italy, 1974, set of eight. The particular feature of this model is the support structure composed of two equal tres...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsCanvas, Walnut
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Chairs for Molteni, 1974, Set of 4By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Lonigo, VenetoAfra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" chairs for Molteni, canvas and walnut, Italy, 1974, set of four. The particular feature of this model is the support structure composed of two equal tre...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsCanvas, Walnut
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Dining Chairs for Molteni, 1974, Set of 6By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Lonigo, VenetoAfra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" dining chairs for Molteni, black leather and beech, Italy, 1974, set of six. The particular feature of this model is the support structure composed of two...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Beech
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" Dining Chairs for Molteni, 1974, Set of 8By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Lonigo, VenetoAfra & Tobia Scarpa "Monk" dining chairs for Molteni, black leather and beech, Italy, 1974, set of eight. The particular feature of this model is the support structure composed of t...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut