Vintage Black Leather Mix Side Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, 1975
View Similar Items
Vintage Black Leather Mix Side Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, 1975
About the Item
- Creator:Molteni & C (Manufacturer),Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)Width: 20.25 in (51.44 cm)Depth: 22 in (55.88 cm)Seat Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1975-1979
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Some normal age-related wear such as scratches and spots.
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1888331945102
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 Eight Mart Stam Gray Leather Chairs for Fasem, Italy 1980sBy Mart Stam, Stendig Co., Fasem InternationalLocated in Miami, FLSet of Eight Mart Stam Gray Leather Chairs for Fasem, sold by Stendig. Two arm and six side chairs. Made in Italy 1980s. Arm chairs are 22.75” wide.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Contemporary Dining Chairs MARK by Sebastian Herkner for LintelooBy Linteloo, Sebastian HerknerLocated in Miami, FLSet of Six Contemporary Dining Chairs MARK by Sebastian Herkner for Linteloo. Solid ash wood with gray paint finish. Made in Italy. In total we have twelve chairs available.Category
2010s Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsAsh
- Set of Six Dining Chairs Designed by Bruno Weil for Thonet, BentwoodBy Thonet, Bruno WeilLocated in Miami, FLSet of Six Dining Chairs Designed by Bruno Weil for Thonet in the 1960s, oak plywood with a walnut lacquer finish. Ready for a new home, we have another set available.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBentwood, Plywood
- Set of 6 Chairs Designed by Carlo de Carli for Cassina, Walnut, Red VinylBy Carlo De Carli, CassinaLocated in Miami, FLSet of 6 chairs Mod. 693, Designed by Carlo de Carli for Cassina. All original condition. Solid walnut and red vinyl. We can help if buyer wants seats and backs recovered.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFaux Leather, Walnut
- Early Fritz Hansen Arm Chair Model 1561, Denmark, 1942By Fritz HansenLocated in Miami, FLBeautiful original Fritz Hansen arm chair from the 1940s. Original vinyl and brass nails. Ready for a new home.Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Faux Leather
- Set of Nine Swivel Dining Chairs by Antarenni Ny, Wrought Iron, Retro VintageLocated in Miami, FLGreat set of nine dining chairs, wrought iron and fabric, chairs swivel. Made in NY by Antarenni. Chairs need to be recovered, we can help.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMetal, Iron
- Molteni & C ‘Mix’ Office Chair by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & CLocated in CULEMBORG, GEDesigned by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1975, the quirky mix chair was originally designed for executive offices and conference rooms. This extremel...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa Monk Black Chair for Molteni, Italy, 1974By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & CLocated in London, GBFormidable husband and wife team Tobia and Afra Bianchin Scarpa created interiors and furniture that embraced the materials of each design and the interplay of technology and ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
$1,874 Sale Price36% Off - Tobia & Afra Scarpa for Molteni Set of Four 'Monk' Chairs in Black LeatherBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & CLocated in Waalwijk, NLAfra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, set of four 'Monk' dining chairs, walnut, black leather, Italy, 1974. Set of four 'Monk' chairs by Italian designers Afra & Tobia Scarpa. The black ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black & Red Leather Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 6By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Vicenza, ITSet of six “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973. Made of English red and black leather and walnut. Fully restored in Italy. Interesting is the ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black & Red Leather Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 8By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & CLocated in Vicenza, ITSet of eight “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973. Made of English red and black leather and walnut. Fully restored in Italy. Interesting is th...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black Leather and Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 6By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & CLocated in Vicenza, ITSet of six “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973. Made of black leather and ash wood. Fully restored in Italy. Interesting is the ‘flat’ sha...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Ash