Soriana Sofa in Champagne Mohair by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, 1970s
View Similar Items
Soriana Sofa in Champagne Mohair by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer),Cassina (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 25.6 in (65 cm)Width: 66.93 in (170 cm)Depth: 39.38 in (100 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1972
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:ABCOUDE, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6852234340192
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.
Cassina
Furniture manufacturer Cassina is a prolific design house for more reasons than one: It not only owns the licenses to an exquisite collection of iconic chairs, sofas, tables and other pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries but also produces original works that are characterized by innovation and the finest Italian craftsmanship.
Cassina’s illustrious legacy includes being one of the first companies to bring industrial design to Italy in the 1950s. Founded in 1927 in Meda, Italy, by brothers Cesare and Umberto Cassina, the Italian manufacturing giant originally specialized in bespoke woodworking. In nearly a century since its founding, the company has shown incredible foresight about design trends and the evolution of technology.
In 1964, Cassina signed an exclusive licensing agreement to manufacture furniture by Le Corbusier and his collaborators — such as the LC4 chaise longue made with trailblazing French modernist Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret — a move that would shape the future of the company. Cassina’s I Maestri collection is an ongoing initiative to restyle landmark designs from the 20th century, such as pieces by Gerrit Rietveld (the Red and Blue armchair from 1918), Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Erik Gunnar Asplund, Franco Albini and Frank Lloyd Wright. The company preserves the intentions and original styles of their designs but adds updated techniques, materials and processes — rendering them the best possible combination of past, present and future. The brand has also worked with contemporary icons like Zaha Hadid, Gio Ponti and Philippe Starck.
Cassina’s original designs are cutting-edge as well. They include pieces for everyday use, the development of which is guided by comfort and the marriage of Italian craftsmanship with industrial technology.
Some of Cassina’s pieces, both from its contemporary and I Maestri collections, can be found in the collections of museums like the Museum of Modern Art and the Vitra Design Museum. In 2014, the company became part of Haworth in its acquisition of Italian furniture group Poltrona Frau, and in 2015, Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola joined Cassina as its art director, leading the brand into its next century of inventive style.
Find a collection of new and vintage Cassina furniture on 1stDibs.
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa ‘Artona’ Sofa in Elm and linen for Maxalto, 1975By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in ABCOUDE, UTBeautiful Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 'Artona' sofa, elm, Italy 1975 This sofa shows absolute stunning craftsmanship. The absolute highlight of this incredible sofa is the woo...Category
Vintage 1970s Sofas
MaterialsLinen, Elm, Walnut
- Set Of 4 Afra And Tobia Scarpa Monk Chairs For Molteni Italy 1974By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in ABCOUDE, UTFantastic set of 4 ‘Monk’ chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, Italy 1974. The sober design, after its name “Monk” is complemented with this beautiful combination of...Category
Vintage 1960s Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Original Cinna Sandra Sofa In Brown Leather By Annie Hieronimus, 1970sBy Annie Hiéronimus, Cinna (Ligne Roset)Located in ABCOUDE, UTOriginal Cinna Sandra sofa in brown leather by Annie Hieronimus, 1970s Beautiful original Sandra sofa in brown leather by Annie Hieronimus for Cinna...Category
Vintage 1960s Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Sculptural Corner Sofa By Wiener Werkstätte, Austria 1970sBy Wiener WerkstätteLocated in ABCOUDE, UTAmazing, organic shaped sofa by Wiener Werkstätte, Austria 1970s. A rare custom made design in the 1970s with each sofa to be a masterpiece. These one-of-a-kind sofas are to be recog...Category
Vintage 1960s Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery
- Sectional Gran Visir Sofa in Blue Velvet by Luciano Frigerio, Italy, 1970sBy Luciano FrigerioLocated in ABCOUDE, UTIncredible Gran Visir sectional sofa by Luciano Frigerio, Italy 1970s. This rare model of great designer Luciano Frigerio comes in an even rarer large setting, allowing for endless p...Category
Vintage 1960s Sectional Sofas
MaterialsVelvet, Wood
- Montis “The Rock” Sofa In Beige Leather By Gerard Van Den Berg, 1970sBy Montis, Gerard Van Den BergLocated in ABCOUDE, UTStunning beige leather ‘The Rock’ two seater sofa by Gerard van den Berg, for Montis 1970s. This sofa is also known as the “Florence” . The sofa features a high quality beige leather...Category
Vintage 1960s Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Afra and Tobia Scarpa Soriana Sofa for Cassina, Italy, 1970sBy Cassina, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in London, GBWinner of the compasso d’oro award in 1970, the Soriana led Italian couple Afra and Tobia Scarpa to instant success. Together in 1968 they designed a three seater cloud-like sofa for...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa, A large sofa, "Soriana", Cassina, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, CassinaLocated in Paris, FRAfra & Tobia Scarpa Soriana A brown velvet covered and metal framed sofa. Produced by Cassina. Cassina label underneath. Circa 1970. Italy. ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet
- Cassina Soriana Sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, CassinaLocated in Antwerp, BESoriana Sofa; Scarpa; Afra & Tobia Scarpa; Cassina; Italy; 1970s; Hollywood Regency; Minimalist; Italian Design; Afra and Tobia Scarpa Soriana lounge chair...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsChrome
- Cassina Soriana Sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1970sBy Cassina, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Antwerp, BESofa; Afra; Tobia; Scarpa; Cassina; Soriana; Settee; Couch; Italy; 1970's; Hollywood Regency; Minimalist; Italian Design; Soriana sofa in original upholstery, designed by Afra &...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsWool
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” Sofa for Cassina, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Edogawa-ku Tokyo, JPAfra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” Sofa for Cassina, 1970s Very good condition and fabric that feels good to the touch. I can sent more detail pic...Category
Vintage 1970s Sofas
MaterialsChrome
- Soriana Sofa by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, 1970sBy B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Lasne, BEBlack leather and metal sofa. Dimensions: Seat height 41cm. Wear due to time and ageCategory
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Billy Cotton Layers His Interiors with Lived-In Comfort
The Brooklyn-based designer is adept at styles ranging from austere to over-the-top, espousing an architectural, detail-oriented approach also evident in his line of furniture and lighting.