Three Seat Soriana Sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina in Black Chenille F
View Similar Items
Three Seat Soriana Sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina in Black Chenille F
About the Item
- Creator:Tobia Scarpa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.75 in (73.03 cm)Width: 97 in (246.38 cm)Depth: 34.5 in (87.63 cm)Seat Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. This chair has been reupholstered recently. The foam is in good condition and still shows the round bulky shape of this design. One of the fasteners holding the metal on the side of the sofa is missing, but can be repaired if fabric isn't changed.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5092124366032
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.
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 Scarpa 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.)
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.
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 Tobia Scarpa table lamps, sofas, dining chairs and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
- Cannaregio Sofa Attributed to Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, Italy 1990sBy Gaetano PesceLocated in Chicago, ILA Cannaregio sofa designed by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina in 1987. The Cannaregio sofa is composed of ten modular sections, which can be placed together ...Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsTextile, Upholstery
- Gondola Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, USA, 1950sBy Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Chicago, ILA Gondola sofa designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar’s Janus Collection in the 1950s. This sculptural sofa features angled arms and a floating back attached to the base with walnut s...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsBrass
$9,360 Sale Price51% Off - Cannaregio Loveseat Attributed to Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, Italy 1990sBy Gaetano PesceLocated in Chicago, ILA Cannaregio sofa designed by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina in 1987. The Cannaregio sofa is composed of ten modular sections, which can be placed together ...Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Loveseats
MaterialsTextile, Upholstery
- Walnut + Leather 2 Seat ‘Arcata’ Sofas by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova, Italy 1968By Gae Aulenti, PoltronovaLocated in Chicago, ILA two-seat ‘Arcata’ sofa designed by Gae Aulenti for Poltronova in 1968. This sculptural sofa features a walnut frame with an arched seat back and arms, whose curves are emphasized ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Art Deco Sofa with Cerused Oak Trim, France, 20th Century, '2 Available'Located in Chicago, ILAn Art Deco style sofa newly reupholstered in a textured cream fabric. This sofa has a cerused oak trim and stands on four wooden block feet. We love the angu...Category
20th Century French Art Deco Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak
- Leather Marsala Three-Seat Sofa by Michel Ducaroy for Lignet Roset, France 1970sBy Michel DucaroyLocated in Chicago, ILA three-seat Marsala sofa designed by Michel Ducaroy for Lignet Roset. This sofa features a curved amber plexiglass frame. It has striking original cream ...Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Lucite, Plexiglass
- "Soriana" Sofa by Afra and Tobia ScarpaLocated in Los Angeles, CATwo seater "Soriana" sofa by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Rare edition in original cognac leather. Made in Italy circa 1969.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Sofas
MaterialsChrome
- Soriana Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for CassinaBy Cassina, Tobia ScarpaLocated in Barcelona, BarcelonaSoriana armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Manufactured in Italy. The idea of comfort itself becomes a sofa. Soriana came into being in 1969, thanks to an intuitive vision...Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
$9,345 / item - Soriana Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for CassinaBy Cassina, Tobia ScarpaLocated in Barcelona, BarcelonaSoriana armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Manufactured in Italy. The idea of comfort itself becomes a sofa. Soriana came into being in 1969, thanks to an intuitive vision...Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
$9,345 / item - Soriana Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for CassinaBy Cassina, Tobia ScarpaLocated in Barcelona, BarcelonaSoriana armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Manufactured in Italy. The idea of comfort itself becomes a sofa. Soriana came into being in 1969, thanks to an intuitive vision...Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
$9,345 / item - Sofa Soriana by Tobia Scarpa for CassinaBy Cassina, Tobia ScarpaLocated in Barcelona, BarcelonaThree seater sofa model Soriana designed by Tobia Scarpa in 1969. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. A design armchair with soft, generous contours, designed to bring home casual,...Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
$21,713 / item - Sofa Soriana by Tobia Scarpa for CassinaBy Cassina, Tobia ScarpaLocated in Barcelona, BarcelonaThree Seater sofa model Soriana designed by Tobia Scarpa in 1969. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. A design armchair with soft, generous contours, designed to bring home casual, so...Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
$21,713 / item