Round Africa Table by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto Artona Series, Italy, 1970s
View Similar Items
Round Africa Table by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto Artona Series, Italy, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Maxalto (Manufacturer),Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27.17 in (69 cm)Diameter: 57.49 in (146 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:ABCOUDE, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6852229624352
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.
- 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
- Early Edition Fantasma Floor Lamp By Tobia Scarpa For Flos, Italy, 1960sBy Flos, Tobia ScarpaLocated in ABCOUDE, UTFlos Fantasma floor lamp by Tobia Scarpa, Italy, 1960s. Created by master designer Tobia Scarpa, this floor lamp presents like a functional work of art. Its striking silhouette glow...Category
Vintage 1950s Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- Angelo Mangiarotti M1T70 Dining Table Skipper Italy 1969By Skipper, Angelo MangiarottiLocated in ABCOUDE, UTFantastic M1 T70 marble dining table designed by Angelo Mangiarotti and manufactured by Skipper, Italy 1970s. This table is made from solid Carrara marbl...Category
Vintage 1960s Dining Room Tables
MaterialsCarrara Marble
- Tumble Lounge Chair by Adriano Piazzesi, Italy, 1970sBy Adriano PiazzesiLocated in ABCOUDE, UTRare Tumble lounge chair by Adriano Piazzesi, Italy 1970s. Truly a unique lounge chair, as the back is constructed with a stainless steel slide and a cylindrical foot...Category
Vintage 1960s Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Jumbo Bookcase by Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau, Italy, 1970sBy Luigi Massoni, Poltrona FrauLocated in ABCOUDE, UTBeautiful Jumbo wall unit designed by Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau, Italy 1971. Chromed tubular steel frame with cherry wood shelves suspended by black leather straps. At the base...Category
Vintage 1970s Bookcases
MaterialsChrome
- Round 'Africa' Table by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto Artona Series, Italy, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Brussels, BERound 'Africa' Table by Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto Artona Series, Italy, 1970sCategory
Vintage 1970s Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWood
- Africa Dining Table by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, Italy 1970sBy Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Greding, DELarge dining table or conference table with oval tabletop and veneer of walnut and birch burl. The table rests on two square legs, which are stabilized by means of concrete counterwe...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsConcrete
- 1970s "Artona" Afra & Tobia Scarpa Maxalto Italian Design Dining Round TableBy Max Alto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Brescia, ITMaxalto, Italy, circa 1975 lacquered walnut, brass Literature: Repertorio 1950-1980, Gramigna, pg. 416.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWood
- mAXALTO oval dining table by Afra and Tobia Scarpa Artona seriesBy Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Milano, MIFantastic oval-shaped dining table in burl, walnut, and brass by Afra & Tobia Scarpa. This table designed by the famous designers Afra and Tobia Scarpa was produced by Maxalto. Maxa...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Tobia & Afra Scarpa Large Africa Wooden Conference Table by Maxalto 1970s ItalyBy Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Los Angeles, CAThe Tobia & Afra Scarpa Large Africa Wooden Conference Table by Maxalto, hailing from 1970s Italy, epitomizes the sleek sophistication and cra...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWood
- Round Africa Table by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 1975By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Lasne, BERound wooden table by Tobia and Afra Scarpa. Stamped concrete block inside the table for stability. Wear due to time and age of the table.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsConcrete