Sold | Africa Dining Chairs, Afra and Tobia Scarpa, 1975

Husband and wife team Afra and Tobia Scarpa are leading figures in Italian design. Born in Venice in 1935, Tobia Scarpa is the son of the celebrated architect and designer Carlo Scarpa, while Afra Scarpa (née Bianchin) was born in 1937 in Montebullana. The couple met at University IUAV in Venice in 1957 and founded their design office in 1960.

Renowned for their discursive designs which range from postmodern furniture to architecture, their work always meets at the intersection of functional, pared-back elegance and luxury.

Together they crafted a suite of iconic designs, collaborating with notable companies from Flos, Cassina and B&B Italia to Molteni, and Knoll. Some of their most famous designs include the instantly recognisable Cassina ‘Soriana’ sofa, ‘Africa’ side chairs for Maxalto and the ‘Foglio’ sconce for Flos.

Today, their designs are exhibited in museums around the world, from the Louvre to MoMa. The Scarpa’s influence is inimitable, and throughout their distinguished careers, they received numerous awards recognising their contributions to design. Their legacy continues today, embodying a blend of tradition and modernity that remains both relevant and admired. Though Afra died in 2011, Tobia Scarpa continues to live and work in Venice, where he remains an influential figure in the world of design.