Afra & Tobia Scarpa

AFRA SCARPA (Montebelluna, 1937 - Treviso, 2011) & TOBIA SCARPA (Venice, 1935), for Gavina.
Vanessa bed, ca. 1960.
In maroon lacquered iron, chrome details.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Measurements: 70 x 94 x 202 cm.

The Vanessa bed is one of the most coveted and sought after designs by the Scarpa couple. It is characterized by its simple lines and exquisite fusion of minimalism and sophistication. The maroon lacquered iron frame forms flat profile stretcher frames that undulate slightly at the upper crosspieces as a visual counterpoint. The pieces are joined together with chrome-plated joints.

Tobia Scarpa's beginnings were as a glass designer in Venini's Murano glass factory, until in 1960 Tobia and Afra, his wife, decided to open their studio. Among their clients were Gavina, B&B Italia, Cassina and Meritalia. In 1964, they collaborated with the Benetton clothing company to design the firm's first textile factory. Afra and Tobia Scarpa were in charge of the interiors of the company's offices in Paris, Fribourg and New York. Afra and Tobia Scarpa were awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 1969 and the International Forum Design in 1992. Their furniture has been published in articles in magazines such as L'ŒIL, and from 2004 to 2007, the couple collaborated on numerous restoration projects for historic buildings such as the Palazzo della Ragione in Verona, Italy. Since 2002, Tobia has been teaching in the Department of Design at the Università Iuav di Venezia in Venice, Italy. Some of Afra and Tobia Scarpa's designs can be found in institutions such as the MOMA, the National Museum of Design in New York, the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Louvre Museum or the Victoria and Albert Museum, among other institutions.