Afra e Tobia Scarpa Artona bookcase Italy 1975

Afra e Tobia Scarpa

Italy 1935 – 2011
Italy 1937 –
Architects, designers

Large Artona bookcase designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa and manufactured by Maxalto in 1975 in Italy. This bookcase is as elegant as it is practical. It’s made from walnut veneer with ebony wood inlays, giving it a timeless and sophisticated look. It features a combination of glass and leather doors, which gives a luxurious appearance. You’ll also find open sections, providing space for your books, decor, and more.

The ‘Artona’ line, crafted by the Scarpa duo, holds historical significance as it marked the beginning of Maxalto, a specialized branch of B&B Italia. Maxalto, founded in 1975, was dedicated to crafting artisanal, predominantly wooden furniture. The ‘Artona’ series was their first project for Maxalto and also served as a counterpoint to the prevailing trend of using plastics in furniture design during the postwar era.

Afra and Tobia Scarpa are award winning postmodern Italian architects and designers. Their pieces can be found in museums across the United States and Europe, including collections in MoMa and the Louvre Museum. They have collaborated with companies such as B&B Italia, San Lorenzo Silver, Molteni, and Knoll International. They have won a number of awards such as the Compasso d’Oro in 1969 to the International Forum Design in 1992. Their design work consists of architecture and everyday household items including, furniture, clothing, interior design, art glass. They focused on the technical and aesthetic possibilities of materials in their designs. The couple was greatly influenced by Tobia’s father, Carlo Scarpa, a Venetian architect and designer. Read more…