Afra e Tobia Scarpa Artona lounge chairs Maxalto Italy 1975

Afra e Tobia Scarpa

Italy 1935 – 2011
Italy 1937 –
Architects, designers

Stunning cubic lounge chairs known as ‘Artona,’ designed by the talented Italian duo, Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto in 1975. These chairs show exceptional craftsmanship, with a particular highlight on the woodworking. The walnut wood used is beautifully inlaid with dark wood lines, creating a stunning graphic appearance. This effect is most prominent in the curved backrest, where the dark lines beautifully enrich the design.

The ‘Artona’ line, designed 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. This set is newly upholstered in a linen like fabric which feel very nice and soft. Priced and sold in a set of 2. Kindly note that the sofa is not a part of this listing, it can be purchased here.

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…

Like all our upholstered pieces these can also be newly upholstered to your admiration. Ask our experienced upholstery department for an affordable quote for the item you want customized. We only use the best quality fabrics, foam, and materials for all our items. With the reupholstery we will always keep the originality in mind so the piece doesn’t lose its value and will be ready for years of use again.