Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina Pair of 'Soriana' Lounge Chairs in Corduroy

Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, pair of 'Soriana' lounge chairs, model '944', corduroy, chrome-plated steel, Italy, 1969

Iconic lounge chairs by Italian designer couple Afra & Tobia Scarpa. The Soriana proposes a model that institutionalizes the image of the informal sitting where everything has a soft line. Here, the mass of the material and the backrest is supported and contained by a metal armor. Beautiful elements are the chromed metal parts which holds the bulky cushions in their place within the framework. These lounge chairs are upholstered in a brown corduroy. This model won the Compasso d'Oro in 1970 for its "visual complexity achieved with remarkably simple and coherent technical and construction methods".
Afra (1937-2011) & Tobia (1935-) Scarpa are a duo of Italian architects and designers mostly known for their postmodern style. Afra Bianchin was born in 1937 in Montebelluna while Tobia Scarpa, son of the architect Carlo Scarpa, was born in 1935 in Venice. The couple met when they were both studying at the Venice Institute of Architecture and married afterwards. From 1957 until 1961, Tobia worked as a glass designer at the Murano glassworks of Venini. However, in 1960, the duo started to collaborate, and they set up one of the most successful and well-known professional studios. Together, they worked for companies such as Flos Gavina, B&B Italia, and Knoll. The couple won numerous amounts of awards like the Compasso d’Oro and the International Forum Design. Throughout their career, the duo carried out commissions for well-known companies, including Benetton. Overall, their designs are known for their modernist aesthetic, prioritizing elegance and comfort. However, at the same time, their pieces are admired for the ease with which they lean towards classical designs. Moreover, the creations show their deep understanding for materials. Today, many of their works can be found in major museums such as Museum of Mod­ern Art of New York, Musée du Lou­vre, National Museum of Design New York and many more.

Please note that the fabric is in good, used condition with discoloration. Reupholstery is possible before shipping by our experienced craftsman and -women in our own in-house restoration atelier. With high attention for the original, they make sure every piece retains its value and is ready for the many years to come. We kindly ask you to contact our design experts for further information about the endless possibilities our restoration and upholstery atelier has to offer. Of course, a locally organized reupholstery is possible as well.

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