Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Carlo Scarpa was born in Venice in 1906 and became one of the leading figures of architecture and international design during the 20th century. At merely 21 years old — and still a student at the Academy of Fine Arts — Scarpa began working as a designer for master Murano glassmaker M.V.M. Cappellin. Within a few years, he completely revolutionized the approach to art glass.
In a short time, under the guidance of Scarpa, the Capellin furnace not only established itself as the top glass company, but above all it introduced modernity and international fame to Murano glassmaking. Scarpa created a personal style of glassmaking, a new vision that irreversibly changed glass production.
The young Scarpa experimented with new models and colors: his chromatic combinations, impeccable execution and geometric shapes became his modus operandi. Thanks to Scarpa’s continuous research on vitreous matter, Cappellin produced a series of high-quality glass objects, that saw the company revisiting ancient processing techniques such as the watermark and Phoenician decoration.
When he encountered the challenge of opaque glass, Scarpa proposed introducing textures of considerable chromatic impact, such as glass pastes and glazed glass with bright colors. Scarpa also collaborated in the renovation of Palazzo da Mula in Murano, the home of Cappellin. At the academy, he obtained the diploma of professor of architectural design and obtained an honorary degree from the Venice University Institute of Architecture of which he was director.
In 1931, Scarpa's collaboration with Cappellin ended, following the bankruptcy of the company because it was not able to withstand the economic crisis linked to the Great Depression. But Scarpa did not go unnoticed by Paolo Venini — in 1933, the young designer became the new artistic director of the biggest glass company in Murano.
Master glassmakers thought Scarpa's projects and sketches were impossible, but the passionate and curious designer always managed to get exactly what he wanted. Until 1947 he remained at the helm of Venini & Co., where he created some of the best known masterpieces of modern glassmaking. Scarpa’s work with Venini was characterized by the continuous research on the subject, the use of color and techniques that he revisited in a very personal way, and the development of new ways of working with master glassmakers.
At the beginning of the 1930s, "bubble", "half filigree" and "submerged" glass appeared for the first time on the occasion of the Venice Biennale of 1934. A few years later, at the Biennale and the VI Triennale of Milan, Venini exhibited its lattimi and murrine romane pieces, which were born from a joint idea between Scarpa and Paolo Venini.
In 1938 Scarpa increased production, diversifying the vases from "objects of use" to sculptural works of art. In the same year he laid the foundation for the famous "woven" glass collection, exhibited the following year. In the subsequent years, Scarpa–Venini continued to exhibit at the Biennale and in various other shows their the "black and red lacquers," the granulari and the incisi, produced in limited series, and the "Chinese," which was inspired by Asian porcelain.
Scarpa's creations for Venini garnered an international response and were a great success, leaving forever an indelible mark on the history of glassmaking. The last Biennale in which Carlo Scarpa participated as artistic director of Venini was in 1942. He left the company five years later.
The time that Scarpa spent in the most important glass factory in Murano would attach a great artistic legacy to the company. His techniques and styles were resumed in the postwar period under the guidance of Tobia Venini, Paolo's son. In the 1950s, after the departure of Scarpa, Fulvio Bianconi was the new visionary at the Biennials with Venini.
On 1stDibs, vintage Carlo Scarpa glass and furniture are for sale, including decorative objects, tables, chandeliers and more.
(Biography provided by Ophir Gallery Inc.)
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Carrara Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Blown Glass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Travertine
1930s Italian Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Iron
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Wood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Velvet, Foam, Chenille, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Glass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Art Glass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Hardwood, Fabric
1970s Italian Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1930s Italian Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Fabric, Wood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Mirror
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Marble
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Travertine
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Sterling Silver
1930s Italian Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Mirror, Murano Glass
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Crystal, Metal
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Stainless Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Murano Glass
20th Century Minimalist Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Travertine
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Murano Glass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Leather, Walnut
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Steel, Brass
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Blown Glass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Faux Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Murano Glass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Marble
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Wood
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Oak
1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Murano Glass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Aluminum
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Aluminum
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Aluminum
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Scarpa Furniture
Aluminum