Butterfly Floor Lamp Designed by Afra e Tobia Scarpa for Flos, Italy, 1980s
About the Item
- Creator:Afra & Tobia Scarpa (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 81.11 in (206 cm)Diameter: 26.78 in (68 cm)
- Voltage:220-240v
- Lampshade:Included
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The Floor lamp is working and in good vintage condition. It has a scratch on the stem, visible in the photos.
- Seller Location:Roma, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7868234730102
Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Widely recognized as superstars of postmodern Italian design, husband-and-wife team Afra and Tobia Scarpa (1937–2011; b. 1935) collaboratively created chairs, sofas and other furniture that work equally well in both traditional and cutting-edge environments.
Ranging from architecture and interior design to furniture and clothing, the Scarpas’ practice from its beginnings in the mid-1950s to the 21st century has included a diverse scope of projects combining new technology with thoughtful function and sculptural yet simple forms.
Afra Bianchin and Tobia Scarpa met as architecture students at the Università Iuav di Venezia. In a class led by architect and furniture designer Franco Albini, they created their first collaborative piece, the Pigreco armchair, later produced with Gavina. After graduating in 1957, Tobia worked for Murano glass company Venini & Co. before the couple opened a studio in Afra’s hometown, Montebelluna, in 1960. (Tobia, the son of famed glass artist and architect Carlo Scarpa, was born in Venice.)
For Afra and Tobia, a close collaborative process was pivotal to the success of their designs. The duo was also prolific — they designed for the most influential European manufacturers, including B&B Italia, Cassina, Knoll and FLOS. With respect to the latter, Afra and Tobia were among the legendary Italian lighting maker’s earliest collaborators, and their pioneering designs for the brand included the Papillon lamp, one of the first fixtures to use halogen technology. Their most recognized designs include the Bastiano sofa (1962), the Vanessa bed (1959), the Coronado sofa (1966) and the Soriana seating collection (1970). Work on the Soriana sofa began in late 1969 for an early 1970 debut, and it feels as radical today as it did in its heyday.
Architecture was also a central part of Afra and Tobia’s practice, which spanned residential buildings and factories for Italian companies such as Benetton. Their commissions for the global fashion brand included numerous industrial projects, from textile plants to storefronts. By 1985, Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s work was celebrated in a 30-year retrospective at Center Four in Queens, New York. Looking around the 30,000-square-foot exhibition space, Afra joked to the New York Times, “Seeing all those things makes us feel very tired, and now we feel that maybe we worked too much.”
It was not too much for their legacy, as Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s work continues to inspire new generations. Scarpa designs are in collections at the Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The couple was awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1970 for the Soriana armchair.
Find vintage Afra & Tobia Scarpa lounge chairs, dining chairs, floor lamps and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Roma, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- "Half Moon" Floor Lamp designed by Bruno Gecchelin for Skypper, Italy, 1970sBy Bruno GecchelinLocated in Roma, ITA slim and elegant floor lamp, designed in 1970 by Bruno Gecchelin for Skypper. The advent of the halogen lamp has revolutionized lighting not only in a technical sense but also in style. The power of the halogen lamp with the possibility of being dimmed has reduced the overall dimensions of the lamps; many bulbs or large light diffusers were no longer needed, therefore the shapes become thinner as in our "Mezza Luna" floor lamp. The 500w halogen lamp is contained in an orientable half-moon in white metal thin and light as a paper origami...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
- Italian Post Modern Floor Lamp design by Perry A. King & S. Mirand for ArteluceBy Arteluce, Memphis GroupLocated in Roma, ITA Post Modern floor lamp of great charm, made in Italy by the historic lighting company Arteluce founded in 1939 by Gino Sarfatti. Designed and produced during the 80s, this floor la...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Large Mirror in the Style of Artona Collection by Afra E Tobia Scarpa, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Roma, ITA mirror of high quality and precious workmanship. It was made in Italy in the late 70s. The two-tone solid walnut wood frame recalls the Artona collection produced by max Alto and...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror, Walnut
- Sistema Flu a Post Modern Floor Lamp design by Rodolfo Bonetto for Luci ItaliaBy Luci Italia, Rodolfo BonettoLocated in Roma, IT"Sistema Flu" is a magical lamp, and every time we find one in some corner of Italy we buy it to offer it to our customers. In this case we have 2 pieces of the tallest model, 180cm of twin floor lamps...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- 1970s Italian Floor Lamp in Brass and Artistic Murano Glass by F. FabbianBy F. FabbianLocated in Roma, ITA Glamorous Floor Lamp in the typical style of the late 70s, characterized by the use of precious and sparkling materials, such as brass and chrome inserts in contrast with black and...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- 1970s Floor Lamp with Large Brass Leaves by Carlo Giorgi for Bottega GaddaBy Carlo GiorgiLocated in Roma, ITBeautiful floor lamp produced between the 70s and 80s in Italy by Bottega Gadda and designed by Carlo Giorgi. Three thin stems emerge from a brass-plated metal sphere...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- "Butterfly" floor lamp by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for FlosBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, FlosLocated in Conversano, ITStunning floor lamp designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for the Italian company "Flos" in the 1980s, model Butterfly. Black enameled aluminum stem surmounted by a dimming halogen lamp; a...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- Italian Abate floor lamp by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Ibis, 1980sBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in MIlano, ITItalian Abate floor lamp by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Ibis, 1980s Very rare and important Abate floor lamp designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa. The base is in semicircular gray marble and...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMarble, Steel
- 'Butterfly' Floorlamp by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Flos Italy 1985By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, FlosLocated in bergen op zoom, NLImportant Post Modern 'Butterfly' Floorlamp by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Flos Italy 1985 The heat-resistant synthetic fabric 'butterfly' wings can be adjusted in size and position to...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Aluminum, Chrome
- Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Fantasma, Floor Lamp, Flos, 1960sBy Flos, Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Paris, FRAfra & Tobia Scarpa Fantasma A floor lamp, the internal metal frame covered with a sprayed resin coated shade. Produced by Flos. Circa 1964. Italy. Note One lamp in the collection...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsResin
- Italian Floor Lamp by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for BenettonBy Afra & Tobia ScarpaLocated in Los Angeles, CAItalian floor lamp design by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for the Benetton stores in Italy. Italian architect and designers who worked together on the variety of different project .they were...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Vintage Italian Papillona Lamp by Tobia & Afra Scarpa for Flos, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, FlosLocated in London, GBA very stylish and iconic vintage Italian Papillona lamp by Tobia and Afra Scarpa for Flos. This was made in Italy and dates from around the 1970’s. This is of super quality and has...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal