Afra and Tobia Scarpa "Soriana" Sofa, Italy 1969

Afra and Tobia Scarpa "Soriana" Sofa, Italy 1969. Manufactured by Cassina.

“Soriana” three seat bouclé sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa from Italy, 1969. The Post-Modern sofa was manufactured by Cassina and features three front metal clamps. The Soriana collection was meant to express beauty and comfort by using a whole bundle of fabric held by chrome-plated steel clamps. The “Soriana Chair” was the first piece designed in the collection, and for its design in 1970, it won the Compasso d'Oro, one of the most important design awards of that time.

About the designers:
Afra and Tobia Scarpa graduated at the Istituto Universitario d’Architettura in Venice and formed one of the most successful and known professional associations. Their works can be found in museums across the USA and Europe such as the MoMA and the Louvre. Their designs like the Soriana sofa exhibit a decidedly modernist aesthetic, prioritizing pared-back elegance and comfort. At the same time, the Scarpas are admired for the ease with which their designs complement both classical and cutting-edge interiors.

The Soriana was created for the Italian manufacturing company Cassina, which is often credited with introducing industrial design to Italy and has built an international reputation for collaborating with some of the world’s most respected designers, including Afra and Tobia Scarpa.

The husband-and-wife duo’s products played an important role in the history of Italian Design and are thriving in the Mid-Century market. The Soriana sofa is a collectors’ piece and part of the history of Italian design destined to increase in value with the time. A piece of true Italian Modernism.~H.