‘Morna’ Bed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, Italy - 1972

Designed in 1972 by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, the ‘Morna’ bed is conceived as a complete composition in which the sleeping platform, headboard and bedside elements form a single integrated structure. The low frame is upholstered in black leather and extends into two padded back cushions and wide bedside units with distinctive pivoting storage compartments. Rather than adding these functions as separate pieces, the design incorporates them within the strong horizontal framework of the bed. The exposed wooden mattress platform provides a warm material contrast to the black leather and emphasizes the carefully articulated construction.

Afra and Tobia Scarpa were among the leading figures of post-war Italian design, working across furniture, architecture and interiors and collaborating with manufacturers including Cassina, Gavina and Molteni. Their designs are particularly known for their attention to materials, construction and the relationship between individual components, often allowing structural solutions to become part of an object's visual identity. The Morna marked the beginning of their collaboration with Molteni in 1972 and reflects this approach particularly well, treating the bed and its surrounding functions as one coherent piece of furniture rather than a collection of separate elements. This example accommodates a mattress measuring 180 × 200 cm.