Description

Afra and Tobia Scarpa are among the most influential figures of 20th-century Italian design, renowned for a design approach that seamlessly combines innovation, craftsmanship, and industrial culture. Active as a collaborative duo from the early 1960s, they played a pivotal role in shaping the language of modern and contemporary design, working with some of the most important international design manufacturers.

Their work is distinguished by a deep attention to materials, structure, and the relationship between form and function, balancing technical rigor with refined aesthetic sensibility. Afra and Tobia Scarpa operated across multiple disciplines—including furniture, architecture, lighting, and industrial design—leaving a lasting impact on the global design landscape.

The Maxalto production fully belongs to what is now defined as luxury design, a sector characterized by exceptional craftsmanship, premium materials, and enduring quality. Within this context, the iconic Africa chairs for Maxalto, produced in their first edition, stand as masterpieces of collectible design.

Defined by elegant proportions, structural clarity, and finely crafted wood construction, the Africa chairs by Maxalto, first edition, perfectly express the Scarpa vision of luxury: an essential and timeless design that merges functionality, comfort, and sculptural presence.

Today, Afra and Tobia Scarpa are widely recognized as leading figures in Italian luxury design, while the Africa chairs remain highly sought after by collectors, galleries, and connoisseurs of high-end historical design, representing a key milestone in Maxalto’s production and in the legacy of the Scarpa duo.