Scarpa 121
Scarpa 121
The iconic 121 Scarpa dining chair is a straightforward dining chair with a design that can complement both classical and cutting-edge interiors.
The design is characterized by a firm and robust wooden frame that creates a striking contrast to the lightness of the seat and back. The seat and back are anatomically shaped in plywood, covered in fine European leather, and attached by bolts to crosspieces along the center for great comfort. Originally inspired by a sketch made by Tobia’s father, Venetian architect and designer, Carlo Scarpa, the 121 came to life with a distinct touch from Afra and Tobia Scarpa in 1965.
The 121 Scarpa dining chair was designed alongside the classic 925 Scarpa lounge chair from 1966. The two chairs are a prime example of Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s work and share the same double trestle structure with characteristic rounded joints. Both designs are now a part of the Karakter collection.
Select frameSolid ash, mocca stained
Select upholsterySaddle leather - London
The iconic 121 Scarpa dining chair is a straightforward dining chair with a design that can complement both classical and cutting-edge interiors. The design is characterized by a firm and robust wooden frame that creates a striking contrast to the lightness of the seat and back. The seat and back are anatomically shaped in plywood, covered in fine European leather, and attached by bolts to crosspieces along the center for great comfort. Originally inspired by a sketch made by Tobia’s father, Venetian architect and designer, Carlo Scarpa, the 121 came to life with a distinct touch from Afra and Tobia Scarpa in 1965. The 121 Scarpa dining chair was designed alongside the classic 925 Scarpa lounge chair from 1966. The two chairs are a prime example of Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s work and share the same double trestle structure with characteristic rounded joints. Both designs are now a part of the Karakter collection.
Originally inspired by a sketch made by Tobia’s father, Venetian architect and designer, Carlo Scarpa, the iconic 121 came to life with a distinct touch from the Scarpa’s in 1965.
Drawn from the purest of references, the 121 chair began with the idea of putting a cube and a petal together and playing up their contrasting characteristics.
“I thought the elegance of a petal could become the back of a chair. Then you would need a structure to support it and this structure became a cube to indicate the solidity of the article,” says Tobia Scarpa of the 121 chair designed in 1965 and the 925 lounge chair that followed a year later.
A petal and a cube
Drawn from the purest of references, the 121 chair began with the idea of putting a cube and a petal together and playing up their contrasting characteristics.
“I thought the elegance of a petal could become the back of a chair. Then you would need a structure to support it and this structure became a cube to indicate the solidity of the article,” says Tobia Scarpa of the 121 chair designed in 1965 and the 925 lounge chair that followed a year later.
History 1960s Italy was a time of great change, of hope and evolving ways of living that underpinned a burst of creativity and visionary thinking. Afra and Tobia Scarpa were at the forefront, conceiving furniture and lighting with the minds of architects and the perspectives of designers with a vision for comfort, elegance and function. The 121 and 925 chairs were recognized immediately as game changers.
Beauty The Scarpas had already done chairs with a similar typology and pure aesthetic. With the 121 and 925 they elevate the honest expression by the meticulousness craftsmanship on the saddle leather. The chairs still look simple – you can see a line from Tobia’s architect father Carlo – but the way they are made takes them to a higher level.
Product Material
Frame in solid ash, upholstery in saddle leather, plastic glides
Other products in the
Scarpa family
Afra Bianchin (1937-2011) and Tobia Scarpa (1935-) first met at the IUAV, University of Venice, where they graduated as architects in 1957. This marked the beginning of a partnership, marriage, and a career with an impressive impact on Italian design in the 1970s and 1980s. The Scarpa’s influenced the golden years of design and production ‘Made in Italy’ with their modernist aesthetic and constant focus on the technical and aesthetic possibilities of materials in their designs. Their work consists of architecture, everyday household items, art glass, and exclusive home interior design pieces.
DESIGNED BY
Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Afra Bianchin (1937-2011) and Tobia Scarpa (1935-) first met at the IUAV, University of Venice, where they graduated as architects in 1957. This marked the beginning of a partnership, marriage, and a career with an impressive impact on Italian design in the 1970s and 1980s. The Scarpa’s influenced the golden years of design and production ‘Made in Italy’ with their modernist aesthetic and constant focus on the technical and aesthetic possibilities of materials in their designs. Their work consists of architecture, everyday household items, art glass, and exclusive home interior design pieces.