Sideboard by Afra and Tobia Scarpa Artona for Maxalto, Italy, 1975

Beautiful Artona sideboard designed by Afra e Tobia Scarpa and manufactured by Maxalto, Italy 1975. It has a stunning intricate burl wood top which is a bit wider than the cabinet and the top has round edges which creates an oval shape. This is the largest cabinet from the 'Artona' line. The four drawers and doors are covered with black leather that have a nice contrast with the wood. The handles are made of leather and loop in an out a brass plate. The whole bottom structure is made from walnut wood. Inside there is plenty of space for storage. Behind the doors are two shelves and with the four drawers you can store all the small items you have. A subtle but strong detail is the horizontal wood that divides the drawers and the doors. Typical to the ‘Artona' design are the black lines on the edges of the top and sides. In very good original condition. Publication; Afra e Tobia Sarpa, architetti 1959-1999, Tobia Scarpa, Architetto 2000 - 2009 Electa Architecture page 250. The ‘Artona’ line, crafted by the Scarpa duo, holds historical significance as it marked the beginning of Maxalto, a specialized branch of B&B Italia. Maxalto, founded in 1975, was dedicated to crafting artisanal, predominantly wooden furniture. The ‘Artona’ series was their first project for Maxalto and also served as a counterpoint to the prevailing trend of using plastics in furniture design during the postwar era. Afra and Tobia Scarpa are award winning postmodern Italian architects and designers. Their pieces can be found in museums across the United States and Europe, including collections in MoMa and the Louvre Museum. They have collaborated with companies such as B&B Italia, San Lorenzo Silver, Molteni, and Knoll International. They have won a number of awards such as the Compasso d’Oro in 1969 to the International Forum Design in 1992. Their design work consists of architecture and everyday household items including, furniture, clothing, interior design, art glass. They focused on the technical and aesthetic possibilities of materials in their designs. The couple was greatly influenced by Tobia’s father, Carlo Scarpa, a Venetian architect and designer.