Set of 4 "Mastro" Dining Chairs by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, Italy 1980's

Rare set of 4 "mastro" dining chairs by afra & tobia scarpa for molteni, italy, 1980's. A minimal and striking design with strong graphic lines and interesting details resulting in an architectural appearance. The simple but solid frames are constructed out of black painted metal. Both seat- and backrest have their original high quality canvas covers, finished in the characteristic way like all original scarpa chairs (see the close-up pictures). End caps and feet in p.v.c. Black. A leather ring strengthens the canvas at the point where it joins the supporting structure. The canvas of the chairs has some light staining and wear. Mastro was created as a popular chair based on the same structural principle as the monk chair. The choice of oval, tubular metal and the use of different solutions for the seat and the back (curved plywood, cane and coloured cloth) create an appearance that differs fundamentally from the chair this is based on. Protagonists of 20th century italian design and culture tobia scarpa (born in venice in 1935) and his wife afra bianchin (1937-2011) both graduated from the iuav in venice in 1969. Multifaceted and curious designers, they have dealt with architecture, restoration, installations, design, graphics and teaching. Since the 1960s, they have established themselves as leaders in industrial design, through collaboration with a number of important italian and international companies, including unifor and molteni&c. In addition to their industrial product, the work of the scarpa couple has also involved to the restoration and design of numerous places of sale. Among these, the corporate showrooms of unifor. They have won numerous international awards, and in 1970, they were awarded the compasso d'oro. Their works are exhibited in numerous museums around the world and monographic exhibitions have been held in milan, new york, chicago, toronto, san francisco, los angeles and bordeaux.