Italian architect and designer Antonella Scarpitta has been creating luxurious, timeless furniture since her career began in the late 1970s. Her expertise in designing all kinds of comfortable seating is evident in her plush armchairs and sofas, while the clean, spare forms of her tables draw on early modernist works and the teachings of the Bauhaus. She has said that she fashions her furnishings to reflect "strong formal purity."
The Sicilian-born Scarpitta studied at the State Institute of Industrial Planning in Cantu. In 1978 she opened her studio in nearby Brianza. That same year, she began work on her first collection — Collego — an interlocking series of rearrangeable walnut wall panels that afforded consumers the opportunity to hang shelves in a living room or secure types of case furniture to a wall elsewhere in a space. Since then, she has been active in interior projects and industrial design.
Scarpitta is credited with having designed Dinamica, a microfiber fabric used in various forms of apparel and car upholstery. She has created and renovated many private residences and industrial buildings over the years, including villas in Rome. From 1985–1990, she served as creative director for the Italian furniture company Swan.
Scarpitta has developed a wealth of collaborative relationships with a range of iconic manufacturers such as de Sede and Thayer Coggin over the years, and the first decade of the 21st century yielded many more partnerships for her. In 2001, she founded the Antonella Scarpitta Designer A 360° studio. A few years later, her SAPPO seating for Hans Kaufeld won the Red Dot award for technological and aesthetic innovation. Her work has been a part of exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, the Design Museum and more.
Find vintage Antonella Scarpitta tables, sofas and chairs on 1stDibs.
De Sede DS-31 High Backrest Chair in Off-White Leather by Antonella Scarpitta
By Antonella Scarpitta, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The DS-31 model series is one of the classics of our manufacture. This is where design, craftsmanship and leather expertise come together to form a timelessly beautiful item of uphol...
Leather
De Sede DS-31 High Backrest Chair in Teak Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By Antonella Scarpitta, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The DS-31 model series is one of the classics of our manufacture. This is where design, craftsmanship and leather expertise come together to form a timelessly beautiful item of uphol...
Leather
De Sede DS-31 Armchair in Off-White Leather Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By De Sede, Antonella Scarpitta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The DS-31 model series is one of the classics of our manufacture. This is where design, craftsmanship and leather expertise come together to form a timelessly beautiful item of uphol...
Leather
De Sede DS-47 Armchair in Brown Leather Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By Antonella Scarpitta, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-47 is available as a two- and three-seat sofa, and as an armchair and stool; 5-mm-thick neck leather recognizable in characteristic fat wrinkles lend it an unmistakable expression...
Leather
De Sede DS-31 Armchair in Teak Leather Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By De Sede, Antonella Scarpitta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The DS-31 model series is one of the classics of our manufacture. This is where design, craftsmanship and leather expertise come together to form a timelessly beautiful item of uphol...
Leather
De Sede DS-51 Armchair in Snow Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By De Sede, Antonella Scarpitta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The DS-51 swivel armchair helped establish De Sede’s worldwide reputation for Swiss hand craftsmanship and production of the highest quality. Optionally available with or without arm...
Leather
De Sede DS-4 Armchair in Snow Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By De Sede, Antonella Scarpitta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The DS-4 is a clear statement from the designer to follow an IDEA, a style, a personal claim to perfection to the very depths. Thanks to its raised backrest, the DS-4 offers that sty...
Leather
De Sede DS-5 Armchair in Snow Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By De Sede, Antonella Scarpitta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Life becomes a lot easier when you take a deep breath and decelerate your everyday life. Who better to translate this into a formal language than a master of her trade? Antonella Sca...
Leather
De Sede DS-22 Armchair in Grey Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By De Sede, Antonella Scarpitta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
As a sofa, seating landscape with corner set or as a récamiere - the DS-22, created by Appenzell designer Stephan Hürlemann, radiates the harmony of material and leather that we are ...
Fabric
$5,280 / set
H 25.6 in W 37.41 in D 33.47 in
De Sede DS 14 Lounge Chairs in Patinated Cognac Leather, Switzerland, 1970s
By De Sede
Located in Almelo, NL
De Sede DS 14 lounge chairs in patinated cognac leather, Switzerland 1970s These robust patinated De Sede lounge chairs ensure ultimate comfort and buil...
Leather, Beech
De Sede DS31 Sofa in Brown Leather, 1970s
By De Sede
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautiful dark brown leather sofa model DS31 designed and produced by De Sede. One of our personal favorites from De Sede. Well designed polished aluminum legs. The sofa has been ...
Leather
De Sede Lounge Chair in Camel Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede lounge chair, model 'S231', patinated leather, chromed metal, Switzerland, 1960s This lovely and stylish chair is based on a solid const...
Metal, Chrome
De Sede 'DS-31' Swivel Armchair in Black Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, lounge chair model 'DS-31', leather, chrome-plated metal, Switzerland, 1970s A design by De Sede that features a simple yet stately construction. A comfortable sitting expe...
Leather
$5,000 / set
H 30.74 in W 43 in D 33.47 in
De Sede Reclining Brown Leather Lounge Armchairs With Ottoman DS 101, 1969
By De Sede
Located in Vienna, AT
A pair of armchairs with one matching ottoman, manufactured by De Sede in the 1970s-They have been re-upholstered by De Sede in the 1990's price is for 2 chairs + one ottoman Great comfort chairs in wonderful condition and fully working reclining mechanism. They are mostly known from the James Bond movie "on her majesty service". Fully made from thick Aniline leather in light brown. Great comfort with an extendable seat for much more lounge comfort. This model ceased production from the late 1970s, made in Switzerland. The set has been newly upholstered by De Sede in the 1990's and looks as new, some scratches here and there other than that the chairs are perfectly fine for decades of use and very hard to find in this condition. Dimensions are H.30.74" x W.43 x D.33.47". Seat height is 14.97". Ottoman: 29.13" x 29.13" x 14.97" These will sell as a pair + ottoman and will ship crated...
Leather, Hardwood
$3,890 / item
H 31.89 in W 34.26 in D 31.89 in
One of Two De Sede 'DS-14' Armchair Lounge Chair, Cognac Leather Teak
By De Sede
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
One of two De Sede 'DS-14' armchairs in a warm high quality cognac brown leather with a solid Teak base, designed in 1989 and manufactured between 1989 and 1997. The chairs are in gr...
Leather, Wood, Teak
$3,950 / item
H 31.89 in W 34.26 in D 31.89 in
One of Two De Sede 'DS-14' Armchairs Lounge Chairs, Cognac Leather Teak, 1989
By De Sede
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
Only two chairs are available. One of two De Sede 'DS-14' armchairs in a warm high quality cognac brown leather with a solid Teak base, designed in 1989 and manufactured between 1989...
Leather, Wood, Teak
De Sede DS 47 Neck Leather Armchair Brown
By De Sede
Located in Munich, Bavaria
De Sede DS 47 / 01 neck leather armchair. This DS-47 was manufactured in Switzerland by De Sede and is upholstered in 3-5 mm thick, natural hide. The le...
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
Fauteuil et ottoman De Sede DS-31
By De Sede
Located in Moutier, CH
Superbe fauteuil lounge vintage De Sede accompagné de son ottoman, modèle De Sede DS-31, emblématique du design suisse des années 1970. Ce modèle iconique, issu de la collection Héri...
Aluminum
De Sede DS 14 Black Leather Armchair
By De Sede
Located in Munich, Bavaria
De Sede model DS 14 leather armchair Black aniline leather. The legs were made of black lacquered wood. .
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
Fauteuil De Sede DS-P
By De Sede, Robert Haussmann
Located in Moutier, CH
Ce fauteuil DS-P, dessiné par Robert Haussmann pour la maison suisse De Sede dans les années 1970, est une pièce iconique du design du XXe siècle. Véritable pièce maîtresse d’un inté...
Steel
$12,292
H 28.75 in W 34.26 in D 36.42 in
PAIR OF RESTORED DE SEDE DS47 RECLINING BROWN BUFFALO NECK LEATHER ARMCHAIRs
By De Sede
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning His & Her's pair of fully restored Mid Century Modern circa 1960’s De Sede DS47 armchairs which are part of a larger...
Leather, Oak