The living room.
From classical to modern.
When the industry encounters handcrafting quality, the outcome is a success story. Maxalto's story commenced in 1975, and is closely related with architects Afra and Tobia Scarpa, who designed all the collections until 1992 and the current production facility too.
Home furnishings conceived by Afra and Tobia Scarpa were soon acknowledged as the landmark of Italian design. A collection of precious wood furniture entirely “made in Italy.”
In the age of plastic, when enthusiasm suggested other experimentation modes, the decision to use wood was both extremely daring and outside the lines. Tobia Scarpa defined the core trait of the entire collection, objects made of precious materials, such as wood, carefully processed “piece by piece,” and finished by an expert craftsman.
The search for iconic objects merges with the intention to design a modern room. A style that combines geometrical simplification of shapes with highly refined, subtly concealed, production quality. And it is all achieved by recovering, or inventing, the production methods typical of expert craftsmanship. Hence the creation of collection items, such as chairs made of Africa wood in the Artona collection, or the New Harmony collection.
In the age of plastic, when enthusiasm suggested other experimentation modes, the decision to use wood was both extremely daring and outside the lines. Tobia Scarpa defined the core trait of the entire collection, objects made of precious materials, such as wood, carefully processed “piece by piece,” and finished by an expert craftsman.
The search for iconic objects merges with the intention to design a modern room. A style that combines geometrical simplification of shapes with highly refined, subtly concealed, production quality. And it is all achieved by recovering, or inventing, the production methods typical of expert craftsmanship. Hence the creation of collection items, such as chairs made of Africa wood in the Artona collection, or the New Harmony collection.
“Massa Alto”
By seeking the highest quality standards in materials and processing methods, Maxalto aims at design par excellence.
Even in the name “massa alto,” which in Venetian dialect means “the highest.”
Artona Collection
Armchairs, sofas, beds, tables, storage units
Design no. 251 Artona sofa
The request to design a wooden sofa was placed in 1975. Hence the creation of Artona, with typical decorative sides defined by interplaying layers of various wood types. The flat armrests and back, which form a single level with the armrests, make it an icon object.
Design no. 253 Artona storage units
High large drawers, bookcase, shelf, writing-desk, wardrobe, chest of drawers. Artona storage units are made of stratified veneered slats in walnut or rosewood. The Scarpa's sensitivity can be noticed in the use of precious materials with expertly handcrafted finishes. Stratification is underscored by the particular rounded finish in the terminal end of shelves and sides.
Design no. 274 Artona tables
Artona tables present parallelepiped-shaped legs decorated with contrasting threads. The tops, in burr wood or satin-finish polyurethane resin, are all framed by borders in pre-composed solid wood.
Africa - Artona collection
Chair
The chair Africa, in the Artona series, was designed in 1975. Its precious shades are underscored by the fine black thread. Its back presents a decoration produced with the gentle manual processing methods of trimming and smoothing resulting from the typical crafting procedure adopted for gun grips. The layers of various wood types appear on the surface, producing the perfect correspondence between the ornamental configuration and the necessary anatomical concaveness.
«Bergère» collection
Armchairs
The armchair Bergère was designed in 1975, a «classical» armchair with solid rosewood or walnut uprights. A few grooves obtained from the legs become the guides on which the leather panels that form the sides can slide. Storage unit parts, either sides or back, are padded with soft goose down and upholstered with leather.
«New Harmony» collection
Chair, table and storage units
The New Harmony series, which was launched in 1979, presents a unique line by combining wood with other precious materials, such as lacquer and leather, processed with Maxalto's exclusive techniques.
«Damasco» collection
Chairs and armchairs
In Afra and Tobia Scarpa's creative path, Damasco represents the quest for a new expression. These furnishings are highly innovative and revolutionise the consolidated image of wooden furniture. The chair frame is made of solid walnut slats with burr veneer or in black painted wood, glued in comb fashion. The ornamental motif is produced by special processing in the hollow areas of the seat and back.