In 1946, at the start of a postwar boom in Europe, Enrico Cappellini opened the doors to a small furniture studio in the Italian town of Carugo. But it wasn’t until his son joined the company nearly three decades later that Cappellini became a powerhouse fixture on the global design stage. Today Cappellini is one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of innovative chairs, tables and decorative objects.
Giulio Cappellini joined the family company in 1977 and, with his appointment, ushered in a stage of boundary-pushing modernism and prolific creativity at Cappellini. With a dual background in architecture and business management, Giulio was well equipped to steer the brand into both innovative design and economic growth in a rapidly globalizing economy.
The second-generation leader’s first major success came in 1981, with the launch of Sistemi, a modular, hyperfunctional storage system that would come to symbolize the chic functionality of Cappellini. That was quickly followed by a collaboration with renowned Japanese designer Shiro Kuramata for the Progetti Compiuti collection, a line that brought unexpected playfulness to the simple framework of a black-and-white cabinet and remains an iconic collectible today.
That first collaboration opened the doors to a prolific output of partnerships, with Cappellini tapping such star designers as Jasper Morrison, Marcel Wanders, Tom Dixon, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and Nendo for collections over the ensuing decades that spanned a range of materials and styles. Speaking to this range, Marc Newson’s plumply curvaceous 1988 Embryo chair, Jasper Morrison’s slightly arachnoid 1987 Thinking Man’s chair and Tom Dixon’s sculptural 1991 S-chair — each quite stylistically unique — remain some of the company’s most recognizable pieces, with the latter in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Cappellini, now headquartered in Milan, continues to partner with guest designers across furniture, storage and lighting solutions, though many of its 1970s and ’80s designs remain its most coveted today.
Find vintage Cappellini furniture on 1stDibs.
Luce Side Table in coloured glass by Giulio Cappellini for Cappellini
By Giulio Cappellini, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Luce table by Giulio Cappellini & Antonio Facco represents the fruition of expertise, creativity and the sensibility to experiment with new uses for materials whilst maintain...
Metal
Lochness Desk Table in Oak by Piero Lissoni for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Piero Lissoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Lochness Cappellini desk, designed by Piero Lissoni, interprets the idea of designer office furniture with a rigorous and measured language designed for home and professional env...
Metal
Lochness Desk Small Table in Oak by Piero Lissoni for Cappellini
By Piero Lissoni, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Lochness Cappellini desk, designed by Piero Lissoni, interprets the idea of designer office furniture with a rigorous and measured language designed for home and professional env...
Metal
Luce Set of three Low Tables in glass by Giulio Cappellini for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Giulio Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Luce table by Giulio Cappellini & Antonio Facco represents the fruition of expertise, creativity and the sensibility to experiment with new uses for materials whilst maintain...
Metal
Riga Desk in Ash and White Finish by Marc Newson for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Marc Newson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Marc Newson, the Riga table is a writing desk made of matte lacquered wood (in all of the colours in the collection) with legs in solid beech wood. The feet and knobs are...
Ash
Riga Desk in ash and Black Finish by Marc Newson for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Marc Newson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Marc Newson, the Riga table is a writing desk made of matte lacquered wood (in all of the colours in the collection) with legs in solid beech wood. The feet and knobs are...
Ash
$12,903 / item
Riga Desk in Ash by Marc Newson for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Marc Newson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Marc Newson, the Riga table is a writing desk made of matte lacquered wood (in all of the colours in the collection) with legs in solid beech wood. The feet and knobs are...
Ash
$14,036
H 29.14 in W 70.87 in D 29.53 in
Desk table Patrice Maffei for Kappa brushed steel smoked glass 1970
By Patrice Maffei, Kappa
Located in Paris, IDF
A rare brushed stainless steel desk table designed by French designer Patrice Maffei for Kappa editor in the 1970s, it features two locki...
Steel
Elegant Italian Small Desk in Ash
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Writing desk, ash, brass, formica, Italy, 1950s Very elegant desk made in Italy in the 1950s. The framework is executed in ash. The upper part of this piece is made from ash veneer,...
Brass
Elegant Italian Small Desk in Ash and Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Writing desk, ash, walnut, brass, formica, Italy, 1950s Very elegant desk made in Italy in the 1950s. The framework is executed in walnut. The upper part of this piece is made from ...
Brass
Gala ash wood structure and veneer cover Desk
By Capital Studio
Located in Mexico City, MX
The Gala desk exhibits wood as the principal material. Composed of solid wood legs and wood veneer top and cabinet with three drawers, this desk is the ideal element for any space th...
Wood
Lawrence Desk in Solid Mahogany in Black or Natural Finish
Located in Paris, FR
Desk Lawrence with structure in solid mahogany wood, top in black genuine leather. Details and finishes in solid brass in antique finish. Desk: L120xD65xH82cm. Shelf unit: L116,5xD24...
Brass
Modern Oak Desk in Natural Bleached Finish
Located in North York, ON
Introducing our stunning modern oak desk, a perfect blend of sleek simplicity and functional elegance. Crafted from high-quality oak and finished with ...
Oak
$3,410Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 33.38 in W 98 in D 33.5 in
Kartell Zoom Dining Table in White by Piero Lissoni
By Kartell, Piero Lissoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kartell’s collection of tables now offers yet another function thanks to the extension table designed by Piero Lissoni. Zoom has a solid and rigorous frame but the legs of bent lamin...
Aluminum
MEDEA Desk in glossy finish
Located in Pesaro, IT
A seductive silhouette traced by fluid curves defines this superb desk, a piece sure to imbue home offices and private studies with elegant dynamism. Enhanced by a mesmerizing glossy...
Lacquer
$4,785 / item
H 27.56 in W 27.56 in D 70.87 in
Supernova, Recycled Cast Aluminum Trestle Table Legs & Glass by Made in Ratio
By Made in Ratio, Brodie Neill
Located in London, GB
The contemporary supernova is a dynamic, self-levelling trestle cast entirely from entirely recycled aluminium in a fully sustainable closed-loop factory. Simple and versatile to ori...
Aluminum
$6,500
H 29.25 in W 72 in D 44 in
Vintage Plate Glass and Chrome Dining Table Model 6060 by Leon Rosen for Pace
By Leon Rosen, Pace Collection
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stylish and sophisticated dining table (model 6060) designed by Leon Rosen for the Pace Collection composed of a heavy plate-glass 72" long top supported by two chrome and plate-glas...
Chrome
1950s Kipp Stewart three drawer writing desk For Glenn of CA, USA
By Kipp Stewart, Glenn of California
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1950s Writing Desk by Kipp Stewart for Glenn of CA, USA. The Kipp Stewart Glenn of California writing desk, designed by Kipp Stewart in the 1950s and 1960s, is a standout piece of ...
Brass
$5,800
H 29.75 in W 69 in D 27 in
Antique Irish Desk in White Oak Unrestored. Structurally Solid Original Finish
Located in Highwood, IL
Antique Country Irish White Oak Desk or Writing Table Made in the late 1700's and still appears to be unrestored and to our eyes, that is a very good thing. Look at the colour of the...
Oak
Sold
H 30 in W 55 in D 31 in
Minimal Modern White Riga Desk Marc Newson for Cappellini Writing Console, 1995
By Marc Newson, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Minimal modern white Riga desk by Marc Newson for Cappellini, contemporary postmodern writing console Cappellini Riga desk. An evergreen wooden writing de...
Wood
Cappellini Vendome Marble Rectangular Table or Desk
By Cappellini
Located in Vancouver, BC
The wonderful Breche’de Vendôme marble by Giulio Antolini gives life to a series of dining tables or writing desks. Structure in black painted metal.
Marble