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.
Lud'o Modular Sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Cappellini
By Patricia Urquiola, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Lud’o family designed by Patricia Urquiola for Cappellini expands its range of upholstered furniture with the addition of Lud’o Sofa, a system of free-standing sofas and modular ...
Steel
Daybed fixed upholstery Sofa by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Daybed sofa by Jasper Morrison, also available in a meridiénne version, is an unmistakable expression of the London designer’s stylistic verve. Inspired by one of Morrison’s first p...
Metal
Saba Bed & Breakfast Sofa Bed in Lario Light Grey Upholstery by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bed & Breakfast is a sofa which transforms into a comfortable bed simply by folding down the backrest. The sofa bed is easy to open, thanks to a rectangular hole cut into the underside of the base, and to the special structure of the boxspring, which runs horizontally on a finger-jointed mechanism to create the extra length needed. Bed and Breakfast ranges are comprised of the Sofa-double bed and the Chaise Longue-single bed. This is the result of advanced research into new-generation materials which give maximum comfort with optimum resilience. The maxi scatter cushions unfold to create a small quilt, and can then be refolded and fastened with two buttons, to offer excellent back support. The designer Giuseppe Viganò is dedicated to the industrial design of furniture products and to the artistic direction of companies in the sector. He also provides graphic consulting for the production of catalogues, getting directly involved in the photography, page layout, communication and advertising pages. He designs trade fair layouts and permanent furniture shops or temporary areas for specific events and personally intervenes by indicating the choice of products and scenery design. In 2007 he started working with Saba...
Plywood
Orla Modular Sofa by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic and contemporary shapes define the Orla sofa by Jasper Morrison, true icon of contemporary design. With flowing lines and generous, comfortable cushions, this sofa combines s...
Leather, Fabric, Upholstery, Plywood
Orla Modular Two-seater sofa by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic and contemporary shapes define the Orla sofa by Jasper Morrison, true icon of contemporary design. With flowing lines and generous, comfortable cushions, this sofa combines s...
Leather, Fabric, Upholstery, Plywood
"Fenix" Three-Seat Sofa Designed by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba for Driade
By Driade, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Fenix" is a three-seat sofa, designed by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba and manufactured by Driade, with a wooden and steel structure, supported by anthracite painted steel legs, polyurethane foam padding and cushions with polyurethane foams and goose feather padding. Fixed structure leather cover and removable cushions in fabric or leather. Indoor use only. DIMENSIONS: D. 35.4", W. 118", H. 31.5", Seat H. 16.1" Sectional sofa has been the main recurrent theme concerning typological researches since last century golden age of design. Ludovica and Roberto Palomba deal with it emphasizing the sense of suspension from the floor, thanks to a thin metal structure, and modelling a great peninsula, provided with a gracefully asymmetric shape, in the version with terminals. LUDOVICA and ROBERTO PALOMBA, architects, work and live in Milan. They founded Palomba Serafini Associati in 1994. They received many international awards such as Compasso D'Oro, Elle Decoration International Design Award, Red Dot, Design Plus, Good Design Award, German Design Award. Ludovica and Roberto Palomba plan architectures and design exhibitions worldwide. They work and are art director for some of the most established brands such as Antolini, Bisazza, Boffi, Brix, Cappellini, Dornbracht, Driade, Elica, Elmar, Exteta, Fiam, Flaminia, Foscarini, KitchenAid, Kos, Laufen, Lema, Plank, Poltrona Frau, Rapsel, Redaelli, Salviati, Sawaya & Moroni, Samsung, Schiffini, Tubes, Valli&Valli, Viccarbe, When Objects Work...
Steel
Mario Bellini for C&B Italia 'Bamboletto' Daybed from 'Le Bambole' Series
By Mario Bellini, C&B Italia
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for C&B Italia, 'Bamboletto' daybed / bed from 'Le Bambole' series, fabric, Italy, 1972 Introducing the Bamboletto bed, designed by the acclaimed Italian designer ...
Fabric
Daybed Sofa Bed mod 711 design 70s Tito Agnoli Cinova new leather
By Tito Agnoli
Located in Milano, Lombardia
An icon of 1970s Italian design, this model 711 sofa from Cinova is completely reupholstered in a smooth Chianti red leather. Low, horizontal lines with that typical lounge allure t...
Leather
Daybed of Le Bambole series designed by Mario Bellini for B&b Italia 1972
By Mario Bellini
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Daybed of Le Bambole series designed by Mario Bellini for B&b Italia 1970, reupholster in leather, linen and cotton mattress. The Bambole series won the Compasso d'Oro award in 197...
Leather, Cotton, Linen
1970s Bamboletto Series "Le Bambole" bed daybed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia
By Mario Bellini
Located in Biella, IT
1970s Bamboletto Series "Le Bambole" bed and daybed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia with document.
Textile
Rodolfo Dordoni Dress-Up Sectorial Sofa For Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rodolfo Dordoni Dress-Up Sectorial Sofa For Cassina A sectional sofa envisioned as a custom garment, with sophisticated details reminiscent of bespoke tailoring and a wide selectio...
Foam
Contemporary Twins Daybed, Sofa, Italian Alpaca, Handmade by Greenapple
By Greenapple, Dedar, Rute Martins
Located in Lisboa, PT
Contemporary Twins Daybed, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Twins daybed and its matching curved sofa...
Wood, Fabric, Alpaca, Leather, Mohair, Linen, Velvet, Oak, Walnut
