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.
$10,857 / item
H 29.53 in W 56.3 in D 34.26 in
De Sede DS-4 Two-Seat Sofa in Red Upholstery by Antonella Scarpitta
By Antonella Scarpitta, De Sede
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...
Fabric
$8,767 / item
H 25.6 in W 90.56 in D 36.23 in
Zanotta Alfa Monobloc Sofa in Teolo Red Fabric by Emaf Progetti
By Zanotta, Emaf Progetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Alfa Monobloc Sofa in Teolo Red Fabric by Emaf Progetti Steel feet, chromium-plated or varnished graphite, or with natural or black nickel-sati...
Fabric
$14,135Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 104.34 in D 31.5 in
Rare Italian Red Sofa by Ico Parisi for Cassina Mod. 875, Published
By Ico Parisi, Cassina
Located in Milano, IT
Rare four-seater sofa by Ico Parisi for Cassina model 875 of the 60s. The structure is metal, and the cover is red cotton fabric. The sofa through the clean lines and defined very ri...
Steel
$3,946
H 23.63 in W 66.93 in D 39.38 in
Italian modern red sofa Marenco by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s
By Mario Marenco, Arflex
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern red sofa Marenco by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s Red sofa mod. Marenco. The rectangular seat of the sofa is made up of two padded cu...
Metal
$13,387 / item
H 32.68 in W 106.3 in D 37.01 in
Zanotta Milano+ Large Sofa in Red Upholstery with Natural Nickel-Satin Frame
By Zanotta, Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Milano+ Large Sofa in Red Upholstery with Natural Nickel-Satin Frame by De Pas, D’Urbino, Lomazzi Aluminum alloy feet, with natural or black ...
Steel
$11,449 / item
H 33.47 in W 137.01 in D 40.16 in
Livingston Large Sofa in Red Velvet Upholstery with Chrome by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Livingston creates a surprising effect through an unexpected use of the headrest which, by a simple rotation, becomes a comfortable backrest. It has a “smart” backrest to which a smaller cushion is attached with a zip. The soft, informal seating rests on a light steel base that creates a dynamic contrast with the generous cushions. The original, adjustable backrest and its characteristic full-length seat cushions give Livingston a unique silhouette ideally suited to creating an endless variety of arrangements. 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 Italia...
Upholstery
$12,620 / item
H 32.68 in W 94.49 in D 37.01 in
Zanotta Milano+ Small Sofa in Red Upholstery with Natural Nickel-Satin Frame
By Zanotta, Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Milano+ Small Sofa in Red Upholstery with Natural Nickel-Satin Frame by De Pas, D’Urbino, Lomazzi Aluminum alloy feet, with natural or black ...
Steel
$15,784 / item
H 28.75 in W 88.59 in D 34.26 in
Antonio Citterio Esosoft Sofa by Cassina in red, magenta or white
By Cassina, Antonio Citterio
Located in Berlin, DE
Prices are dependent on the color, size/model of the sofa. Antonio Citterio Esosoft sofa Manufactured by Cassina in Itlay: a modular sofa that embodies the timeless elegance and st...
Fabric
$19,844 / item
H 30.71 in W 114.97 in D 99.61 in
Zanotta Dove Sectional Sofa in Red Upholstery with Graphite Aluminium Frame
By Zanotta, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Zanotta Dove Sectional Sofa in Red Upholstery with Graphite Aluminium Frame by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba Graphite painted aluminium alloy feet. Wooden seat frame. Elastic strips sus...
Upholstery
$10,973 / item
H 33.47 in W 129.14 in D 40.16 in
Livingston Small Sofa in Red Velvet Upholstery with Chrome by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Livingston creates a surprising effect through an unexpected use of the headrest which, by a simple rotation, becomes a comfortable backrest. It has a “smart” backrest to which a smaller cushion is attached with a zip. The soft, informal seating rests on a light steel base that creates a dynamic contrast with the generous cushions. The original, adjustable backrest and its characteristic full-length seat cushions give Livingston a unique silhouette ideally suited to creating an endless variety of arrangements. 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 Italia...
Upholstery
