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.
1st edition Super-Oblong sectional sofa design Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
1st edition Superoblong sectional Sofa designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini, Italy. First edition with inlets filled with polystyrene spheres. Measurements: 325 cm x 155 cm...
Fabric, Polystyrene
Oblong sectional sofa designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Oblong sectional Sofa designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini, Italy. Jasper Morrison creates his furniture with a light touch and yet perfectionally functional. He counts they’...
Fabric, Polystyrene, Foam, Plywood
$1,650 / set
H 27 in W 17 in D 13.5 in
Jasper Morrison Hi Pad Counter Stools for Cappellini - Set of Three
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Miami, FL
Set of Three Hi Pad counter stools with foot rests designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini. The Hi Pad stool features a seat in beech plywood padded with multi-density polyurethan...
Steel
$18,545 / set
H 26.38 in W 212.6 in D 37.41 in
Jasper Morrison Super Oblong Modular Sofa Set Design Cappellini Italy
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Krefeld, DE
This rare Super Oblong modular sofa set was designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini in Italy and exemplifies Morrison’s philosophy of understated, intelligent design. Composed of ...
Cotton
$18,500 / set
H 25.5 in W 130 in D 38.5 in
Jasper Morrison for Vitra Chocolate Brown Leather Soft Sectional Modular Sofa
By Vitra, Jasper Morrison
Located in Chicago, IL
Jasper Morrison for Vitra Chocolate Brown Leather Soft Sectional Modular Sofa (2016) Designed by Jasper Morrison, this low-slung modular sofa features balanced proportions, exception...
Steel
$3,338 / item
H 27.56 in W 25.01 in D 37.8 in
Thinking Man’s Chair Armchair by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An eloquent name for a product that invites contemplation. For the Thinking Man’s Chair, Jasper Morrison envisioned a design in which all the elements are fu...
Metal, Stainless Steel
$3,529
H 27.56 in W 25.01 in D 37.8 in
Indoor/outdoor "Thinking Man's" lounge Chair by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Thinking Man’s Chair is a minimal lounge chair created by London-based designer Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Indoor/outdoor 'Thinking Man's' lounge Chair by Jasper Morrison for Cap...
Steel
$4,856 / set
H 42.92 in W 25.99 in D 28.75 in
PAIR OF CAPPELLINI LOTUS OFFICE LOUNGE ARMCHAiRS BY JASPER MORRISON
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of Cappellini Lotus office swivel lounge armchairs desing...
Chrome
$1,100 / item
H 32 in W 16.5 in D 20.75 in
2022 Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Hi Pad Dining Chair w/ White Base
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale are three (3) Hi Pad dining chairs, priced individually, made with a white stainless steel base and grey fabric seat. The upholstery appears to be Hero by Kvadrat. Th...
Stainless Steel
$13,315 / item
H 24.41 in W 102.76 in D 54.93 in
Orla Modular Curved sofa by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
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
$5,236 / item
H 28.35 in W 53.15 in D 27.56 in
Three Sofa de Luxe Sofa Sofa with armrest by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Three Sofa de Luxe defies the traditional function of a furnishing accent that is commonly perceived as merely a seat. For this collection, Jasper Morrison plays with this concep...
Leather, Fabric, Plywood
$1,100 / item
H 44.5 in W 17.25 in D 19.25 in
2015 Tate Bar Stools in Grey Leather by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Tate Bar Stool, originally designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini in 2000. These particular stools were produced in 2015. The listed price includes one stool, and we ha...
Steel
$6,182 / item
H 27.96 in W 118.12 in D 39.38 in
Daybed fixed upholstery Méridienne by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
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
$1,600 / set
H 45.75 in W 19 in D 17 in
2010s Pair of Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Tate Bar Stools in Blue
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Tate Bar Stools, originally designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini in 2000. These particular stools were produced in Italy in the 2010s. The stools feature a st...
Steel
Sold
H 21.66 in W 78.75 in D 35.44 in
1st edition Superoblong sectional sofa design Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
1st edition Superoblong sectional Sofa designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini, Italy Jasper Morrison creates his furniture with a light touch and yet perfectionally functional....
Fabric, Polystyrene