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.
Gray metal italian bookcase postmodern by Cappellini
By Cappellini
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of Cappellini Bookcases, Italy, 1980s A refined pair of bookcases produced by Cappellini in the 1980s, embodying an elegant industrial design that seamlessly combines formal ri...
Metal, Steel
$3,216
H 68.9 in W 70.87 in D 15.75 in
Italian modern wood and red metal self-supporting bookcase by Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern wood and red metal self-supporting bookcase by Arflex, 1970s. Self-supporting bookcase with curved metal structure and glossy red enamel, with solid wood shelves and c...
Metal
Postmodern Modular Bookcase, Italy, 1980s
Located in Antwerp, BE
This striking black bookcase, crafted in the 1980s, embodies the bold aesthetics of the postmodern design movement. Its modular grid structure is both functional and sculptural, offe...
Wood
$5,650
H 35.44 in W 84.26 in D 13.19 in
Postmodern Bookcase by Roberto Pamio and Renato Toso for Stilwood, Italy, 1970s
By Roberto Pamio & Renato Toso, Stilwood
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed by Roberto Pamio and Renato Toso for Stilwood in 1972, this exceptional sideboard combines post-modern aesthetics with refined Italian craftsmanship. The piece features a dy...
Formica, Wood
$1,255
H 78.35 in W 39.38 in D 15.36 in
Italian modern bookcase in black metal with adjustable shelves, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern bookcase in black metal with adjustable shelves, 1980s. Self-standing metal bookcase, with adjustable shelves. Structure entirely painted in black metal with opaque f...
Metal
$3,766Sale Price|30% Off
H 71.66 in W 54.73 in D 14.57 in
Chrome Metal and Brass Minimalist Bookcase Romeo rega 1970 Italy
By Romeo Rega
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Bookcase 1970 Romeo Rega Unica elegance.
Brass, Chrome
Marco Comolli, Bookcase, Wood, Metal, Italy, 1950s
By Marco Comolli
Located in High Point, NC
A wall mounted wood and metal bookcase or library designed and produced by Marco Comolli, Italy, 1950s. Model documented in the archives of Lombardia Beni Culturali. Wear consisten...
Metal
"Triennale" bookcase by Lips Vago, painted metal, Italy 1954
By Lips Vago
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare and extraordinary "Triennale" model painted iron bookcase, designed by Lips Vago Italia. It is a sophisticated bookcase, with an unmistakable style, presented for the first tim...
Iron
$3,434Sale Price|20% Off
H 74.81 in W 94.49 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern Modular Bookcase, Wood & Metal, Italy, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
Vintage Mid-Century Modern modular bookcase in wood with metal main structure. Designed and mady in Italy during the 1960s, this anonymous modular bookcase is a beautiful piece to bring immediate life and character to any interior. It consists of six elements arranged in three modules. It boxes...
Metal
“Congresso” blu metal bookcases by Lips Vago 1960s, 70s
By Lips Vago
Located in Padova, IT
Congresso' shelving unit by Lips Vago. In blu lacquered steel, Italy, 1960s. with adjustable shelves. A classic design that showcases a minimalist yet functional aesthetic. This boo...
Metal
$2,869Sale Price|20% Off
H 79.93 in W 73.23 in D 17.33 in
Italian Modern Black Metal and Tempered Glass Bookcase, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black metal and tempered glass bookcase, 1990s Floor bookcase composed of 4 rectangular shelves in tempered glass. The accordion structure, on which the glass rests, ...
Metal
1940's Italian Bookcase by Vittorio Lombardi
By Vittorio Lombardi
Located in Hanover, MA
Standing open double bookcase with two single drawers with brass bow-tie handles and decorative painted ribbon detail on both sides, like pin striping. The edges are outlined in butterfly molding. The top and bottom flare outwards giving it the silhouette of the letter "K". On the back is an engraved brass plate which reads "Made by Vittorio Lombardi...
Parchment Paper
$1,793
H 48.82 in W 33.47 in D 20.87 in
Italian modern bookcase or display stand in metal and glass, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern bookcase or display stand in metal and glass, 1980s Bookcase or display stand with four rectangular glass shelves. The structure is composed of two central metal tubes...
Metal
Cloud Bookcase Designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Cappellini
By Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Cappellini
Located in Kansas City, MO
Cloud, designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Cappellini in 2004 is a double-faced bookcase which is produced in white polyethylene. Measures: It is 71 inches wide, 41 inches high ...