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.
Cross cabinet project 9208, design Thomas ERIKSSON for CAPPELLINI. Italy
By Thomas Eriksson, Cappellini
Located in Torino, IT
Cross cabinet project 9208, design Thomas ERIKSSON for HATCHES. Italy, 1992 ORIGIN Italy PERIOD 1992 DESIGNER Thomas ERIKSSON (Sweden, 1959) A Swedish architect and designer, he g...
Metal
$1,816Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.75 in W 17.25 in D 6 in
Cappellini Cross Medicine Cabinet in Gloss White, Thomas Eriksson, Italy, 1990s
By Thomas Eriksson, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cappellini Cross Medicine Cabinet in Gloss White, Thomas Eriksson, Italy, 1990s. Equal parts storage solution and wall art, Thomas Eriksson's Cross...
Steel
Object 033 Cabinet by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 033 Cabinet by NG Design Dimensions: D65 x W34 x H149 cm Materials: Powder coated steel, Tempered Glass Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and co...
Steel
Object 021 Cabinet by Ng Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 021 cabinet by NG Design Dimensions: D66 x W38 x H120 cm Materials: Powder coated steel, Tempered Glass. Also Available: All of objects available in different materials a...
Steel
$9,985 / item
H 41.25 in W 34 in D 15.75 in
Bespoke Italian Art Design Brass White & Dark Blue Glass 2-Door Highboy Cabinet
By Cosulich Interiors & Antiques
Located in New York, NY
Add style with an artistic draped design highboy! What we love about this piece, is the fun and sophisticated design details, the exceptional cast hardware, the gold brass trims and ...
Brass
Hansen & Guldborg Designed Rosewood Cabinets
By HG Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This exquisite pair of vintage modern cabinets feature a rich rosewood finish, beech interiors, and spacious storage options for any interior. Unique array of adjustable shelves and ...
Rosewood
$9,342
H 45.67 in W 21.66 in D 16.93 in
Cabinet designed by Lars Larsson and Stig Lönngren for HI-Gruppen, Sweden, 1960s
By Stig Lönngren 1, Lars Larsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Wall cupboard designed by Lars Larsson and Stig Lönngren for HI-Gruppen, Sweden, 1960s. Lacquered birch plywood and mirrored glass. Possibly unique. Stig Lönngren (1924-2022) rece...
Glass, Wood, Lacquer
$21,882 / item
H 29.5 in W 94.4 in D 19.6 in
"Brown" Side Cabinet Designed by Stephane Lebrun for Dessie'
By Dessie Studio, Stephane Lebrun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Brown" is a side cabinet, designed by Stephane Lebrun and manufactured by Dessie', 17.7" or 19.6" deep with black painted glass top, internal shelf with an adjustable height and 3 +...
Metal
$9,985 / item
H 41.25 in W 34 in D 15.75 in
Bespoke Italian Art Design Brass White & Dark Blue Glass 2-Door Highboy Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Add style with an artistic draped design highboy! What we love about this piece is the fun and sophisticated design details, the exceptional cast hardware, the gold rims, and ... the...
Brass
Shiro Kuramata "Dinah" Cabinet for Cappellini #008 Italy
By Cappellini, Shiro Kuramata
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A re-edition of the Progetti Compiuti collection, also part of the permanent collection of the MoMA in New York, the Dinah cabinet is a chest of drawers envisioned by designer Shiro ...
Metal
$9,995 / item
H 35.5 in W 39.5 in D 19 in
Bespoke Italian Abstract Branch Design 2-Door Turquoise Blue Glass Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Add luxury finishes with artistic design to your furniture, branch like decor to bring nature into your space! What we love about this piece, is the minimalistic tree like design, th...
Brass
Italian Side Cabinet/ Linen Cupboard
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Stunning late 19th C Italian serpentine fronted oak side cabinet/ linen cupboard , good fine carving with a faux marble top. 1880
Oak
Object 022 Cabinet by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 022 Cabinet by NG Design Dimensions: D66 x W38 x H120 cm Materials: Powder coated steel, Tempered Glass. Also Available: All of objects available in different materials a...
Steel