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.
Marc Newson “Riga” Desk for Cappellini
By Marc Newson, Cappellini
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Designer/Artist; Manufacturer: Marc Newson; Cappellini Markings/Notes: no marking(s) apparent Country of Origin & Materials: Italy; wood, metal Dimensions: 31″h, 55″w, 28.5″d Add...
Metal
2022 Giulio Cappellini for Cappellini Senior Desk w/ Leaf Left + Drawer in Oak
By Giulio Cappellini, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Senior Desk with Left Leaf and Drawer made of wenge stained oak. The desk was designed by Giulio Cappellini and produced by Cappellini in Italy. It dates to cir...
Metal
$5,398
H 30.12 in W 54.34 in D 41.93 in
Antique English Victorian Double Sided Oak Twin Pedestal 18 Drawer Kneehole Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning circa 1880 Victorian English oak antique knee hole 18 drawer desk A wonderful desk, ...
Leather, Oak
$5,907Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.25 in W 31.5 in D 32.5 in
Rare Sesamo Pop Up Desk / Secretary by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, 1981
By Gianfranco Frattini, Bernini
Located in Basel, BS
Exquisite and very rare Pop Up Desk by Gianfranco Frattini in Italy for Bernini. Label present, and all drawer pulls are stamped with the logo. When you p...
Leather, Beech
Greta Grossman for Sherman Bertram Desk
By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Sherman Bertram
Located in Coronado, CA
A solid walnut desk designed by Greta Grossman and produced by Sherman Bertram in the 1950s. The desk features sculpted wood pulls, raised edges, walnut slats (for books or papers), ...
Walnut
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
H 31 in W 44 in D 25 in
Deco Bauhaus chrome 3 drawer desk by Wolfgang Hoffmann Desk for Howell
By Wolfgang Hoffmann, Howell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Deco Bauhaus chrome 3 drawer desk by Wolfgang Hoffmann Desk for Howell. Bent chrome tube structure with 3 drawers. Good vintage condition for its age shows wear and use to chrome and...
Chrome
George Nelson Desk for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in San Mateo, CA
Double pedestal desk by Herman Miller. This desk was probably a custom order. There are three wide drawers and three small drawers. The top small drawer has a sliding pencil...
Chrome
Barbara Barry for Baker Mahogany Vanity Desk
By Baker Furniture Company, Barbara Barry
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Barbara Barry for Baker Mahogany Vanity Desk This desk measures: 54 wide x 25 deep x 30.25 high, with a chair clearance of 25.5 inches We take our photos in a controlled lighting s...
Mahogany
Florence Knoll for Knoll international Oval Desk with Drawer in Walnut 1960
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Florence Knoll for Knoll International Oval Desk with Drawer in Walnut, 1960 Iconic International Style design inspired by Mies van der Rohe. Material: Walnut oval surface, chrome-pl...
Steel
Gianni Moscatelli Desk for Formanova, 1979 Italy
By Gianni Moscatelli, Formanova
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning Formanova desk by Gianni Moscatelli. Original Formanova tag dated and signed 1979, Italy. Newly refinished in a high gloss Ebony polished finish. Right side of desk has a fl...
Stainless Steel
$17,850
H 51 in W 43.75 in D 15.25 in
Barbarella Writing Desk / Secretary by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1966/1985
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ettore Sottsass Barbarella cabinet for Poltronova, Italy. Designed in 1966, produced in 1985. The cabinet features three drawers over a drop-front ...
Brass
Rway 4-Drawer Mid Century Desk in Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare Rway black mid century desk with silver hardware. This desk in in decent vintage condition with some considerable scratching to the top. Looks like It was used as a wr...
Steel
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.5 in W 42.5 in D 29 in
Mission Oak/Tiger Oak Single Drawer Desk with Bookshelves
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a nice example of Arts and Crafts craftsmanship. This Mission Oak desk is made of oak and quarter sawn oak. It has a single drawer for storage and bookshelves built-in on bot...
Oak
Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini Wooden Secretary Desk
By Bernini, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Madrid, ES
Elegant mahogany wood desk with aluminum inserts designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini in 1960. Hardwood and wood veneer, details on feet and the bottom in aluminum. Pull-out t...
Aluminum