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.
2022 Giulio Cappellini for Cappellini Senior Desk w/ Leaf Left + Drawer in Oak
By Cappellini, Giulio 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
$5,339
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
Mid-Century Modern Faux Painted Burl 3 Drawer Solid Oak Desk
By Milo Baughman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern faux painted burl 3 drawer solid oak desk. Beautiful 3 drawer desk all solid oak drawers. Great Design - Style of Milo Baughman circa 1970. Located in Brooklyn NYC...
Oak, Burl
$3,300Sale Price|34% Off
H 31 in W 48 in D 14 in
Modern Butterscotch Mosaic 2-Drawer Desk with Chocolate Oak by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is a very attractive and functional piece to be used as a writing desk or vanity in a modern home. Rich, warm, and modern, this desk can add sleek comfort to your space. Handcr...
Art Glass, Cut Glass, Oak
Desk in oak, 1970s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large desk in oak, rectangular in shape. Black tray standing on two boxes with two drawers, opening with circular and semi-circular shaped handles. Keys. French work realized in the...
Oak
$25,000
H 28.5 in W 69 in D 29.5 in
Restored Nanna Ditzel for Søren Willadsen Rosewood 4-Drawer Desk Made in Denmark
By Søren Willadsen, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This desk was designed in the early 1950s by esteemed designer Nanna Ditzel for production by Søren Willadsen. Ditzel studied design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts with oth...
Rosewood
Fine Nine Drawer Partners' Desk
Located in Greenwich, CT
A 19th century partners' desk in nicely patinated mahogany with a gold tooled burnished black leather top over two pedestals with the unusual number of nine drawers to each side, on ...
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
$10,573
H 20.48 in W 55.12 in D 25.6 in
Guillerme & Chambron Desk in Oak for Votre Maison, France 1960s
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in Hellouw, NL
This Guillerme & Chambron desk, manufactured in the 1960s, is a beautiful example of mid-century French design. It is made of high-quality oak wood, which ensures a sturdy and durabl...
Oak
$7,500 / item
H 32 in W 56 in D 18 in
Modern Milano Leather 3-Drawer Desk with Sleek Cerused Oak by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A very functional writing, computer desk with 2 covered leather drawers on the side and in the middle a drawers that open to accommodate your writing keyboard. It fits perfectly your...
Metal
Scandinavian Style Secretary Desk in Oak
Located in Paris, FR
Beautifull handmade Nordic style compact desk made of solid oak wood offering a real storage solution with three drawers, one secret compartment and two l...
Oak
Arne Vodder Drop Leaf Desk in Teak
By Arne Vodder
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Arne Vodder Manufacturer: P. Olsen Sibast, Stenstrup Era: 1957 Materials: Teak Measurements: 62" (closed), 84.25" (open) wide x 35" deep x 28.75" tall ...
Teak
$20,000
H 29 in W 72 in D 30 in
Important Edward Wormley For Dunbar Drop-Leaf Desk in Tawi Walnut & Steel 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Before this desk was built in the early 1950s, top-class American furniture design was typically unrecognizable compared to the mid century design that exploded in the late 1950s. Across the pond in Europe, the mid century revolution had already happened, yielding huge success in the form of designers and architects like Ettore Sottsass and many more. This inspired Dunbar to produce this desk: one of the most conservatively designed Dunbar models ever at the time. Then, it probably looked incredibly sleek and handsome. Now, it stands as a piece of history not only for Dunbar, but for American design as a whole. In classic Dunbar fashion, the construction of the desk is absolutely in the top of its class. Known for overbuilt pieces, this desk takes it to another level. A frame of black enameled square tubular steel supports a mahogany cabinet with four drawers of the same material, attached with beautiful solid brass hardware. The top is of a rare form of walnut called tawi, which has an interesting grain structure that's visibly more smooth than figured walnut, and is secured to the base with no less than 12 high-quality brass screws. The hinges for the drop side are also uncessesarily intricate, and feature exceptional stability and smoothness. When the drop side is extended, it feels like a perfect natural extension of the main work surface. To top it all off, the drop side has sliding support panel on the underside made of solid rosewood, one of the most expensive and premium woods. Signed in the interior of the second drawer with a metal label. An extraordinary construction for an extraordinary piece of history. In good condition. Top has been refinished and is ready for another generation of use. Structurally excellent. Drawers slide smoothly with almost no dip when extended. Drop side is sturdy and hinges feel great. If desired, we can restore this desk even more. We can repaint the frame black, we can refinish the cabinet, polish brass, etc. As it stands, it has a nice original patina that adds to the character of the desk. Let us know what you'd likle to see! We have decades of experience restoring vintage furniture...
Brass, Steel