For all the people who think designer objects need to make bold statements with attention-grabbing forms and materials, the revered British designer Jasper Morrison has a message: The quieter objects are often the better products.
Some of Morrison’s earliest creations, such as the 1986 Thinking Man’s chair, with its snaking tubular steel armrests, and the 1991 3 sofa deluxe, whose sculpted seat resembles an enormous wave (both produced by the Italian manufacturer Cappellini, one of the planet's preeminent producers of cutting-edge home decor), display the eye-catching moves that were expected among his contemporaries.
At the same, Morrison was clearly searching for a different language. In 1988, just three years after he graduated from London’s Royal College of Art, he stunned many in the design world with “Some New Items for the Home,” an exhibition in Berlin featuring simple plywood furniture he had designed and made himself as a direct rebuke to the over-the-top colors and geometries of the Memphis movement. As Morrison increasingly came to see statement-making design as flawed and wasteful, he began producing the subtler objects that eventually became his greatest hits and inspired a new generation of designers.
Morrison’s Glo-Ball lamps for FLOS, for instance, feature opalescent blown-glass diffusers that resemble ever-so-slightly squished spheres with a striking visual softness. Designed in 1998, the pieces were instantly popular and have remained a best seller for the legendary Italian lighting maker. Morrison’s Cork Family stools for Vitra, designed in 2004, have proved similarly timeless, with simple silhouettes reminiscent of thread spools whose unexpected material — solid cork — makes them particularly alluring.
By 2005, Morrison had befriended another designer working in a similar manner — Japan’s Naoto Fukasawa. That year, Fukasawa introduced his Déjà-vu stool for Magis at the Salone del Mobile in Milan and was dismayed when fairgoers barely noticed it. Crestfallen, Fukasawa talked to Morrison, who saw the scenario differently: The fact that people instinctively used the stool meant that it was successful. To cheer up Fukasawa, Morrison described his design as “super normal.” Morrison and Fukasawa latched onto this phrase as an ideal term for what they were up to.
Launched in 2006, Morrison and Fukasawa’s “Super Normal” — a traveling exhibition and a book that served as a visual manifesto — documented more than 200 utilitarian yet beautiful objects, ranging from a paper clip, a plastic bucket and a ballpoint pen to an Alessi citrus basket, Vitsoe’s 606 universal shelving system by Dieter Rams and Vitra’s Joyn office system by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. That same year, Morrison began playing with extreme simplicity and introduced the Crate, a wooden bedside table for Established & Sons that was modeled on an old wine crate he used for his own bedside table.
Today, Morrison delights in finding the correct balance in his designs, turning out products that seem appealingly natural and precisely what they should be.
Find Jasper Morrison chairs, lighting, stools and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
2010s Jasper Morrison for Flos Smithfield Pendant Lamp in Black 6x Available
By Jasper Morrison, Flos
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Smithfield Suspension Pendant Lamp, originally designed by Jasper Morrison for Flos in 2009. These examples were produced in Italy in the 2010s. Each lamp features a sleek,...
Aluminum
Jasper Morrison Modern Minimalist Glo-Ball Glass Desk Lamp for FLOS, in stock
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FLOS Glo-Ball Basic 1 Halogen Table Lamp by Jasper Morrison Part of the popular Glo Ball Series, the Glo Ball Basic was created in 1998 by artist Jasper Morrison to invoke the radian...
Glass
FLOS Smithfield S Dimmable Fluorescent Pendant Light in Mud by Jasper Morrison
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Smithfield family, the Smithfield S manages to be both grand and unassuming. Providing direct light through its aluminum body, it is well suited for a variety of environm...
Aluminum
FLOS Smithfield C Fluorescent Flush Mount Light in White by Jasper Morrison
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Smithfield family, the Smithfield C ceiling-mounted lamp manages to be both grand and unassuming. Providing direct light through its aluminum body, it is well suited for ...
Aluminum
FLOS Superloon Floor Lamp in Black by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The serene, harmonious glow of the moon inspired this innovative and first-of-its-kind design from artist Jasper Morrison. Using revolutionary Edge Lighting...
Aluminum
Flos Oplight W1 Small Wall Sconce in Textured White by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Oplight W1 Small Wall Sconce in Textured White by Jasper Morrison Oplight is Jasper Morrison's latest design for Flos. A new, minimalist wall sconce that illuminates a whole ro...
Aluminum
Jasper Morrison Modern Sphere Glass Stainless Steel F2 Floor Lamp for FLOS
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FLOS Glo-Ball F2 Halogen Floor Lamp by Jasper Morrison Part of the popular Glo Ball Series, the Glo Ball-F was created in 1998 by artist Jasper Morrison to invoke the radiant calm o...
Steel
C. 2022 Smithfield S LED 3000k Black by Jasper Morrison for Flos 2x Available
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Smithfield Suspension Pro, originally designed by Jasper Morrison in 2009. These particular pendant lights were produced by Flos in Italy circa 2022. They are made from alu...
Aluminum
FLOS Smithfield S Halogen Pendant Light in White by Jasper Morrison
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Smithfield family, the Smithfield S manages to be both grand and unassuming. Providing direct light through its aluminium body, it is well suited for a variety of environ...
Aluminum
FLOS Smithfield C Halogen Flush Mount Light in Black by Jasper Morrison
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Smithfield family, the Smithfield C ceiling-mounted lamp manages to be both grand and unassuming. Providing direct light through its aluminum body, it is well suited for ...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED 3000K Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Green
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED 3000K Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Green by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Suspension LED version is now available in two co...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED E26 Ceiling Lamp in Red by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED E26 Ceiling Lamp in White by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Ceiling LED version is available in two color temperatures 2700K, 3000K and 35...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield S LED 3000K Pendant by Jasper Morrison
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Smithfield family, the Smithfield S manages to be both grand and unassuming. Providing direct light through its aluminum body, it is well suited for a variety of environm...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield E26 Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Mud
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield E26 Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Mud by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Suspension LED version is now available in two color temp...
Aluminum
Flos Oplight W2 Large Wall Sconce in Textured Anthracite by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Oplight W2 Large Wall Sconce in Textured Anthracite by Jasper Morrison Oplight is Jasper Morrison's latest design for Flos. A new, minimalist wall sconce that illuminates a who...
Aluminum
Flos Oplight W2 Large Wall Sconce in Textured White by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Oplight W2 Large Wall Sconce in Textured White by Jasper Morrison Oplight is Jasper Morrison's latest design for Flos. A new, minimalist wall sconce that illuminates a whole ...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield C LED 3000 K Sconce Lamp by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Smithfield family, the Smithfield C ceiling-mounted lamp manages to be both grand and unassuming. Providing direct light through its aluminum body, it is well suited for ...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield S LED 2700K Pendant by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Smithfield family, the Smithfield S manages to be both grand and unassuming. Providing direct light through its aluminum body, it is well suited for a variety of environm...
Aluminum
Flos Oplight W2 Large Wall Sconce in Textured Metallic Grey by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Oplight W2 Large Wall Sconce in Textured Metallic Grey by Jasper Morrison Oplight is Jasper Morrison's latest design for Flos. A new, minimalist wall sconce that illuminates a ...
Aluminum
Flos Oplight W1 Small Wall Sconce in Textured Anthracite by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Oplight W1 Small Wall Sconce in Textured Anthracite by Jasper Morrison Oplight is Jasper Morrison's latest design for Flos. A new, minimalist wall sconce that illuminates a w...
Aluminum
Flos Oplight W1 Small Wall Sconce in Textured Metallic Grey by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Oplight W1 Small Wall Sconce in Textured Metallic Grey by Jasper Morrison Oplight is Jasper Morrison's latest design for Flos. A new, minimalist wall sconce that illuminates a ...
Aluminum
Flos Oplight W2 Large Wall Sconce in Satin Black by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Oplight W2 Large Wall Sconce in Satin Black by Jasper Morrison Oplight is Jasper Morrison's latest design for Flos. A new, minimalist wall sconce that illuminates a whole roo...
Aluminum
Flos Oplight W1 Small Wall Sconce in Satin Black by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Oplight W1 Small Wall Sconce in Satin Black by Jasper Morrison Oplight is Jasper Morrison's latest design for Flos. A new, minimalist wall sconce that illuminates a whole roo...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield C LED 2700 K Sconce Lamp by Jasper Morrison
By Flos, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Smithfield family, the Smithfield C-ceiling-mounted lamp manages to be both grand and unassuming. Providing direct light through its aluminum body, it is well suited for ...
Aluminum
FLOS Spun Light Floor Lamps by Sebastian Wrong / post modernism , ITALY
By Sebastian Wrong, Flos
Located in Buffalo, NY
Designed by Sebastian Wrong in 2003, the Spun Light-F floor lamp reflects the best of modern manufacturing technology combined with elegance, craftsmanship, and dynamic fluid aesthet...
Aluminum, Steel
Italian Midcentury Pendant Light by Achille Castiglioni for Flos, 1965
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful pendant lamp called "black and white 83" of the Italian mid-century with opal white glass bowl and aluminum diffusor. Made in Italy, designed in 1965 by Achille and Pier G...
Aluminum
FLOS Frisbi Pendant Light in Black by Achille Castiglioni
By Achille Castiglioni, Flos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Its name invokes the iconic toy best played in a park, but this light is seriously smart. Offering three types of illumination—diffused, direct, and reflected—the FRISBI doubles down designed Achille Castiglioni’s ability to play with the power of illusion. Three barely-there, fine steel cables suspend the opal acrylic diffuser, making it appear as it if it is floating. A black metal stem and wire mesh basket...
Steel
$1,017
H 8.67 in Dm 18.9 in
Italian Large Flush Mount Disk Light or Wall Sconce in Metal and Glass, 1970s
By Flos
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian Large Flush Mount Disk Light or Wall Sconce in Metal and Glass, 1970s Gorgeous pop art flush mount light or wall sconce with white large metal base and whiteglass sphere. Th...
Metal
Splugen Lamp by A. & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos (8 Available)
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Argelato, BO
Set of eight aluminum pendant lamps by the brothers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos, Splügen Bräu model, 1960s. This model was designed in 1961 and its name was dedicat...
Metal
Mid - century design Flos Flush mount , 1970's Italy
By Flos
Located in Delft, NL
Minimalist style Flos ceiling or wall lamp , 1970's
Metal
Textured Tubes Sconce by Fabio Ltd
By Fabio Ltd.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
One of a kind wall light with original vintage Italian clear textured Murano glass tubes mounted on chrome frames designed by Fabio Bergomi for Fabio Ltd / Made in Italy 2 lights / E...
Chrome
$10,177
H 18.9 in Dm 27.56 in
XL Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Lamp or Hanging Light by Flos Italy, 1960s
By Flos
Located in Munich, DE
Extremely rare, highly decorative and large Mid-Century Modern cocoon pendant lamp or hanging light. Designed & manufactured probably by Flos, Italy, 1960s. Executed in sprayed plastic polymers and metal, the pendant lamp needs 3 x E27 / E26 Edison screw fit bulbs. It is wired, in working condition and runs on 110 / 230 volt. Delivery without bulbs. Condition: Good original vintage condition. Wear consistent with use and age. Tiny tear...
Metal
$882 / item
H 22.68 in Dm 7.88 in
Ancora-W1 Contemporary Articulating Brass Wall Light Sconce, Flow Collection
By Jonathan Amar
Located in Paris, FR
21st century contemporary handcrafted wall lamp fixture or sconce, made of a gold polished brass structure adorned with a brown sheathed leather detail hand sewn by artisan saddle ma...
Brass
$2,400 / item
H 12 in W 34 in D 34 in
Flush Mount Light 1 - Vrksa Series by Raka Studio - Ceiling Light in Ash Wood
By Raka Studio
Located in Cape Girardeau, MO
The Flush Mount Light 1 sits closely on the ceiling, it has been made using solid ashwood by bending the wood. Two cocoon-like wooden structures bear the light bulbs, dispelling ligh...
Ash, Bentwood
Pair of Taraxacum Wall Sconces by Achille Castiglioni for FLOS
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Pair of wall sconces made of five panels of molded aluminum covered with fifteen large bulbs, offering a very diffuse light hue. Designed by Achille Castiglioni for the Italian manuf...
Aluminum
Floor, Table Lamp Noce T by Achille Castiflioni for Flos
By Flos, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Padova, IT
Iconic floor side lamp Noce T designed by Achille Castiglioni and produced by Flos 1970s. It owes its name to the rounded shape that suggests a half walnut. T...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED 3000K Ceiling Lamp in Red by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED 3000K Ceiling Lamp in Red by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Ceiling LED version is available in two color temperatures 2700K and 3000K. Available in 3500K, please in...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED 2700K Ceiling Lamp in Green by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED 2700K Ceiling Lamp in Green by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Ceiling LED version is available in two color temperatures 2700K and 3000K. Available in 3500K, please ...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED 3000K Ceiling Lamp in Green by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED 3000K Ceiling Lamp in Green by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Ceiling LED version is available in two color temperatures 2700K and 3000K. Available in 3500K, please ...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED 2700K Ceiling Lamp in Red by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED 2700K Ceiling Lamp in Red by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Ceiling LED version is available in two color temperatures 2700K and 3000K. Available in 3500K, please in...
Aluminum
Jasper Morrison Luxmaster Floor Lamp for FLOS, Italy, 2000
By Jasper Morrison, Flos
Located in Miami, FL
The Luxmaster floor lamp is a versatile adjustable reading lamp and uplighter. Designed with a nod to the works of Joe Colombo in the seventies. This lamp serves multiple lighting ...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Glo Ball S2 Chandelier by Jasper Morrison for Flos 1990s
By Jasper Morrison, Flos
Located in Milano, IT
Suspension lamp, opal glass. Good conditions.
Opaline Glass
Flos Smithfield LED 2700K Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Red
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Flos Smithfield LED 2700K Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Red by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Suspension LED version is now available in tw...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED 2700K Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Green
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED 2700K Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Green by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Suspension LED version is now available in two c...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED 3000K Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Red
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED 3000K Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Red by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Suspension LED version is now available in two color ...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield E26 Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Green
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield E26 Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in Green by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Suspension LED version is now available in two color te...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield LED E26 Ceiling Lamp in Matte Black by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield LED E26 Ceiling Lamp in Matte Black by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Ceiling LED version is available in two color temperatures 2700K, 3000...
Aluminum
Flos Smithfield E26 Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in White
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Flos Smithfield E26 Suspension Dimmable Pendant Light in White by Jasper Morrison Smithfield Suspension LED version is now available in two color temp...
Aluminum
