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.
$844Sale Price / item|20% Off
Set of 4 Air Armchair in Grey Antracite by Jasper Morrison for MAGIS
By Jasper Morrison, Magis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Air-Family takes its name from the “air-moulding” technology that makes it possible to create highly resistant yet super-lightweight products out of polypropylene added with fibregla...
Plastic
$1,516Sale Price / item|20% Off
Set of 2 Plato Stacking Chair by Jasper Morrison for MAGIS
By Magis, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Plato chair designed by Jasper Morrison is versatile in use and well suited for domestic, professional, and public spaces - indoors and outdoors. Under- stated and with a neoclassical inspiration, hence the name that references one of the pillars of ancient philosophy, the Plato chair is the manifestation of a perfect balance between form and function. It features a sleek yet robust structure with a curved seat for maximum comfort. As Jasper Morrison declares, “a fully recyclable chair...
Aluminum
$809Sale Price / item|20% Off
Set of 4 Air chair in White by Jasper Morrison for MAGIS
By Jasper Morrison, Magis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Air-Family takes its name from the “air-moulding” technology that makes it possible to create highly resistant yet super-lightweight products out of polypropylene added with fibregla...
Plastic
$1,157Sale Price / item|20% Off
Alias 717 Tagliatelle Outdoor Armchair in Blue Seat with Stainless Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 717 Tagliatelle Outdoor Armchair in Blue Seat with Stainless Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Stacking chair for outdoor use with arms with structure in brushed stainless stee...
Steel
$1,176Sale Price / item|20% Off
Set of 2 Pipe Stacking Chair by Jasper Morrison for MAGIS
By Magis, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pipe is an essential chair. It has an aluminium tube structure and an option of seat and back in punched aluminium plate with holes (in white, black or mustard colours) for outdoor u...
Beech
$1,610Sale Price / item|20% Off
Alias 757 Atlas Adjustable Stool with Upholstery & White Lacquered Steel Frame
By Jasper Morrison, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 757 Atlas Adjustable Stool with Upholstery & White Lacquered Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Height adjustable stool with lacquered stee...
Steel
Set of 6 Air Chairs by Jasper Morrison for Magis, 1999
By Jasper Morrison, Magis
Located in Izegem, VWV
Air Chair was born out of a simple length of plastic moulded tube given to me by Perazza as a sample of a new plastic moulding technology called gas injection, which he suggested we ...
Plastic
$1,708Sale Price / item|30% Off
Molteni & C Tea Dining Chair by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Molteni & C
Located in Boston, MA
Designed by Jasper Morrison The Tea chair is a tribute to lightness. The structure, completely made of solid wood, outlines and reveals the profile of the chair in its entirety. Wi...
Leather, Oak
$2,880Sale Price / set|36% Off
Four Jasper Morrison Hi Pad Stools In Red Leather by Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Doraville, GA
Four Hi Pad stools designed by Jasper Morrison in 2003 for Cappellini. The seats are covered in red leather with a gun metal grey painted stainless steel base ...
Stainless Steel
2022 Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Elan Element Two Seat Sofa / Loveseat
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an Elan Element Two Person Sofa/Chaise Lounge made with a metal frame and tan fabric. The sofa was designed by Jasper Morrison and produced by Cappellini in Italy...
Metal
2010s Set of Four Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Tate Bar Stools in Red Fabric
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of four Tate Bar Stools, originally designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini in 2000. These particular stools were produced in Italy in the 2010s. The stools feature ...
Steel
$1,073Sale Price / item|20% Off
Set of 2 Plato Chair in White by Jasper Morrison for MAGIS
By Jasper Morrison, Magis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Plato chair designed by Jasper Morrison is versatile in use and well suited for domestic, professional, and public spaces - indoors and outdoors. Under- stated and with a neoclassical inspiration, hence the name that references one of the pillars of ancient philosophy, the Plato chair is the manifestation of a perfect balance between form and function. It features a sleek yet robust structure with a curved seat for maximum comfort. As Jasper Morrison declares, “a fully recyclable chair...
Aluminum
$1,073Sale Price / item|20% Off
Set of 2 Plato Chair in Black by Jasper Morrison for MAGIS
By Magis, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Plato chair designed by Jasper Morrison is versatile in use and well suited for domestic, professional, and public spaces - indoors and outdoors. Under- stated and with a neoclassical inspiration, hence the name that references one of the pillars of ancient philosophy, the Plato chair is the manifestation of a perfect balance between form and function. It features a sleek yet robust structure with a curved seat for maximum comfort. As Jasper Morrison declares, “a fully recyclable chair...
Aluminum
2022 Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Hi Pad Dining Chair in Black Leather
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Hi Pad dining chair made with a black stainless steel base and black leather seat. The chair was designed by Jasper Morrison and produced by Cappellini in Italy...
Stainless Steel
$2,064Sale Price / item|20% Off
Alias 759 Atlas Adjustable Stool Backrest in Upholstery & White Lacquered Frame
By Jasper Morrison, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 759 Atlas Adjustable Stool Backrest in Upholstery & White Lacquered Frame by Jasper Morrison Height adjustable stool with lacquered stee...
Steel
$964Sale Price / item|20% Off
Alias 718 Tagliatelle Outdoor Stool in Grey Seat and Stainless Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 718 Tagliatelle Outdoor Stool in Grey Seat and Stainless Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Medium height stool for outdoor use with struct...
Steel
$1,157Sale Price / item|20% Off
Alias 717 Tagliatelle Outdoor Armchair in White with Stainless Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 717 Tagliatelle Outdoor Armchair in White with Stainless Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Stacking chair for outdoor use with arms with structure in brushed stainless steel 31...
Steel
2010s Pair of Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Tate Bar Stools in Blue
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Tate Bar Stools, originally designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini in 2000. These particular stools were produced in Italy in the 2010s. The stools feature a st...
Steel
2019 Vitra All Plastic Dining Chairs by Jasper Morrison in Graphite Grey
By Jasper Morrison, Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an "All Plastic" Side Dining Chair, initially designed by Jasper Morrison for Vitra in 2016. These examples date to 2019 and were produced in Italy. The listed price includes...
Rubber
PAIR OF CAPPELLINI LOTUS OFFICE LOUNGE ARMCHAiRS BY JASPER MORRISON
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of Cappellini Lotus office swivel lounge armchairs desing...
Chrome
2022 Jasper Morrison 94in Loveseat Sofa Oblong System in Ultrasede Alcantara
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an Oblong System Loveseat Sofa made with a metal frame and tan ultra suede (Alcantara) upholstery. This is sold together as a 94.5 inch sofa/loveseat, so both piec...
Metal
2015 Tate Bar Stools in Grey Leather by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Tate Bar Stool, originally designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini in 2000. These particular stools were produced in 2015. The listed price includes one stool, and we ha...
Steel
2022 Pair of Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Hi Pad Dining Chairs with White Base
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a pair of Hi Pad dining chairs made with white stainless steel bases and grey fabric seats. The chairs were designed by Jasper Morrison and produced by Cappellini¬...
Stainless Steel
4er Set Vitra Stühle HAL Wood mit Sitzpolster Jasper Morrison Design
By Vitra, Jasper Morrison
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes 4er Set Vitra HAL Wood Stühle mit Sitzpolstern zum Verkauf an. Die Stühle stammen aus dem Jahr 2021 und weisen nur geringe Gebrauchsspuren auf. Insgesamt...
Plastic, Oak
2019 Jasper Morrison for Vitra HAL Grey Side Chair With Wood Legs
By Jasper Morrison, Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a HAL side chair, designed by Jasper Morrison in 2010. This clean contemporary chain features a molded plastic seat, and has legs made from wood. This particular example is d...
Metal
2022 Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Hi Pad Dining Chair in Navy Blue Leather
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Hi Pad dining chair made with a black stainless steel base and dark navy blue leather seat. The chair designed by Jasper Morrison, produced by Cappellini in Ita...
Stainless Steel
December Lounge Chair with Canvas Upholstery by Jasper Morrison & Wataru Kumano
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Fiskars, FI
December lounge chair is designed by Jasper Morrison and Wataru Kumano in 2016. The chair is light and comfortable, and thanks to its simple Nordic design it suits both modern and tr...
Canvas, Leather, Ash, Oak
December Chair with Canvas Upholstery by Jasper Morrison & Wataru Kumano
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Fiskars, FI
December chair is designed by Jasper Morrison and Wataru Kumano, 2012. The chair is light and comfortable, and thanks to its simple Nordic design it sui...
Canvas, Ash, Oak
December Chair with Leather Upholstery by Jasper Morrison & Wataru Kumano
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Fiskars, FI
December chair is designed by Jasper Morrison and Wataru Kumano, 2012. The chair is light and comfortable, and thanks to its simple Nordic design it sui...
Leather, Ash, Oak
December Ottoman with Canvas Upholstery by Jasper Morrison & Wataru Kumano
By Jasper Morrison
Located in Fiskars, FI
December Ottoman is designed to accompany the chair by Jasper Morrison and Wataru Kumano in 2014. The chair is light and comfortable, and thanks to its simple Nordic design it suits ...
Canvas, Ash, Oak