From his cheerful Getsuen Lily chair to his provocative Ginza robot cabinet, Masanori Umeda’s furniture designs are often described by critics and collectors alike as poetic, ironic and full of whimsy.
Umeda was born in 1941 in Kanagawa, graduating from Tokyo’s Kuwasawa Design School in 1962. In 1967, he moved to Milan, Italy, where he began his design career working in the studio of Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. From 1970 to 1979, Umeda was a design consultant for the Olivetti studio, and there he met prolific furniture designer and architect Ettore Sottsass, who founded the Memphis Group, Italy's boldest, brashest postmodern design movement.
In the early 1980s, Umeda joined Memphis, creating his most famous piece, the Tawayara boxing ring seating unit in 1981. Comprising a monochrome, Tatami matte floor, tie-dyed cushions, bungee-style ropes and flexible lighting at each of the four corners, the Tawayara was Umeda’s homage to space-constrained Japanese living areas. It remains one of Umeda’s rarest pieces (only 30 were ever made). Fashion designer and icon Karl Lagerfeld once owned a Tawayara boxing ring that featured prominently in his Monaco apartment.
In 1986, Umeda returned to Japan and opened his U-MetaDesign Studio (now Umeda Design Studio Inc.) in Tokyo, garnering accolades for his uniquely lighthearted collection of armchairs, lounge chairs, table lamps and decorative objects.
Over the course of his career, Umeda has won several awards, including the BraunPrize in 1968, the Grand Prix of Japan Display Design Award in 1981, the Japan Commercial Space Design Award in 1984 and the Grand Prix of Good Design Award in 1990.
Umeda continues to design furnishings that embody the spirit of postmodernism, enjoying collaborations with Memphis Milano and Italian furniture manufacturer Edra. His pieces have been exhibited internationally and are held in the collections of museums around the world, including the M+ Museum in Hong Kong, which acquired more than 180 of his works in 2015.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Masanori Umeda seating, lighting and serveware.
Parana Ceramic Fruit Bowl, by Masanori Umeda from Memphis Milano
By Memphis Group, Masanori Umeda, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Trigonal ceramic fruit bowl in pastel colors was originally designed by Masanori Umeda in 1983 for Memphis Milano. Was born in 1941 at Kanagawa in Japan. He obtained his diploma fro...
Ceramic
Rosso Levanto Eclipse Bowl
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Expertly crafted and finished by hand, our exquisite Rosso Levanto ECLIPSE marble bowls are a study in sculptural simplicity. This marble bowl is stunning with its timeless esthetic ...
Marble
Large Danish Modern Carved Teakwood Fruit / Serving Bowl
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Danish hand carved teak serving / fruit bowl with exquisite grain and an impressive size: H: 5.13" x L: 18.63" x D: 11. Excellent, vintage condition with only a few light spots of f...
Teak
Travertine Narrow Bowl
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Stunning, esthetic and timeless are words that can be used to describe the elegant and modern travertine NARROW bowl. Expertly crafted and finished by hand, our travertine bowls are ...
Travertine
Onyx Narrow Bowl
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Introducing our exquisite Onyx NARROW Bowl, a fusion of elegance and functionality. Crafted from luxurious onyx stone, this stunning bowl is a testament to timeless beauty and sophis...
Marble
Large Midcentury French Mosaic Ceramic Bowl Gerbino Vallauris
By Atelier Gerbino
Located in Austin, TX
Large midcentury French Mosaic Ceramic Bowl Gerbino Vallauris. Diameter / 12 inches.
Ceramic, Faience
Travertine Eclipse Bowl
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Expertly crafted and finished by hand, our travertine bowls are a study in sculptural simplicity. This beige Travertine Eclipse Bowl is stunnin...
Travertine
Ghidini 1961 Florida Bowl in Brass by Nika Zupanc
By Ghidini 1961, Nika Zupanc
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Bowl in brass. This sublime cast brass mass is all wrapped up, giving rise to an exquisite fruit bowl. Something akin to the treasure found at the end of a rewarding peregrination. T...
Brass
Midcentury Decorative Ceramic Bowl by Albert Thiry, circa 1960s
By Albert Thiry
Located in London, GB
Midcentury decorative ceramic bowl (circa 1960s) by Albert Thiry (1932-2009). A Classic Thiry design and decoration scheme, this bowl's base co...
Ceramic
La Bocca Bowl by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
La Bocca bowl by Marcela Cure. Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 26 cm. Materials: resin and stone composite. Our La Bocca bowl is inspired by the fascinating and provocative figure o...
Stone
19th Century Spanish Manises Glazed Ceramic Castañera or Chestnut Bowl
Located in Madrid, ES
Made in the 19th century, this brightly colored blue and white bowl from Manises, Spain is highly decorative, and it once served the very specific household purpose of holding chestn...
Ceramic
Bowl 'Candara' by Lino Sabattini, Italy, 1970
By Lino Sabattini, Sabattini Argenteria
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A bowl with the name Candara with a simplistic and iconic design by renowned italian designer Lino Sabattini from circa 1970. The condition is good albeit with some wear (see picture...
Silver Plate
Le Mani Bowl by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Mani bowl by Marcela Cure Dimensions: W 42 x D 42 x H 15 cm Materials: Resin and Stone Composite The latest addition to our CORPOREA Collection is the Le Mani bowl. Given its...
Stone