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
Memphis Milano "Parana" Ceramic Fruit Bowl Centerpiece table by Masanori Umeda
By Memphis Milano, Masanori Umeda
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Concept & Inspiration Designed by Japanese designer Masanori Umeda in 1983, the "Parana" fruit bowl is a masterful and ironic exploration of geometric forms. Named after one of L...
Ceramic
Tiberius II Medium Ceramic Fruit Bowl by Jaime Hayon
By Jaime Hayon
Located in Milan, IT
Tiberius II is a medium ceramic fruit bowl with a gunmetal stand, and it is available in two color versions: anthracite or white. The product is part of the collection New Roman, by ...
Metal
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
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
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
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
Ghidini 1961 Florida Bowl in Brass by Nika Zupanc
By Nika Zupanc, Ghidini 1961
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
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
Tiberius I Ceramic Fruit Bowl by Jaime Hayon
By Jaime Hayon
Located in Milan, IT
Tiberius I is a large ceramic fruit bowl with a brass stand, available in two color versions: anthracite or white. The product is part of the collection New Roman, by Jaime Hayon: i...
Brass
$8,790 / item
H 6.7 in Dm 11.42 in
Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Aldebaran Glass Fruit Bowl was designed for Memphis in 1983 by Ettore Sottsass. This bowl features a tapering cylindrical shape with three green handles, with the side decorated ...
Glass
Broccoli Fruit Bowl, by Marco Zanini from Memphis Milano
By Memphis Milano, Marco Zanini, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Ceramic three-level fruit bowl originally designed by Marco Zanini in 1985 for Memphis Milano. The three geometrical shapes in three colors complete the idea of a trilogy. Marco Zan...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Multicolor Glass Fruit Bowl Centerpiece 1930s
Located in Palermo, IT
Mid-Century multicolor glass fruit bowl centerpiece 1930s Consists of 2 pieces. Complete and in good condition.
Glass
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
Italian Ceramic Fruit Basket Topiary Compote Centerpiece
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Italian glazed ceramic fruit basket figure sculpture. This compote is handmade with the greatest attention to detail. We see this piece on a kitchen counter or table. The basket is m...
Ceramic
$1,953
H 9.5 in Dm 14.75 in
1970s Handcrafted Black Marquina Marble Table Centerpiece, Fruit Bowl or Planter
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning and multi-purpose, Italian marble tazza or deep bowl in a Roman Classical style. This remarkable centerpiece of classical beauty and elegance is one of the most striking an...
Marble
French Majolica Fruit Bowl Arrangement Table Centerpiece, circa 1950
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely vintage French barbotine majolica bowl of fruit and vibrant green leaves in a blue and white bowl, circa 1950. This fine arrangement is hand crafted and hand painted, well m...
Ceramic, Majolica