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.
Masanori Umeda Table Lamp Yamagiwa Postmodern
By Yamagiwa, Masanori Umeda
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Umeda Stand Designed by Umeda Masanori in the 80s. Manufacture is Yamagiwa, JAPAN. The protrusions act as stoppers. This lamp can stay in several positions. There is no chips or cr...
Glass, Rubber
Postmodern Philips Table Lamp 1980s
By Philips
Located in Čelinac, BA
Philips Postmodern Table Lamp Germany 1980s
Plastic
Postmodern Dark Green Sculpted Ceramic Table Lamp
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional postmodern sculpted ceramic table lamp. Resembles the burning bush.
Ceramic
Vintage Postmodern Travertine Table Lamp
By Stone International
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Now available is solid travertine table lamp in overall great condition. No major chips or breaks in the stone. Please note that the shade itself is not included in the sale as it ha...
Travertine
Postmodern Italian Murano Mushroom Table Lamp
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Amazing vintage postmodern Italian Murano glass mushroom lamp. Features a fun white swirl through the glass.
Murano Glass
1980s Postmodern Black and White Table Lamp
By Memphis Milano
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning 1980s postmodern table lamp by Be Yang in the Memphis Milano style. A black metal base, black stem with white geometric accents, white painted metal conical shade, and ma...
Metal
Postmodern Mushroom Glass Table Lamp, Italy
Located in Hamburg, DE
Imposing glass table lamp of Italian origin. Screen and foot of the luminaire are made of colored glass and show a circumferential groove structure. In contrast to the violet glass ...
Metal
Postmodern Chrome & Glass Desk table Lamp
Located in San Diego, CA
Great post-modern design double ceramic socket on this fabulous desk lamp, Italy, circa 1980s excellent condition we polished the chrome the beveled thick glass is just a beautiful ...
Chrome
Postmodern Plaster Table Lamps, a Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
A pair of postmodern urn shaped table lamps made of plaster. Shoulders are embossed with a textured pattern of green and light blush hexagons. Below, the body is concertina shaped, p...
Linen, Plaster
Postmodern Ceramic Tiered Table Lamp
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Postmodern ceramic tiered table lamp USA, Late 20th Century Measures: 10"W x 10"D x 19"H. Good original vintage condition.
Ceramic
Postmodern German Table Lamp from Hillebrand, 1980s
By Hillebrand
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare table lamp from Hillebrand. The particularly flat glass shade with the large radius on the edge is striking. The round shade rests on a frame that is connected to the cyli...
Glass
$577Sale Price|20% Off
H 27.56 in W 17.72 in D 11.03 in
1970's Postmodern Design Brass Architectural Table Lamp
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Postmodern Hollywood Regency Style Design Brass Architectural Table Lamp, made in the 1970's. All brass base with brown lampshade with gold inner finnish. 2 light points in t...
Brass
Tokujin Yoshioka Tofu Lamp by Yamagiwa (2001)
By Tokujin Yoshioka
Located in Chicago, IL
Tokujin Yoshioka Tofu Lamp by Yamagiwa (2001) Designer: Tokujin Yoshioka Manufacturer: Yamagiwa Corporation, Japan Year: 2001 Material: Crystal clear methacr...
Aluminum