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.
"Tawaraya Ring" Daybed or Boxing Ring by Masanori Umeda for Memphis Milano
By Memphis Milano, Masanori Umeda
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Masanori Umeda for Memphis Milano, the monumental Tawaraya Ring (1981) stands among the most celebrated, radical, and recognizable masterpieces in the history of design. ...
Metal
"Tawaraya Ring 2x2" Daybed or Boxing Ring by Masanori Umeda for Memphis Milano
By Masanori Umeda, Memphis Milano
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Masanori Umeda for Memphis Milano, Tawaraya Ring 2×2 stands among the most iconic and recognizable creations of radical Italian design. Beyond its avant-garde aesthetic a...
Metal
$820
H 29.53 in W 73.23 in D 25.99 in
Mid-Century Sofa or Daybed Designed by Miroslav Navrátil, 1960's
By Miroslav Navratil
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of fabric, wood Dimensions at layout: Height:41cm, depth:84cm, width:186cm Original condition.
Fabric, Wood
Mid-Century Inspired Daybed or Couch in Cherry by Boyd & Allister
By Boyd & Allister
Located in Santa Fe, NM
This mid-century inspired daybed / couch in cherry was originally designed as a guest bed for a little person but it has since been built for a variety of homes and projects. It is i...
Cherry
"Vanessa" daybed by Tobia Scarpa for Simon
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dimensions: 80"w x 37"d x 28"h Designer: Tobia Scarpa Material: Enameled Metal w/ Cushion VNT1778
Metal
Bronze and Leather Daybed or Bench by Nicos Zographos
By Nicos Zographos
Located in Atlanta, GA
Bronze and caramel color leather daybed or bench, designed by Nicos Zographos, American, circa 1960s. Retains warm original patina to the bronze.
Metal, Bronze
$55,000
H 48 in W 110 in D 110 in
TAWARAYA "Boxing Ring" Seating Pod by Masanori Umed, Memphis Design, Japan, 1983
By Masanori Umeda
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
The TAWARAYA Ring by Masanori Umeda for MEMPHIS srl is one of that design movements most famous & critically-discussed pieces from the inaugural MEMP...
Laminate, Wood
"Riga" Daybed by Eleonore Peduzzi Riva for Busnelli
By Busnelli, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva
Located in Milan, IT
"Riga" daybed by Eleonore Peduzzi Riva for Busnelli Sturdy metal frame with adjustable sections supporting a generous leather padded base with cushion. Side movable integrated tray. ...
Metal
1960s Cleopatra Daybed by Cordemeijer for Royal Auping
By Auping, A.R. Cordemeijer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Cleopatra narrow daybed by A.R. Cordemeijer for Royal Auping features a bone white painted enameled metal frame with gently rounded corners and four splayed painted wood legs in ...
Metal
Daybed GE-19 by Hans Wegner for GETAMA, 1960
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful daybed GE-19 by Hans J. Wegner for GETAMA, 1956, solid oak frame with tapered legs and brass end rail accents, felt covered flat springs, new un-upholstered mattress includ...
Brass
Daybed 'Cleopatra' by Dick Cordemeijer for Auping, 1950
By Auping, Dick Cordemeijer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful daybed designed by Dick Cordemeijer in Netherlands, 1954, the black powder coated metal frame is capped by teak wood on either end, the mattress and headrest have been newl...
Metal
$1,944 / item
H 30.9 in W 29.1 in D 61.8 in
"Tokyo-Pop" White or Black Monobloc Daybed Designed by T. Yoshioka for Driade
By Driade, Tokujin Yoshioka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Tokyo-Pop" is a white or black anthracite polyethylene monobloc iconic daybed, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka and manufactured by Driade. White version ...
Plastic
$12,196 / item
H 19.69 in W 70.87 in D 44.1 in
Alexander and Jones Sunday Daybed in Walnut & Dedar Milano Handcrafted to Order
Located in Cirencester, England
The Sunday Daybed is a signature made-to-order piece by Alexander and Jones, handcrafted in our Cotswolds studio, UK, from sculpted solid walnut with our signature wave form frame an...
Brass
Miura Daybed by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Miura Daybed by SNOC Dimensions: W 205.5 x D 166 x H 22.5 cm. Materials: Acrylic Rope, Aluminium. The Miura outdoor collection is an invitation to comfort and elegance. The softly...
Aluminum