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.
Soshun Flower Stools by Masanori Umeda for Edra, Italy, 1990s
By Masanori Umeda, Edra
Located in Antwerp, BE
Striking 'Soshun' flower stools by Masanori Umeda for Edra, Italy, 1990s. Designed as sculptural blossoms, each stool features a velvet seat in deep crimson, evoking the softness and...
Metal
$2,329 / set
H 32.29 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in
Set of Four Beech Jamaica Bar Stools by Pepe Cortés, 1990s
By Pepe Cortés
Located in Praha, CZ
Rare set of 4 "Jamaica" wooden bar stools designed by Pepe Cortés and made by BD Barcelona. The ergonomic seat in the shape of a saddle is made of solid lacquered beech and is swivel...
Chrome
$320Sale Price|26% Off
H 17.72 in W 19.69 in D 16.54 in
Pair of 'Benjamin' Stools by Lisa Norinder for IKEA, 1990's
By IKEA
Located in Bern, CH
Pair of IKEA Benjamin plywood stools designed by Lisa Noringer, 1990's. Made of plywood. Stackable and can be used either as a stool or side table. Modern iconic designs from Ikea. ...
Plywood
$320Sale Price|26% Off
H 17.72 in W 19.69 in D 16.54 in
Pair of 'BENJAMIN' Stools by Lisa Norinder for IKEA, 1990's
By IKEA
Located in Bern, CH
Pair of IKEA Benjamin plywood stools designed by Lisa Noringer, 1990's. Made of plywood. Stackable and can be used either as a stool or side table. Modern iconic designs from Ikea. ...
Plywood
$23,000
H 34.26 in W 38.19 in D 35.44 in
Early 90's Production Getsuen & Rose Lounge Chairs Masanori Umeda for Edra Italy
By Masanori Umeda, Edra
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Pair of early 1990's production Getsuen & Rose Flower lounge chairs by Japanese designer Masanori Umeda for Edra Italy 1990 Very rare to find 2 early production examples now combine...
Aluminum, Steel
Brazilian Designer, Stools, Wood, Brazil, 1990s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of solid wood stools designed and produced in Brazil, c. 1980s-1990s. Light scratching throughout stools. Dimensions: 17.75” H x 13.5” Diameter
Wood
$400Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 17 in Dm 18 in
Art Deco Style Round Moroccan Stools, Blue & Brown Upholstery, 1990s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Art Deco Style round Moroccan stool in blue and brown fabric upholstery in 1970s style. Moroccan Art Deco Style little pouf hassock, upholstered f...
Fabric
$750 / item
H 36.25 in W 16.25 in D 17 in
1990s Enrico Franzolini Crassevig Compasso d'Oro Bentwood Counter Stool (12x)
By Enrico Franzolini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Compasso d'Oro Bentwood Counter Stool, originally designed by Enrico Franzolini. These particular examples were produced by Crassevig in Italy and date back to the 1990s. T...
Steel
$1,200
H 27.75 in W 17.25 in D 15.5 in
Revolver Stool by Shaker Workshops, Adjustable Wood Height, 1990s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Adjustable 'Revolver stool' by Shaker Workshops originally designed in the 1800s, this piece was made c.1990s, USA. The chair has a spindle backrest a...
Wood
$2,250 / set
H 38.59 in W 14.97 in D 19.69 in
Set of Six “Anna” Beech Barstools by Crassevig, Italy, 1990s
By Crassevig
Located in Dronten, NL
An elegant set of six “Anna” barstools by the renowned Italian manufacturer Crassevig, celebrated for its refined craftsmanship and enduring modern design vocabulary. These stools ex...
Fabric, Beech
Set of 3 "The Wedding Stool" by Thomas Sandell, 1990s
By Thomas Sandell
Located in Stockholm, SE
A design classic by Swedish architect Thomas Sandell. The Bröllopspallen (“Wedding Stool”) combines clean Nordic minimalism with playful proportions.
Birch
$887Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.9 in W 18.12 in D 16.93 in
Post-Modern Stool in Solid Pine by Pierre Chapo, Germany, 1990s Design
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Den Haag, NL
Post Modern Era Herbstb Solid Pine wood stool. 1990 s Germany.
Pine
Sergiu Stairs by Bruno Munari for Zanotta, 1990s
By Bruno Munari, Zanotta
Located in Milan, Italy
Bruno Munari designed this ingenious accessory in 1989. After removing the container, you can sit on the stairs and clean your shoes, the utensils are stowed in the container. It is ...
Steel
Edra Soshun Low Stool in Green Velvet by Masanori Umeda
By Masanori Umeda, Edra
Located in Antwerp, BE
Masanori Umeda low 'Soshun' stool, Edra, Italy, 1990. Made with a support frame in metal, coated metallic grey. The seat is in polyurethane foam and the upholstery in green velvet...
Velvet
Sold
H 24.81 in W 20.87 in D 22.45 in
Set of 4 Soshun Flower Stools by Masanori Umeda for Edra, Italy, 1990s
By Masanori Umeda, Edra
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Set of 4 Soshun flower stools in original velvet by Masanori Umeda for his quality editor Edra.
Metal
Sold
H 32.68 in W 21.07 in D 24.81 in
Pair of Soshun Flower Bar Stools by Masanori Umeda for Edra, Italy, 1990s
By Masanori Umeda, Edra
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Soshun flower bar stools. original velvet by Masanori Umeda for his quality editor Edra.
Metal
Sold
H 33.86 in W 20.87 in D 23.23 in
Pair of Soshun Stools by Masanori Umeda, Italian Collection "Flowers" for Edra
By Masanori Umeda, Edra
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Part of the Edra Flower collection, these flower-shaped stools with inclined stems form the supporting support, designed by Masanori Umeda. The cozy seat is padded with expanded poly...
Metal