Memphis - The Tawaraya Ring, 1981

The Tawaraya Ring, designed in 1981 by Japanese architect Masanori Umeda, is perhaps the most iconic and monumental work of the Memphis Milano movement. It is a "domestic boxing ring" that serves as a multifunctional seating unit, conversation pit, and bed. 

Design and Symbolism

• Concept: Umeda envisioned the piece as a "place for intellectual fighting," a literal arena for the intense debates he witnessed among Italian designers.

• East meets West: The design famously blends traditional Japanese architecture with radical postmodernism. Its footprint is exactly four and a half tatami mats, the standard dimension of a traditional Japanese room.

• The Iconic Portrait: The ring is the setting for the most famous photograph of the Memphis Group, featuring members like Ettore Sottsass, Michele De Lucchi, and others posing together behind the ropes.

Features and Materials

• Base: A square wooden frame covered in black and white striped plastic laminate.

• Floor: Authentic tatami mats made of woven straw.

• Lighting: Four adjustable lacquered metal lamps integrated into the corner posts.

• Comfort: Includes a set of silk-upholstered cushions (often featuring traditional hikizome dye gradients) and a wooden serving tray.

• Dimensions: The original measures 280 cm (W) x 280 cm (D) x 120 cm (H).

Availability and Market

Due to its massive size, only a limited number were produced originally, and it became a prized piece in collections like that of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld