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Italian Postmodern Leather Bench
Italian Postmodern Leather Bench

Italian Postmodern Leather Bench

Located in Palm Springs, CA

A spectacular 1980s Italian Postmodern bench. The bench is constructed of steel that’s powder

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Benches

Italian Postmodern Lounge Set Tan Leather Postmodern Armchair Pair and Sofa
Italian Postmodern Lounge Set Tan Leather Postmodern Armchair Pair and Sofa

Italian Postmodern Lounge Set Tan Leather Postmodern Armchair Pair and Sofa

By Nicoletti Salotti, Ralph Lauren

Located in Rochester, NY

Postmodern Italian camel leather lounge set in the style of Nicoletti Salotti circa late 1980s

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Living Room Sets

Materials

Leather

Comfortable Postmodern Brown Leather Armchair, Italy
Comfortable Postmodern Brown Leather Armchair, Italy

Comfortable Postmodern Brown Leather Armchair, Italy

Located in Bresso, Lombardy

Made in Italy, 1970s. This armchair features a brown leather upholstery. It is a vintage piece

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Gastone Rinaldi postmodern Dining chairs for Thema italy, 1980s - set of 6
Gastone Rinaldi postmodern Dining chairs for Thema italy, 1980s - set of 6

Gastone Rinaldi postmodern Dining chairs for Thema italy, 1980s - set of 6

By Thema Italy 1, Gastone Rinaldi

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Elegant postmodern dining chairs designed by Italian Designer Gastone Rinaldi and produced by thema

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Italian Postmodern Dining Chair in Cognac Leather
Italian Postmodern Dining Chair in Cognac Leather

Italian Postmodern Dining Chair in Cognac Leather

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Dining chair, beech, leather, Italy, 1970s A delicate chair that is well-proportioned and elevates

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Beech

1990 Italy Postmodern Blond Cow Leather Armchair
1990 Italy Postmodern Blond Cow Leather Armchair

1990 Italy Postmodern Blond Cow Leather Armchair

Located in Brescia, IT

cow leather in blond tun color, is in very good conditions. It is very comfortable and perfect in a

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Bergere Chairs

Materials

Walnut, Leather

Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chairs, Italy 1980's
Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chairs, Italy 1980's

Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chairs, Italy 1980's

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chair set of 4. Made in Italy, 1980's. Grey leather seat

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

1980's Italian Postmodern Leather Modernist Paper Desk Tray
1980's Italian Postmodern Leather Modernist Paper Desk Tray

1980's Italian Postmodern Leather Modernist Paper Desk Tray

Located in San Diego, CA

Elegant Single letter desk tray , postmodern Italian leather wrapped nice original condition.   

Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Magazine Racks and Stands

Materials

Leather

Italian Postmodern Wall Mirror in Steel & Leather Handle
Italian Postmodern Wall Mirror in Steel & Leather Handle

Italian Postmodern Wall Mirror in Steel & Leather Handle

By Jacques Adnet

Located in San Diego, CA

Beautiful rounded Wall mirror with beveled edge stell frame and leather strap, circa 1980's great

Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Wall Mirrors

Materials

Steel

Natuzzi Leather Lounge Chair, Italian, Made in Italy, Postmodern, Light Grey
Natuzzi Leather Lounge Chair, Italian, Made in Italy, Postmodern, Light Grey

Natuzzi Leather Lounge Chair, Italian, Made in Italy, Postmodern, Light Grey

By Natuzzi

Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Natuzzi Leather Lounge Chair, Italian, Made in Italy, Postmodern, Light Grey, Mid Century, Office

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

4 Postmodern Black Leather Armchairs from Cidue, Italy, 1990s
4 Postmodern Black Leather Armchairs from Cidue, Italy, 1990s

4 Postmodern Black Leather Armchairs from Cidue, Italy, 1990s

By Cidue

Located in Rīga, LV

Set of 4 black metal chairs with leather seat and rubber back details. Great back support

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Arrben "Ursula" Italian Black Leather and Chrome Chair
Postmodern Arrben "Ursula" Italian Black Leather and Chrome Chair

Postmodern Arrben "Ursula" Italian Black Leather and Chrome Chair

By Arrben

Located in Waxahachie, TX

Postmodern. Italian leather chairs, with chromed steel structure and back and seat in curved metal

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair set by Segis, Italy 1990's
Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair set by Segis, Italy 1990's

Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair set by Segis, Italy 1990's

By Segis

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Modern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair set by Segis, made in Italy 1990's

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Segis, Italy, 1990's
Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Segis, Italy, 1990's

Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Segis, Italy, 1990's

By Segis

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Italian design natural leather dining chair set of 7 chairs by Segis, made in

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Tito Agnoli x Calligaris Italian Postmodern Leather Dining Chairs, 1980s, Italy
Tito Agnoli x Calligaris Italian Postmodern Leather Dining Chairs, 1980s, Italy

Tito Agnoli x Calligaris Italian Postmodern Leather Dining Chairs, 1980s, Italy

By Tito Agnoli, Calligaris, Matteo Grassi

Located in Biebergemund, Hessen

in Italy, 1980s. They feature a metal construction covered with thick black leather. The chairs are

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather

Vintage Postmodern Italian Tufted Leather Queen Bed by Rossetto Italia
Vintage Postmodern Italian Tufted Leather Queen Bed by Rossetto Italia

Vintage Postmodern Italian Tufted Leather Queen Bed by Rossetto Italia

Located in Chicago, IL

Vintage Postmodern Italian Tufted Leather Queen Bed by Rossetto Italia A postmodern Italian bed

Category

Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Leather, Wood

2010's Postmodern Art Deco Italian Leather Sofa by Calia Italia
2010's Postmodern Art Deco Italian Leather Sofa by Calia Italia

2010's Postmodern Art Deco Italian Leather Sofa by Calia Italia

By Pietro Costantini, Nicoletti Salotti, Calia Italia

Located in Burbank, CA

Post modern couch for sale. Manufactured by Calia Italia, and made in Italy. This is their Hotel

Category

2010s Italian Art Deco Sofas

Materials

Leather, Wood

Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984
Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984

Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984

By Fasem International, Giancarlo Vegni

Located in Beograd, RS

has a manufacturers stamp pressed into the leather underneath the seat. Made in Italy in the 1980s

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel

Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair
Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair

Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair

By Calligaris

Located in New York, NY

A very beautiful and chic Italian modern style or Postmodern period black lacquer wood and leather

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair
Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair

Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair

By Calligaris

Located in New York, NY

Very beautiful and chic Italian Modern style or Postmodern period black lacquer wood and leather

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Pair of Postmodern Italian Leather and Polished Chrome Accent Sling Chairs
Pair of Postmodern Italian Leather and Polished Chrome Accent Sling Chairs

Pair of Postmodern Italian Leather and Polished Chrome Accent Sling Chairs

By Giotto Stoppino

Located in Basel, BS

Gorgeous pair of Italian soft leather and polished chrome accent chairs in the style of Giotto

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Calligaris Postmodern Italian Dining Chair - Wood + Black Leather Set of 4
Calligaris Postmodern Italian Dining Chair - Wood + Black Leather Set of 4

Calligaris Postmodern Italian Dining Chair - Wood + Black Leather Set of 4

By Calligaris

Located in toronto, CA

Circa 1980 - Calligaris Post Modern Chairs Beautifully ribbed back , leather chairs, an example of

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

I4 Mariani Postmodern Italian Molto + Di Maroon Leather Sofa Ammannati -Vitelli
I4 Mariani Postmodern Italian Molto + Di Maroon Leather Sofa Ammannati -Vitelli

I4 Mariani Postmodern Italian Molto + Di Maroon Leather Sofa Ammannati -Vitelli

By i4 Mariani, Titina Ammannati and Giampiero Vitelli

Located in Topeka, KS

Spectacular postmodern Italian Molto + Di maroon leather sofa by Tittina Ammannati & Vitelli

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather, Foam, Wood

1980's Pair of Leather Italian Postmodern Lounge armchairs by Molteni & Co
1980's Pair of Leather Italian Postmodern Lounge armchairs by Molteni & Co

1980's Pair of Leather Italian Postmodern Lounge armchairs by Molteni & Co

By Molteni & C

Located in San Diego, CA

Rare pair of postmodern leather chairs by Molteni & Co. Italy circa 1980s, this company Has made

Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Fabric

Postmodern Italian 1980s Sofa, Two-Seat
Postmodern Italian 1980s Sofa, Two-Seat

Postmodern Italian 1980s Sofa, Two-Seat

By Memphis Milano

Located in Antwerp, BE

Vintage 1980s Postmodern two-seat sofa. Sculpted beech frame with aluminum accents. Original warm

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather, Plywood

Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Mario Morbidelli for Naos, Italy
Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Mario Morbidelli for Naos, Italy

Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Mario Morbidelli for Naos, Italy

By Naos

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Italian Design Leather covered Dining Chair set of 6 by Mario Morbidelli for

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Italian Black Leather Postmodern Loveseat by i4 Mariani for the Pace Collection
Italian Black Leather Postmodern Loveseat by i4 Mariani for the Pace Collection

Italian Black Leather Postmodern Loveseat by i4 Mariani for the Pace Collection

By Pace Collection, i4 Mariani

Located in San Diego, CA

A very nice black leather Postmodern loveseat by I4 Mariani for the Pace Collection, circa late

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Post-Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather

Postmodern lacquered wood italian dining chairs, 1980s
Postmodern lacquered wood italian dining chairs, 1980s

Postmodern lacquered wood italian dining chairs, 1980s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Postmodern design dining chairs with black lacquered wooden frames and faux leather upholstery

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Lacquer

Postmodern Leather and Steel Chair, c.1980
Postmodern Leather and Steel Chair, c.1980

Postmodern Leather and Steel Chair, c.1980

By Mario Botta

Located in Surbiton, GB

An unattributed Postmodern tubular steel chair of unusual form featuring gun metal grey leather

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Postmodern Set of ten leather dining chairs by Antonello Mosca for Ycami. Italy
Postmodern Set of ten leather dining chairs by Antonello Mosca for Ycami. Italy

Postmodern Set of ten leather dining chairs by Antonello Mosca for Ycami. Italy

By Ycami Collection

Located in Catania, CT

Set of ten dining chairs designed by Antonello Mosca for Ycami, produced in Italy in the 1980s

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather

Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs S-91 by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984
Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs S-91 by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984

Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs S-91 by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984

By Fasem International, Giancarlo Vegni

Located in Beograd, RS

. Each chair has a manufacturers stamp pressed into the leather underneath the seat. Made in Italy in the

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set of Six Turquoise Leather Postmodern Dining Chairs
Set of Six Turquoise Leather Postmodern Dining Chairs

Set of Six Turquoise Leather Postmodern Dining Chairs

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A very chic set of six postmodern dining chairs, circa 1980, in the manner of designer Pietro

Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set of postmodern "Solaria" chairs by Arrben, Italy 1980s
Set of postmodern "Solaria" chairs by Arrben, Italy 1980s

Set of postmodern "Solaria" chairs by Arrben, Italy 1980s

By Arrben

Located in Antwerpen, VAN

This set of six postmodern”Solaria” dining chairs from the 1980s by Arrben, Italy is a striking

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather

1980s Postmodern Italian Nicoletti Salotti Plinth Baseleather Lounge Chair
1980s Postmodern Italian Nicoletti Salotti Plinth Baseleather Lounge Chair

1980s Postmodern Italian Nicoletti Salotti Plinth Baseleather Lounge Chair

By Nicoletti Salotti

Located in Madison, WI

Seat Height: 15.0 in Place of Origin: Italy Color: Black Condition Notes: The leather is great

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Postmodern Leather "Wave" Chaise by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti
Postmodern Leather "Wave" Chaise by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti

Postmodern Leather "Wave" Chaise by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti

By Giovanni Offredi, Saporiti

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Fully restored postmodern leather "Onda" or "Wave" Chaise designed in 1974 by Giovanni Offredi for

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Chaise Longues

Materials

Steel

PostModern Giorgetti SPRING Desk/Office Chair / Massimo Scolari (Italy)
PostModern Giorgetti SPRING Desk/Office Chair / Massimo Scolari (Italy)

PostModern Giorgetti SPRING Desk/Office Chair / Massimo Scolari (Italy)

By Massimo Scolari

Located in Tinton Falls, NJ

seat is in nondeformable polyurethane, with fabric or leather covering.‎ The arms and the back are

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Neoclassical Revival Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Beech, Ebony

1980s Pair of Postmodern Ribbon Lounge Chairs in Periwinkle Leather
1980s Pair of Postmodern Ribbon Lounge Chairs in Periwinkle Leather

1980s Pair of Postmodern Ribbon Lounge Chairs in Periwinkle Leather

Located in Philadelphia, PA

in a soft leather upholstery that is periwinkle in color; a soft, pastel blend of blue and purple. We

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Postmodern Chairs Designed by Emanuelle Zenere for Cattelan, Italy 90s
Postmodern Chairs Designed by Emanuelle Zenere for Cattelan, Italy 90s

Postmodern Chairs Designed by Emanuelle Zenere for Cattelan, Italy 90s

By Cattelan Italia

Located in Lucija, SI

Pair of unique Italian Postmodern chairs designed by Emanuelle Zenere for Cattelan Italia I must

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Lacquer

Black postmodern dining chairs by Arper italy, 1980s - set of 4
Black postmodern dining chairs by Arper italy, 1980s - set of 4

Black postmodern dining chairs by Arper italy, 1980s - set of 4

By Arper

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Set of 4 black leather and metal postmodern dining chairs by Arper italy. Timeless post modern

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

1980s Postmodern Leather Headboard Nightstands & Lamps King Or Queen Size
1980s Postmodern Leather Headboard Nightstands & Lamps King Or Queen Size

1980s Postmodern Leather Headboard Nightstands & Lamps King Or Queen Size

By Ligne Roset

Located in San Diego, CA

Majestic Italian postmodern headboard nighstands and lamps very nice and clean condition it all

Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Postmodern Pink Pearlised Leather Swivel Lounge Chair, Natuzzi 1980s
Vintage Postmodern Pink Pearlised Leather Swivel Lounge Chair, Natuzzi 1980s

Vintage Postmodern Pink Pearlised Leather Swivel Lounge Chair, Natuzzi 1980s

By Natuzzi

Located in Hastings, GB

Pale pink pearlised leather swivelling lounge chair by Natuzzi, Italy 1980s. This listing is for

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Postmodern Architectural Design Set of 10 Dining Chairs 1980's Italy
Postmodern Architectural Design Set of 10 Dining Chairs 1980's Italy

Postmodern Architectural Design Set of 10 Dining Chairs 1980's Italy

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Modern Architectural design set of 10 dining chairs, made in Italy 1980's. Black

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Set of 6 italian postmodern wicker and metal dining chairs, 1980s
Set of 6 italian postmodern wicker and metal dining chairs, 1980s

Set of 6 italian postmodern wicker and metal dining chairs, 1980s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Set of 6 wicker and metal postmodern dining chairs. These unique chairs consist of a black metal

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Square Black Leather Coffee Table with Mirrored Top, 1970s
Postmodern Square Black Leather Coffee Table with Mirrored Top, 1970s

Postmodern Square Black Leather Coffee Table with Mirrored Top, 1970s

Located in Bresso, Lombardy

Made in Italy, 1970s. It features a frame covered in leather and a mirrored top. It is a vintage

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Leather, Mirror

Postmodern swivel chair, Cofemo
Postmodern swivel chair, Cofemo

Postmodern swivel chair, Cofemo

By Cofemo

Located in Neuss, NW

Rare postmodern swivel chair by Cofemo from the 1980s. High-quality red lacquered steel frame with

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs

Materials

Steel

Cassina 'Viola d'amore' Armchairs by Piero Martini, Postmodern, Italian design
Cassina 'Viola d'amore' Armchairs by Piero Martini, Postmodern, Italian design

Cassina 'Viola d'amore' Armchairs by Piero Martini, Postmodern, Italian design

By Piero De Martini, Cassina

Located in Antwerp, BE

Cassina produced these post-modern luxury lounge chairs by Italian designer Piero de Martini

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Down

Pair of Postmodern Leather Armchairs "Tentazione" by Mario Bellini for Cassina
Pair of Postmodern Leather Armchairs "Tentazione" by Mario Bellini for Cassina

Pair of Postmodern Leather Armchairs "Tentazione" by Mario Bellini for Cassina

By Cassina, Mario Bellini

Located in Beograd, RS

Pair of postmodern leather club chairs "Tentazione" designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina. The club

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Club Chairs

Materials

Steel

Postmodern Sfera Armchair by Oswald Mathias Ungers for Sawaya &Moroni, Italy 80s
Postmodern Sfera Armchair by Oswald Mathias Ungers for Sawaya &Moroni, Italy 80s

Postmodern Sfera Armchair by Oswald Mathias Ungers for Sawaya &Moroni, Italy 80s

By Sawaya & Moroni

Located in Lucija, SI

Rare postmodern armchair model Sfera designed by Oswald Mathias for Sawaya & Moroni. Made in Italy

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Bentwood

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Italian Leather Postmodern For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the Italian leather postmodern you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each Italian leather postmodern for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using animal skin, leather and metal. There are 63 variations of the antique or vintage Italian leather postmodern you’re looking for, while we also have 1 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the Italian leather postmodern you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. An Italian leather postmodern is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern and Modern styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one Italian leather postmodern that is appealing in its simplicity, but Marzio Cecchi, Studio Most and Brunati produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is an Italian Leather Postmodern?

Prices for an Italian leather postmodern can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $495 and can go as high as $31,500, while the average can fetch as much as $2,800.

A Close Look at Post-modern Furniture

Postmodern design was a short-lived movement that manifested itself chiefly in Italy and the United States in the early 1980s. The characteristics of vintage postmodern furniture and other postmodern objects and decor for the home included loud-patterned, usually plastic surfaces; strange proportions, vibrant colors and weird angles; and a vague-at-best relationship between form and function.

ORIGINS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Emerges during the 1960s; popularity explodes during the ’80s
  • A reaction to prevailing conventions of modernism by mainly American architects
  • Architect Robert Venturi critiques modern architecture in his Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966)
  • Theorist Charles Jencks, who championed architecture filled with allusions and cultural references, writes The Language of Post-Modern Architecture (1977)
  • Italian design collective the Memphis Group, also known as Memphis Milano, meets for the first time (1980) 
  • Memphis collective debuts more than 50 objects and furnishings at Salone del Milano (1981)
  • Interest in style declines, minimalism gains steam

CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Dizzying graphic patterns and an emphasis on loud, off-the-wall colors
  • Use of plastic and laminates, glass, metal and marble; lacquered and painted wood 
  • Unconventional proportions and abundant ornamentation
  • Playful nods to Art Deco and Pop art

POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

VINTAGE POSTMODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

Critics derided postmodern design as a grandstanding bid for attention and nothing of consequence. Decades later, the fact that postmodernism still has the power to provoke thoughts, along with other reactions, proves they were not entirely correct.

Postmodern design began as an architectural critique. Starting in the 1960s, a small cadre of mainly American architects began to argue that modernism, once high-minded and even noble in its goals, had become stale, stagnant and blandly corporate. Later, in Milan, a cohort of creators led by Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendinia onetime mentor to Sottsass and a key figure in the Italian Radical movement — brought the discussion to bear on design.

Sottsass, an industrial designer, philosopher and provocateur, gathered a core group of young designers into a collective in 1980 they called Memphis. Members of the Memphis Group,  which would come to include Martine Bedin, Michael Graves, Marco Zanini, Shiro Kuramata, Michele de Lucchi and Matteo Thun, saw design as a means of communication, and they wanted it to shout. That it did: The first Memphis collection appeared in 1981 in Milan and broke all the modernist taboos, embracing irony, kitsch, wild ornamentation and bad taste.

Memphis works remain icons of postmodernism: the Sottsass Casablanca bookcase, with its leopard-print plastic veneer; de Lucchi’s First chair, which has been described as having the look of an electronics component; Martine Bedin’s Super lamp: a pull-toy puppy on a power-cord leash. Even though it preceded the Memphis Group’s formal launch, Sottsass’s iconic Ultrafragola mirror — in its conspicuously curved plastic shell with radical pops of pink neon — proves striking in any space and embodies many of the collective’s postmodern ideals. 

After the initial Memphis show caused an uproar, the postmodern movement within furniture and interior design quickly took off in America. (Memphis fell out of fashion when the Reagan era gave way to cool 1990’s minimalism.) The architect Robert Venturi had by then already begun a series of plywood chairs for Knoll Inc., with beefy, exaggerated silhouettes of traditional styles such as Queen Anne and Chippendale. In 1982, the new firm Swid Powell enlisted a group of top American architects, including Frank Gehry, Richard Meier, Stanley Tigerman and Venturi to create postmodern tableware in silver, ceramic and glass.

On 1stDibs, the vintage postmodern furniture collection includes chairs, coffee tables, sofas, decorative objects, table lamps and more.

Finding the Right Seating for You

With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.

Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.

Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.

The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.

Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.

With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.

Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.

No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.

Questions About Italian Leather Postmodern
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    Yes, Italian leather is real leather and is considered to be some of the highest quality and longest lasting leather. Because it is made from full-grain hides and processed in a specific way, it is more pliable and softer.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    With Italian leather, you want to avoid getting the material wet. If you can, use a dry cloth or vacuum to remove dirt. For stains, use a damp cloth, but avoid chemical cleaners. Save the hassle and shop a collection of Italian leather furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024
    Yes, an Italian leather sofa is typically good. Italian leather is known for being a high-quality material that is pleasing to the eye and has a luxurious, supple feel. As a result, it can be a fine option for sofas. Keep in mind that the sturdiness and strength of the frame and the resilience of the padding and suspension systems inside of sofas also impact their quality and durability. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of leather sofas.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023
    Yes, Italian leather bags can be of good quality. Many Italian tanneries are well known for creating long-lasting, luxurious leather. Keep in mind that the type of leather and the crafting techniques employed also affect the quality. Generally, the finest bags feature full-grain leather that comes from the top portion of the hide. Handcrafting techniques also help to ensure that bags are strongly constructed and free of flaws. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of leather bags.