Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate 'Blop' Lounge Set in Original Fabric
By Carlo Bartoli, Rossi di Albizzate
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate, pair of two-seat sofa with pair of lounge chairs and coffee table, model 'Blop', original velvet, lacquered wood, Italy, 1972 A postmodern desi...
Velvet, Wood, Lacquer
$4,644Sale Price|20% Off
Pepe Cortes e Javier Mariscal, sedia Trampolin, anni 80
By Javier Mariscal, Pepe Cortés
Located in Firenze, IT
Iconica sedia da scrivania Trampolin, disegnata nel 1984 da Pepe Cortès e Javier Mariscal per Akaba, ha vinto il Premio Delta de Plata ADIFAD nel 1986. La
Metal
$3,850Sale Price / set|30% Off
Post modern 6 Black Spaghetti dining chairs & table set by Giandomenico Belotti
By Giandomenico Belotti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Spaghetti Patio chairs and matching rectangular table with reversible top in all Black by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias Made in Italy. Gorgeous Minimalist Italian design fr...
Steel
Renato Toso & Roberto Pamio for Stilwood Set of Eight Stools in Stained Ash
By Stilwood, Roberto Pamio & Renato Toso
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roberto Pamio and Renato Toso for Stilwood, 'Iva' stools, black lacquered ash, Italy, 1972 Set of eight Italian stools made of ash wood. The angular shapes in combination with the t...
Lacquer, Ash
GUBI Daumiller Dining Armchair Golden Pine by Rainer Daumiller
By Gubi, Rainer Daumiller
Located in New York, NY
Solid in construction, simple in form, and sculptural in expression, the Daumiller Armchair’s straightforward materiality and robust composition pay tribute to Rainer Daumiller’s lif...
Wood, Pine
GUBI Daumiller Dining Armchair Brown/Black Pine by Rainer Daumiller
By Gubi, Rainer Daumiller
Located in New York, NY
Solid in construction, simple in form, and sculptural in expression, the Daumiller Armchair’s straightforward materiality and robust composition pay tribute to Rainer Daumiller’s lif...
Wood, Pine
A Pair of Pietro Constantini Cream Lacquered Dining Chairs
Located in Elkton, MD
Stylish set of two Italian post-modern lacquered dining chairs designed by Pietro Costantini in San Vito al Torre, Italy.
Upholstery, Lacquer
Contemporary Riviera Chair in Lacquered Ivory metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Chair in Lacquered Lilac metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Chair in Lacquered Sage metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Chair in Lacquered Salmon metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Bar Chair in Lacquered Gold metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Bar Chair in Lacquered Mint metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Bar Chair in Lacquered Ivory metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Bar Chair in Lacquered Ivory metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Bar Chair in Lacquered Salmon metal for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Chair in Lacquered metal and Green fabric for Outdoors
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Rare Flipping-chair by Ron Arad
By Ron Arad
Located in PARIS, FR
Ron Arad (b. 1951) Flipping chair, ca. 1994 Part of a series of five prototypes produced by Dirk Hainlen, Stuttgart, Germany Black lacquered steel frame, black nylon webbing seat and...
Stainless Steel
$4,017 / item
Colette Dining Chair by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Colette Dining Chair by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 52 x W 55 x H 75 cm. Materials: Velvet PRS, satin ZNC and lacquer. Also available in client's fabric. Please contact us. A dini...
Satin, Upholstery, Velvet, Lacquer
$4,505 / item
Colette Bar Chair by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Colette Bar Chair by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 48,5 x W 50 x H 110 cm. Materials: Velvet PRS, satin ZNC and lacquer. Also available in client's fabric. Please contact us. A bar ...
Satin, Upholstery, Velvet, Lacquer
Philippe Starck Mickville chair for Driade - Italy, 1985
By Driade, Philippe Starck
Located in Naples, FL
Radical folding and transportable design by Starck. Suitable for use or as art pieces. Driade production 1985 France/Italy. In good vintage condition, minor scratches. A design of d...
Lacquer
Postmodern Willow Chair Designed by Mitchell Pickard for Brueton Industries
By Brueton
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Postmodern Iconic Willow chair designed by Mitchell Pickard for Brueton Industries, NY. Circa 1980s. Features a gracefully curved solid wood legs with a light purple glossy...
Stainless Steel
Sculptural set of 8 chairs and table in the manner of Totem
By TOTEM
Located in PARIS, FR
Studio Totem (in the manner of) Set of a table and 8 chairs, Ca. 1983 Made for the Saint-Étienne Cultural Center in France Gray lacquered metal and yellow and gray laminated wood H. ...
Laminate, Wood
$13,000Sale Price|25% Off
Alessandro Mendini 'Zabro' Chair Table for Zanotta, Original 1984 Prod, Signed
By Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing collectors piece of Post-Modern design is an original 1980s production of the 'Zabro' chair (which easily transforms into a table) designed in 1984 by Alessandro Mendini...
Leather, Wood
Mario Botta, 'Seconda' Black Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s
By Mario Botta
Located in Argelato, BO
Three 'Seconda' chairs designed by the famous architect Mario Botta for the Italian firm Alias, model 602. All three are painted black both in the structure and in the seat, they bea...
Steel
Memphis First Chair by Michele de Lucchi circa 1983
By Michele de Lucchi
Located in Oakland, CA
Early production Memphis First chair designed by Michele de Lucchi this chair that was purchased by the original owner who was working at the de Lucchi design studio in the 1980s in ...
Metal
$15,744 / item
Hope Chair by Three One Four Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Hope Chair by Three One Four Studio Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 55 x W 65 x H 70 cm. Materials: Carbon fiber, cast bronze, COM, and lacquer. THREE ONE FOUR studio was born from the ...
Bronze, Other
Mario Botta, 4 'Seconda' Black Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s
By Mario Botta
Located in Argelato, BO
Three 'Seconda' chairs designed by the famous architect Mario Botta for the Italian firm Alias, model 602. All 4 are painted black both in the structure and in the seat, they bear ...
Steel
Mario Botta, 4 'Seconda' Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s
By Mario Botta
Located in Argelato, BO
Mario Botta, set of 4 "Seconda" Armchairs produced by Alias, Italy 1982. Structure with armrests in gray powder-coated steel, black seat in perforated steel sheet. Backrest made up...
Steel
Borek Sipek “Liba” lounge chair for Driade, Italy circa 1988
By Driade, B. Sipek
Located in Skokie, IL
Borek Sipek “Liba” lounge chair for Driade, Italy circa 1988 Dimensions: 22" h x 24" w x 34" d Condition: Excellent vintage condition.
Steel
"Palace" Chair by George Sowden, Memphis Design, Painted Wood, 1983
By George Sowden
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Designed for the 3rd Memphis exhibition by George Sowden (UK), it is a melding of his memories of British Arts & Guilds (Macintosh, etc.) and a rectilinear homage to Gerrit Rietv...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
70s Gae Aulenti Knoll Black Orsay Square Mod 54 Table + 4 Blk Leather Chairs SET
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Basel, BS
The listing includes an exceptionally rare complete dining set consisting of a black square table and four matching black leather armchairs designed in 1969 for Knoll International. ...
Aluminum
Palace Chair by George Sowden for Memphis, Milano, Blue, Green, Yellow, Black
By Memphis Milano, George Sowden
Located in Kansas City, MO
George Sowden for Memphis "Palace Chair", 1983. Multicolor form with arms. Completely original with very few signs of use.
Wood
Four Ettore Sottsass Mandarin Chairs for Knoll in Red & Black, 1986 Italy
By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Icon of the Memphis Milano Movement. A set of four Ettore Sottsass Mandarin chairs for Knoll. Black Alcantara upholstery. Arms in red lacquer. A 1986 design by Ettore Sottsass for K...
Metal, Steel
$8,265Sale Price / set|50% Off
Vladimir Kagan Handmade Postmodern Dining Chairs, Set of Eight, 1980s, Signed
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set of 1980s Postmodern lacquered black dining chairs by Vladimir Kagan, comprised of a set of eight side chairs, are extremely high quality - these chairs have significant heft...
Lacquer, Fabric, Wood
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
CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
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 Mendini — a 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.
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.