Arguably the world’s most ubiquitous man-made material, plastic has impacted nearly every industry. In contemporary spaces, new and vintage plastic furniture is quite popular and its use pairs well with a range of design styles.
From the Italian lighting artisans at Fontana Arte to venturesome Scandinavian modernists such as Verner Panton, who created groundbreaking interiors as much as he did seating — see his revolutionary Panton chair — to contemporary multidisciplinary artists like Faye Toogood, furniture designers have been pushing the boundaries of plastic forever.
When The Graduate's Mr. McGuire proclaimed, “There’s a great future in plastics,” it was more than a laugh line. The iconic quote is an allusion both to society’s reliance on and its love affair with plastic. Before the material became an integral part of our lives — used in everything from clothing to storage to beauty and beyond — people relied on earthly elements for manufacturing, a process as time-consuming as it was costly.
Soon after American inventor John Wesley Hyatt created celluloid, which could mimic luxury products like tortoiseshell and ivory, production hit fever pitch, and the floodgates opened for others to explore plastic’s full potential. The material altered the history of design — mid-century modern legends Charles and Ray Eames, Joe Colombo and Eero Saarinen regularly experimented with plastics in the development of tables and chairs, and today plastic furnishings and decorative objects are seen as often indoors as they are outside.
Find vintage plastic lounge chairs, outdoor furniture, lighting and more on 1stDibs.
Antique and vintage pedestals are charming and elegant alternatives to regular tables. Reminiscent of Greek and Roman majesty, they increase the grandeur in any space.
As furniture, pedestals are works of art in themselves. Often, they recall the beauty and craftsmanship of ancient Greek columns. They can be a central element in a living room or used as side tables. With compact surfaces, they make perfect games tables for playing card games or chess.
Pedestals may be focal points, but they also draw attention to and enhance other items. They offer the ideal foundation for displaying decorative objects, potted plants, table lamps and more. With their stately forms, they can be unique coffee tables.
On 1stDibs, find pedestals in a variety of designs, including Revival pieces inspired by classical Greek and Roman architecture and mid-century modern pedestals. Explore a collection of wooden, stone, metal or marble pedestals to find a dazzling addition to any room.