Postmodern Memphis Design Writing Desk, Germany, 1980s
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
This striking postmodern writing desk exemplifies the bold aesthetics of the Memphis design movement.
Metal
1980s Memphis Style Red Triangle Base Desk Clock
By Memphis Milano
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly designed 1980s Memphis Milano-inspired desk clock with a black triangular base, red plastic case, and black and white squiggle face.
Plastic
Swatch Twin Phone "Candy" Model, Memphis Style, Vintage 1980s Design
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Gorgeous Swatch twin phone 1st model in production called Candy. It's in excellent condition. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its amazing design. A true p...
Plastic
1980's Postmodern Memphis Design George Matsumoto Magic Cube Hidden Office
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Ingenious, Memphis Era, Postmodern "Magic Cube" with hidden compartments filled with desk/office supplies.
Plastic
$250Sale Price|50% Off
Glass Pendulum Clock Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
By Memphis Milano, Nathalie du Pasquier
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Glass pendulum clock by Sessa. It can be used as both standing on the table and hanging on the wall. Takashi Kato designed a lot of clocks in the 1980s-1990s. Some of clock collectio...
Glass, Plastic
1980s Super desk or floor lamp designed by Martine Bedin for Memphis Milano 1981
By Memphis Milano, Martine Bedin
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Therefore Super can be used on the floor, on a desk, on a sideboard and literally almost everywhere inside, simply because it´s decorative everywhere and still one of the iconic desi...
Metal
1980's Postmodern Memphis era Table desk Lamp
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool enameled metal desk table lamp great condition circa 1980's a classic postmodern design with blue accents , nice and very clean working condition.
Metal
1990s Memphis Style Postmodern Abstract Art Console Desk and Mirror
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The custom painted postmodern lacquered design is a work of art. The table is signed by the artist, “Mira”, and, with colors and angular elements reflecting the 80's Italian Memphis ...
Glass, Wood, Paint
Unavailable
H 29.53 in W 100.4 in D 78.75 in
Postmodern Memphis Design Interlubke Writing Desk, Home Office, Germany 1980s
By Interlübke
Located in Zagreb, HR
Stunning Memphis design style postmodern desk manufactured in the 1980s in Germany by a high-end furniture company Interlubke The desk is a pure example of Memphis's design.
Metal
Memphis desk Sophia design Aldo Cibic 1985
By Memphis Milano, Aldo Cibic
Located in Parma, IT
Sophia desk design Aldo Cibic for Memphis Milano 1985. In solid wood, briar and laminate with metal foot.
Metal
Sold
H 33.47 in W 22.84 in D 22.84 in
1980s Memphis Design Style Postmodern Colourful Adjustable Desk Chair by Impac
Located in Zagreb, HR
Postmodern Memphis style adjustable office chair or kids chair by the German manufacturer Impac from the late 1980s. A design that is strongly shaped by a postmodern design language...
Metal
Sold
H 30 in W 60.25 in D 24 in
Ettore Sottsass Memphis Desk in "Spugnatto" Red Laminate from Grace Designs 1985
By Michele de Lucchi, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Dallas, TX
Excellent Post-Modern desk that was purchased through the only licensed Memphis Milano dealer in Dallas, Tx : Grace Designs.
Laminate, Wood
Sold
H 29.25 in W 78 in D 37 in
Memphis Glass Desk Custom Made by Architect Robert Mangurian for Grace Designs
Located in Dallas, TX
It was the personal desk of Lorry Parks Dudley, who was the founder of the Ettore Sottsass-designed Memphis Showroom, Grace Designs.
Glass
Table Clock2 Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
By Nathalie du Pasquier, Memphis Milano
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Wall clock by Sessa. Takashi Kato designed a lot of clocks in the 1980s-1990s. Some of clock collections were released from Neos Lorenz in European Market. which sold together with N...
Steel
Sold
H 16 in W 13.5 in D 6.5 in
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Memphis Style Post Modern Bankers Desk Lamp
By George Kovacs, Memphis Group, Robert Sonneman, Memphis Milano
Located in Decatur, GA
Rare bankers lamp form, Post Modern - Memphis Milano style, desk lamp designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs circa 1980s.
Metal
Space Age Desk Lamp Postmodernes Memphis Design Made In Italy, 70s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Space Age Desk Lamp Postmodernes Memphis Design Made in Italy, 70s Exceptionally minimalist, Space Age lamp from Italy around 1980s.
Metal
Donau Secretaire by Ettore Sottsass Memphis Design
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Antwerp, BE
Ettore Sottsass; secretaire; cabinet; Italian design; Memphis design; A "Donau" writing desk, c. 1990, blue lacquered wood feet, blue lacquered interior, and Birdseye maple made ...
Metal
Sold
H 24 in W 14.5 in D 9.75 in
Rare Postmodern Memphis Era Desk Lamp in Chrome Enamel Metal and Glass
By Robert Sonneman
Located in San Diego, CA
**Unique 1980s Desk/Table Lamp with Memphis Postmodern Flair** Discover a truly unique desk/table lamp that captures the essence of 1980s Memphis Postmodern design.
Metal, Chrome
Sold
H 30 in W 48 in D 30 in
Custom Black and Pink Brutalist Postmodern Memphis Style Oak Desk by Reeves
By Reeves Design + Art
Located in Houston, TX
This black and light pink desk is custom made in the Postmodern Memphis style.
Oak
Memphis Clock Lamp Projector Timebeam by Design
By Timebeam
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Clock timebeam by design limited with a copy of instructions. Post modern style in the way of Memphis. 1987.
Metal
Sold
H 3.15 in W 8.27 in D 8.27 in
Iconic telephone "BeoCom 2000" from the 1980s by BANG & OLUFSEN, Memphis Design
By Bang & Olufsen
Located in Hamburg, DE
Memphis Design analog telephone "BeoCom 2000" from the 1980s by BANG & OLUFSEN. Danish design, designed in 1986 by Lone and Gideon Lindinger-Lowy. A timeless classic and an absolute ...
Plastic
Sold
H 7.5 in W 9 in D 3 in
Rare Ceramic Clock Designed by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal Signed Memphis Era
By Lino Sabattini, Rosenthal
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible hard to find piece design by Lino Sabattini, circa 1980s in black mate porcelain finish, stamped at the bottom no chips or cracks.
Ceramic
Table Clock2 Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
By Nathalie du Pasquier, Memphis Milano
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Wall clock by Sessa. Takashi Kato designed a lot of clocks in the 1980s-1990s. Some of clock collections were released from Neos Lorenz in European Market. Which sold together with N...
Steel
George Sowden Memphis Milano Objet D'art Clock, 1983
By George Sowden
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Architectural whimsy design. Fun colors. Form + function. Enameled steel, wood and glass. Battery operated. Works fine. Small blemish atop. Add to collections and enjoy the ae...
Steel
Postmodern Memphis Era Table/Desk Lamp by Robert Sonneman
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in San Diego, CA
1987 designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs table desk lamp, with dimmer switch freshly rewired, with brass poles and glass diffuser, beautiful simple and elegant.
Brass, Chrome
Postmodern Memphis Era Table/Desk Lamp by Robert Sonneman
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in San Diego, CA
1987 Designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs table desk lamp, with dimmer switch freshly rewired, with brass poles and glass diffuser, beautiful simple and elegant.
Brass, Chrome
Sold
H 16 in W 13.5 in D 6.5 in
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Memphis Style Desk Table Bankers Lamp C. 1990
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in New York, NY
Rare bankers lamp form, Post Modern, Memphis School, desk lamp designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs circa 1990.
Metal
A Memphis ''Don'' Desk Lamp designed by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Macclesfield, Cheshire
A Memphis ''Don'' Desk Lamp designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1977 for Stilnovo.
Wood, Laminate, Plastic
Memphis Style Desk Lamp, 1980s
Located in MIJDRECHT, NL
Dutch Design Memphis Group style desk lamp, 1980s Memphis Group style typically combines circles and triangles with black-and-white graphic patterns.
Metal
Sold
H 29.53 in W 23.63 in D 7.88 in
Memphis Milano Oceanic desk lamp by Michele de Lucchi for Artemide, Italy
By Michele de Lucchi, Artimide
Located in RHEEZERVEEN, Overijssel
The Oceanic lamp is a very good example of Memphis design in its first year, when a group of young designers and architects in Milan turned the world of living upside down. This lamp...
Metal
$29,963Sale Price|32% Off
H 59.06 in W 70.08 in D 52.37 in
Original Sunball Chair by Gunter Ris and Ferdinand Selldorf for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Ris and Selldorf
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This is a fully restored original version of this 1960's iconic classic astronaut's helmet style space age outdoor swivel chair, As you can imagine, after 60 plus years, the original...
Velvet, Fiberglass
$15,439 / item
H 32.68 in W 110.24 in D 40.56 in
Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery
By Munna Design Studio
Located in New York, NY
This sofa features a wonderfully elegant fan-shaped motif, with its accentuated curvy lines with decadent and lavish finish. The feminine curves are ravishingly enhanced by the diffe...
Velvet
$1,706 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 43.31 in
Contemporary Art Deco Mint green and Red powder coated Carousel 5 arms pendant
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Carousel suspension lamp has a delicate balance of form and function that produces a quiet, modern light ambiance for all to savour, with its Contemporary Art Deco lines. The struct...
Metal
$27,500
H 46.46 in W 101.58 in D 20.28 in
Ernesto Valabrega for Studio Vittorio Valabrega Decorative Fireplace Mantel
By Vittorio Valabrega
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernesto Valabrega for Studio Vittorio Valabrega, decorative fireplace mantel, lacquered wood, plaster, glass, iron, Italy, 1930s This striking decorative fireplace mantel, presumabl...
Iron
$1,856 / set
H 29.93 in W 20.08 in D 20.08 in
Set of 4 Lucite Pink and Chrome Plia Chairs, Piretti for Castelli, Italy 1970s
By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli
Located in Roma, IT
Set of 4 original and signed "Plia" pink lucite folding chairs. NOS (new old Stock) This fantastic set was designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli in 1967. PLIA, the symbol of a n...
Steel, Chrome
Space Mission Pinball Arcade Game, 1976 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 'SPACE MISSION' pinball machine from 1976. 4 players can play. Made by Williams Electronics. In excellent working condition, recently restored. Great visuals and sounds. Extr...
Metal
Müller Bar Cabinet in Metal
By Müller Möbelfabrikation
Located in Tilburg, NL
Müller Bar Cabinet in Metal. Germany. Design 1998, current production. Available in every RAL-color. A highlight for your office or your home: The cleverly designed bar cabinet KB 3...
Metal
$425
H 11 in W 4 in D 12 in
Post Modern Memphis Salvatore Campos Art Brute Red Cat Metal Letter Desk Holder
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Post Modern Memphis Salvatore Campos Art Brute Red Cat Metal Letter Desk Holder Wonderful, whimsical, bright Red Cat desk file by Brutalist American artist Salvatore Campos. The c...
Sheet Metal
Mid-Century Large Executive Desk by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Large Executive Desk by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
Wood
1970s Dining Table & Chairs Set
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A spectacular 1970s Dining Set- The chairs and table have a heavy chromed steel base and were reupholstered in soft blue leather. Glass dimensions: 130 cm Chair dimensions: Width: 51...
Chrome, Steel
$22,623
H 27.56 in Dm 118.12 in
Rare and Exceptional 'Gilda' Circle Sofa in Velvet by Michel Ducaroy, 1972
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Echt, NL
Very rare extra large 'Gilda' circle sofa in excellent condition. Designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1972. The sofa is manufactured by 'Roset' the company name of Ligne Roset prior to 1...
Metal
Swatch Wall Clock Maxi 1980s
By Swatch
Located in Čelinac, BA
Swatch wall clock maxi 1980s
Plastic
Mid-century Phone Tesla, 1980's.
By Tesla
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of Plastic With Aged Patina Cleaned Fully Functional Good Vintage Condition
Plastic
Limited Edition Notturno A New York Sofa by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Notturno A New York sofa by Gaetano Pesce Manufactured by Cassina in Italy Limited Edition of 50 pieces DESIGN TRIBUTE TO THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS The New York skyline in a sofa,...
Fabric
$360
H 3.14 in W 9.84 in D 2.75 in
Swatch Twin Phone 'Gutemberg' Memphis Style, Vintage 1989, Excellent
Located in Milano, IT
1980s (1989) Gorgeous Swatch twin phone "Gutemberg" in excellent condition. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its amazing design. The motif of this phone is aweso...
Plastic
Crystal "Malizia" Wall Lamp, Angelo Brotto
By Angelo Brotto
Located in Geneve, CH
Crystal "Malizia" wall lamp, Angelo Brotto Dimensions: 80 x 4 x 80cm Materials: aluminium, murano glass, sikablock Designed by Angelo Brotto in 1973. Luminous wall sculpture mad...
Aluminum
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.
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.
Aided by photos taken of the maestro in his Milan studio, we honor the influential design talent who died last month at 87.
Adam Charlap Hyman and Andre Herrero, rising young design talents, are debuting a new, eclectic line of textiles.