$9,500
H 8.67 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in
Ettore Sottsass Model 585 Oxblood Red Ceramic Vase, Il Sestante, Italy, 1961
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Dronten, NL
An exceptional example of Ettore Sottsass’ early ceramic production, this striking vase—model 585
Ceramic
Kathy Erteman, b.1952, Studio Artist Ceramic Vase Vessel, Postmodern, 1991
By Kathy Erteman
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Striking, early example of Kathy Erteman’s work, dating to 1991.
Ceramic
$994 / item
H 10.24 in W 22.84 in D 3.94 in
Organic Shape, Plain Terracotta Ceramic Large Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Lata Vase by Willem Van Hooff Core Vessel Series Dimensions: W 58 x D 10 x H 26 cm (Dimensions may
Ceramic, Earthenware
$4,521
H 19.3 in W 9.06 in D 4.53 in
Ettore Sottsass Y15 Vase in Black Enameled Ceramic Yantra Series Poltronova 70s
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Cascina, Pisa
This ceramic piece is part of the Yantra series by Ettore Sottsass, a collection of thirty-nine
Ceramic
$1,546
H 16.54 in Dm 9.85 in
Sergio Asti Jaipur Vase in Black Enameled Ceramic Dated 1980s Author's Proof
By Sergio Asti
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Jaipur vase in black enameled ceramic, designed by Sergio Asti and datable in the 1980s. The vase
Ceramic
Cisco Jiménez Hand-Painted Big Ceramic Vase With Green And Black Lines
By Cisco Jimenez
Located in Mexico City, MX
A big white ceramic vase hand-painted with green and black lines by Mexican artist Cisco Jiménez
Ceramic
$1,701 / item
H 16.54 in W 25.6 in D 3.94 in
Organic Shape, Plain Beige Contemporary Ceramic Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Big Efir Vase by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: W 65 x D 10 x H 42 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces
Ceramic
Set of 4 Striped Iridescent Black Ceramic Vessels Contemporary Modern
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 4 striped iridescent ceramic vessels. This beautiful set of vases feature a gorgeous
Ceramic
$2,225 / item
H 17.52 in W 11.03 in D 10.63 in
Jaca Vase No. 17 in Petrol Blue Organic Textured Ceramic by Hanna Englund
Located in Geneve, CH
Jaca Vase No. 17 in Petrol Blue Organic Textured Ceramic by Hanna Englund Dimensions: D 27 x W 28 x
Ceramic
Vestal Vase in Glazed, Hand-Thrown Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Vestal Vase in Glazed, Hand-Thrown Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 15.4 x H 39
Clay
Postmodern Blue and Teal Ceramic Vase in the style of Bitossi
By Bitossi
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s - 1970s. This is a blue and cyan glazed and engraved ceramic vase. It is a
Ceramic
$180Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.5 in W 8.5 in D 2.5 in
Fuji Clos China Glazed Ceramic Pottery Japan Postmodern Vase
By Fuji Meibo
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful ceramic vase in gloss black finish with gold and coastal shell motif, circa 1980s made by
Porcelain
Crystalline Glaze Ceramic Vase, Red and Beige, American Art Studio Pottery
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The monumental studio pottery ceramic vase is decorated with crystalline glaze in striking, dark
Ceramic, Pottery
David Gil large 12" ceramic vase " Spark " black rare by Bennington Pottery
By David Gil, Bennington Potters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice and one of the largest samples of the vase title " Spark" in black pottery glaze matt color.
Ceramic
$577
H 11.23 in W 7.09 in D 7.09 in
Memphis Milano Style Handmade Ceramic Vase Made by Wilma Van Der P
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This ceramic vase is actually composed of two vases riveted together, having each their own shape
Ceramic
$416
H 11.82 in Dm 7.09 in
Postmodern White Ceramic Vase by Ambrogio Pozzi with Hand Painted Details, Italy
By Ambrogio Pozzi, Michielotto Top Design
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This vase is made in ceramic and features pink, purple, crimson, grey and
Ceramic
$1,427
H 16.54 in Dm 9.45 in
Sergio Asti BBK Vase in White Enameled Ceramic Dated in 1980s Author's Proof
By Sergio Asti
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Vase in white enameled ceramic, designed by Sergio Asti and datable in the 1980s. The vase is an
Ceramic
$672 / item
H 14.97 in Dm 4.14 in
Black Ceramic Vase Handcrafted in Italy -Sardinia Black Bubble Family Collection
By CuoreCarpenito
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
The Black Sardinia Vase is the version in a beautiful shiny black enamel of the Sardina Vase, in turquoise, from the Bubble Family Collection. Entirely handmade using the lathe and s...
Ceramic
$656 / item
H 13.78 in W 9.45 in D 2.76 in
Organic High Neck Plain Terracotta Ceramic Sculpture Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
KItu Small Vase by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: W 24 x D 7 x H 35 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces
Ceramic
$2,225 / item
H 25.6 in W 14.97 in D 3.94 in
Contemporary Sculpted Light Brown Ceramic Oval Large Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Ovas Large Vase by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: W 38 x D 10 x H 65 cm (Dimensions may vary as
Ceramic
$1,002 / item
H 11.03 in W 13.78 in D 3.94 in
Unique Hollow Rectangular Shape, Light Brown Ceramic Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Utar Medium Vase by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: W 35 x D 10 x H 28 cm (Dimensions may vary as
Ceramic
$2,225 / item
H 24.41 in W 19.69 in D 3.94 in
Organic Ancient Shape, Plain Beige Ceramic Big Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Umo Large Vase by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: W 50 x D 10 x H 62 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces
Ceramic
$999 / item
H 16.54 in W 14.97 in D 3.94 in
Organic Form, Sculpted Dark Terracotta Ceramic Medium Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Uble Medium Vase by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: W 38 x D 10 x H 42 cm (Dimensions may vary as
Ceramic
$1,570 / item
H 15.01 in W 18 in D 15.99 in
Construction Vase No. 3 in Ceramic, Metal Wire, Foam & Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Construction Vase No. 3 in Ceramic, Metal Wire, Foam & Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 40,6 x
Metal
$1,570 / item
H 15.01 in W 18 in D 15.99 in
Construction Vase No. 2 in Ceramic, Metal Wire, Foam & Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Construction Vase No. 2 in Ceramic, Metal Wire, Foam & Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 40,6 x
Metal
$1,570 / item
H 15.01 in W 18 in D 15.99 in
Construction Vase No. 1 in Ceramic, Metal Wire, Foam & Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Construction Vase No. 1 in Ceramic, Metal Wire, Foam & Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 40,6 x
Metal
Black Ceramic Perpetual Face Vase in the Style of Piero Fornasetti by TMS 2005
By TMS, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Troy, MI
Multi face ceramic vase in black by TMS Inc Vitruvian Collection 2005 Perpetual face design in the
Ceramic
$654 / item
H 14.97 in Dm 9.85 in
Contemporary High Neck, Plain Dark Brown Ceramic Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Arka by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: D25 x H38 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces are hand-made and might present slight variations in sizes) Material: Glazed Ceramics Core is ...
Ceramic
$2,316Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.25 in W 22 in D 5 in
1990s Ceramic Vase Deborah Groover Voo Doo Jazz Maximalist Nude Scene Sculpture
By David Hockney
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A colorful panel vase with nude scene, very large, tabletop piece by Deborah Groover from the 1990s
Ceramic
Set of 2 Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in White by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in White by Mazo Design Dimensions: D 29 x H 26 cm / D
Ceramic
$654
H 12.21 in W 5.91 in D 4.73 in
Rimini Blue Ceramic Pitcher Vase by A. Londi and F. Montelupo for Bitossi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi, Flavia Montelupo
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
This is a Rimini blue vase from the 1970s. Made in Italy. It was designed by Aldo Londi and
Ceramic
$145
H 2.25 in W 2.75 in D 2.75 in
Miniature Mid-Century Ceramic High Glaze Bottle Neck Vase Studio Pot by Sari
By Gertrud and Otto Natzler
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Fine miniature hand-thrown, high-glaze ceramic pot signed Sari. The piece is in excellent condition
Ceramic, Pottery
$1,465 / item
H 19.3 in W 12.21 in D 3.94 in
Organic Shape, Plain Dark Brown Ceramic Sculpture Vase with by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Maji Vase by Willem Van Hooff Core Vessel Series Dimensions: W 31 x D 10 x H 49 cm (Dimensions may
Ceramic, Earthenware
$1,308 / item
H 11.42 in Dm 7.88 in
Grenat Foncé Vase VII in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Vase VII in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 20
Clay
$380
H 5.91 in Dm 5.91 in
Rimini Blue Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi for Bitossi and Italica Ars, Italy 1970s
By Italica Ars, Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Florence, and it is one of the most known Italian ceramic company. This vase is marked "Ars Italica". It is
Ceramic
Mohammed Ahmed Abdalla Abbaro pottery /ceramic vase. Mo Abbaro. Sudan
By Mohammed Abdalla
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very interesting vase with a what appears to be a glass glaze on the top blue. This vase
Pottery
$1,182 / item
H 9.45 in Dm 8.27 in
Grenat Foncé Vase II in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Vase II in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 21
Clay
$1,444 / item
H 18.12 in Dm 8.67 in
Grenat Foncé Vase VI in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Vase VI in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 22
Clay
$1,439 / item
H 18.51 in Dm 8.67 in
Grenat Foncé Vase V in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Vase V in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 22 x
Clay
$285 / set
H 9.26 in Dm 4.73 in
Set of 3 Large Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in White by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Large Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in White by Mazo Design Dimensions: D 12 x H 23.5
Other
$285 / set
H 7.49 in Dm 3.15 in
Set of 4 Medium Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in White by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Medium Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in White by Mazo Design Dimensions: D 8 x H 19 cm
Other
$286 / set
H 9.26 in Dm 4.73 in
Set of 3 Large Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in Blue by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Large Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in Blue by Mazo Design Dimensions: D 12 x H 23.5 cm
Other
$452 / set
H 10.24 in Dm 11.42 in
Set of 2 Large Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in Blue by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Large Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in Blue by Mazo Design Dimensions: D 29 x H 26 cm
Other
$452 / set
H 10.24 in Dm 11.42 in
Set of 2 Medium Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in White by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Medium Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in White by Mazo Design Dimensions: D 29 x H 26 cm
Other
$380 / set
H 8.47 in Dm 7.68 in
Set of 2 Medium Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in Blue by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Medium Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in Blue by Mazo Design Dimensions: D 19.5 x H 21.5
Other
$285 / set
H 7.49 in Dm 3.15 in
Set of 4 Medium Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in Blue by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Medium Geometric Ceramic KYO Star Vases in Blue by Mazo Design Dimensions: D 8 x H 19 cm
Other
$1,308 / item
H 13.39 in Dm 5.52 in
Grenat Foncé Vase III in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Vase III in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 14
Clay
$994 / item
H 16.15 in W 9.06 in D 3.94 in
Flat Oval Shape, Plain Ruby Red Ceramic Hand-sculpted Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Furi Vase by Willem Van Hooff Core Vessel Series Dimensions: W 23 x D 10 x H 41 cm (Dimensions may
Ceramic, Earthenware
$665
H 11.42 in W 10.63 in D 4.73 in
Art Deco Black Ceramic Vase by Claude Dumas, Remix Edition, Circa 1980
By Claude Dumas
Located in COLMAR, FR
Art Deco black ceramic vase by French designer Claude Dumas – early 2000s Remix Gallery edition
Clay
$452
H 11.82 in W 10.63 in D 8.27 in
Vintage Black and Teal Fat Lava Ceramic Vase Multi-Color 484-30 Scheurich WGP
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Germany. Black and Teal Fat Lava Ceramic Vase Multi-Color 484-30 by Paul Scheurich WGP
Ceramic
$1,701 / item
H 19.69 in W 18.9 in D 3.94 in
Unique Warm Brown Ceramic Big Vase with Body Large Opening by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Tuja Big Vase by Willem Van Hooff. Dimensions: W 48 x D 10 x H 50 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces
Ceramic
$2,232 / item
H 24.81 in W 16.54 in D 3.94 in
Organic Form, Warm Brown Ceramic Tall Vase with Body Opening by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Taju Large Vase by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: W 42 x D 10 x H 63 cm (Dimensions may vary as
Ceramic
$417
H 6.11 in W 7.09 in D 8.27 in
White, Black and Blue Hand-Painted Ceramic Jug / Vase in the Style of Picasso
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in France, 1960s - 1970s. It is made in white hand-painted ceramic with blue and black motifs
Ceramic
$2,439 / item
H 26.78 in Dm 14.97 in
Light Brown Flat & Tall Ceramic Contemporary Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Vido Flat Vessel by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: Ø 38 x H 68 cm. Materials: Glazed earthenware. This piece is fired twice in the kiln above 1200 degrees to add this glaze glass eff...
Earthenware
$10,733 / set
H 25.6 in Dm 25.6 in
Set of 6 Unique Ceramic Vases in Warm Tone Plain Colors by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 6 Core Vases by Willem Van Hooff. Dimensions: D48 x H50 cm D38 x H65 cm D65 x H42 cm D50 x
Ceramic
$1,178 / item
H 9.26 in Dm 5.91 in
L'Heure Bleue Vase I in Deep Midnight Blue Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
L'Heure Bleue Vase I in Deep Midnight Blue Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions
Clay
$1,178 / item
H 9.26 in Dm 5.91 in
L'Heure Bleue Vase II in Deep Midnight Blue Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
L'Heure Bleue Vase II in Deep Midnight Blue Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions
Clay
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.
Whether it’s a Chinese Han dynasty glazed ceramic wine vessel, a work of Murano glass or a hand-painted Scandinavian modern stoneware piece, a fine vase brings a piece of history into your space as much as it adds a sophisticated dynamic.
Like sculptures or paintings, antique and vintage vases are considered works of fine art. Once offered as tributes to ancient rulers, vases continue to be gifted to heads of state today. Over time, decorative porcelain vases have become family heirlooms to be displayed prominently in our homes — loved pieces treasured from generation to generation.
The functional value of vases is well known. They were traditionally utilized as vessels for carrying dry goods or liquids, so some have handles and feature an opening at the top (where they flare back out). While artists have explored wildly sculptural alternatives over time, the most conventional vase shape is characterized by a bulbous base and a body with shoulders where the form curves inward.
Owing to their intrinsic functionality, vases are quite possibly versatile in ways few other art forms can match. They’re typically taller than they are wide. Some have a neck that offers height and is ideal for the stems of cut flowers. To pair with your mid-century modern decor, the right vase will be an elegant receptacle for leafy snake plants on your teak dining table, or, in the case of welcoming guests on your doorstep, a large ceramic floor vase for long tree branches or sticks — perhaps one crafted in the Art Nouveau style — works wonders.
Interior designers include vases of every type, size and style in their projects — be the canvas indoors or outdoors — often introducing a splash of color and a range of textures to an entryway or merely calling attention to nature’s asymmetries by bringing more organically shaped decorative objects into a home.
On 1stDibs, you can browse our collection of vases by material, including ceramic, glass, porcelain and more. Sizes range from tiny bud vases to massive statement pieces and every size in between.