Post-Modern Chess Coffee Table in Marble & Aluminum by Pilar Zeta
Located in Geneve, CH
Chess Coffee Table 1 by Pilar Zeta Limited Edition of 20 + 2AP pieces. Materials: Marble, aluminum, metal. Dimensions: W 100 x D 100 x H 32 cm. Weight: 150 kg. Marble and aluminium ...
Marble, Aluminum, Metal
Modern Chess Board with Pieces El Ajedrez by Javier Mariscal
By Javier Mariscal
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Chess figures and board designed by Javier Mariscal on the occasion of the Olympic Games of Barcelona 92. Aluminium parts and metal board. Measures: Height of the king: 6 cm. Paw...
Metal
$14,036 / item
Candy Chess Table by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Candy Chess Table by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: W 40 x D 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Resine. This chess table is a playful and innovative piece, crafted entirely from resin. Its transluce...
Resin
$14,036 / item
Candy Translucent Amber Resin Chess Table by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Candy Chess Table by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Resin. Available in Ambar, Green, Red, and Blue. Please contact us. This chess table is a playful and ...
Resin
Javier Mariscal El Ajedrez Chess Set for Akaba, Spain, Circa 1992
By Javier Mariscal
Located in BARCELONA, ES
An iconic and increasingly rare complete chess set designed by Javier Mariscal and produced by Akaba, Spain, circa 1992. Known as "El Ajedrez", this celebrated design perfectly capt...
Metal
Vintage Signed Oversized Ceramic White Pawn Chess Piece Sculpture
Located in West Chester, PA
Vintage Large Signed Ceramic White Pawn Chess Piece Sculpture. The color is white even though some of the pictures look creamy. Signed on underside but we could not decipher.
Ceramic
Michael Graves Postmodern Chess and Checkers Set, Maple Wood, 1990
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Michael Graves Postmodern Chess and Checkers Set. Original postmodern Michael Graves chess and checkers set. Maple wood chess and checkers set with board and box by famed architect M...
Resin, Wood
Chess Stool or Side Table by Panorammma, Convex, Black Lacquered Wood, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish inform an imaginative play as sculptural stools or side table sets. Directly referencing chess pieces, these stools luidica...
Resin, Wood
Michael Graves Postmodern Chess and Checkers Set Game Maple Wood Restored 1999
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in North Miami, FL
This original Postmodern Michael Graves chess set with checkers pieces has been fully restored with the wood which is 2 variants of maple. The wood was redone and new felt was put on...
Velvet, Wood
Set Of 2 Chess Sculptures in Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Chess Sculptures in Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor Limited Edition of 8 + 2AP. Dimensions: D 29 x W 29 x H 171 cm. Materials: Mirror-polished stainless ste...
Stainless Steel
Chess Stool or Side Table by Panorammma, Set, Black Lacquered Wood, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish lacquer play together as sculptural stools or side table sets.
Resin, Wood
Chess Stool or Side Table by Panorammma, Concave, Black Lacquered Wood, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish lacquer play together as sculptural stools or side table sets.
Resin, Wood
Modernist Boxed Wood Chess Pieces
Located in New Windsor, NY
A fine boxed set of carved wood modernist chessmen. The two sets are made of hardwood and sculpturally carved into very stylized forms. One set is in a blonde wood natural finish and...
Wood
Michael Graves Postmodern Chess and Checkers Set, Signed
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in Miami, FL
Original Michael Graves chess and checkers set made of two tone maple wood. The chess pieces are composite and it contains both full sets along with plastic holder for travel.
Maple
Chess Set Designed by Michael Graves Postmodern
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful set designed by Michael Graves, in credible design, with a Memphis Postmodern era look. Signature of his great designs.
Wood
Sold
H 30 in W 40 in D 17.75 in
Tessellated Stone Console Game Table Checkers Chess Backgammon, 1970's
By Maitland Smith
Located in Rochester, NY
Tessellated stone mosaic design console table w/ reversible chess / checkers / backgammon brass inlaid game boards in ivory, light gray and pale rouge stone. Circa 1970's. Look at a...
Stone, Brass
Kiln-Formed Art Glass Chess Set with 24-Karat Gold Game Pieces
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Cold-worked art glass chess set, circa 1995. This set includes a full size board and all game pieces one side finished in 24-karat white gold and another in 24-karat yellow gold. ...
Gold
Sold
H 28 in W 27 in D 20 in
Freeform Organic Chess Table One of a Kind Craftsman Sculptural Wood Table
By Wendell Castle
Located in San Diego, CA
An incredible piece of art wood sculpted chees table one of a kind piece wood sculpted circa 1990's solid heavy beautiful .
Wood
Chess Stool/ Sculptural Side Table
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish inform an imaginative play as sculptural stools or side table sets. Directly referencing chess pieces, these stools luidica...
Resin, Wood
African Hand Carved Stone Chess Set 1980
Located in Weesp, NL
This unique 1980 stone hand cut chess set was a gift from the government of Kenya to the Italian ambassador to South Africa, the late mister Vincenzo Schioppa. The set is in great co...
Stone
Chess Stool/ Sculptural Side Table (Concave)
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish lacquer play together as sculptural stools or side table sets.
Resin, Wood
Chess Stool/ Sculptural Side Table (Concave)
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish lacquer play together as sculptural stools or side table sets.
Resin, Wood
Michael Graves Postmodern Chess and Checkers Set
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Original postmodern Michael Graves chess and checkers set. Maple wood chess and checkers set with board and box by famed architect Michael Graves. Michael Graves was a Memphis Gro...
Maple
XL Marble Chess Set + Artisan Wood Board
Located in Round Top, TX
Extra large carved pink and black marble pieces with an artisan made oversized 22"W x 22"D chess board in a glossy finish. These are the largest and most stylized chess pieces we hav...
Marble
Michael Graves Postmodern Chess and Checkers Set, Signed
By Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern chess and checkers set rendered in two-tone maple, with composite pieces, designed by Michael Graves, Memphis Group designer. Two complete sets of Chess pieces and orig...
Composition
Postmodern Lucite or Plexiglas Black and White Chess Set
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Very stylish chess board and game pieces made of Lucite. The board has been elegantly folded on its edges giving it a nice height. The board has a few surface scratches and the pie...
Lucite, Plexiglass
Vintage Italian Marble Chess Board with Hand Carved Pieces
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage heavy alabaster chess set complete board in beige and black marble with elaborately hand carved soapstone chess pieces. Contains all its pieces that are beautifully carved an...
Marble, Soapstone
Vintage Marble Chess Board with Hand Carved Turquoise Onyx Pieces
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage mid 20th century Mexican stone marble chess set complete board in white and brown marble with elaborately hand carved turquoise and white chess pieces The stone chess set gam...
Marble, Stone, Onyx
Sold
H 0.5 in W 21 in D 21 in
Japanese "TomoKazu" Inlaid Marquetry Chess of Checkers board, Japan, circa 1980s
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Miami, FL
Post-Modern Japanese chessboard or checkerboard. Rendered in an intricate inlay marquetry of walnut, burl, birch, and maple. By Tomokazu, Japan, circa 1980s.
Birch, Maple, Walnut, Burl
Sold
H 29.93 in Dm 29.14 in
Vintage English Flamed Walnut Chess Table with Marble Inset Board Hidden Drawer
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage English Walnut occasional table with inset marble chess board A very good looking well made and function piece of furniture,...
Walnut
Sold
H 0.75 in W 10.75 in D 10.75 in
Semi Precious Stone Chess Set in Brown and Cream with Hand Carved Game Pieces
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful hand-carved onyx and quartz stone chessboard and game pieces in brown and cream. This chess set is complete and includes each of the original hand-crafted pieces. The squ...
Stone, Onyx
Massimo Morozzi "Tangram" Chess Table for Cassina
By Massimo Morozzi
Located in Chicago, IL
Massimo Morozzi co-founder of the influential design studio Archizoom designed this table as part of the Tangram group for Cassina in 1983. The top comes off revealing a storage com...
Acrylic
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The stool is chunky and modern...
Wood, Oak
The 'Matisse' Etagere
Located in London, GB
The 'Matisse' wrought iron side table. A hand made and patinated wrought iron etagere with whimsical Matisse style cut-out decoration. Made to order based on a 1960s original. Avail...
Wrought Iron
Library of Antique Leatherbound Books
Located in Brønshøj, DK
This collection consists of 400 antique decorative books, mainly dating from 1850–1950, with most published before 1920. The books are bound in leather, many with fine gold leaf embo...
Gold Leaf
$17,332
H 33.08 in W 27.56 in D 33.08 in
Brazilian Lounge Chair Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner - "Costela" Forma, 1950s
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Rosendahl, DE
This rare Costela Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, produced by Forma in the 1950s, features solid wood ribs paired with a vintage leopard-patterned teddy fabric. A tru...
Steel
Russian Gardner Porcelain Chess Set
By Francis Gardner
Located in Delft, NL
Francis Gardner porcelain chess set A Russian chess set in Caricature, representing the Czarist Army, 1970s. Made by the Porcelain factory "Gardner", founded by the Englishman in 1...
Wood, Porcelain
$3,076 / item
H 24.02 in W 21.66 in D 15.75 in
Observer Nightstand Warm Brown Birch designed by Yaniv Chen made in Portugal
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Product Inspiration The shape of the Observer nightstand is inspired by a fond childhood memory of designer Yaniv Chen. In his grandmother’s bedroom, her nightstand was a small but...
Birch
$3,990 / item
H 15.75 in W 74.81 in D 29.14 in
Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DD V daybed is an exclusive daybed made by hand in Bosnia and Herzegovina by skilled craftsmen with long experience in wood and upholstery. Both frame and the characteristic V-shaped...
Fabric, Beech, Velvet
$7,200 / item
H 14 in Dm 36 in
Grand Mid-Century Flush Mount Uplight Ceiling Lamp from Filmcasino Vienna, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
We are delighted to present this stunning bowl-shaped pendant light / uplight plafoniere / flush mount light fixture dating back to the 1950s. (Actually there were three pieces avail...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
$3,847
H 3.55 in W 20.67 in D 20.67 in
Antique Victorian Staunton Chess Pieces Set + Italian Marble Giltwood Chessboard
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this extremely rare original Victorian Staunton chess set with fine Italian marble giltwood chessboard A truly stunning and highly collectable ...
Marble
$8,491 / set
H 24.01 in Dm 13.78 in
Pair of Constant Night Stands in Poplar Burl wood by Master for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Envisioned by designer Yaniv Chen, the Constant nightstand exudes an air of refined luxury, celebrating the inherent splendor of Poplar burl wood. Meticulously crafted with impeccabl...
Burl, Poplar
$3,366 / item
H 9.85 in W 21.66 in D 21.66 in
Acerbis LOKUM S Coffee Table in smoked grey by Sabine Marcelis
By Sabine Marcelis, Acerbis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Matter, light and colour come together in an intense interaction of materials. This collection embodies the elegance of pure forms, elevated through the use of hand-blown glass. Sabi...
Glass, Art Glass
Green and White Customizable Chess Board
Located in Westwood, NJ
This exquisite piece combines timeless design influenced by the European countryside. Shown in our hand-painted lightly distressed Vintage Willow Green and harvest white finish. The...
Wood
Antique Style Wooden Chess Board
Located in Westwood, NJ
This exquisite piece combines timeless design influenced by the European countryside. Featuring our hand-painted lightly distressed Brown suede and Forofino white painted finish. The...
Wood
Harvey Probber American Mid-Century Green Velvet Round Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century large round sofa with a low curved partial backrest and emerald green velvet upholstery with a button tufted removable seat cushion, resting on five short brass ...
Metal, Brass
$7,450
H 24.41 in W 78.75 in D 31.5 in
Studio Gruppo 14 T.E.E. 3-Seater Sofa by Busnelli, Italy, 1970s
By Busnelli, Studio 14
Located in Almelo, NL
Studio Gruppo 14 T.E.E. 3-Seater Sofa by Busnelli, Italy, 1970s This exceptional sofa, manufactured by the renowned Italian company Busnelli, is a remarkable find due to its rarity....
Upholstery, Foam
$16,450
H 18.5 in W 40 in D 40 in
Echo Coffee Table in Deep Olive, Translucent Polyurethane Resin, Ian Cochran
By Ian Cochran
Located in New York, NY
Echo coffee table by Ian Alistair Cochran Solid Resin W 40" x H 18.5" x D/L 40" W 101.6 x H 47 x D/L 101.6 cm A continuation of the Echo series, the Echo Coffee Table is a 40 i...
Resin
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.