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Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984
Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984

Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984

By Giancarlo Vegni, Fasem International

Located in Beograd, RS

In this listing you will find a pair of Postmodern Dining Chairs designed by Giancarlo Vegni for

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel

Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs S-91 by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984
Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs S-91 by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984

Pair of Postmodern Leather Chairs S-91 by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem, Italy 1984

By Giancarlo Vegni, Fasem International

Located in Beograd, RS

In this listing you will find a pair of Postmodern Dining Chairs, model S-91 designed by Giancarlo

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel

1980's Pair of Leather Italian Postmodern Lounge armchairs by Molteni & Co
1980's Pair of Leather Italian Postmodern Lounge armchairs by Molteni & Co

1980's Pair of Leather Italian Postmodern Lounge armchairs by Molteni & Co

By Molteni & C

Located in San Diego, CA

Rare pair of postmodern leather chairs by Molteni & Co. Italy circa 1980s, this company Has made

Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Fabric

Postmodern Leather and Steel Chair, c.1980
Postmodern Leather and Steel Chair, c.1980

Postmodern Leather and Steel Chair, c.1980

By Mario Botta

Located in Surbiton, GB

An unattributed Postmodern tubular steel chair of unusual form featuring gun metal grey leather

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Italian Postmodern Dining Chair in Cognac Leather
Italian Postmodern Dining Chair in Cognac Leather

Italian Postmodern Dining Chair in Cognac Leather

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Dining chair, beech, leather, Italy, 1970s A delicate chair that is well-proportioned and elevates

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Beech

Postmodern Vintage Distressed Leather Sculptural Chairs, Pair
Postmodern Vintage Distressed Leather Sculptural Chairs, Pair

Postmodern Vintage Distressed Leather Sculptural Chairs, Pair

By Jaymar

Located in Chicago, IL

Not sure how to describe how cool these chairs are. First let’s talk about the shape! Beautiful

Category

Vintage 1980s North American Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather

Postmodern Leather BOBO Easy Chair by Dietmar Sharping
Postmodern Leather BOBO Easy Chair by Dietmar Sharping

Postmodern Leather BOBO Easy Chair by Dietmar Sharping

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Postmodern black leather Bobo easy chair. Bobo was designed by German architect Dietmar Scharping

Category

1990s American Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather

Vintage POSTMODERN Leather Club Chair by Paolo Piva
Vintage POSTMODERN Leather Club Chair by Paolo Piva

Vintage POSTMODERN Leather Club Chair by Paolo Piva

By Paolo Piva, Wittmann

Located in Oxnard, CA

Here is a fantastic postmodern 1980s leather chair by Paolo Piva for Wittman. This unique oversized

Category

Late 20th Century Austrian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Weishäupl Lounge Chair, Black Wood & Leather, Postmodern Design, 1980
Weishäupl Lounge Chair, Black Wood & Leather, Postmodern Design, 1980

Weishäupl Lounge Chair, Black Wood & Leather, Postmodern Design, 1980

Located in Ludwigslust, DE

An unusual and intelligently designed lounge chair in the postmodern style of the 80s. The frame of

Category

Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Postmodern swivel chair, Cofemo
Postmodern swivel chair, Cofemo

Postmodern swivel chair, Cofemo

By Cofemo

Located in Neuss, NW

Rare postmodern swivel chair by Cofemo from the 1980s. High-quality red lacquered steel frame with

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs

Materials

Steel

Calligaris Postmodern Italian Dining Chair - Wood + Black Leather Set of 4
Calligaris Postmodern Italian Dining Chair - Wood + Black Leather Set of 4

Calligaris Postmodern Italian Dining Chair - Wood + Black Leather Set of 4

By Calligaris

Located in toronto, CA

Circa 1980 - Calligaris Post Modern Chairs Beautifully ribbed back , leather chairs, an example of

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Pair of Postmodern Italian Leather and Polished Chrome Accent Sling Chairs
Pair of Postmodern Italian Leather and Polished Chrome Accent Sling Chairs

Pair of Postmodern Italian Leather and Polished Chrome Accent Sling Chairs

By Giotto Stoppino

Located in Basel, BS

Gorgeous pair of Italian soft leather and polished chrome accent chairs in the style of Giotto

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Postmodern Brown Faux Leather Tongue Chair Attributed Jaymar Pop Art Chair
Postmodern Brown Faux Leather Tongue Chair Attributed Jaymar Pop Art Chair

Postmodern Brown Faux Leather Tongue Chair Attributed Jaymar Pop Art Chair

By Jaymar

Located in Topeka, KS

Fabulous vintage Postmodern brown faux leather Tongue chair attributed to Jaymar cantilevered Pop

Category

Late 20th Century Canadian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Metal

1980s Norman Jaffe Postmodern Pair of Leather Club Chairs
1980s Norman Jaffe Postmodern Pair of Leather Club Chairs

1980s Norman Jaffe Postmodern Pair of Leather Club Chairs

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Roanoke, VA

Super cool and rare pair of leather club chairs designed by architect Norman Jaffe for US West

Category

Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Club Chairs

Materials

Leather

1980s Pair of Postmodern Ribbon Lounge Chairs in Periwinkle Leather
1980s Pair of Postmodern Ribbon Lounge Chairs in Periwinkle Leather

1980s Pair of Postmodern Ribbon Lounge Chairs in Periwinkle Leather

Located in Philadelphia, PA

. The listed price includes the pair of two chairs, as shown. Their sculptural silhouettes are covered

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chairs, Italy 1980's
Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chairs, Italy 1980's

Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chairs, Italy 1980's

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chair set of 4. Made in Italy, 1980's. Grey leather seat

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair set by Segis, Italy 1990's
Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair set by Segis, Italy 1990's

Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair set by Segis, Italy 1990's

By Segis

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Modern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair set by Segis, made in Italy 1990's

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Segis, Italy, 1990's
Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Segis, Italy, 1990's

Postmodern Italian Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Segis, Italy, 1990's

By Segis

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Italian design natural leather dining chair set of 7 chairs by Segis, made in

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Vintage Postmodern Pink Pearlised Leather Swivel Lounge Chair, Natuzzi 1980s
Vintage Postmodern Pink Pearlised Leather Swivel Lounge Chair, Natuzzi 1980s

Vintage Postmodern Pink Pearlised Leather Swivel Lounge Chair, Natuzzi 1980s

By Natuzzi

Located in Hastings, GB

Pale pink pearlised leather swivelling lounge chair by Natuzzi, Italy 1980s. This listing is for

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Natuzzi Leather Lounge Chair, Italian, Made in Italy, Postmodern, Light Grey
Natuzzi Leather Lounge Chair, Italian, Made in Italy, Postmodern, Light Grey

Natuzzi Leather Lounge Chair, Italian, Made in Italy, Postmodern, Light Grey

By Natuzzi

Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Natuzzi Leather Lounge Chair, Italian, Made in Italy, Postmodern, Light Grey, Mid Century, Office

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Vintage Italian Leather Postmodern Dining Chairs - Set of Six
Vintage Italian Leather Postmodern Dining Chairs - Set of Six

Vintage Italian Leather Postmodern Dining Chairs - Set of Six

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

, saddle leather in an eyecatching turquoise-teal hue, expertly tailored to fit the steel chair frames

Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel

Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair
Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair

Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair

By Calligaris

Located in New York, NY

A very beautiful and chic Italian modern style or Postmodern period black lacquer wood and leather

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair
Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair

Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair

By Calligaris

Located in New York, NY

Very beautiful and chic Italian Modern style or Postmodern period black lacquer wood and leather

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Postmodern Gerard van den Berg Loge Chairs for Montis, Cognac Leather, 1980
Postmodern Gerard van den Berg Loge Chairs for Montis, Cognac Leather, 1980

Postmodern Gerard van den Berg Loge Chairs for Montis, Cognac Leather, 1980

By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Gerard van den Berg designed the Loge chair for Dutch manufacturer Montis in 1980, employing a

Category

Vintage 1980s Dutch Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Tito Agnoli x Calligaris Italian Postmodern Leather Dining Chairs, 1980s, Italy
Tito Agnoli x Calligaris Italian Postmodern Leather Dining Chairs, 1980s, Italy

Tito Agnoli x Calligaris Italian Postmodern Leather Dining Chairs, 1980s, Italy

By Calligaris, Matteo Grassi, Tito Agnoli

Located in Biebergemund, Hessen

A set of six Postmodern sculptural dining chairs designed by Tito Agnoli and handmade by Calligaris

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather

Vintage Postmodern Dining Chairs, 1980s
Vintage Postmodern Dining Chairs, 1980s

Vintage Postmodern Dining Chairs, 1980s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Italian metal postmodern dining chairs with black metal frames and black leather seats. Good

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Walse Leather Lounge Chair by Tito Agnoli for Poltrona Frau, c1990s
Postmodern Walse Leather Lounge Chair by Tito Agnoli for Poltrona Frau, c1990s

Postmodern Walse Leather Lounge Chair by Tito Agnoli for Poltrona Frau, c1990s

By Tito Agnoli, Poltrona Frau

Located in Chino Hills, CA

, also in yellow leather, complements the chair perfectly. A mid-sized slit on the ottoman adds to its

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Mid-Century Postmodern Minimalist Leather Rocking Chair by Takeshi Nii
Vintage Mid-Century Postmodern Minimalist Leather Rocking Chair by Takeshi Nii

Vintage Mid-Century Postmodern Minimalist Leather Rocking Chair by Takeshi Nii

By Takeshi Nii

Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie

This folding modern rocking chair was designed by Takeshi Nii during the 1950s. It has a black

Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Minimalist Rocking Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

1980s Postmodern Black Leather Club Chairs by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar - a Pair
1980s Postmodern Black Leather Club Chairs by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar - a Pair

1980s Postmodern Black Leather Club Chairs by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar - a Pair

By Roger Sprunger

Located in Stafford, TX

Beautiful set of black leather 1980s tagged on Roger Sprunger for Dunbar club chairs! Both in

Category

Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Postmodern Chairs in the Style of Scarpa- Set of 5
Postmodern Chairs in the Style of Scarpa- Set of 5

Postmodern Chairs in the Style of Scarpa- Set of 5

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Set of 5 - Custom, hand-made individually of solid cherry wood, these are tub dining chairs in the

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

1990s Postmodern Folding Chair in the Rodney Kinsman'd Style
1990s Postmodern Folding Chair in the Rodney Kinsman'd Style

1990s Postmodern Folding Chair in the Rodney Kinsman'd Style

By Rodney Kinsman

Located in Miami, FL

1990s Postmodern Folding Accent Chair in the Rodney Kinsman'd Style. Features a Memphis Group

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

1990 Italy Postmodern Blond Cow Leather Armchair
1990 Italy Postmodern Blond Cow Leather Armchair

1990 Italy Postmodern Blond Cow Leather Armchair

Located in Brescia, IT

cow leather in blond tun color, is in very good conditions. It is very comfortable and perfect in a

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Bergere Chairs

Materials

Walnut, Leather

Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Mario Morbidelli for Naos, Italy
Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Mario Morbidelli for Naos, Italy

Postmodern Design Leather Dining Chair Set by Mario Morbidelli for Naos, Italy

By Naos

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

Vintage Postmodern Italian Design Leather covered Dining Chair set of 6 by Mario Morbidelli for

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

PAIR 1980s Postmodern Mario Botta Latonda Chair for Alias - 2 pcs
PAIR 1980s Postmodern Mario Botta Latonda Chair for Alias - 2 pcs

PAIR 1980s Postmodern Mario Botta Latonda Chair for Alias - 2 pcs

By Alias, Mario Botta

Located in Basel, BS

, insured 7-21 days. RARE Black leather model, with silver frame. Chair "Latonda" Production: since 1980

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Brazilian Modern De Couro Black Leather Dining Chairs, Set of Four
Postmodern Brazilian Modern De Couro Black Leather Dining Chairs, Set of Four

Postmodern Brazilian Modern De Couro Black Leather Dining Chairs, Set of Four

By De Couro

Located in Miami, FL

Set of four Brazilian Postmodern black hand stitched leather dining chairs by De Couro, 1980s

Category

Late 20th Century Brazilian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel

Postmodern Fantasy Island Lounge Chair by Kurt Bayer, 1980s
Postmodern Fantasy Island Lounge Chair by Kurt Bayer, 1980s

Postmodern Fantasy Island Lounge Chair by Kurt Bayer, 1980s

Located in DE KWAKEL, NL

characteristic of 1980s postmodern design. Conceived as a sculptural seating object, the chair balances

Category

Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Club Chair from the collection of Thierry Despont
Postmodern Club Chair from the collection of Thierry Despont

Postmodern Club Chair from the collection of Thierry Despont

Located in New York, NY

This postmodern club chair combines unlikely shapes, materials, and details. The hefty bulk is

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Club Chairs

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Vintage chrome postmodern dining chairs, 1980s
Vintage chrome postmodern dining chairs, 1980s

Vintage chrome postmodern dining chairs, 1980s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Set of 6 post modern dining chairs with a striking design with chrome frames and skai upholstery

Category

Vintage 1980s Belgian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Postmodern lacquered wood italian dining chairs, 1980s
Postmodern lacquered wood italian dining chairs, 1980s

Postmodern lacquered wood italian dining chairs, 1980s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Postmodern design dining chairs with black lacquered wooden frames and faux leather upholstery

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Lacquer

1980s Postmodern Mario Botta Latonda Chair for Alias (two available) -- 1 pc
1980s Postmodern Mario Botta Latonda Chair for Alias (two available) -- 1 pc

1980s Postmodern Mario Botta Latonda Chair for Alias (two available) -- 1 pc

By Alias, Mario Botta

Located in Basel, BS

-21 days. RARE Black leather model, with silver frame. Chair "Latonda" Production: since 1990 (now

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Set of ten leather dining chairs by Antonello Mosca for Ycami. Italy
Postmodern Set of ten leather dining chairs by Antonello Mosca for Ycami. Italy

Postmodern Set of ten leather dining chairs by Antonello Mosca for Ycami. Italy

By Ycami Collection

Located in Catania, CT

Set of ten dining chairs designed by Antonello Mosca for Ycami, produced in Italy in the 1980s

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather

Postmodern dining chairs, 1980s, Set of 4
Postmodern dining chairs, 1980s, Set of 4

Postmodern dining chairs, 1980s, Set of 4

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Post modern dining chairs with black lacquered metal tubular frames, black leatehrette upholstery

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Japanese EDO Chair by Kisho Kurokawa for PPM Corporation, 1980s
Postmodern Japanese EDO Chair by Kisho Kurokawa for PPM Corporation, 1980s

Postmodern Japanese EDO Chair by Kisho Kurokawa for PPM Corporation, 1980s

By Kisho Kurokawa

Located in Bresso, Lombardy

This chair from the EDO series was designed by the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa in the 1980s

Category

Vintage 1980s Japanese Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Postmodern Set of 4 Italian Fan Back Chairs by Pietro Costantini
Postmodern Set of 4 Italian Fan Back Chairs by Pietro Costantini

Postmodern Set of 4 Italian Fan Back Chairs by Pietro Costantini

By Pietro Costantini

Located in San Diego, CA

finish and handstitched black leather seat, solid and sturdy elegant chairs, stamped made in Italy by

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Lacquer

Postmodern Kurt Thut Dietiker White + Black Chair, 80s--1 Piece (5 avail)
Postmodern Kurt Thut Dietiker White + Black Chair, 80s--1 Piece (5 avail)

Postmodern Kurt Thut Dietiker White + Black Chair, 80s--1 Piece (5 avail)

By Kurt Thut

Located in Basel, BS

Gorgeous pair of Postmodern Memphis 80s chairs by Kurt Thut for Dietiker. NOTE: We have two sets

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Black Leather Soft Pad Chair Charles & Ray Eames for ICF
Postmodern Black Leather Soft Pad Chair Charles & Ray Eames for ICF

Postmodern Black Leather Soft Pad Chair Charles & Ray Eames for ICF

By ICF Group

Located in Bresso, Lombardy

Made in Italy in the 70s and designed by Charles & Ray Eames for ICF. This office chair features a

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

Charles Hollis Jones Postmodern Memphis Inspired Lounge Chair
Charles Hollis Jones Postmodern Memphis Inspired Lounge Chair

Charles Hollis Jones Postmodern Memphis Inspired Lounge Chair

By Memphis Group

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Memphis-inspired asymmetric sculptural lounge chair with unique tri-color design and acrylic legs

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Postmodern italian dining chairs set of 4 - 1980s
Postmodern italian dining chairs set of 4 - 1980s

Postmodern italian dining chairs set of 4 - 1980s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Vintage set of 4 postmodern dining chairs with black metal frames and leatehrette seats. The

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

1980s Postmodern Italian Nicoletti Salotti Plinth Baseleather Lounge Chair
1980s Postmodern Italian Nicoletti Salotti Plinth Baseleather Lounge Chair

1980s Postmodern Italian Nicoletti Salotti Plinth Baseleather Lounge Chair

By Nicoletti Salotti

Located in Madison, WI

and the leather grain is phenomenal quality. The leather grain in beautiful, soft but thick, and it is

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Ed Archer Postmodern Arm Chair by Philippe Starck for Aleph Driade set of 2
Ed Archer Postmodern Arm Chair by Philippe Starck for Aleph Driade set of 2

Ed Archer Postmodern Arm Chair by Philippe Starck for Aleph Driade set of 2

By Driade, Philippe Starck

Located in Kelkheim (Taunus), HE

produced by the Italian company ALEPH / Driade. Made of metall, aluminium and black leather. The chairs

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

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Postmodern Leather Chair For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the postmodern leather chair you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A postmodern leather chair — often made from animal skin, leather and metal — can elevate any home. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect postmodern leather chair — we have versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. A postmodern leather chair is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern and Modern styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made postmodern leather chair over the years, but those crafted by Calligaris, Philippe Starck and Roche Bobois are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Postmodern Leather Chair?

A postmodern leather chair can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $2,400, while the lowest priced sells for $500 and the highest can go for as much as $12,500.

A Close Look at Post-modern Furniture

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

  • Emerges during the 1960s; popularity explodes during the ’80s
  • A reaction to prevailing conventions of modernism by mainly American architects
  • Architect Robert Venturi critiques modern architecture in his Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966)
  • Theorist Charles Jencks, who championed architecture filled with allusions and cultural references, writes The Language of Post-Modern Architecture (1977)
  • Italian design collective the Memphis Group, also known as Memphis Milano, meets for the first time (1980) 
  • Memphis collective debuts more than 50 objects and furnishings at Salone del Milano (1981)
  • Interest in style declines, minimalism gains steam

CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Dizzying graphic patterns and an emphasis on loud, off-the-wall colors
  • Use of plastic and laminates, glass, metal and marble; lacquered and painted wood 
  • Unconventional proportions and abundant ornamentation
  • Playful nods to Art Deco and Pop art

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 Mendinia 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.

Finding the Right Seating for You

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.

Questions About Postmodern Leather Chair
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024
    Many people believe that leather chairs are worth it. Whether you're looking for accent chairs for a seating area, dining chairs to pair with your dining room table or an office chair to place at your desk, leather chairs can add to the overall visual appeal of a room, thanks to their texture. Leather is also fairly easy to wipe clean, and high-quality types, such as full-grain and top-grain leather, can stand the test of time. However, there are plenty of alternatives to leather upholstery available. Considering durability, comfort, appearance and maintenance requirements, as well as your budget, will help you select the right chair for any space. Explore a large collection of leather chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
    The best leather for chairs is going to depend on your personal preference. While choosing the leather for a chair, try to think of what you want out of your chair. While pigmented leather is the most durable, aniline leather looks more natural and preserves the hide of the animal. Semi-aniline on the other hand is more durable than aniline leather and it maintains the natural look. On 1stDibs, you can find a wide variety of leather chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
    The best leather recliner chair will really be a matter of preference — what kind of recliner do you need? Keep size in mind, especially if you’re working with a small space. You’ll want to prioritize comfort and durability, too. 1stDibs offers a variety of leather recliner chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    A good office chair should be comfortable with a high back, armrests and cushioned seating. Many leather office chairs can be called the best by different people depending on what appeals to them. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage leather office chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    Whether leather is good for dining chairs is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, many people find leather to be easy to wipe clean and appreciate its texture and appearance. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of leather dining chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 24, 2024
    Many furniture lovers feel that leather dining chairs are worth it. Due to its natural beauty, leather can elevate dining rooms and add interest to interior designs by bringing in a new texture. Leather is also fairly easy to wipe clean, and top-grain and full-grain upholstery often hold up well to the effects of frequent use. Keep in mind that other factors contribute to the overall quality of a chair, such as its frame materials and construction methods. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of leather dining chairs.