To many people, postmodern design is synonymous with the Memphis Group. This Italian collaborative created the most radical and attention-getting designs of the period, upending most of the accepted standards of how furniture should look. Today, the Memphis Milano brand, which is managed by Alberto Bianchi Albrici, still produces designs created by the group between 1981 and 1988.
The Memphis story begins in 1980, when Ettore Sottsass, then a beacon of Italian postmodernism, tapped a coterie of younger designers to develop a collection for the Milan Furniture Fair the next year, determined that all the new furniture they were then seeing was boring. Their mission: Boldly reject the stark minimalism of the 1970s and shatter the rules of form and function. (Sottsass’s Ultrafragola mirror, designed in 1970, embodied many of what would become the collective’s postmodern ideals.)
The group decided to design, produce and market their own collection, one that wouldn’t be restricted by concerns like functionality and so-called good taste. Its debut, at Milan’s 1981 Salone del Mobile, drew thousands of viewers and caused a major stir in design circles.
So as a record of Bob Dylan’s “Stuck Inside of Mobile” played on repeat, they took their name from the song, devised their marketing strategy and plotted the postmodern look that would come to define the decade of excess — primary colors, blown-up proportions, playful nods to Art Deco and Pop art. A high-low mix of materials also helped define Memphis, as evidenced by Javier Mariscal’s pastel serving trays, which feature laminate veneer — a material previously used only in kitchens — as well as Shiro Kuramata’s Nara and Kyoto tables made from colored glass-infused terrazzo.
An image of Sottsass posing with his collaborators in a conversation pit shaped like a boxing ring appeared in magazines all over the world, and Karl Lagerfield furnished his Monte Carlo penthouse entirely in Memphis furniture. Meanwhile, members like Andrea Branzi, Aldo Cibic, Michele de Lucchi, Nathalie du Pasquier, Kuramata, Paola Navone, Peter Shire, George Sowden, Sottsass and his wife, journalist Barbara Radice, went on to enjoy fruitful careers.
Some people think of the Milan-based collective as the design equivalent to Patrick Nagel’s kitschy screenprints, but for others Memphis represents what made the early 1980s so great: freedom of expression, dizzying patterns and off-the-wall colors.
Eventually, the Reagan era gave way to cool 1990s minimalism, and Memphis fell out of fashion. Sottsass left the group in 1985, and by 1987, it had disbanded. Yet decades later, Memphis is back and can be traced to today’s most exciting designers.
“As someone who was born in the 1980s, Memphis at times feels like the grown-up, artsy version of the toys I used to play with,” says Shaun Kasperbauer, cofounder of the Brooklyn studio Souda. “It feels a little nostalgic, but at the same time it seems like an aesthetic that’s perfectly suited to an internet age — loud, colorful and utilizing forms that are graphic and often a little unexpected.”
Find a collection of Memphis Milano seating, tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Italian modern chair Riviera by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis, 1981
By Michele de Lucchi, Memphis Milano
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern chair Riviera by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis, 1981 Riviera chair with square seat and backrest, padded and upholstered in pink fabric with wooden frame covered in wh...
Metal
Early Memphis Milano ‘First Chair’ by Michele de Lucchi, 1983
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in VENLO, NL
Early and original ‘First Chair’ from 1983, designed by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis Milano. This example was included in the major Memphis exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum Amster...
Metal
First Wood and Metal Chair, by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The First chair in enameled wood and metal, was originally designed in 1983 by Michele De Lucchi. Michele De Lucchi was born in 1951 in Ferrara and graduated in architecture in Florence. During the period of radical and experimental architecture he was a prominent figure in movements like Cavart, Alchymia and Memphis. His architectural designs have been mainly for office buildings in Japan, in Germany, in Switzerland and in Italy. He has taken care of numerous art and design exhibitions and has planned buildings for museums as Triennale di Milano, Palazzo delle Esposizioni di Roma and Neues Museum...
Metal
Palace Wood Chair, by George Sowden for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Group, George Sowden, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Palace chair in colored lacquered wood, designed in 1983, by George Sowden. George Sowden was born in Leeds, UK in 1942. He studied architecture at Glou...
Wood
Memphis Milano Palace Chair by George Sowden, Post-Modern Design
By Memphis Milano, George Sowden
Located in Toronto, ON
The solemnity and essentiality of Palace by George J. Sowden make this chair a true icon of the silent transformation of Memphis. Palace reinterprets the rationalist forms of design ...
Wood, Lacquer
Riviera Chair in Plastic Laminate Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Riviera chair in plastic laminate with cushions covered for Memphis Milano collection Additional Information: Chair in plastic laminate with cushions...
Plastic
Glouchester chair by George Sowden for Memphis Milano
By George Sowden, Memphis Milano
Located in Ravenna, IT
This rare piece sold with certificate of authenticity. The chair was designed by George Sowden for Memphis Milano in 1986. As with many pieces in the Memphis collection, the name of ...
Wood
Memphis Milano Michele De Lucchi Stuhl Midcentury First chair
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen Armlehnstuhl vom italienischen Premiumhersteller Memphis Milano aus den 1980er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Die Oberflächen der Sitz- und Rückenlehnen wurden...
Metal
Palace Chair by George Sowden for Memphis, Milano, Blue, Green, Yellow, Black
By Memphis Milano, George Sowden
Located in Kansas City, MO
George Sowden for Memphis "Palace Chair", 1983. Multicolor form with arms. Completely original with very few signs of use.
Wood
1980ies Palace chair designed by George Sowden for Memphis Milano
By George Sowden, Memphis Milano
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
1980ies Memphis Milano Palace chair in colored lacquered wood designed by George Sowden, 1983. George Sowden studied architecture at Glouc...
Plywood
Italian modern Green wood black metal chair Kim by De Lucchi for Memphis, 1980s
By Michele de Lucchi, Memphis Milano
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Green wood and black metal Chair mod. Kim by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis, 1980s Fantastic chair mod. Kim with the seat and the back in bright green painted wood. The...
Metal
Kim Chair by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis-Milano, 1980s
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Renens, CH
The Kim chair was designed by the Italian architect Michele de Lucchi in 1987: De Lucchi was one of the co-founders of the Postmodern design group Memphis, headed by Ettore Sottsass....
Steel
Memphis Milano First Chair by Michele de Lucchi, Metal & Wood Design
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Toronto, ON
With First, Michele De Lucchi seems to pay homage to Alexander Calder in the lightness and mobility of the forms. The seat was designed to be easily assembled and replicated: manufac...
Metal
Italian modern metal and wood chair First by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis, 1983
By Michele de Lucchi, Memphis Milano
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern metal and wood chair First by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis, 1983 Chair model First in metal and wood. The frame is made of gray painted metal. The blue backrest, blac...
Metal
Memphis Milano "Riviera" Italian Wood and fabric Chair by Michele De Lucchi Pink
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Concept & Inspiration Designed by Michele De Lucchi for the inaugural Memphis group exhibition in 1981, the "Riviera" chair is a stunning example of playful, avant-garde design. ...
Fabric, Wood
Memphis Milano "Palace" Postmodern Luxury Chair by George J. Sowden
By George Sowden, Memphis Milano
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Concept & Inspiration Designed by George J. Sowden in 1983, the "Palace" chair represents a profound moment in the evolution of the Memphis Milano movement. It stands as a true i...
Wood
Michele De Lucchi "First" Postmodern Wooden lacquered Chair for Memphis Milano
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Concept & Inspiration Designed by Michele De Lucchi in 1983 for Memphis Milano, the "First" chair quickly established itself as an iconic and sculptural piece of furniture. A pro...
Wood
Nathalie chair designed by Nathalie du Pasquier for Memphis Milano ca. 1990
By Memphis Milano, Nathalie du Pasquier
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Nathalie chair designed by Nathalie du Pasquier for Memphis Milano, 1987 Manufactured by Memphis Milano, circa 1990 The French artist and designer Nathalie du Pasquier was one of t...
Steel, Chrome
Michele De Lucchi "Riviera" Italian Wood and fabric Chair for Memphis Milano Blu
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Varedo, Lombardia
The Concept & Inspiration Designed by Michele De Lucchi for the inaugural Memphis group exhibition in 1981, the "Riviera" chair is a stunning example of playful, avant-garde design. ...
Fabric, Wood
$2,900
H 30 in W 26 in D 24.5 in
Set of Four Tripod Memphis Dining Chairs in the Manner of Michele de Lucchi
By Michele de Lucchi
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful set of four steel and wood dining chairs from the Memphis period in the manner of Italian designer Michele De Lucchi. Newly powder coated satin black and the seat and bac...
Steel
$6,700 / set
H 30 in W 26 in D 24.5 in
Set of Six Memphis Tripod Dining Chairs in the Manner of Michele De Lucchi
By Michele de Lucchi
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A set of six Memphis dining chairs in the manner of Michele de Lucchi. The steel frame is powder coated black and the seat and back are white pick...
Steel
$4,700 / set
H 35.5 in W 19.5 in D 17.75 in
"Palace" Chair by George Sowden, Memphis Design, Painted Wood, 1983
By George Sowden
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Designed for the 3rd Memphis exhibition by George Sowden (UK), it is a melding of his memories of British Arts & Guilds (Macintosh, etc.) and a rectilinear homage to Gerrit Rietv...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
$5,997Sale Price / set|50% Off
H 32.25 in W 19 in D 26 in
Set of 4 Italian Post-Modern / Memphis Dining Chairs by Massimo Iosa Ghini
By Massimo Iosa Ghini
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 Italian Post-Modern / Memphis Bolidist "Velox" dining chairs by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Moroso, Milan, 1987. 1 "Velox" Chair with sweeping curved arms and 3 "Velox" side chai...
Steel
Memphis First Chair by Michele de Lucchi circa 1983
By Michele de Lucchi
Located in Oakland, CA
Early production Memphis First chair designed by Michele de Lucchi this chair that was purchased by the original owner who was working at the de Lucchi design studio in the 1980s in ...
Metal
$1,862 / set
H 32.29 in W 17.72 in D 16.93 in
De Coene Frères Side Chairs, Hand-Crafted Wood, Green Upholstery, 1930
By De Coene Frères
Located in Antwerp, BE
A pair of antique ladder back wooden side chairs. Green stripe upholstery. Dimensions: 45W x 82H x 43D cm Seat: 47cm high
Upholstery, Wood
$5,094
H 30.71 in W 21.26 in D 19.69 in L 30.71 in
Original Maurizio Peregalli 1988 Chair, Noto Zeus Milano Modern Art Piece
By Woka Lamps, Maurizio Peregalli
Located in Vienna, AT
Design: Maurizio Peregalli, Noto Zeus, Milano, 1988. Square steel tube, powder-coated, seating- and backrest surface formed Polyurethan.
Iron
Michele De Lucchi Memphis 'First' Chair, Lacquered Wood, 1983
By Michele de Lucchi
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
The Most Popular MEMPHIS Chair!!! FIRST is an iconic and sculptural creation conceived by Michele De Lucchi. The designer seems to be paying homage to Alexander Calder in the lightn...
Metal
$3,200 / set
H 29.5 in W 30 in D 34 in
1980s Memphis Style Slipper Chairs by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin, a Pair
By Memphis Milano, Milo Baughman
Located in Roanoke, VA
Baughman was inspired by the courageous young avant-garde designers known as the Memphis Group that burst on to the works stage in 1981 with a total disregard for the traditions and design tenants of restrained, idealized Modernism, Baughman designed a small collection of 11 colorful, post-modern pieces and convinced Coggin to put the collection into production by 1984. The unexpected designs made a splash upon their debut, with critics praising Baughman’s graceful and carefully considered take on the wild Italian ‘new design.’ The wider American audience and Coggin’s well-to-do yet conservative clientele did not take to Baughman’s experiment in exercising complete creative control. ''Only galleries bought it,'' Baughman told the NYT in the months after the collection’s release. Pieces from the 1984 Prisma collection are extremely difficult to come by. Literature: Oscar Fitzgerald, American furniture: 1650 to the Present , 2017. P 517; CH 19 Postmodern and AvantGarde Furniture...
Textile
$3,450
H 34.5 in W 19.5 in D 18.5 in
Palace Chair by George Sowden for Memphis, Milano, Blue, Green, Yellow, Black
By Memphis Milano, George Sowden
Located in Kansas City, MO
George Sowden for Memphis "Palace Chair", 1983. Multicolor form with arms. Completely original with very few signs of use.
Wood
Vitra Verner Panton S Junior Chair in Orange Plastic, 2009
By Vitra
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Amazing Vitra Verner Panton S Junior Chair, produced in 2009. This playful chair reinterpret one of the most iconic furniture designs of the 20th century. Originally conceived in the...
Plastic
$2,500
H 32.29 in W 14.97 in D 22.84 in
Kim Steel and Plywood Chair Michele De Lucchi for Memphis Original 1980s
By Memphis Group, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Kim chair designed by Michele De Lucchi in 1987. Made of unique shaped black steel frame and bent plywood for back and seat. Memphis logo mark is on the back of the seat. This logo i...
Steel
$4,200 / set
H 33.47 in W 16.54 in D 18.51 in
8 Memphis Postmodern Dining Chairs Manner of Michele De Lucci, Italy, 1980s
By Memphis Group
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
8 Memphis Postmodern dining chairs manner of Michele De Lucci, Italy, 1980s. Fiberglass seat. Metal frame. Solid and stabile. Perfect condition,...
Metal
$1,450 / item
H 35.44 in W 15.75 in D 18.12 in
Primula Chair by George J. Sowden by Post Design Collection/Memphis
By George Sowden
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Primula chair in metal and wood by George J. Sowden by Post Design collection/Memphis Additional Information: Painted metal structure, painted wooden seat and back, feet in rubbe...
Metal
$8,259 / item
H 57.49 in W 22.84 in D 15.75 in
Marmo Chair in Wood by Nathalie Du Pasquier for Post Design Collection/Memphis
By Nathalie du Pasquier
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Marmo chair in wood by Nathalie Du Pasquier by Post Design collection/Memphis Additional Information: Mahogany structure, seat in wood veneer, back in ...
Wood
Sold
H 35.5 in W 27 in D 18 in
Set of Four 'First' Chairs by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis 1980's Milan, Italy
By Memphis Milano, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Set of Four 'First' chairs by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis 1980's Milan, Italy Hard-to-find set of the dynamic, iconic design. Lacquered wood seats and moveable backrests...
Metal