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.
"Tutti Frutti" Gaetano Pesce Fish Design Green Resin Bowl
Located in Brescia, IT
Tutti Frutti basket Green soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. With original box Excellent condiction.
Resin
Artefacto Chan Maák Cab Decorative Object by Lørdag & Søndag
Located in Geneve, CH
Artefacto Chan Maák Cab Decorative Object by Lørdag & Søndag Dimensions: D 18 x W 50 x H 55 cm. Materials: Wicker. Lørdag & Søndag is a design studio founded in 2011 by Salv...
Wicker
Italy Mid Century Modern Small Nickel Silver Basket, Alessi Era
By Alessi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a mid-century modern nickel or silver-plate basket. Stamped MADE IN ITALY. Dimensions: 3.25" H x 8" diameter Please visit take a look at our listings, we ha...
Silver Plate, Nickel
Meritalia SENZAFINE Round Basket, Medium / Black by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Tangled polyurethane is used in Edizioni del Pesce to create a series of vases with various shapes: Senzafine by Gaetano Pesce. This intrinsic variety infuses each piece with its own...
Plastic
Meritalia SENZAFINE Square Basket, Medium / Green by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Tangled polyurethane is used in Edizioni del Pesce to create a series of vases with various shapes: Senzafine by Gaetano Pesce. This intrinsic variety infuses each piece with its own...
Plastic
Meritalia SENZAFINE Square Basket, Large / Yellow by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Tangled polyurethane is used in Edizioni del Pesce to create a series of vases with various shapes: Senzafine by Gaetano Pesce. This intrinsic variety infuses each piece with its own...
Plastic
Meritalia SENZAFINE Round Basket, Large / Red by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Tangled polyurethane is used in Edizioni del Pesce to create a series of vases with various shapes: Senzafine by Gaetano Pesce. This intrinsic variety infuses each piece with its own...
Plastic
$17,649 / item
Urn by Rick Owens
By Rick Owens
Located in Geneve, CH
Urn by Rick Owens 2007 Dimensions: L 34 x W 34 x H 57 cm Materials: Bronze Weight: 37 kg Available in Black finish or Nitrate (Dark Brown) finish. ...
Bronze
Mocca Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Mocca Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, Leather Also Available: Different leather and frame colors available,...
Steel
Castagno Large Leather Hand-Woven Decorative Basket by Oscar Maschera
Located in Geneve, CH
Castagno Large Leather Hand-Woven Decorative Basket by Oscar Maschera Dimensions: D 40 x W 50 x H 35 cm. Materials: Leather. Available in three different sizes. Prices may vary. Ple...
Leather
$861 / item
Kastle Violet Mini Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle Violet Mini Bowl by Purho Dimensions: D15 x W11 x H6cm Materials: Glass Other colours and dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design , ...
Glass
Hazelnut Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Hazelnut Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, Leather Also Available: Different leather and frame colors availab...
Steel
Italian 1980s Perforated Yellow Metal Waste Basket
By Rexite
Located in Milan, IT
A vibrant and graphic 1980s waste basket crafted in perforated lacquered metal, finished in a bold mustard yellow. The cylindrical form is defined by a rhythmic pattern of evenly spa...
Metal
Unique Elementa Fruit Holder in Satin Brass by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Elementa Fruit Holder in Satin Brass by Mingardo Dimensions: D16.5 x H8.5 cm Materials:Natural satin brass and natural varnished iron Weight: 5 kg...
Brass, Iron
Towle Silversmith Nickel Plated Leaf Serving Tray Lizard Decor
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, Towle Silversmith Nickel Plated Leaf Serving Tray Lizard Decor Dimensions: 3.5" H x 21.5" L x 14" D Please visit take a look at our listings, we have an ama...
Nickel
Velvet White Lali Big Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Velvet White Lali big vide poche by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 37 x D 33 x H 4 cm Materials: Stoneware. Inspired by extended stays in Central America, Sophie Parachey’s work ...
Stoneware
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary Pine Needle Angled Decorative Basket with Silver Plated Edge
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful elegant pin needle angled basket, nicely worn we have polished the edge looks lightly worn due to age.
Metal
$220Sale Price / set|20% Off
Postmodern Set of 3 Japanese Lacquerware Serving Trays with Handles
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare set of 3 lacquerware serving trays, excellent condition never used in gray finish top with black bottom with wrapping handles, made in Japan.
Lacquer
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Hand Woven Rope Basket / Magazine Holder by Gunther Lambert
Located in San Diego, CA
A super nice hand woven rope basket / magazine holder by Gunther Lambert, circa 1980s. The piece is signed on the side, is in very good vintage conditi...
Rope
1980s Up&Up Sergio Asti Marble Fruitbowl Italian Postmodern Design Bowl
By Sergio Asti, Up&Up
Located in Brescia, IT
Carrara marble. Rare object by Up&Up design Excellent condition One foot restored.
Carrara Marble
Glass basket from Bleikristall, Germany
By Bleikristall
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Bleikristall Crystal Basket, Germany This Bleikristall crystal basket from Germany features a striking, vibrant green color, enhanced by its distinctive, deep-cut pattern. The design...
Art Glass
Cognac Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Cognac leather and steel Maggiz magazine rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, Leather Also Available: Different leather and frame colors available...
Steel
Hazelnut Leather and Black Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Hazelnut leather and black steel Maggiz magazine rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, leather Also available: Different leather and frame colors a...
Steel
Black Leather and Black Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Black leather and black steel maggiz magazine rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, Leather Also Available: Different leather and frame colors avai...
Steel
Resin Decorative Basket in Gold Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Resin Decorative Basket in Gold Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 33 x W 33 x H 33 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin.
Epoxy Resin
$861 / item
Kastle Red Mini Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle Red Mini Bowl by Purho Dimensions: D15 x W11 x H6cm Materials: Glass Other colours and Dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of ma...
Glass
$1,962 / item
Kastle Pink Small Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle Pink small bowl by Purho Dimensions: D24 x W16 x H10cm Materials: Glass other colours and Dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design , a w...
Glass
$3,403 / item
Shour Fruit Bowl by Elham Nejati
Located in Geneve, CH
Shour fruit bowl by Elham Nejati Dimensions: Ø 24 x H 25 cm. Materials: Black marble, white marble, stainless steel, brass. Elham Nejati: "My name is Elham Nejati. I have a ma...
Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
$5,659 / item
Jari Fruit Bowl by Elham Nejati
Located in Geneve, CH
Jari fruit bowl by Elham Nejati Dimensions: Ø 36 x H 28 cm. Materials: Black marble, white marble, stainless steel, brass. Elham Nejati: "My name i...
Marble, Stainless Steel, Brass
$3,673 / item
Kastle Red Large Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle Red Large Bowl by Purho Dimensions: D40 x W30 x H14cm Materials: Glass Other colours and Dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagoni...
Glass
$4,606 / item
Edie Blue Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Edie Blue Bowl by Purho Dimensions: D40 x H25 cm Materials: Glass Other colours available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design , a work of synthesis, a research ...
Glass
Hypomea Copper Decorative Contemporary Art Bowl by Samuel Costanini
Located in Geneve, CH
Hypomea copper bowl by Samuel Costantini Dimensions: D25 x H8 cm Materials: copper Copper bowl worked en-rely by hand. The oxydation of copper ...
Copper
Red White Yugen Stonewares No. 4 Bowl by Yusuké Y. Offhause
Located in Geneve, CH
Red white Yugen stonewares No 4 bowl by Yusuke´ Y. Offhause One of a Kind, the work is in two parts. Dimensions: D 24 x W 24 x H 8.8 cm. Materials: polished stoneware, polished po...
Other
$1,962 / item
Kastle Orange Small Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle Orange Small Bowl by Purho Dimensions: D24 x W16 x H10cm Materials: Glass Other colours and Dimensions are available. Purho is a new pro...
Glass
Shiny Camel Lali Small Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Shiny Camel Lali Small Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 28 x D 24 x H 3.5 cm Materials: Stoneware. Inspired by extended stays in Central America, Sophie Parachey’s wo...
Stoneware
Mocca Leather and Black Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Mocca leather and black steel Maggiz Magazine rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, leather Also available: Different leather and frame colors avai...
Steel
$684 / item
Fruit Platter in Terracotta by Marta Bonilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Fruit platter in terracotta by Marta Bonilla Dimensions: D22 x H25 cm Materials: Terracotta , clay. Fruit Platter in terracotta: Low temperature hand modeled piece.Kkeeps the na...
Clay, Terracotta
Set of 3 Cells Table Centerpieces by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 cells table Centerpieces by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 32 x D 22.5 x H 4.5 cm W 33,5 x D 18 x H 4,5 cm W 19,5 x D 14 x H 4,5 cm Materials: Sand stoneware, velvet pear...
Stoneware
Mate Cracked Sage Lali Big Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Mate cracked sage Lali big vide Poche by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 37 x D 33 x H 4 cm Materials: Stoneware. Inspired by extended stays in Central America, Sophie Parachey’s ...
Stoneware
$634 / item
Shell I Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Shell I Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 34 x D 20 x H 3 cm Dimensions satellite: W 6 x D 6 x H 3 cm Materials: White stoneware, velvet w...
Stoneware
$3,673 / item
Kastle Green Large Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle green large bowl by Purho Dimensions: D40 x W30 x H14cm Materials: Glass Other colours and dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design ,...
Glass
Resin Decorative Flower Basket in Grey Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Resin Decorative Flower Basket in Grey Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 30,5 x W 61x H 33 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin.
Epoxy Resin
Resin Decorative Basket No. 2 in Grey Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Resin Decorative Basket No. 2 in Grey Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 25,4 x W 25,4 x H 40,6 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin.
Epoxy Resin
Resin Decorative Basket No. 1 in Grey Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Resin Decorative Basket No. 1 in Grey Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 35,6 x W 35,6 x H 22,9 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin.
Epoxy Resin
Resin Decorative Basket in River Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Resin Decorative Basket in River Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 38,1 x W 38,1 x H 17,8 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin.
Epoxy Resin
Resin Decorative Basket in Blue Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Resin Decorative Basket in Blue Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 35,6 x W 35,6 x H 22,9 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin.
Epoxy Resin
Resin Decorative Basket in Multi-Color Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Resin Decorative Basket in Multi-Color Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 22,9 x W 25,4 x H 22,9 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin.
Epoxy Resin
Nature Leather and Black Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by Ox Denmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature leather and black steel maggiz magazine rack by Ox Denmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: steel, leather Also available: different leather and frame colors av...
Steel
$861 / item
Kastle Brown Mini Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle Brown Mini Bowl by Purho Dimensions: D15 x W11 x H6cm Materials: Glass Other colours and Dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design, a ...
Glass
$4,606 / item
Edie Green Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Edie Green Bowl by Purho Dimensions: D40 x H25 cm Materials: Glass Other colours available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design, a work...
Glass
$861 / item
Kastle Grey Mini Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle grey mini bowl by Purho Dimensions: D 15 x W 11 x H 6cm Materials: Glass Other colours and dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design ,...
Glass
Nature Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, Leather Also Available: Different leather and frame colors available...
Steel
Black Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Black leather and steel Maggiz magazine rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, Leather Also Available: Different leather and frame colors available ...
Steel
$2,584 / set
Set of 3 Kastle Mini Bowls by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Kastle mini bowls by Purho Dimensions: D 15 x W 11 x H 6cm Materials: Glass. Other colours and dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy de...
Glass
$9,213 / set
Set of 2 Edie Light Blue Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Edie light blue bowl by Purho Dimensions: D 40 x H 25 cm Materials: Glass Other colours available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design , a work of synth...
Glass
$5,396 / set
Set of 3 Kastle Bowls by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 kastle bowls by Purho Dimensions: D40 x W30 x H14cm / D15 x W11 x H6 cm Materials: Glass Other colours and Dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of mad...
Glass
$4,606 / item
Edie Light Blue Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Edie light blue bowl by Purho Dimensions: D40 x H25 cm Materials: Glass Other colours available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design , a work of synthesis, a res...
Glass
$1,579 / item
Barbican Bowl No.2 by A Space
Located in Geneve, CH
Barbican bowl No.2 by A Space Dimensions:D22,86 x W22,86 x H16,51 cm Materials:Misc recycled. The design duo conceived the Barbican Collection over the spring/summer of 2020 whi...
Other
Malabar Pink Lali Small Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Malabar Pink Lali Small Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 28 x D 24 x H 3.5 cm Materials: Stoneware. Inspired by extended stays in Central America, Sophie Parachey’s w...
Stoneware
Vinyl black Lali Small Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Vinyl black Lali small vide poche by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 28 x D 24 x H 3.5 cm Materials: Stoneware. Inspired by extended stays in Central America, Sophie Parachey’s wo...
Stoneware