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.
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Mixed Woods Valet / Desk Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A finely crafted mid-century modern valet or desktop storage box executed in contrasting mixed hardwoods, likely teak with lighter maple or birch accents. The box features clean Scan...
Wood
Brazilian Agate Onyx and Wood Round Jewelry Trinket Box, Brazil, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A round Brazilian agate onyx and wood trinket or jewelry box, in the Modern style Post-Modern period, circa-late 20th century, 1980s early 1990s, Brazil. Box has a rich brown wood wi...
Onyx, Agate
Tessellated Pink Stone Box
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage tessellated stone box. Nice medium size for storing a variety of items. Pink tone to the stone with a wood interior. Made in the Philippines. Measures 9"W x 6"D x 4.5"H
Stone
Vintage Italian Pink And Gold Alabaster Round Pill Box 1970
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage timeless elegance handcrafted Italian pink alabaster pill box trimmed in gold tone metal. Featuring a hinged lid and gilt brass metal trim,the lid is decorated with a rose, i...
Alabaster
Pen shell Pyramid Box attributed to Maitland Smith
Located in Winnetka, IL
A pyramid shaped box having 4 graduating drawers with brass ball knobs . Made of polished pen shell which is a material that the manufacturer Maitland Smith often used. All sitting u...
Brass
$495
Wood Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A rectangular wood box, Postmodern design period, circa late-20h century. Box has three wood hues, velvet lined, easy open/close lid. Very good condition as shown.
Velvet, Wood
Studio Wood Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, hand-crafted studio wood jewelry or trinket box, Modern Brutalist style, Postmodern design period, circa late-20th century, USA.
Wood
Maitland Smith Mother Of Pearl Box
By Maitland Smith, Karl Springer, Robert Marcius, Casa Bique
Located in Houston, TX
Maitland Smith Mother Of Pearl Box. Offered is a very large decorative box of tessellated mother of pearl in the geometric Art Deco styl...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
$500Sale Price|20% Off
Marble Box with Jewish Star of David Design
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful modern style or Postmodern period marble and brass box with Jewish Star of David design, circa late-20th century, 1980s, 90s. Box, att...
Stone, Marble, Brass
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Decorative Marble Box circa 1980
By Sergio Asti, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Postmodern Decorative Marble Box circa 1980.
Marble
$1,127 / item
Small Selene Box by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Selene Box by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 15 x W 22 x H 4 cm Materials: Leather, wood, horn, brass. Rectangular box in dark horn and wood with lacquered black gloss finish. Lid in ...
Brass
Postmodern Box with Slate Lid, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Box with Slate Lid, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Color: Black Styles: Postmodern Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owne...
Glass
Memphis Style Triangular Mixed Wood Trinket Box by Russ Keil
By Russ Keil
Located in San Diego, CA
Memphis style mixed wood triangular trinket box by Russ Keil, circa 1990s. The box measures 4.5"W x 4.5"D x 5.75"H and is made of a padouk and sugar maple hardwood . There is a small...
Maple, Padouk
1980's Tessellated Stone & Brass Lidded Box by Desia
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Felt-lined lidded box all handcrafted from natural stones Indigenous to the Philippines.
Stone
$88Sale Price|20% Off
Decorative geode and black glass jewelry box by Don Drumm, late 20th century
By Don Drumm
Located in View Park, CA
A very unique decorative jewelry box hand-crafted of black glass, mirror, iron, and geode by Don Drumm, late 20th century. The geode boasts a bevy of brilliant blues, from cerulean t...
Rock Crystal, Iron
Vintage Hermès Paris Cigarette Case with Equestrian Design and Horse Finial
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Hermès Paris Cigarette Case with Equestrian Design and Horse Finial An elegant vintage Hermès Paris cigarette case, crafted in silver-plated metal and topped with a sculptura...
Metal
Maitland Smith Post Modern White Tessellated Hexagonal Stone Box 1980's
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Post Modern 1980s Maitland Smith Marble Covered Box with hinged lid and a round polished brass pull on top. Vintage Postmodern geometric design decorative box white tessellated stone...
Stone
Italian Travertine Marble Jewelry Box, Postmodern, 1970s Italy
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Postmodern rectangular travertine marble box, attributed to designer Fratelli Mannelli, circa late‑20th century, Italy. The box is crafted in warm sand‑toned travertine wi...
Stone, Travertine, Marble
Marble Box Dark Green Jewelry Desk
Located in New York, NY
A round marble box, Postmodern period, circa late-20th century. Marble is a dark moss green with white veining. A great piece to hold items on a desk or jewelry (demonstrated.) Lid i...
Marble
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Decorative Marble Box circa 1980
By Sergio Asti, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Postmodern Decorative Marble Box circa 1980.
Marble
Memphis Style Triangular Mixed Wood Trinket Box by Russ Keil
By Russ Keil
Located in San Diego, CA
Memphis style mixed wood triangular trinket box by Russ Keil, circa 1990s. The box measures 4.5"W x 4.5"D x 5.75"H and is made of a padouk, walnut and sugar maple hardwood . There is...
Maple, Padouk
Post-Modern Pink Marble Cylindrical Box, Carved, Pakistan, Circa 1980s
By Maitland Smith, Renoir Designs
Located in Round Top, TX
A diminutive carved pink marble Postmodern cylindrical trinket box. The perfect size for gifting a piece of jewelry or as a gift in itself for a box collector. In excellent condition...
Marble
Maitland Smith Tessellated Stone & Brass Square Box Postmodern
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage box attributed to Maitland Smith (no label present). Tessellated Stone & Brass Square Box. Postmodern era. Dominant colors: off-white, green and go...
Stone, Brass
Maitland Smith Tessellated Stone Brass Jewelry/Dresser Box, 1980
Located in Chicago, IL
Maitland Smith Tessellated Stone Brass Jewelry/Dresser box, 1980’s. Original Measures 9” x 9” 4.5” tall
Stone, Brass
Burl Wood Box Organic Modern Postmodern
Located in New York, NY
A studio elder burl wood box, hand-crafted and signed by artist, Organic Modern style Post-Modern period, circa late-20th century. A beautiful hand-made blond elder burl wood box wit...
Burl
Vintage Asian Octagonal Lacquer Box with Turtle Closure
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage Asian Octagonal Lacquer Box With Turtle Closure. Lovely 20th century Asian lacquer box with Greek key design and a metal turtle closure. Th...
Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer
Large Vintage Post-Modern Travertine Lidded Box
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage large post-modern travertine lidded box, circa 1980s. The box is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 12"W x 8"D x 4"H. Super cool and very wel...
Travertine
$384Sale Price|20% Off
Sculptural Decorative Jewelry Box in the Betty Cobonpue Style. C 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Post Modern Split Reed Decorative Jewelry Box in the Betty Cobonpue Style. Circa 1980s. Unsigned Features a split reed gracefully curved detail over a textured stone...
Reed
$495
Nose Box
By (after) Salvador Dali, Halcyon Days
Located in Hanover, MA
Dali-esque gilt metal snuff box bejeweled with light blue rhinestones and shaped like a surrealist human nose and lips . Magnetic closure. Yellow enameled interior. Amusing containe...
Multi-gemstone, Metal
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Memphis Style Postmodern Mixed Wood Jewelry Box with Drawer
Located in San Diego, CA
Memphis style Postmodern mixed wood jewelry box with drawer, circa 1998. The box measures 9"W x 9"D x 7.25"H and is made of a variety of hard woods including ash, walnut and maple. T...
Ash, Maple, Walnut
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Memphis Style Postmodern Mixed Wood Jewelry Box with Drawer
Located in San Diego, CA
Memphis style Postmodern mixed wood jewelry box with drawer, circa 1998. The box measures: 9" W x 9" D x 7.25" H and is made of a variety of hard woods including ash, walnut and mapl...
Ash, Maple, Walnut
Michael Graves Enameled Rolled Steel Mailbox, Postmodern Design, 1990
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
MICHAEL GRAVES (AMERICAN, 1934-2015), ENAMELED ROLLED STEEL MAILBOX, C.1990, H 14", L 23 3/4":An enameled and rolled steel mailbox. By Michael Graves and the Markuse Corporation. The...
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel
Gracieux Accueil Lidded Box by Nathalie Du Pasquier, 1983
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Around the time that MEMPHIS had become a world-wide phenomenon, several Italian manufacturers approached the various MEMPHIS designers to execute similar work but on different produ...
Chrome
Post Modern Snake Skin and Parchment Box by R & Y Augousti Paris
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Open topped box wrapped in parchment and with a lid having an arched top and continuing down the short sides wrapped in snakeskin with conforming bone edges. Marked on the bottom R&Y...
Animal Skin, Wood
Chessboard Bois Déchiré Art Edition by Meubles Thouret
Located in Geneve, CH
Chessboard Bois Déchiré Art Edition by Meubles Thouret. Numbered and signed by the artists. Delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity. Dimensions: W 48 x D 48 x H 5 cm. Materials:...
Resin, Wood
Maitland Smith Vintage Tessellated Stone Travertine Boxes 1970s Set of Two
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Tessellated round shape decorative lidded marble boxes by Maitland Smith Set of Two. Dimensions: Shorter: 4" diameter x 6" height Longer: 5" diameter x 7.75" height. Maitland Smith 1970s tessellated travertine table...
Stone, Travertine, Marble, Brass
Leather Box with "H" Hardware by Hermès Paris, France, ca. 1970s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Leather Box with "H" Hardware by Hermès Paris, France, ca. 1970s A sophisticated leather box made by Hermès Paris, France, circa 1970s. The piece features a restrained and timeless ...
Bronze
$4,859 / item
Chessboard Classic Wood Edition by Meubles Thouret
Located in Geneve, CH
Chessboard Classic Wood Edition by Meubles Thouret. Numbered and signed by the artists. Delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity. Dimensions: W 48 x D 48 x H 5 cm. Materials: Rar...
Wood
Postmodern Contemporary Lacquer Dresser Box Made in Italy
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Stunning Lacquer Lidded Box made in Italy. Lavender lacquer offset with Brass Piping and Bone corner detail. Wood lined with a tight fit. Matching picture frame...
Brass
R Romanelli semi-precious stones , rare box / jewelry trinket, exquisite work.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is an amazing and exquisite lapidary work. A mix of many hard stones carefully crafted . Many semi-precious stones .Paper label in back , R Romanelli .
Marble
Hermès Paris decorative box in leather and bronze.
By Hermès
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Hermès Paris decorative box in leather and bronze. This Hermès Paris decorative box features a cylindrical design covered in textured black leather on the exterior. The top and botto...
Bronze
Artist-Made Vintage Onyx / Agate & Walnut Lidded Vessel Box, Signed & Dated 1986
Located in Hastings, GB
This beautifully tactile sculptural onyx lidded box is a unique artist-made piece...unfortunately I've been unable to identify the maker's mark. We sourced it in Phoenix, Arizona. B...
Onyx
Karl Springer Lacquered Snakeskin Decorative Box
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A scrupulously-crafted, decorative trinket or jewelry box by Karl Springer comprising a rectangular body with a domed, hinged lid and a suede-lined interior. The outside is wrapped e...
Suede, Animal Skin
$552Sale Price|20% Off
Joe Colombo Post Modern Italian Steel and Glass Biglia Jewelry Box 1970
By Joe Colombo
Located in Conversano, IT
Designed by Joe Colombo and produced by Arnolfo di Cambio in the early 1970s, the “Biglia” box is a refined example of material experimentation and functional design. The object refl...
Steel
Agneta Box I in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Agneta Box I in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn Dimensions: Ø 13 x H 17 cm. Materials: Leather, wood, brass, and horn. Round box in Aida pebbled leathe...
Brass
Agneta Box II in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Agneta Box II in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 13 cm. Materials: Leather, wood, brass, and horn. Round box in Aida pebbled leath...
Brass
Ottavia Box in Glossy Horn, Ebony Veneer & Aida Pebbled Leather by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Ottavia Box in Glossy Horn, Ebony Veneer & Aida Pebbled Leather by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: D 13 x W 13 x H 11 cm. Materials: Glossy horn, ebony veneer, and Aida...
Stainless Steel, Other
Fedora Jewlery Box in Glossy Ebony, 24K Gold-Plated Brass, & Horn by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Fedora Jewlery Box in Glossy Ebony, 24K Gold-Plated Brass, & Horn by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 13 x W 21 x H 8 cm. Materials: Glossy ebony, engraved 24K gold-plated brass, and horn. Av...
Brass, Other
Veletta Tissue Box Holder in Horn, Chromed Brass & Glossy Ebony by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Veletta Tissue Box Holder in Horn, Chromed Brass & Glossy Ebony by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 14 x W 26 x H 7 cm. Materials: Glossy ebony, horn, and chromed brass. Available in three fi...
Brass, Other
Set Of 3 Bacco Smoking Lighter & Ash Trays in Horn, Brass & Wood by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 3 Bacco Smoking Lighter & Ash Trays in Horn, Brass & Wood by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: Lighter: D 10 x W 10 x H 9 cm. Cigarette Ash Tray: D 16 x W 16 x H 4...
Brass, Other
Agneta Box III in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Agneta Box III in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 16 cm. Materials: Leather, wood, brass, and horn. Round box in Aida pebbled leat...
Brass
$356Sale Price|25% Off
Leather Suede Jewelry Catchall
Located in New York, NY
A light brown/tan leather and suede jewelry catchall, Postmodern design, circa late-20th century. A square leather and suede catchall with round corners. Piece has a leather exterior...
Leather, Suede
Priora Box in Horn, Brass & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss Finish by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Priora Box in Horn, Brass & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss Finish by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 20 x W 28 x H 11 cm. Materials: Wood with lacquered ivory gloss finish, horn, and chromed...
Brass, Other
1970s Gabriella Crespi Acrylic & Bronze Box
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Acrylic box by Gabrielle Crespi, 1970s The box features a rectangular design with rounded corners, combining the transparency of acrylic with a patinated bronze band that surrounds i...
Bronze
Vintage Mixed Wood Inlaid Box / Humidor Style Storage Case
Located in San Diego, CA
A handsome vintage mixed wood inlaid presentation box featuring striking geometric banded inlay across the hinged lid. Crafted with warm-toned exotic and domestic woods, the top show...
Wood
$2,243 / item
Fedora Box II by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Fedora Box II by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 13 x W 13 x H 8 cm Materials: Wood, horn, brass, gold. Box in glossy ebony. Lid in hand engraved 24K gold plated brass with raised rounded ho...
Gold, Brass
Priora Box in Horn, Chromed Brass & Glossy Ebony by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Priora Box in Horn, Chromed Brass & Glossy Ebony by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 18 x W 18 x H 10 cm. Materials: Glossy ebony, horn, and chromed brass. Available in three sizes and th...
Brass, Other
$1,557 / item
Fine Handcut Crystal Grand Lauderlale Perfume Flacon
Located in Geneve, CH
Fine handcut crystal grand Lauderlale perfume flacon. Materials: Fine handcut crystal Dimensions: D 11 x W 11 x H 32.5 cm Weight: 3.16 kg. Reflections Copenhagen, a collection of handmade decorative mirrors and Crystal pieces, finely balanced to Challenge the traditional styles and shapes of todays’ homes by adding new dimensions and possibilities to interior decorating. Julie Hugau and Andrea Larsson, inspired by the graphic expression of Art Deco, the vast contrasts of the 1980s and the opportunity to explore the delicate materials that the mirrors are made of, combined their visions and the start of Reflections was a fact. The collection sums up their perspectives of how to provide new expressions through strength and form, the mirrors are designed with a strong visual structure to create a contrast of light and reflections through non-traditional mirror images. A concept built on Julie’s flair for design and production, Andrea’s eye for interior and colors together with their shared vision of creating a product that unites art and decor. Remember, everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you made. If you want a different result, make a different choice Welcome to the world of Reflections. The beauty of craftsmanship All Reflections...
Crystal
Collection of Five Turned Wood Artisan-Created, Hand-Carved, Wood Boxes, Japan
Located in Round Top, TX
A collection of five (5) wood boxes: Two are by studio artist L.W. Joy and were all created in the early 2000's and are turned from two exotic hardwood species. They are the two sma...
Felt, Wood
Set of 2, Plizé Boxes, L White - M Blue by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, plizé boxes, L white - M blue by Made by Choice with Hanna Anonen Dimensions: W17 x D17 x H22 cm (L), W17 x D17 x H15.5 cm (M) Materials: Birch Plywood Also available:...
Birch, Plywood