Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
POSTMODERN STYLE
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
- Ettore Sottsass
- Robert Venturi
- Alessandro Mendini
- Michele de Lucchi
- Michael Graves
- Nathalie du Pasquier
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.
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Style: Post-Modern
1980s Red & Black Metal Clock by Time Square
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A postmodern desk or table clock by Time Square. This "fashionable timepiece" (the manufacturer's language on packaging) is constructed from a piece of curved red powder coated metal...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Desk or Mantle Clock by Hermle
By Hermle
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An outstanding black and aqua blue desk or mantle clock by Hermle, a 100 year old German clockmaker. With all of the panache of the postmodern era, this clock most likely dates from...
Category
Late 20th Century German Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
Vintage Canetti Camera Clock
By Canetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A postmodern clock by Canetti in the shape of a camera. The clock's face is set into the camera's lens and the body is solid wood with a moving film advance lever. In vintage condit...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Glass, Wood
Post-modern Cloud Clock by Heide Warlamis, Vienna Collection Porcelain, Numbered
Located in Chicago, IL
This porcelain cloud clock was designed by Austrian master Heide Warlamis, part of the esteemed Vienna Collection from the 1980s. This rare numbered limited edition piece is marked a...
Category
1980s Austrian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage 1970s Braun Table Alarm Clock by Dieter Rams + Dietrich Lubs
By Dieter Rams
Located in Hyattsville, MD
It's works perfectly, and was never any leakage in the battery box. Keeps good time. Made in Germany. Good vintage condition. Power Supply / Battery / 1 - C, not included.
Measures:...
Category
1970s German Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
Postmodern marble and chrome Moderntime table clock by Canetti. Circa 1988
Located in Houston, TX
Postmodern table clock by Canetti.
With a marble base and chrome frame.
In great working order.
Circa 1988.
13" x 5”
Category
1980s Unknown Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Chrome
Post-Modern Desk Clock by Michael Graves
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice post-modern desk clock by Michael Graves, circa the 1980s. The clock is in good vintage condition and measures 4"W x 2.5"D x 5.25"H. It is Quartz alarm clock made in Taiwan t...
Category
Late 20th Century Taiwanese Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1988 Italian Conchiglia Desk Clock by Winning Ideas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning Italian postmodern black Conchiglia desk clock from 1988 by Winning Ideas. Made in Italy, the clock's name ("Conchiglia") translates to shell in Italian. This clock's b...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
Timeless Hourglass by Secondome Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Timeless Hourglass by Secondome Edizioni
Limited Edition Of 30 Pieces.
Designer: CTRLZACK.
Dimensions: D 20 x W 13,5 x H 33 cm.
Materials: Handblown glass, magnet, iron powder and br...
Category
2010s Italian Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Magnets, Iron, Brass
Postmodern Mantle Clock by Michael Graves for Alessi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by renowned postmodern American architect Michael Graves in 1986 for Italian housewares powerhouse Alessi. Graves’ designs perfectly capture the 1980s aesthetic, especially ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Glass, Plastic, Birdseye Maple
Twinbird Jumping Clock, 1980's
Located in FERROL, ES
Twinbird Jumping Clock, 1980's
Pendulum system that works from bottom to top. The pendulum system does not work.
The watch works correctly.
The watch has advertising for a chain a...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
1980s Black & White Stacked Desk or Mantel Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a perfect contrast of white and black enameled metal, black lucite accents, and primary colored hands, this postmodern clock is designed with a stacked trianglular design that g...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Round Pop Art Desk or Table Clock, Memphis Milano Style, Italy, 1990s
Located in Vienna, AT
An eye-catching post-modern Pop-Art Italian desk or table clock from the early 1990s. Outstanding design, the housing is made of black rubber, it has a clear see-trough clocks face, ...
Category
1990s Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plexiglass, Rubber, Plastic
Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 2 by George Nelson, 1984
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare postmodern cream, brown, and navy checkerboard table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Very few signs...
Category
1980s North American Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Aluminum
Postmodern Memphis Milano Style Torsion Pendulum Table Clock by Kundo Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
A wonderful post modern Memphis style desk or table pillar clock with a rotating triangular pendulum. Executed by Kundo Germany in the 1980s.
Made of na...
Category
1980s German Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic, Wood
Nicolai Canetti - Artec - Table Clock 1980s
By Canetti
Located in Den Haag, NL
Rare Postmodern Constructivist Geometric Artec Collector's Collection Clock by Canetti, USA, 1980s.
Postmodern Clock, ArTime Collection, by Canetti, Inc, 1980s
This clock has a uniqu...
Category
1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Pyramid Desk or Table Clock by Makiko Taniguchi, Japan, 1980s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful post-modern black and red triangle desk / table / mantel clock from the 1980s. Designed by Makiko Taniguchi, Japan. Made of metal and plastic...
Category
1980s Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Solid Lucite & Brass Electric Desk / Mantel Clock by Telechron
Located in San Diego, CA
A gorgeous solid lucite with brass accents electric desk / mantel clock by Telechron, circa 1940s. The clock is in very good working condition and keeps accurate time. The brass dial...
Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Brass
Post Modern Sculptural Clock in the Style of Sosstass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Really cool sculptural clock in the memphis style powered by a battery.
Category
Late 20th Century European Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Stainless Steel
1980s Postmodern Red Metal Pyramid Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An eye-catching postmodern red metal desk, table , or mantle clock in the shape of a pyramid with blue and yellow hands.
In vintage condition with wear c...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Neos table Clock George Sowden Nathalie du Pasquier Postmodern
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Neos clock designed by George Sowden and Nathalie du Pasquier.
One of some table clock variations.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic, Acrylic
1980s Yellow & Black Stacked Desk or Mantel Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a stunning combination of yellow, black, and enameled metal, black lucite accents, and primary-colored hands, this postmodern clock is designed with a stacked semi-circle design...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Postmodern "Paradise" Table Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita and Canetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An insanely spectacular postmodern table clock designed by Shohei Mihara in the 1980s and produced by Wakita and Canetti. Capturing the best of Memphis Milano's influence on 1980s de...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Postmodern Table Clock, 1980s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Tis Postmodern is part of unique series of 24 hand made wall or table clock by the young designer Ernest Hofman from 1980s.Each clock is unikue.
Category
1980s Serbian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Wood
1980s Postmodern Table Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Wakita, Shohei Mihara
Located in Brooklyn, NY
In keeping with Memphis Group-inspired designs of the 1980s, this whimsical desk or table clock use bright colors, geometric shapes, and contrast to unc...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Deco Vintage Lucite Desk or Mantle Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lovely Art Deco-inspired lucite desk or mantle clock with lucite body and base, mirrored face, brass hands, and brass marks at 3, 6, 9, and 12.
In goo...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Mirror, Lucite
Post Modern Table Clock, 1980s
Located in Čelinac, BA
This post modern clock is part of a unique series of 24 hand made wall and table clocks by the youngdesigner Ernest Hofman from 1980.Each clock is unique and its only one maded.
Category
1980s Serbian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Wood
Postmodern Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Metro Table Clock "Tempo 21"
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Navy pyramid base with a cream wavy stem that holds the red and green clock...
Category
1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Aluminum
Memphis Design Postmodern Table Clock by Haller, Germany, 1980's
Located in Zagreb, HR
Rare Memphis style table clock produced in the 1980's in Germany by Haller Clocks.
The clock is made of black and red plastic and has a battery operated ...
Category
1980s German Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
1980s Lucite & Brass Table Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a rectangular base, tall body, and brass colored face and hands, this sleek lucite desk, table or mantle clock has clean lines, simple elegance, a...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Lucite
Postmodern Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Olympus Table Clock "Tempo 21"
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare "Olympus" table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. The circular red clock face is upheld by a green pyramid base...
Category
1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Aluminum
Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 3
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare postmodern brown and cream checkerboard table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Slight signs of wear ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Aluminum
Deadstock Tabletop Clock, Nathalie Du Pasquier and George Sowden for Neos Lorenz
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Tabletop clock by Nathalie Du Pasquier and George Sowden for Neos of Lorenz. Iconic and rare piece in enameled steel and plastic. Maintains original pac...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Steel
1980s Postmodern Blue Metal Pyramid Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An eye-catching postmodern blue metal desk, table, or mantle clock in the shape of a pyramid with yellow hands and red accent.
In vintage condition...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Postmodern Mantle Clock by Empire Arts
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A vintage 1980s postmodern textured mantle clock by Empire Art Products in various shades of spelled gray. In very good vintage condition and works well.
Measures: 9.5" x 5" x 14.5".
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Glass, Wood
1980s Multicolor Stacked Desk or Mantel Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a stunning combination of red, blue, green, and yellow enameled metal, and yellow lucite accents, this postmodern clock is designed with a stacke...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Vintage Japanese Postmodern Black Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly 1980s black table or desk clock with yellow, red, and blue accents. The maker, Shiseido, captured the postmodern aesthetic with the use of primary colors, striking angles...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Black and Gray Table Clock by Costantini l’Oggetto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Manufactured by Costantini l’Ogetto in Italy during the 1980s and likely designed by Pietro d’Amato, this table or mantle clock has a glossy black stepped base, matte gray body, matt...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Wood
Post-Modern Desk Clock by ETC USA
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool post-modern desk clock by ETC USA, circa 1980s. The piece has a great minimalist look and is in very good condition with no chips or cra...
Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
1980s White Metal Desk Clock by Time Square
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A postmodern desk or table clock by Time Square. This "fashionable timepiece" (the manufacturer's language on packaging) is constructed from a piece of bent white powder coated metal...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Danese Milano Kuno Prey Concrete Clock, 1986
Located in Tilburg, NL
Danese Milano Kuno prey concrete clock. Italy, 1986.
This is a very rare post-modern concrete clock designed by Kuno Prey for the Milanese company Danese....
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Concrete
Glass Pendulum Clock Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Glass pendulum clock by Sessa. It can be used as both standing on the table and hanging on the wall. Takashi Kato designed a lot of clocks in the 1980s-19...
Category
1990s Japanese Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Glass, Plastic
Large, Unusual 1980s Postmodern Design Table Clock Made of Cherry Wood
Located in München, DE
Large, unusual 1980s Postmodern design table clock made of cherry wood
Great interesting design made of solid wood. Manufacturer is unknown.
But it is certainly from a well-known m...
Category
1980s German Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Brass
Table Clock2 Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Wall clock by Sessa. Takashi Kato designed a lot of clocks in the 1980s-1990s. Some of clock collections were released from Neos Lorenz in European Market...
Category
1990s Japanese Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Steel
1980s Grey & Black Stacked Desk or Mantel Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a stunning combination of spotted gray and black enameled metal, black lucite accents, and primary colored hands, this postmodern clock is design...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Memphis Clock by Nathalie du Pasquier and George Sowden for Neos Lorenz Italy
Located in Chicago, IL
Created by Nathalie du Pasquier and George Sowden for Neos Lorenz in 1988 Italy, this ceramic table clock, with its bold shapes and patterns, is an excellent example of 1980s design....
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Porcelain
Vandor Post-Modern Marble Table Clock, 1985
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Vandor Post-Modern Marble Table Clock, 1985.
Category
20th Century Taiwanese Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Marble
1980s Blue, Yellow and Black Metal Desk Clock by Time Square
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A postmodern desk or table clock by Time Square. This "fashionable timepiece" (the manufacturer's language on packaging) is constructed from a piece of curved blue powder coated met...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Blue & Yellow Metal Desk Clock by Time Square
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A postmodern desk or table clock by Time Square. This "fashionable timepiece" (the manufacturer's language on packaging) is constructed from a piece of curved blue powder coated meta...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Post-modern table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Post-Modern table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage table clocks and desk clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, plastic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Post-Modern table clocks and desk clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original table clocks and desk clocks, popular names associated with this style include Howard Miller, George Nelson, Canetti, and George Sowden. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for table clocks and desk clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $140 and tops out at $3,747 while the average work can sell for $390.
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