Postmodern Table desk Clock in Uranium White Milk Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool and unique uranium glass postmodern table desk clock, circa 1980's.
Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Glass
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
Postmodern Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Olympus Table Clock "Tempo 21"
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
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
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
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
Space Age Kinetic Desk Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bringing a touch of Space Age design flair to your space, this mid-century clock features a kinetic sphere design, with the clock's hands rotating within the chrome frame. This cloc...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Pyramid quartz watch by Seiko, Japan, 1980s
By Seiko
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Pyramid Quartz Clock produced in the 1980s by SEIKO, with its pyramidal shape, so unique, gives the object a futuristic character, but with a deeply retro soul. A timeless piece of d...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic, Laminate
Jaeger-LeCoultre - Mémovox mechanical travel watch from the 1970s
By Jaeger & Co.
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
This watch is a vintage classic from the renowned Jaeger-LeCoultre brand, specifically the Mémovox model, an iconic mechanical travel watch from the 1970s. The watch has a square or ...
Category
20th Century Swiss Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
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
Danese Milano Kuno Prey Concrete Clock, 1986
Located in Meer, VAN
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
Handcrafted Memphis style desk clock made from copper, Netherlands 1980s
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in ECHT, NL
Hand crafted table clock. The housing has been hand made from copper plate and opper wire. The details are painted in primary colors giving it the distinctive Memphis "look" and fee...
Category
Late 20th Century Dutch Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Copper
A postmodern sculptural welded metal clock by Jon Sarriugarte, signed, 1991
By Jon Sarriugarte
Located in View Park, CA
« Postmodern Form and Reform », a hand-forged metal sculpture clock with long squiggle base by Jon Sarriugarte, signed, 1991. With battery operated me...
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Postmodern Desk Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Shohei Mihara, Nathalie du Pasquier, Wakita, George Sowden
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic Japanese postmodern vintage desk, mantel, or shelf clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita. (This design can also be found with markings from NEOS, the clock company that spec...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
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
Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 2 by George Nelson, 1984
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
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
Jaeger LeCoultre 8-Day Desk Clock with Date
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Jaeger LeCoultre 8-Day Desk Clock with Date This Jaeger-LeCoultre desk clock is a classic piece of Swiss watchmaking, known for its hand-wound 8-day movement. Its design evokes the a...
Category
20th Century Swiss Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Brass
Jaeger “Rue de la Paix” desk clock, France, ca. 1960
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Jaeger “Rue de la Paix” Desk Clock, France, ca. 1960 Original decorative clock in the shape of a Parisian lantern, made of dark green enameled metal w...
Category
20th Century French Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
1980s Wakita Spring Table Clock
By Wakita, Shohei Mihara
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A striking postmodern table clock by Wakita featuring a sculptural white coiled spring base supporting a minimalist white face. The clean circular dial displays simple gray dot hour ...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Radical Memphis style table lamp clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table lamp clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white lamp-shaped dial on black background. Signature "Missiani...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Memphis Style Red Triangle Base Desk Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly designed 1980s Memphis Milano-inspired desk clock with a black triangular base, red plastic case, and black and white squiggle face. Looks like it could've been designed...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 3
By Howard Miller, George Nelson
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
Glass Pendulum Clock Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
$250Sale Price|50% Off
Glass Pendulum Clock Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
By Memphis Milano, Nathalie du Pasquier
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
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
Vintage Triangle Stand Clock Two-Piece Memphis Style Italy, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage triangle stand clock two-piece Memphis Style Italy, 1980s This unique vintage clock by Diamantini Domeniconi impresses with its high-contrast design in Memphis style. The tr...
Category
20th Century Italian Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Desk Clock, Blue and Gold, Switzerland, circa 1970
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Desk Clock, Blue and Gold, Switzerland, circa 1970 An elegant vintage Swiss Jaeger-LeCoultre desk clock with a striking deep blue dial reminiscent of lapis l...
Category
20th Century Swiss Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze
1980s Postmodern Black & Silver Pendulum Desk Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic postmodern vintage desk, mantel, or shelf clock with a oval base, rounded top case, geometric hands, and a silver pendulum 'ring' above the base of the clock that keeps t...
Category
1980s Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
Postmodern Artec Table Clock by Nicolai Canetti, Metal, USA, 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 Alarm Desk Clock Designed by Dietrich Lubs For Braun
By Braun, Dietrich Lubs
Located in San Diego, CA
Classic analouge alarm battery desk top clock simple elegant design , in great condition battery AA not included.Model BC01W
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Plastic
Postmodern Round Pop Art Desk or Table Clock, Memphis Milano Style, Italy, 1990s
By Memphis Milano, Nathalie du Pasquier, George Sowden
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
Plastic, Plexiglass, Rubber
1980s Postmodern Chrome Rocking Desk Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic postmodern vintage desk, mantel, or shelf clock in the style of Shohei Mihara’s designs for Wakita. With a black face, red, white and yellow hands, and chrome rocking b...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Postmodern Alarm Clock from Marco, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Alarm Clock from Marco, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Plastic Color:...
Category
20th Century German Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Radical Memphis style table lamp clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table lamp clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with red lamp-shaped dial on black background. Signature "Missiani" ...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Radical Memphis style table clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white dial on black background. Designer's signature visible on the ...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
1980s Lucite Mantel Clock
By Felice Antonio Botta, Hivo Van Teal, Shlomi Haziza
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A simple and sophisticated lucite mantle or table clock with a rectangular base, tall diamond shaped body, textured light gray face, brass marks for numbers, and brass hands. It is ...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Lucite
outstanding 1980s TABLE CLOCK black and silver gray metal postmodern style
Located in Mannheim, DE
1980s table clock in outstanding design. Made of black and silver gray lacquered metal, white clock hands. Battery works (battery is not included). Dimensions in cm: Width 19.9 cm,...
Category
1980s German Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Vintage 1990s Postmodern Desk Clock by Brian Prothro for Zipadeedoodah Designs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A unique desk or mantle clock is a fantastic example of late 1980s or early 1990s postmodern design, created by Brian Prothro for Zipadeedoodah Designs. It features a striking combin...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Lucite
Memphis Milano style table clock in painted metal, 1980s
Located in STRASBOURG, FR
1980s table clock made of painted sheet metal and plastic, Memphis Milano inspired design, in the style of Ettore Sottsass. In mint condition, taken out of its box for the photo, i...
Category
1980s Vintage Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
Vintage 1980s Lorenz Action Art Table/Wall Clock
By Lorenz
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bringing a touch of Space Age design flair to your space, this mid-century clock features a kinetic sphere design, with the clock's hands rotating within the chrome frame. Cleverly designed so that it can both be used on a table as a desk clock and can be hung to be a wall clock. This clock was made or licensed by several companies, including "Jeco", "Yachiyo", and others. This piece is made by Lorenz Action Art...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Metal
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
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
"WAVYBONE" Desk Clock by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning desk clock with bold Memphis Milano influences, "Wavybone” by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies features a dramatic undulating silhouette that creates fantastic visual movem...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Corian
1980s Smoked Glass and Mirror Clock by John Gilmore for Accessories Art
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning postmodern smoked glass and mirror table or mantle clock. Triangular mirrored base with beveled edges and a mirrored face with a smoked glass border featuring rounded edg...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Glass, Mirror
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
1980s Postmodern Table Clock attr. to Shohei Mihara for Wakita and Canetti
With a chrome frame, black and white face, and geometric hands in green, red, and yellow, this amazing 1980s desk clock has all of the hallmarks of great 1980s Memphis-inspired postm...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Chrome
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
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
1980s White Metal Desk Clock by Time Square
$175 / item
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
Timeless Hourglass by Secondome Edizioni
$3,933 / item
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
Brass, Iron, Magnets
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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