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.
$89Sale Price|31% Off
Vintage Clear Lucite Fan Shaped Card Holder by Guzzini 1980s Made in Italy
By Guzzini
Located in Amityville, NY
Vintage clear lucite or acrylic post modern fan shaped card holder, sorter or separator made in Italy in the 1980s by Guzzini. Marked "Guzzini Made in Italy" this originally was sold...
Lucite
Italian Lucite Pen Pencil Desk Holder By Designer Rede Guzzini
By Rede Guzzini
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Lucite pen, pencil, marker and small paper desk organizer/holder, Postmodern period or Modern style, by designer Rede Guzzini, circa 1980s, Italy. A great desk accessory a...
Lucite
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Black Marble Desk Pen Pencil Holder, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
A '90s Postmodern black and brown polished marble stone desk pen pencil holder, circa 1990s. Dimensions: 2.5" square x 4.19" height. Matching...
Stone, Marble
Postmodern Bakelite "Liberte" Letter Holder by Philippe Starck for Alessi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Liberte letter holder/desk organizer/envelope box was designed by French Industrial Designer/Architect, Philippe Starck for Alessi (Portugal, 1992). The green plastic top, suppor...
Plastic, Bakelite
Mini Briefcase Business Card Holder Burgundy Faux-Croc — NOS with Mirror 1990s
Located in Toronto, CA
A standout 1990s novelty accessory, this miniature briefcase card holder is crafted in a rich burgundy faux-crocodile texture with gold-tone hardware and fully functioning latches. I...
Faux Leather, Mirror
Vintage Brown Stitched Leather Covered Telephone by Contempra 1970s
By Ralph Lauren, Hermès, Jacques Adnet
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Northern Telecom Contempra Stitched Leather clad tone touch Telephone, Desk or Wall Mount.Vintage Northern Telecom Contempra telephone covered in stitched brown leather.Could...
Leather, Bakelite
Italian Postmodern Wall Perpetual Calendar by Della Beffa for Ring a Date, 2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post modern wall perpetual green calendar by Giorgio Della Beffa for Ring A Date, 2000-2010s Wall perpetual calendar in green plastic. The calend...
Plastic
Contemporary F.ACE Golden Finish Aluminium Wall Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
F.ACE Aluminium Wall Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 5 x H 10 cm Materials: Aluminium The F.ACE Hook is a riff on our popular compass Hook. It is sand cast in solid Alumin...
Aluminum
Contemporary Brass Holder With Orange Leather Set by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Coaster Holder With Tan Coaster Set by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 11 x D 4 x H 5 cm (Coaster Holder dimensions) Materials: Solid brass, Leather Sand cast in solid brass and h...
Brass
1980's Postmodern Memphis Design George Matsumoto Magic Cube Hidden Office
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Ingenious, Memphis Era, Postmodern "Magic Cube" with hidden compartments filled with desk/office supplies. Designed by renowned Japanese-American, modernist architect, George Matsum...
Plastic
$216 / item
Brass Counter Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Counter Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 4 x H 5 cm Materials: Brass Designed for hanging bags and coats under bar counters. Each ...
Brass
$144 / item
Brass Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Brass The Ribbon Hook is sand cast in solid brass. Ribbon hook has two protruding blocks to allow you to...
Brass
tessellated Black Marble Stone Desk Tray
By Maitland Smith, Renoir Designs
Located in San Diego, CA
elegant beautiful black tessellated marble by Renoir designs , catch it all ,desk tray , circa 1970's elegant and versatile ,
Marble
$360Sale Price / set|20% Off
Five Piece Art Deco Desk Set by Silver Crest Bronze Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice five piece Art Deco desk set in sterling silver coated bronze by Silver Crest Bronze Co., circa 1930s. The set is in good vintage condi...
Sterling Silver, Bronze
Italian Postmodern Wall Perpetual Calendar by Della Beffa for Ring a Date, 2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern Wall perpetual white calendar by Giorgio Della Beffa for Ring A Date, 2000-2010s Wall perpetual calendar in white plastic. The calenda...
Plastic
$210Sale Price|30% Off
Cresta Modell 100 Pop-Art Telephone, Two-Tone Design, Dutch, 1980s
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Reach out and touch the 1980s with this Dutch Cresta Modell 100 Pop-Art Handtelefoon. This Dali-esque, surreal design brings new meaning to the term "handset" telefoon. A true gem fo...
Wire
Solingen German Steel Scissors, 1970s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Often called “The City of Blades”, Solingen, in North-Rhine Westphalia, has been a center for the manufacturing of scissors since medieval times. At the end of the 18th century it’s ...
Steel
$216 / item
Aluminium Counter Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Counter Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 4 x H 5 cm Materials: Aluminium Designed for hanging bags and coats under bar counters. Each piece is sand cast in alumi...
Aluminum
$180 / item
ADT Handle Brass by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
ADT Handle Brass by Henry Wilson Dimensions: D 3 x W 9 x H 1.8 cm Materials: Brass This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors and...
Brass
$132 / item
Small Tan Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Tan Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 0.4 cm Materials: Leather Our leather desk mats are made of vegetable tanned s...
Leather
Leather Desk Mail Letter Holder
Located in New York, NY
A brown leather and gold brass plate desk letter mail holder, Postmodern design, circa late-20th century. Hold mail, letters, or other correspondence.
Metal, Brass
Tribeca Crystal Book End, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Tribeca crystal book end, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Hand-sculpted in crystal Measures: W 9.5, H 16.8, D 9.5 cm. The re...
Crystal
$204 / item
Brass Brute Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Brute Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 3 x D 2 x H 10 cm Materials: Brass This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors and sash windows. Each piece is s...
Brass
$241 / item
Blackened Brute Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Brute Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 3 x D 2 x H 10 cm Materials: Blackened bronze. This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors, and sash windows....
Bronze
Postmodern Perforated Metal Desk Utensilo Organizer, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Perforated Metal Desk Utensilo Organizer, 1980s
Metal
Contemporary Blackened Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Blackened bronze. An antidote to last-minute rummaging, the Ribbon Hook features two protruding bloc...
Bronze
Organic Form Blackened Gio Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Gio Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Blackened bronze. The Gio Hook is named for the master modernist Signor Ponti – a continuous inspiratio...
Bronze
William Sklaroff for Smith Metal Arts Plastic Pen Holder
By William Sklaroff, Smith Metal Arts
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Aluminum enameled pen holder from the hugely successful Radius One line of desk accessories. Designed by William Sklaroff in the 1960s and produced by Smith Metal Arts. This piece pr...
Plastic
1970s Ashtray with Ceramic and Brass Lighter by Paolo Traversi , working
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Ashtray with ceramic and brass lighter by Paolo Traversi. 1970s, working Paolo Traversi is a designer and manufacturer of interior furnishings known throughout the world. The curren...
Brass
Postmodern Lucite Desk Pen Holder
Located in New York, NY
A Lucite and U.S. coppery penny decorated desk pen holder, Postmodern design period, United States of America. All copper pennies encased in Lucite are dated 1953 - 1981. A great des...
Copper
Radius One by William Sklaroff for Smith Metal Arts Rose Gold Desk Pen Holder
By Smith Metal Arts, William Sklaroff
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and elegant rosegold finish double pen holder from the Radius One Metal Collection designed by William Sklaroff for Smith Metal Arts, USA circa late 1980's. Sleek, modern a...
Metal
US General Accounting Office Desk Set Scissor Letter Open Box Solingen Germany
Located in Hyattsville, MD
United States General Accounting Office Official Scissors Desk Set in Wooden Box with the Official Cast Metal Seal affixed to the top of the box. Made by Solingen of Germany. Possibl...
Stainless Steel
$550 / item
Aluminum Desk Accessory / Paperweight
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: Desk block This high polished aluminum desk block, adds style and sophistication to your work surface. Made to order.
Aluminum
Gorgeous Desk Set in Maple Burlwood by Michael Elkan
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous desk set in burlwood maple by American craftsman Michael Elkan, circa 1990s. The set is in very good condition and measures 13.5"W x 4.5"D x 4.5"H. Incredible craftsmanship...
Maple
$1,200 / item
Aluminum Desk Block and Tray Accessory Set
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: Desk set This high polished aluminum desk set, comprised of a desk tray and desk block, adds style and sophistication to your work surface Measures: Desk block 3...
Aluminum
$973Sale Price|25% Off
Hermes Paris 1970 Modernist Purse Pencil In 18Kt Gold And .925 Sterling Silver
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
A purse pencil designed by Hermes. Very sleek and useful purse pencil, created in Paris France by the luxury house of Hermes, back in the 1970. It was crafted with slim modernist ge...
Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Italian crystal photo holder for FONTANA ARTE
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant 1980s Photo Frame by Fontana Arte - Italian Design in Satin-Finished Blue Crystal with Original Box A refined piece of Italian design history, this elegant photo frame was pr...
Crystal
Vintage Leather Stitched Padfolio Bond Street Italy
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan leather burgundy leather padfolio. Vintage Bond Street Leather Portfolio Italy Burgundy. Gorgeous Burgundy Pebbled Leather Portfolio B...
Leather
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Black Enameled Perforated Metal Utensil Pen Desk Top Holder
Located in San Diego, CA
Black enameled perforated metal utensil pen holder circa 1980's small ding on the bottom as shown.
Metal
Hermès desk magnifying glass, Paris, France, ca. 1960-1970
By Hermès
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Hermès Paris Desk Magnifying Glass, France, ca. 1960-1970 Impressive large-format magnifying glass made of silver-plated metal, signed Hermès Paris. The handle features a sculpture i...
Metal
Set of 3 Contemporary F.ACE Golden Finish Aluminium Wall Hooks by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 F.ACE Aluminium Wall Hooks by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 5 x H 10 cm Materials: Aluminium The F.ACE Hook is a riff on our popular compass Hook. It is sand cast in so...
Aluminum
Italian Postmodern Wall Perpetual Calendar by Della Beffa for Ring a Date, 2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post modern wall perpetual yellow calendar by Giorgio Della Beffa for Ring A Date, 2000-2010s Wall perpetual calendar in yellow plastic. The cale...
Plastic
$216 / item
Quick Release Key Ring by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Quick Release Key Ring by Henry Wilson Dimensions: D 8 x H 8 cm Materials: Brass Solid brass machined key ring with quick release. "Eventually everything connects - people, ideas, o...
Brass
$464 / set
Oro Bianco, Hand-Sculpted Containers
Located in Geneve, CH
Materials Container / White Travertine marble, natural open pores or plastered in blue. Accessorie and base / 0,15 cm of thickness polished sheet of steel galvanized in light gold. Measures Long / H3 x 27,5 x 12 cm Dot / H3 x ø 10 cm TECHNICAL INFO Please note that each Oro Bianco...
Marble
$397 / item
Sculp Stationery Holder by Studio Indigene
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculp Stationery Holder by Studio Indigene Dimensions: D 19.68 x W 10.16 x H 13.33 cm Materials: Reclaimed Teak Wood. Colors Brown, Natural Wooden Finish. The Sculp Stationery Holde...
Wood
$132 / item
Aluminium Bottle Bracket by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Bottle Bracket by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 4 x D 7 x H 8 cm Materials: Aluminium, Brass, Black Bronze Bottle Bracket is a solid, hand poured form available in dual or si...
Aluminum, Brass, Bronze
$132 / item
Small Black Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Black Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 0.4 cm Materials: Leather Our leather desk mats are made of vegetable tanned...
Leather
Contemporary Aluminium S Shaped Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Aluminium The Ribbon Hook is sand cast in solid aluminium. Ribbon hook has two protruding blocks to ...
Aluminum
Aguru Incense Stick Holder by Studio Indigene
Located in Geneve, CH
Aguru Incense Stick Holder by Studio Indigene Dimensions: D 27.94 x W 11.43 x H 3.81 cm Materials: Reclaimed Teak Wood, Brass. Colors Brown, Natur...
Wood
Nirhara Incense Stick Holder by Studio Indigene
Located in Geneve, CH
Nirhara Incense Stick Holder by Studio Indigene Dimensions: D 16.51 x W 16.51x H 16.51 cm Materials: Reclaimed Teak Wood. Colors Brown, Natural Wo...
Wood
Set of 2 Primus Small Decorative Objects by Emanuele Colombi
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 primus small decorative objects by Emanuele Colombi. Limited Edition: 1 out of 12 Dimensions: W 10 x D 10 x H 31.5 cm Materials: Bronze Emanuele Colombi is an architec...
Bronze, Other
Soho Crystal Book End, Handsculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Soho crystal book end, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Hand-sculpted in crystal Measures: W 10, H 19, D 6.5 cm The reflectio...
Crystal
Contemporary Silver Aluminium Gio Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Gio Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Aluminium The Gio Hook is sand cast in Aluminium. Named after Signor Ponti, fo...
Aluminum
$1,193 / item
Door Handle by Atelier Thomas Serruys
Located in Geneve, CH
Door handle by Atelier Thomas Serruys. Dimensions: D 4 x H 5.3 cm Materials: Brass. Solid brass door handle, hand-turned with square peg. Perfec...
Brass
$168 / item
Blackened Bottle Bracket by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Bottle Bracket by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 4 x D 7 x H 8 cm Materials: Aluminium, Brass, Black Bronze Bottle Bracket is a solid, hand poured form available in dual or si...
Aluminum, Brass, Bronze
Set of 2 Primus Big Decorative Objects by Emanuele Colombi
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Primus Big Decorative Objects by Emanuele Colombi Limited Edition: 1 out of 12 Dimensions: W 10 x D 10 x H 34 cm Materials: Bronze Emanuele Colombi is an architect, in...
Bronze, Other
Set of 2 Small Leather Desk Mats by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Small Leather Desk Mats by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 0.4 cm Materials: Leather Our leather desk mats are made of vegetable ta...
Leather
Contemporary Natural Black Travertine Big Poche by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Travertine Big Poche by Henry Wilson Dimensions: D 30 x H 7 cm Materials: Black travertine. Available in Black travertine, Calacatta marble, Classico travertine, and Green Gua...
Travertine
$325 / item
Taksh Stationery Holder by Studio Indigene
Located in Geneve, CH
Taksh Stationery Holder by Studio Indigene Dimensions: D 20.32 x W 11.43 x H 3.71 cm Materials: Reclaimed Teak Wood. Colors Brown, Natural Wooden Finish. The Taksh Stationery Holder...
Wood
$180 / item
Aluminium Planchart Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Planchart Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 19 cm Materials: Aluminium Aluminium Planchart Handle to suit cabinetry and doors Each piece is sand cast and r...
Aluminum