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.
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...
Aluminum
Silver Panther Paperweight on a Black Marble Ball by Mary Jurek Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A Silver Panther Paperweight on a Black Marble Ball By: Mary Jurek Design Inc. Mary Jurek Panther Paperweight Marble Ball and Chrome. Designed as a p...
Marble, Metal
1979 Italy Post-Modern Graziano Pompili Abstract Bronze Sculpture
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense and interesting abstract bronze sculpture, it is one of a kind artwork, made in 1979 circa by the Italian Artist Graziano Pompili The title "Paesaggio con ombra" is tra...
Bronze
Vintage Murano Decorative Blown Glass Wrapped Blue Hard Candy Paper
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage large Murano decorative blown glass wrapped blue hard candy paperweight. Vintage oversized Murano blue blown glass candy sculpture of candy wr...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$72Sale Price / set|75% Off
Abstract Glass Paperweights Hand Made and Signed by Sklo
By SkLO
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Abstract Glass Paperweights Hand Made and Signed by Sklo Additional information: Material: Glass Color: Transparent Style: Abstract Artist: Sklo Time Period: Early 21st Century Plac...
Glass
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...
Aluminum
1980 Italy Post-Modern Bronze Abstract Sculpture Beppe Bonetti Piccolo Racconto
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Beppe Bonetti. Title "Piccolo racconto" translate "Little tale"" Beppe Bonetti was born in 1951 in Brescia, Italy, where he lives an...
Bronze
Vintage Blown Art Glass Paperweight Blue and White Flower
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown blue and white Italian art glass paperweight. Gorgeous vintage studio hand blown crystal art glass paperweight with a cobalt blue base and a white cascading flower or frost. The inside of the paperweight has a large flower and is filled a large controlled bubble in the centre with multiple small controlled bubbles. Vintage Crystal Ball...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Murano Style Art Glass Mushroom Toadstool Paperweight Green and Yellow 1980s
By Fornasa De Murano A L'Insegna Del Moreto
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Murano Style Italian Art Glass Mushroom Toadstool Paperweight Green and Yellow 1980s. Beautiful vintage Murano style hand made yellow with green spots Italian art glass mushroom toad...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Christofle , silver plate paperweight " Lucky Dice ".cube .
By Christofle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great paperweight design in this Christofle ornament .
Silver Plate
Bespoke Italian Post Modern Rose Pink Murano Glass Geometric Couture Table Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fun modernist table / desk lamp, a contemporary organic creation entirely hand made in Italy, the geometric shape inspired by a fashion tailored suit design, the waisted middle par...
Brass
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 23 x W 23 x H 23 cm. Materials: Black leather and metal. Finish: Crude Nature lea...
Metal
$234 / 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
Italian Murano Art Glass Paperweight Lily Flower with Curled Stem Sculpture 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Italian Murano Art Glass Lily Flower with Curled Stem Paperweight. VIntage Murano Italian Art Glass Flower Sculpture Decorative Object, 1980s. Beautiful blown art glass Murano lily...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Set of 3 Contemporary F.ACE 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
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
Espresso Kaen Palo Santo Holder, Micro Ceramic Finish on Wood by Monics+Vieira
Located in Geneve, CH
Espresso Kaen Palo Santo Holder, Micro Ceramic Finish on Wood by Monics+Vieira. Dimensions: Ø 18 x H 4 cm. Materials: Micro-Ceramic Finish over Wood. Micro-Ceramic Finish: An ancien...
Other
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
Toast Kaen Palo Santo Holder, Micro Ceramic Finish on Wood by Monics+Vieira
Located in Geneve, CH
Toast Kaen Palo Santo Holder, Micro Ceramic Finish on Wood by Monics+Vieira. Dimensions: Ø 18 x H 4 cm. Materials: Micro-Ceramic Finish over Wood. Micro-Ceramic Finish: An ancient m...
Other
Vintage Amber Murano Sommerso Glass Owl Sculpture, Italy, 1970s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Amber Murano Sommerso Glass Owl Sculpture, Italy, 1970s A stunning vintage Murano glass owl sculpture, crafted from richly toned amber and smoked glass, Italy, circa 1970. Th...
Art Glass
$503 / item
Bronze Stack Trays by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze Stack Trays by Henry Wilson Dimesions: W 25 x D 5 x H 10 cm Materials: Bronze The stack trays are sold in a set of three that can be used togethe...
Bronze
Vintage Flower Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style of Murano of Italy
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Flower Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style Murano of Italy, circa 1980s. This heavy vintage art glass egg paperweight, crafted in the ...
Art Glass
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 23 x W 23 x H 23 cm. Materials: Black leather and metal. Finish: Grass Green leat...
Metal
Crystal and Brass Business Card Holder by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Crystal and Brass Business Card Holder by Dainte Dimensions: D 9 x W 13 x H 8 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. The sturdy yet minimalist b...
Crystal, Brass
Contemporary Silver Aluminium Gio Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Gio Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 7.4 x D 1.5 x H 12 cm Materials: Aluminium The Gio Hook is sand cast in Aluminium. Named after Signor Ponti...
Aluminum
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 23 x W 23 x H 23 cm. Materials: Black leather and metal. Finish: Chocolate leathe...
Metal
BeoCom 6000 Desktop Telephone in Navy Blue by Martin Iseli for Bang & Olufsen
Located in San Diego, CA
BeoCom 6000 cordless handset and table charger by Martin Iseli for Bang & Olufsen, circa 1990s. The phone is navy blue and grey and has a black cradle / table charger; it is in very...
Plastic
Postmodern Starck Coffee Table Book, First Edition, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
“STARCK,” a collectible hard‑cover coffee table book on French designer Philippe Starck, Postmodernism, published in 1996 as the First Edition by Taschen, Cologne, Germany. Printed i...
Paper
$210 / 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
$246 / item
Crystal Pen Tray by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Crystal Pen Tray by Dainte Dimensions: D 11 x W 28 x H 3 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. A stylish desk tray uniquely combines clear crystal with brass metallic accents. Minimalist yet distinctive, the beautiful design will showcase your elevated taste. Universal grooves fit any sized pen, and an extendable brass tray slides out to hold even more desktop essentials. This modern crystal and brass pen tray...
Crystal, Brass
$1,160 / 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
Baccarat Clear Crystal Porcupine Hedgehog Figurine Paper Weight Post-Modern
By Baccarat
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Baccarat clear crystal porcupine or hedgehog figurine, which is often used as a paperweight.It is crafted from heavy, polished French crystal and features s...
Crystal
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
Contemporary Blackened Brass Teardrop Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Brass Planchart Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 19 cm Materials: Blackened brass. The Planchart Handle is a bold, unique utilitarian object, created in ho...
Brass
Brass Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson, Post-Modern Design, Australia, 2023
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
$386 / 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
$199 / 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
Jeff Koons resin paperweight/sculpture for Guggenheim Bilbao "Flower Puppy"Cube
By Guggenheim Museum, Jeff Koons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a rare sculpture , paperweight probably made for the gift shop in Bilbao Spain . for the Guggenheim as seen of the amazing art work of Jeff Koons of the Flower Puppy.
Resin
Aluminium Planchart Handle by Henry Wilson, Post-Modern Design
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
Vintage Italian Murano Art Glass Ashtrays Venetian Sculpture of Gondolas
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Murano Blown Glass Gondola Ashtrays. Gorgeous vintage Murano Venetian hand-blown art glass sculpture of gondola boats one red, one green. A very beautiful...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 23 x W 23 x H 23 cm. Materials: Black leather and metal. Finish: Polo leather and...
Metal
$175 / 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 7.7 cm Materials: Aluminium, Brass, Black Bronze Bottle Bracket is a solid, hand poured form available in dual or ...
Aluminum, Brass, Bronze
$457 / item
Brass Accented Crystal Prism Tray by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Accented Crystal Prism Tray by Dainte Dimensions: D 26 x W 28 x H 4 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. The decorative prism tray is designed to fascinate and delight. Creating ...
Crystal, Brass
Vintage Flower Art Glass Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Flower Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style Murano of Italy, circa 1980s. This heavy vintage art glass egg paperweight, crafted in the style of Murano, showcases a vibrant ...
Art Glass
$175 / 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
Small Black Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson - Post-Modern Design
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
Postmodern Patinated Brass Double Desk Letter Tray Paper Holder
Located in San Diego, CA
Double letter tray in polished brass finish with black enamel lining by Mc Donald Products of Buffalo New York. Very nice accent to any executive desk
Brass
Postmodern Black Decorative Object, Metal, Acrylic and Steel
Located in New York, NY
A black metal and clear acrylic with steel nails decorative object, Postmodern period, circa late-20th century. Piece is rectangular in shape, comprised of three pieces acrylic (black and clear), black metal screws and thin metal nails, approximately 1000 of them, making this an interesting Postmodern decorative...
Metal
Vintage Georg Jensen Stainless Steel Letter Opener by Allan Scharff
By Georg Jensen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A stylish organically shaped paper knife in brushed stainless steel. Designed by Allan Scharff in 90s and manufactured at Georg Jensen in Denmark. Marked: Georg Jensen, Denmark. ...
Stainless Steel
$1,500 / item
Modern Aluminum Sculptural Bookends
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: Sculptural bookends Architectural forms, minimalist design, and Machine Age simplicity inform these statuesque bookends. Each p...
Aluminum
Polished Cast Brass Mino Paper Holder by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Mino Paper Holder by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 17 x D 4 x H 5 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Studio Or...
Metal
Black Art Glass Sphere Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Modern/Postmodern black and neutral flesh-tone art glass sphere decorative object or paperweight with an organic modern design, circa 1970s. This handmade art glass color...
Blown Glass, Art Glass
Sterling silver desk / table ornament , Easel with abstract painting miniature.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful sterling silver 925 ornament miniature easel for desk or table , with an abstract painting motif . Also marker 840 AR , like we think is the city of Arezzo.
Sterling Silver
Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi & Sieger Design
Located in Hamburg, DE
Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi & Sieger Design for Ritzenhoff, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional inf...
Ceramic
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
Oak Tray with Antique Brass Handles
Located in Treadwell, NY
Individually stamped and numbered, these one of a kind presentation trays feature patinated brass handles with a satin finish lacquer top coat. Each wooden slab is has its own unique...
Brass
BeoCom 2400 Desktop Telephone in Navy Blue by Martin Iseli for Bang & Olufsen
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare BeoCom 2400 corded phone by Martin Iseli for Bang & Olufsen, circa 1990s . At the time of its introduction, BeoCom 2400 was a completely new concept from B&G and was known as ...
Plastic
British The Eclectic Copycat Brass Stencil Typeface Tool A from Tom Dixon
Located in Hamburg, DE
British The Eclectic Copycat Brass Stencil Typeface Tool A from Tom Dixon, in Flawless conditions. Designed from 2000 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Mat...
Metal
Mahogany Tray with Antique Brass Handles
Located in Treadwell, NY
Individually stamped and numbered, these one of a kind presentation trays feature patinated brass handles with a satin finish lacquer top coat. Each wooden slab...
Brass
Modernist Wastepaper Basket, Solid Beech, France, Circa 1930
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
This sculptural object exemplifies the rigorous formal language that emerged in France during the interwar years, as designers began moving beyond decorative Art Deco toward a more s...
Beech