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.
$2,551 / item
Smoker Scent Burner by Vaust
By VAUST
Located in Geneve, CH
Smoker scent burner by Vaust Open Edition Dimensions: D 26 x H 22.5 cm Materials: exposed concrete, aluminium, carved artificial stone Also Availa...
Stone, Concrete, Aluminum
Italian Modern Photo Frame in Silver , Equilibrium Silver
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Equilibrium silver is an Italian photo frame in silver 925 by Laura G “Art with Heart.” It is a very simple and modern photo frame and can be suitable to hold two photos, one front and one back. The piece has been designed same shape front and back, as my message is: our life images are to be saved in jewel photo...
Silver
$313 / item
Exclamation Pen by Essesi
Located in Geneve, CH
Exclamation Pen by Essesi Limited Edition Of 50 Pieces Dimensions: D 3,6 x W 3,6 x H 12,2 cm. Materials: Aluminum. Essesi is a growing collection that celebrates each object and i...
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: Ocean Blue leath...
Metal
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
Set of 3 Sphaerae Decorative Objects by Emanuele Colombi
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 3 Sphaerae Decorative Objects by Emanuele Colombi Limited Edition: 1 out of 12 Dimensions: D 8 x H 8cm / D 9 x H 9 cm / D 10 x H 10 cm Materials: Bronze Emanuele Colombi...
Bronze, Other
Multicolored Murano Glass 1980s/90s advertisement paperweight by VeArt Pirelli
By VeArt
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This beatiful hand made advertising paperweight was produced in Italy by Veart for the Pirelli group. Engraved at the bottom with the maker's s...
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: Oak leather and ...
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
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
$313 / 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
$208 / item
Aluminium Counter Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Counter Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6.2 x D 4.5 x H 3.5 cm. Materials: Aluminium Designed for hanging bags and coats under bar counters. Each piece is sand cast i...
Aluminum
Blackened Bottle Bracket in Aluminium & Brass by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Bottle Bracket in Aluminium & Brass 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 ...
Aluminum, Brass, Bronze
$2,017 / item
Scribe Disc by The GoodMan Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Scribe Disc by The GoodMan Studio Dimensions: W 37 x D 16 x H 55 cm Materials: Glass, Metal Kiln cast glass disc on steel base The Goodman Studio...
Metal
$3,405 / item
Libidonoso Object #2 by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Libidonoso object #2 by Mameluca Material: gold-plated metal Dimensions: D 15 x H 10cm In reference to Paul Nacke’s states about Narcissism, being an attitude of a person who tr...
Metal
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
$2,748 / item
Calacatta Big Poche by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Calacatta Big Poche by Henry Wilson Dimensions: D 30 x H 7 cm Materials: Calacatta Marble The Big Poche reinterprets and scales up our Vide Poche Rond. Each piece is manufactured in...
Marble
Contemporary White and Pink Marble Block Thoronet Dish by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Calacatta Viola Block Thoronet Dish by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 23.5 x D 15.5 x H 32.5 cm Materials: Calacatta Viola Marble The Thoronet Dish in Calacatta Viola marble. Unlike the...
Marble
Set Of 3 Sphaerae Decorative Objects by Emanuele Colombi
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 3 Sphaerae Decorative Objects by Emanuele Colombi Limited Edition: 1 out of 12 Dimensions: D 8 x H 8cm / D 9 x H 9 cm / D 10 x H 10 cm Materials: Bronze Emanuele Colombi...
Bronze, Other
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: Montana leather ...
Metal
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: Black leather an...
Metal
Contemporary Deep Green Marble Stone Block Dish by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Guatemala Block Thoronet Dish by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 24 x D 6 x H 33 cm Materials: Green Guatemala marble. Crafted in Porto, Portugal, the Thoronet Dish shares the name and e...
Marble
$3,405 / item
Libidonoso Object #3 by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Libidonoso object #3 by Mameluca Material: corian, gold-plated metal. Dimensions: D 21 x W 18 x H 10cm. In reference to Paul Nacke’s states about Narcissism, being an attitude o...
Metal
$3,405 / item
Libidonoso Object #1 by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
Libidonoso object #1 by Mameluca Material: marble, gold-plated metal Dimensions: D 15 x H 5.5 cm In reference to Paul Nacke’s states about Narcissism, being an attitude of a per...
Marble
$446 / 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
$1,600 / item
Calacatta Block Thoronet Dish by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Calacatta Block Thoronet Dish by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 23.5 x D 15.5 x H 32.5 cm Materials: Calacatta Marble The Thoronet Dish in Calacatta marble. Unlike the bronze and alumin...
Marble
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
$3,989 / item
Balance in Depression Object by Sofia Alvarado
Located in Geneve, CH
Balance in depression object by Sofia Alvarado Materials: Guayacán wood / lacquered solid metal Dimensions: D 45 x H 30. FI is an ornamental artist who embodies the creative Rev...
Metal
$1,669 / item
Contemporary L Shaped Bronze Bookend by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Langley Bookend by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 11 x D 9.5 x H 17 cm Materials: Sand-cast Gunmetal bronze Langley Bookend is part modernist sculpture part functional shelf accessory...
Bronze