Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
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.
Style: Post-Modern
Color: Gold
Light of Dawn
Located in Pasadena, CA
Executed in 2003 by renowned American sculptor George Carlson, this example of Light of Dawn is #10 in an edition of 21.
Born in Illinois on July 3, 19...
Category
Early 2000s American Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italy Cast Bronze Man Figurine Sculpture by Aron Demetz Il grande freddo
By Aron Demetz
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense bronze sculpture was made by the well known Italian artist, Aron Demetz, in 2004, Italy.
This is a lost wax bronze hand painted. The title is "Il grande freddo" translat...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italy Bronze Cast Figurine Sculpture by Aron Demetz Verso te
By Aron Demetz
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense bronze sculpture was made by the well known Italian artist, Aron Demetz, in 2004, Italy.
This is a lost wax bronze hand painted. The title is "Verso te" translated in "T...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italy Cast Bronze Figurine Man Sculpture by Aron Demetz Title Ricordo
By Aron Demetz
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense bronze sculpture was made by the well known Italian artist, Aron Demetz, in 2004, Italy.
This is a lost wax bronze hand painted. The title is "Ricordo" translated in "Me...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1998 Italy Bronze Woman Figurine Sculpture by Marco Cornini Attesa
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a very intense lost wax bronze, and then hand painted, cast in the 1998, by the Italian artist Marco Cornini.
The title is "Attesa" translated in...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italy Cast Lost Wax Woman Figurine Bronze Sculpture by Aron Demetz Guardando
By Aron Demetz
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense bronze sculpture was made by the well known Italian artist, Aron Demetz, in 2004, Italy.
This is a lost wax bronze hand painted. The title is "Guardando" translated in ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
2006 Italy Bronze Sculpture by Ugo Riva Con gli Occhi Nelle Stelle
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an intense bronze sculpture created by the Italian artist Ugo Riva, in 2006. Lost wax bronze.
The title of this artwork is "Con gli occhi nell...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
2006 Italy Bronze Sculpture by Ugo Riva Dove Vai
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an intense bronze sculpture created by the Italian artist Ugo Riva, in 2006. Lost wax bronze on iron basement.
The title of this artwork is "D...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Golden Edition, Unique Bronze Lighter by Rick Owens
By Rick Owens
Located in Geneve, CH
Golden Edition - unique bronze lighter by Rick Owens
Dimensions: L 11.5 x W 5.5 x H 3 cm
Materials: Bronze
The gold edition is an exclusivity of Gale...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1995 Italy Bronze Sculpture by Giuseppe Bergomi Davanti Al Mare
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an engaging and intense artwork created by the well known Italian artist Giuseppe Bergomi in 1995.
This is a bronze sculpture made by the tec...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Vanni Viviani Monumentalmente Vostro
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Vanni Viviani, a well known artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbere...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post-Modern Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Alfredo Cifani Title Eos
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Alfredo Cifani. Title "EOS"
Alfredo Cifani was born in 1939 in Fermo, the Southern part of Italy, lives and works in Milan. He is a pai...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post-Modern Rodica Tanasescu Bronze Abstract Sculpture Muse
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Rodica Tanasescu. The title " Musa" Muse.
Rodica Tanasescu was born in Rumania and now lives in and works in Mestre, (Venezia, Italy)....
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Artifacts of Disharmony Red Pillow Sculpture by Tero Kuitunen
Located in Geneve, CH
Artifacts of Disharmony red pillow Sculpture by Tero Kuitunen
Material: Handbuild ceramic, gold plating.
Dimensions: D39 x W 39 x H29cm
Unique piece, part of the museum exhibiti...
Category
2010s Finnish Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Gold Plate
1980 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Pietro Perin Figura Figure
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Piero Perin.
Piero Perin was born in 1924, in Cervarese, near Padua Italy. He lived and worked in Padova where he teached at the School...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Fountain with Noir Belge by Pierre De Valck
Located in Geneve, CH
Fountain with Noir Belge by Pierre De Valck.
Dimensions: W 70 x D 70 x H 90 cm.
Materials: Patinated brass with Noir Belge.
Weight: 65 kg.
Each piece is u...
Category
2010s Belgian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone, Brass, Bronze
1980 Italy Ugo La Pietra Bronze Abstract Sculpture Bellezza Al Bagno
Located in Brescia, IT
This is one of the 30 pieces of this engaging artwork realized in bronze by the well known Internationally artist, Ugo La Pietra, in 1985.
This artwork well represents the relations...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italy, 1990, Post-Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture by Filippo Panseca
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting bronze sculpture multiple art work signed by the Italian artist Filippo Panseca. Title The secret of the Pharaoh
This is a multiple of a numbered edition of...
Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post-Modern Cristina Roncati Bronze Abstract Sculpture Cavaliere
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Cristina Roncati. The title "Cavaliere del mistero" Knight of the mistery
Cristina Roncati was born in...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post-Modern Bronze Abstract Sculpture Ottorino Tonelli Adamo
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Ottorino Tonelli. Title "Adamo" translated "Adam"
Ottorino Tonelli was born in 1948 in Carrara, where h...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Piero Perin Testa Head
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Piero Perin.
Piero Perin was born in 1924, in Cervarese, near Padua Italy. He lived and worked in Padova where he teached at the School...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1989 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Concetto Pozzati in Posa
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a joyful bronze sculpture multiple art work signed by the well known Italian artist Concetto Pozzati. Title "In posa"
This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1.000 pieces. The pieces were made in 1989 but they can be considered as new cause remained since now stored and packed in the Editor warehouse.
Every bronze sculpture is completed with the Editor Certificate, with the number assigned to the piece and the original signature of the author.
Concetto Pozzati was born in Padova Italy in 1935. He is living since 1949 in Bologna Italy where he is holder of the chair of Painting at the Accademia of Belle Arti. He has been exhibiting in many internationally events as Bienniale of Venice and Sao Paolo...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980, Italy Post-Modern Rodica Tanasescu Bronze Abstract Sculpture Maratoneta
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Rodica Tanasescu. The title " Maratoneta" Marathon runner.
Rodica Tanasescu was born in Rumania and now...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post-Modern Rodica Tanasescu Bronze Abstract Sculpture Title Incontro
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Rodica Tanasescu. The title " Incontro" The meeting
Rodica Tanasescu was born in Rumania and now lives in and works in Mestre, (Venezi...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italy 1980 Post-Modern Abstract Red Laquered Bronze Sculpture Prospero Rasulo
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Prospero Rasulo Title "Fossile " translate "Fossil".
It is made in bronze and laquered in red. It is also available in black.
Prospe...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Abstract Bronze Sculpture Ottorino Tonelli Giulietta Juliet
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Ottorino Tonelli.
Ottorino Tonelli was born in 1948 in Carrara, where he lives and works. After having ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze, Aluminum
1980 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Ottorino Tonelli Romeo
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Ottorino Tonelli. Title "Romeo" .
Ottorino Tonelli was born in 1948 in Carrara, where he lives and work...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze, Aluminum
1980 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Jiro Sugawara Orizzonte Maschile
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the artist Jiro Sugawara, the title is "Male horizon"
Jiro Sugawara is a post-war artist and he was born in Japon in 1941. He...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Jiro Sugawara Orizzonte Femminile
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the artist Jiro Sugawara, the title is "Female horizon""
Jiro Sugawara is a post-war artist and he was born in Japon in 1941....
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post-Modern Bronze Abstract Sculpture Ottorino Tonelli Eva
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Ottorino Tonelli. Title "Eva"
Ottorino Tonelli was born in 1948 in Carrara, where he lives and works. A...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Contemporary Art Bronze Sculpture Partenze by Giampaolo Talani
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited Edition of 8 Pieces.
Category
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Contemporary Art Bronze Sculpture Marinaio by Giampaolo Talani
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited Edition of 8 Pieces.
Category
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Fountain with Noir Belge by Pierre De Valck
Located in Geneve, CH
Fountain with Noir Belge by Pierre De Valck.
Dimensions: W 70 x D 70 x H 90 cm.
Materials: Patinated brass with Noir Belge.
Weight: 65 kg.
Each pie...
Category
2010s Belgian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone, Brass, Bronze
1980 Italy Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture Horse Head
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Roberto Nanut, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbered ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture Archictectures
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Edmondo Cirillo, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbe...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture La Rosa Dei Venti by the Artist Giampaolo Talani
Located in Pistoia, IT
Going ahead in the blowing wind.
Category
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italy 1980 Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture by Concetto Pozzati
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a joyful bronze sculpture multiple art work signed by the well known Italian artist Concetto Pozzati. Title Pear (O'pera)
This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1.000 p...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1970s Style Erotic Chromed Bronze Kneeling Nude Statue
Located in Van Nuys, CA
1970s style erotic bronze re-cast of a kneeling nude woman with one hand resting against her wind blown hair, one hand on her leg. Kneeling on a black mirror-finished marble square b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Chrome
1980 Italy Post Modern Figurative Bronze Sculpture
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Andrea Picini, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1.000 pieces; we c...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture the Bather
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Roberto Nanut, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbered ed...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post Modern Abstract Kinetic Bronze Sculpture The Dove Colomba
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Bruno Chersicla, a well known artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 500 pieces; we c...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Contemporary Art Fountain Pio Tempio D'empio Tempo by Luigi Ontani
By Luigi Ontani, Mirabili
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition fountain in marble and bronze. (central column - limited edition of 7 pieces only)
The central column can possibly be mounted inside a marble basin to be built local...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
1985 Italy Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture the Moon
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Maurizio Bonora, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbe...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post Modern Abstract Figurative Bronze Sculpture by Marisa Ruberti
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Marisa Ruberti, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbere...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1985 Italy Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture by Annie Lambert
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Annie Lambert, a talented young artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbe...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1980 Italy Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture Little Universe on Earth
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Vanni Viviani, a well known artist of years 80' in Italy.
This is a multiple of a numbered ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Contemporary Art Fountain Le Colonne White, Light Blue by Alessandro Mendini
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 99 numbered and signed copies of the Column composed by 3 elements, base in polychrome ceramic, 24 white grés tiles with decorations and a bronze fish sculpture.
This fountain is called “Le Colonne...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
1985 Italy Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture the Moon
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Maurizio Bonora, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy.
The other side of the moon.
This...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture Adam and Eve by Melonski
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish and chic bronze sculpture depicts a modern interpretation of Adam and eve with the apple and the snake. The sculptor is Melonski and we are uncertain of the date of crea...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Travertine, Brass, Bronze
Modern Bronze of Mother and Child signed Devorah Sperber, 1993
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A modern bronze on black base of a stylized mother and child, signed Devorah Sperber 1993
Devorah Sperber was born in 1961 in Detroit, MI, and moved to Denver, Colorado at the age o...
Category
1990s North American Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Post-War Abstract Bronze Statue
Located in New York, NY
American Post-War design abstract bronze statue sculpture of a nude female figure seated in an easy chair.
Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
A Very Good & Large Post Modernist Bronze Nude Torso by George Foster, SSC
By George Foster
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A finely proportioned near life size bronze nude torso exhibiting a fine reddish / brown patina overall, supported on it's detachable base signed with the artists monogram.
George Foster is a member of the highly regarded Sculptors Society of Canada (SSC) and has exhibited at several prestigious international venues including the Smithsonian in Washington DC, The Canadian National Museum in Ottawa and The Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal. Among his many commissions was the casting of the ‘Nellie’ - the annual ACTRA Awards...
Category
1980s Canadian Vintage Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Post-modern figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Post-Modern figurative sculptures 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 figurative sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Post-Modern figurative sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original figurative sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Tom von Kaenel, John Miller, Mirabili, and Riccardo Dalisi. 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 figurative sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $73 and tops out at $168,000 while the average work can sell for $1,949.
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