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.
Small Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 40 x H 4 cm. Materials: Copper. Weight: 3 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industr...
Copper
Sample Wall Art Sculptured Tiles by Studio Mano & Mambo Jambo
Located in Geneve, CH
Sample Wall Art Sculptured Tiles by Studio Mano & Mambo Jambo. Dimensions: W 20 x D 2 x H 20 cm. Materials: Santa Fe and reclaimed clay, Mixed glazes. Studio Mano is the work o...
Ceramic
$14,506 / item
October Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
October Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 73 x D 5 x H 90 cm Materials: Onyx. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans painting, sculpture, ceramics, and textile, while her ...
Onyx
$25,903 / item
Monumental Wall Sculpture by Daniel Schneiger.
Located in Geneve, CH
Monumental Wall Sculpture by Daniel Schneiger. Dimensions: D25 x W 185 x H 111 cm. Materials: Plaster Daniel Schneiger Wall sculptures are hand-crafted from a combination of materia...
Plaster
$14,564 / item
Otero Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Otero Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: W 100 x D 12 x H 250 cm. Materials: Copper. Weight: 12 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industrial designer graduated and graduated f...
Copper
Polished Cast Brass Galhos Wall Hanger by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Galhos Wall Hanger by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 12 x D 8-12 x H 2.5 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Stu...
Metal
Sir Lancelot Elk Head Wall Mount Sculpture by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Sir Lancelot Elk Head Wall Mount Sculpture by The Peak Antler Dimensions: W 121.92 x D 132.08 x H 182.88 cm Materials: naturally shed antlers Based in, produced and shipped from the...
Antler
Medium Brass Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Brass Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 70 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper, Brass. Weight: 7 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industrial designer graduate...
Copper, Brass
Otto Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture IV with Acid Patina by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Otto Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture IV with Acid Patina by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 142 x D 8 x H 150 cm. Materials: Copper, Acid Patina. This piece can be produced in customized ...
Copper
Polished Cast Brass Figa Dupla Door Hanger by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Figa Dupla Door Hanger by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 13 x D 8 x H 6 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Stud...
Metal
Otero Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture with Acid Patina by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Otero Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture with Acid Patina by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 90 x D 8 x H 210 cm. Materials: Copper. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finish...
Copper
Extra Large Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Extra Large Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: D 120 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon request...
Copper
$18,356 / item
It's Easy To Have Wished For More Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
It's Easy To Have Wished For More Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 120 x D 5 x H 120 cm Materials: Green Cantera. Weight: 75 Kg. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans pa...
Stone
Polished Cast Brass Argola Wall Hanger by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Argola Wall Hanger by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 15 x D 3 x H 15 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Studio...
Metal
Polished Cast Brass Garra Door Hanger by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Garra Door Hanger by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 14 x D 6 x H 33 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Studio O...
Metal
$8,915 / item
So Be Lonely Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
So Be Lonely Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 52 x D 5 x H 75 cm Materials: Green Cantera. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans painting, sculpture, ceramics, and texti...
Stone
Polished Cast Brass Figa Sculptural Object by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Figa Sculptural Object by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 8 x D 6 x H 13 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Stud...
Metal
Leslie Thornton, Large Mixed Media Floor Sculpture, "History of Printing"
Located in Morristown, NJ
Leslie Thornton (British, 1925-2016), "History of Printing", no signature observed, mounted on wood plinth. An arresting and fascinating piece, this tall floor sculpture...
Earthenware
Polished Cast Brass Principe Sculptural Object by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Principe Sculptural Object by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 11 x D 7 x H 24 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum. About:...
Metal
Polished Cast Brass Mino P Towel Hanger by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Mino P Towel Hanger by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 36 x D 8 x H 5 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Studio ...
Metal
Contemporary Art Table PROSPETTICA Marble & Metal by Paolo Portoghesi
Located in Pistoia, IT
Round table with golden metal base and marble top - Signed Copies
Marble, Bronze
$9,173 / item
Tiny Gods Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
Tiny Gods Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 35 x D 5 x H 50 cm Materials: Onyx. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans painting, sculpture, ceramics, and textile, while her...
Onyx
$1,080 / item
Fine Handcut Crystal Oklahoma Tray
Located in Geneve, CH
Fine handcut crystal Oklahoma tray Materials: Fine handcut crystal Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 30 cm Weight: 7.5 kg. Reflections Copenhagen, a collection of handmade decorative mirrors and crystal pieces, finely balanced to Challenge the traditional styles and shapes of todays’ homes by adding new dimensions and possibilities to interior decorating. Julie Hugau and Andrea Larsson, inspired by the graphic expression of Art Deco, the vast contrasts of the 1980s and the opportunity to explore the delicate materials that the mirrors are made of, combined their visions and the start of Reflections was a fact. The collection sums up their perspectives of how to provide new expressions through strength and form, the mirrors are designed with a strong visual structure to create a contrast of light and reflections through non-traditional mirror...
Crystal
Yes...! No...! To The Risk, To The Unknown Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
Yes...! No...! To The Risk, To The Unknown Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 47 x D 5 x H 72 cm Materials: Onyx. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans painting, sculpture,...
Onyx
Polished Cast Brass Mino G Towel Hanger by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Mino G Towel Hanger by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 66 x D 8 x H 5 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Studio ...
Metal
Pyramid Shape Black Travertine Rock Installation Sculpture by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Rito Rock Installation Sculpture by Andres Monnier Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 78 x W 78 x H 200 cm. Materials: Travertine. Treko Concrete is a...
Marble
$764 / item
Mocap 'Moonwalk' Illusionistic Wall Clock
Located in Maastricht, NL
Mocap (moonwalk) Illusionistic wall clock Design: JAN PAUL “Time is an illusion” Most wall-clocks have the same basic shape: round. Also the...
Steel
$11,476 / item
Pedregal Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pedregal Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 60 x D 4 x H 120 cm. Materials: Copper. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon reque...
Copper
Medium Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 70 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper. Weight: 7 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican indust...
Copper
$802 / item
Mocap "White/Black" Illusionistic Wall Clock
Located in Maastricht, NL
Mocap (white-black) Illusionistic wall clock Design: Jan Paul “Time is an illusion” Most wall-clocks have the same basic shape: round. Also t...
Steel
Post Modern Italian Sculpture, Aluminum & Copper, Bold Design, 1980s
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This particular 1980s Post Modern Italian sculpture embodies the bold and provocative spirit of a pivotal design era. Three distinct vertical ...
Aluminum
$11,675 / item
Otto Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture I by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Otto Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture I by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 126 x D 8 x H 134 cm. Materials: Copper, Fire-stamped. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishe...
Copper
$11,476 / item
Large Estero Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Estero Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: W 60 x D 6 x H 100 cm. Materials: Copper, Marble. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon request. Pl...
Marble, Copper
Geometric Enameled Iron Wall Mounted Postmodern Indoor/Outdoor Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Black enameled iron indoor / outdoor wall relief sculpture, circa 1980's easy to mount cool design that blends well with mid Century contemporary Boho home decor.
Iron
At 18, I Started Seeing The World Differently Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
At 18, I Started Seeing The World Differently Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 40 x D 5 x H 50 cm Materials: Yellow Cantera. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans paintin...
Stone
$11,675 / item
Otto Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture III by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Otto Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture III by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 112 x D 8 x H 143 cm. Materials: Copper, Fire-stamped. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finis...
Copper
Postmodern giraffe ceramic centerpiece / vide poche, ND Dolfi Italy, 1990s
By ND Dolfi
Located in Firenze, IT
Postmodern giraffe ceramic centerpiece / vide poche ND Dolfi Ceramiche d'Arte, Montelupo Italy, 1990s 19 cm H x 30 cm diam. Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use. no ...
Ceramic
Set of 2 Bigflow Ceiling Sculptures in Red Lacquered Wood by Kimy Gringoire
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Bigflow Ceiling Sculptures in Red Lacquered Wood by Kimy Gringoire. Dimensions: W 21 x D 22 x H 64 cm. Materials: Red Lacquered Wood. This work is a sophisticated two-piece...
Wood
Abstract Industrial Found Object Metal Table Sculpture, Post Modern Sottsass Era
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A great Industrial material sculpture including a huge crescent wrench among other various mechanical parts. Extremely heavy and well made. Made by a local Philadelphia artist, unsig...
Steel
Post Modern 1980s Lucite Shell Seashell Mirror Lacquer Obelisk Table Sculpture
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Post modern 1980s Lucite and shell mirrored obelisk table sculpture.
Shell, Lucite, Lacquer
Guy Dill Large Welded Mid Century Post Modern Abstract Steel Table Sculpture
By Guy Dill
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and impressive steel sculpture by world renowned artist Guy Dill. It consists of black welded steel circa 1990's. Welded signature.
Cut Steel
$760Sale Price|78% Off
Angela Reichert Mixed-Media Wall Art Sculpture
Located in Miami, FL
Modern wall sculpture using paper-mâché, wood dowels and paint on canvas by Angela Reichert. Signed on canvas, 20th century.
Canvas, Wood, Paper
Large Postmodern Abstract Freeform Lucite / Acrylic Table Sculpture Signed
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A beautiful and impressive Lucite table sculpture in yellow and red colored acrylic. The table sculpture features two abstract forms on a thick base. Large substantial piece. Signed ...
Acrylic, Lucite
Otero Copper and Travertine Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Otero Copper and Travertine Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 90 x D 8 x H 210 cm. Materials: Copper, Travertine. An all-Travertine marble edition is available upon reque...
Travertine, Copper
Ceramic penguin sculpture, Italy 1980
Located in Firenze, IT
Ceramic penguin sculpture Italy 1980 33H x 24 x 17 cm Conditions: perfect conditions
Ceramic
$10,794 / item
3D Art 8 Lights LED Sculptural Piece by Aggiolight
Located in Geneve, CH
3D Art 8 Lights LED Sculptural Piece by Aggiolight. Dimensions: W 50 x D 40 x H 80 cm. Materials: Matt RAL Powder-Coated and Polished Chrome metal structure wi...
Crystal, Chrome
Origins Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture Diptych by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Origins Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture Diptych by Aura Carpio. Dimensions (Combined): D 100 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes up...
Copper
Extra Large Origins Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Extra Large Origins Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: D 120 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon requ...
Copper
Sometimes, I Have Coffee With My Own Demons Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
Sometimes, I Have Coffee With My Own Demons Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 50 x D 5 x H 50 cm Materials: Volcanic rock. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s int...
Stone
Art Allows Me To Inhabit The World More Comfortably Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
Art Allows Me To Inhabit The World More Comfortably Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 40 x D 5 x H 50 cm Materials: Green Cantera. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans p...
Stone
Tristan Govignon Abstract Bronze Plinth Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
"Alliance" one of a kind bronze, Tristan Govignon Base is white, not black as pictured.
Bronze
C. Jeré 1990 bent metal wall sculpture in the shape of turning pages
By Artisan House, Curtis Jeré, C. Jeré Artisan House
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Curtis Jeré 1990 metal wall sculpture. There are five curved metal layers, all made of different materials, colors and textures. The edges are curled outwards in a way that it looks ...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Large Origins Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Origins Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 100 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper. Weight: 12 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industrial designer graduated an...
Copper
Postmodern Cubist Face Sculpture
By Joan Miró
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Playful postmodern ceramic glazed sculpture inspired by artist Joan Miro. This piece features a color block face in bright primary colors with a black stem and rectangular base. Dim...
Ceramic
$1,644 / item
Pendulum Pendant Sculpture by Vaust
By VAUST
Located in Geneve, CH
Pendulum pendant sculpture by Vaust Open edition Dimensions: D 25 x H 18 cm Materials: artificial stone hand carved Also available: Custom material selection can be offered upon request and after approval by designer. Hand moulded concrete pendant sculpture. A pebble referencing the exposed...
Stone
Large Brass Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Brass Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 100 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper, Brass. Weight: 12 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industrial designer graduat...
Copper, Brass
$3,758Sale Price|20% Off
Italy Mid-Century Modern Orange Terracotta Abstract Sculpture F Sartori Bowl
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a very interesting piece hand made in terracotta by the Italian artist Franz Sartori. This orange disk is an abstract artwork that was handmade in terracotta in 1972 by the a...
Terracotta
$7,646 / item
Vides Black Cantera Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Vides Black Cantera Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 60 x D 2 x H 40 cm. Materials: Black Quarry. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon reques...
Stone
$11,675 / item
Otto Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture II by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Otto Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture II by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 95 x D 8 x H 132 cm. Materials: Copper, Fire-stamped. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishe...
Copper
$9,772 / item
Shibuya Wall Sculpture by Daniel Schneiger
Located in Geneve, CH
Shibuya wall sculpture by Daniel Schneiger Dimensions: D 71 x W 137 x H 18 cm Materials: wood, foam, resin and paint Custom sizes available. Custom finishes available. Please cont...
Resin, Foam, Wood