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.
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)....
Bronze
Late 20th Century Carved Varnished Wood Decorative Feminine Sculpture, Brazil
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 20th century varnished wood decorative feminine sculpture with carved abdominal void, Brazil By: unknown Material: wood Technique: carved, hand-carved, hand-crafted, varnished ...
Wood
Gio Ponti for Argenteria Sabattini Italian Silver-Plated "Musk" Sculpture 1970s
By Gio Ponti, Sabattini Argenteria
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian sculpture ‘Cuckolded Mask” in silver-plated metal designed by Gio Ponti for Argenteria Sabattini with the manufacturer’s mark engraved, Italy 1970s Please note that the item...
Silver Plate
$22,800Sale Price|20% Off
Rare 1986 Limited Edition Gufram Multipli Cactus, Signed & Numbered 1257 of 2000
By Guido Drocco and Franco Mello, Gufram Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare and highly collectible limited edition Gufram 'Cactus' coat / hat rack sculpture designed by Guido Drocco and Franco Mello, part of the legendary Italian Radical Design and Po...
Polystyrene
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
$14,372 / 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
Movement Phase 3 Sculpture in Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay by Catalin Filip
Located in Geneve, CH
Movement Phase 3 Sculpture in Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay by Catalin Filip. Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 40 cm. Materials: Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay, Ratchet Strap, textured natural...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Mid 20th Century Pate de Verre Glass Sculpture entitled "Taureau" by Daum
By Daum
Located in London, GB
Emerging from an ethereal dream, this sculpture evokes the raw power and majesty of nature. Cast in pate de verre glass and crafted using a centuries-old technique, this figure offer...
Glass
$1,603 / item
Bronze Lighter by Rick Owens
By Rick Owens
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze lighter by Rick Owens Dimensions: L 11.5 x W 5.5 x H 3 cm Materials: Bronze Weight: 0.45 kg Available in Black and Nitrate finish. Rick ...
Bronze
$3,962 / item
Clay Sink by Studio Loho
Located in Geneve, CH
Clay sink by Studio Loho Dimensions: D 40 x H 15 cm Materials: clay5 Available in 3 models: round sink, oval sink and sink on structure. Due to the production process every piece is unique in size and form. Studio LoHo is a Belgian design office located in Bruges, Belgium. Founded in the autumn of 2017 by Karel Loontiens and Jo Hoeven, the studio focused from the beginning on high-end bespoke interior projects which forms an ideal matrix for product - and material design that is both innovative and durable. In current times there’s no more room for influx of disposable products, it is our studio’s goal to strive for design that will last and will be cherished for multiple generations. The introduction of the first collection “clay series” fully articulated the DNA of the newborn Studio and led to their international breakthrough. The appreciation of materials reflects their unique view on interior design with a strong and recognizable signature. Soon after, the collection was expanded on request by other architects and designers with new sinks...
Clay
Large Raku Pottery Cat on Lucite Base by Tony Evans
By Tony Evans
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice large raku pottery sitting cat on lucite base by noted artist Tony Evans, circa 1980s. The piece is signed on the base and extremely well crafted; it has wonderful green ...
Pottery, Lucite
Scorpion Sculpture, Enrique "Sebastian Carbajal, 1990
By Enrique Sebastian Carbajal
Located in Chicago, IL
Scorpion Sculpture, Enrique "Sebastian Carbajal, 1990's Born Enrique Carbajal Gonzalez, Sebastian adopted his pseudonym after seeing a painting called St. Sebastian by Italian Renais...
Steel
Hagi Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Hagi Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 14 x W 32 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes from ...
Ceramic, Clay
1980 Italy Post-Modern Rodica Tanasescu Bronze Abstract Sculpture Insieme
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Rodica Tanasescu. The title "Insieme" Together Rodica Tanasescu was born in Rumania and now lives in and works in Mestre, (Venezia, It...
Bronze
$1,278 / item
Athari Functional Sculpture by Andrei Clontea
Located in Geneve, CH
Athari Functional Sculpture by Andrei Clontea Dimensions: W 20 x D 28 x H 29 cm Materials: Ceramics It’s important to note that due to the hand-building process, each piece may pres...
Ceramic
Golden Geode Illuminated Wall Art in Citrine and Quartz by Sev Art Gallery
Located in Geneve, CH
Golden Geode Illuminated Wall Art in Citrine and Quartz by Sev Art Gallery. Dimensions: W 100 x D 4 x H 180 cm. Materials: Natural quartz stone, citrine stone, epoxy resin, canvas, ...
Quartz, Stone
$11,386 / item
Element 02 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Element 02 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 15 x H 30 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbued wit...
Bronze, Other
Contemporary Art Ceramic Totem Chocolate Piece Number 33/99 by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Pistoia, IT
The message that Mirabili intends to portay involves well-known artist and designers, selected for their particular gifts and their poetic world, lending an innovative and sensitive ...
Ceramic, Wood
$5,577 / item
Vessel by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Vessel by Laura Pasquino Limited Edition of 8 Dimensions: D 47 x H 32 cm Material: Soft-paste porcelain, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceramics...
Porcelain
1970 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Cristiana Isoleri Reperto Fragment
Located in Brescia, IT
This engaging bronze artwork was created by the Italian artist Cristiana Isoleri. This is a multiple of 1.000 specimens, numbered and signed. The title is "Reperto" translated in "Fr...
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...
Bronze
$51,122 / item
Brummit Fir Christmas Tree Sculpture by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Brummit Fir Christmas Tree Sculpture by The Peak Antler Dimensions: W 132.08 x D 132.08 x H 396.24 cm Materials: naturally shed antlers Based in, produced and shipped from the US. ...
Antler
Postmodern German Yellow Ear Clips, 1980s, Set of 2
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Yellow Ear Clips, 1980s, Set of 2
Plastic
$1,429 / item
Fermo Doorstop by Rampinelli Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Fermo Doorstop by Rampinelli Edizioni Designed by Martinelli Venezia Dimensions: D 11.5 x W 30 x H 25.5 cm, Materials: Metal. MARTINELLI VENEZIA Fermo is a metal doorstop, character...
Metal
Contemporary Art Armchair - Mademoiselle Valery by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 19th-century silk velvet poltrock decorated by the author. Rose back in Pontoglio silk velvet. Trimmings
Silk
Contemporary Art The Perfect Big Half-Moon Silk Velvet Sofa by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabric and the embroideries are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
$832Sale Price|20% Off
Luigi Barolo for Baleri Italia (1992) Corrugated "Cartoons" Screen
By Baleri Italia, Luigi Baroli
Located in Round Top, TX
This is the "Cartoons" free-standing corrugated cardboard room screen with cast aluminum structural framing with protective rubber capping to the top and bottom of this piece. Desig...
Aluminum
Salvador Dalí Drawers Lamp by BD Barcelona, Pale Limewood, Spain
By Salvador Dalí, BD Barcelona Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Drawers lamp designed by Dali manufactured by BD. Carved structure in pale varnished limewood. Lampshade in beige linen. Measures: 30 x 30 x 87 H cm Sculpture-lamp drawers A stan...
Wood
Whimsical Surrealist Bust Sculpture "The Big Apple has a Worm", Artist Unknown
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Handcrafted Whimsical Ceramic Surrealist Bust Sculpture"The Big Apple has a Worm" Artist Unknown, Unmarked, circa 1990's In very good as found condition. In the style of Jess Riva ...
Ceramic, Pottery
$3,962 / item
Clay Sink by Studio Loho
Located in Geneve, CH
Clay sink by Studio Loho Dimensions: D 40 x H 15 cm Materials: clay. Available in 3 models: round sink, oval sink and sink on structure. Due to the producti...
Clay
Arnaldo Pomodoro Attributed Abstract Bronze Sculpture of Disc
Located in New York, NY
Abstract sculpture attributed to Arnaldo Pomodoro (1926- ), depicting a fractured disc or wheel, 21 by 19 by 12.5 inches, in bronze with warm brown patina and sphere in polished bron...
Bronze
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Baccarat Crystal Glass Zodiac Dragon
By Baccarat
Located in Mérida, YU
Baccarat Crystal Glass Ornament Zodiac Dragon. 2012. Perfect condition. Marked.
Crystal
1970s Lucio Del Pezzo Trigon Italian Design Neodada Framart Wood Sculpture
Located in Brescia, IT
Lacquered wood Limited edition of 100 pieces Original wood box Excellent condition.
Wood
Mid-20th Century Glass "Aquarium with Jellyfish" by Elio Rafaelli
Located in London, GB
A captivating Murano glass aquarium by Elio Rafaelli presents an enchanting underwater tableau, delicately suspended within a crystal-clear form. A graceful jellyfish rises at the ce...
Glass
$272Sale Price|53% Off
1980s Postmodern Female Face Ceramic Sculpture in the Austin Productions Style
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Large scale, Postmodern / 1980s Art Deco revival Female Head Ceramic Sculpture in the Austin Productions Style. Circa 1980s Features a flatten female head figure molded on a...
Ceramic
$3,508 / item
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics Unique piece. Dimensions: D 20 x H 125 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Numerated and signed by the artist. All...
Ceramic
Salvador Dalí Leda Armchair Sculpture in Polished Brass, Spain
By Salvador Dalí, BD Barcelona Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Leda armchair designed by Dali manufactured by BD. Structure in polished cast brass varnish. Measures: 47 x 60 x 92 H.cm Year: 1935-1937 Taken from “Femme á la téte rose” 1935 (W...
Brass
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
Postmodern Dancing Couple Ironwood Solid Wood Carved Sculpture
By Henry Moore
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A postmodern solid wood carved sculpture depicting a dancing couple. The curved abstract stylization is reminiscent to the sculptures created by modern sculptor Henry Moore. The simp...
Wood
Loet Vanderveen Monkey/Orangutan Lying Down Bronze Sculpture, Signed, Numbered
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Loet Vanderveen was born in Holland and worked in fashion and later living in New York, London ,Zurich worked in the Zoo sculptures using great patinas. This orangutan is signed and ...
Bronze
$1,405 / item
Velvet Realities Blue Wall Sculpture by Sven Jansse
Located in Geneve, CH
Velvet Realities Blue Wall Sculpture by Sven Jansse Collaboration with Studio Somé (Robyne Somé) and Sven Jansse. Dimensions: W 63 x D 1 x H 90 cm Materials: Print on CNC’d Acryllic...
Other
$4,357 / item
Light Rocks Stoneware Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Rocks Stoneware Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 32 x H 30 cm Material: White and beige stoneware, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ...
Stoneware
Postmodern Glazed Ceramic Decorative Item attr. to Giovanni Bertoncello, Italy
By Schiavon, Giovanni Bertoncello
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy , 1970s. It is made in brown glazed ceramic and it's attributable to Giovanni Bertoncello for its design. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces...
Ceramic
Large Post-Modern Lucite Sculpture by Shlomi Haziza
Located in San Diego, CA
Large colorful abstract lucite sculpture by Israeli artist, Shlomi Haziza, circa early 1990s. The piece is in good vintage condition with no chips, cracks; there is some minor crazin...
Lucite
$511 / item
Hobnail Tile Wall Piece by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Hobnail tile wall piece by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 30 x H 40 cm Materials: steel Hand-formed from a sheet of steel, emphasizing the material’s pliable characteristics expre...
Steel
1950s French Modernist Crucifix in Black Lacquered Metal and Ceramic
By Georges Jouve, Peter and Denise Orlando, Roger Capron
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Black Lacquered Metal Cross with Stylized Enameled Ceramic Christ A rare and sculptural French modernist crucifix from the 1950s, reflecting the postwar renewal of sacred art throug...
Iron
$3,601 / item
Prickless Pear Sculpture by ON.ENTROPY
Located in Geneve, CH
Prickless Pear Sculpture by ON.ENTROPY Dimensions: W 47 x D 21 x H 38 cm Materials: Green Marble. on• entropy is a marble atelier established in 2009 in Athens and London with a foc...
Marble
Pair of Post Modern Faux Tusks on Tessellated Marble & Brass Bases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Designer: Marquis Collection Manufacturer: Marquis Collection Materials: Tessellated Marble, Black Marble, Brass Trim Striking and sculptural...
Marble, Brass
$1,103 / item
Sculpture FUNGHI 20 by Zanellazine Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculpture FUNGHI 20 by Zanellazine Ceramics Dimensions: W 19 x D 14 x H 23 cm Materials: Red clay, Brown semi-refractorie clay. About: Giovanna Zighetti, ceramist and set designer, ...
Ceramic
$5,112 / item
Trophy Mother of Pearl Sculpture by Henry Baumann
Located in Geneve, CH
Trophy Mother of Pearl Sculpture by Henry Baumann Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 49 cm. Materials: Resin and brass. Satin matt finish. Unique ...
Brass
Late 20th Century Dominican Carved Varnished Wooden Hand Sculpture/Cigar Holder
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 20th century dominican hand-carved varnished wooden hand sculpture/cigar holder By: unknown Material: wood Technique: carved, hand-carved, ...
Wood
$1,150 / item
Incense Object by Henry D'ath
Located in Geneve, CH
Incense object by Henry D'ath Dimensions:D55 x W20 x H6 cm Materials:Wood, Calligraphy Ink Piece is handmade by artist. Henry d’ath is a new zealand born, hong kong based art...
Wood
Vintage Glazed Ceramic Architectural Pottery Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A true testament to mid-century modern artistry, this vintage glazed ceramic sculpture features a bold, architectural form with striking geometric cutouts and dynamic negative space....
Ceramic
Contemporary Art the Butterfly Bed in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique pieces hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabrics and the embroidery are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
Post-Modern Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Bertrand Créac'h, Frace
Located in London, GB
« Éclosion » by Bertrand Créac'h Material: Bronze, brown patina Dimensions: H 13 x 20 x 14 cm Year: 2023 While claiming an analogical relationship with nature, Bertrand Créach’s sc...
Bronze
$1,882 / item
Perspectiva Space Divider by Colección Estudio
Located in Geneve, CH
Perspectiva space divider by Colección Estudio Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 163 cm Materials: oak wood, grey wool felt Also available in ebonized o...
Felt, Oak
Rare Lucite Table Sculpture in the Style of Vasa Mihich
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple table sculpture, solid 4.25" x 3.5" x 18.75" from thick to thin Lucite, in the style of Vasa Mihich, circa 1980s. A geometric translucent sculpture made of Lucite with a taper...
Lucite
$1,719 / item
Relief Sculpture by Alexandra Madirazza
Located in Geneve, CH
Relief Sculpture by Alexandra Madirazza Dimensions: W 60 x D 3 x H 90 cm (These are approximate measurements) Materials: Concrete Alexandra is an ...
Concrete
Project Materia 2025 I Didn't Do Enough II Vessel in Glass by Project Materia
Located in Geneve, CH
Project Materia 2025 I Didn't Do Enough II Vessel in Glass by Project Materia. Designed by Willem Van Hooff. Limited Edition of 14. Dimensions: W 51 x D 27 x H 55.5 cm. Materials: Mo...
Blown Glass
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