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.
Popcorn Jar Up Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Popcorn Jar Up Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 23 x D 23 x H 37 cm. Materials: Ceramic. This piece is available in a wide range of hand...
Ceramic
$6,557 / item
Sculptural Object by Dongwook Choi
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural Object by Dongwook Choi Crest and Trough series Dimensions: 42 x 40 x 45 cm Materials: FRP, chrome coated There may be a visual difference...
Chrome
Big Sculptural Vase in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Big Sculptural Vase in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 35 x D 35 x H 39 cm. Materials: Ceramic. “Big” is an imposing presence in my collection, a ce...
Ceramic
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 ...
Bronze
$81,006 / item
Espirae Sculpture in Basalt & Steel by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Espirae Sculpture in Basalt & Steel by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 600 x W 200 x H 250 cm. Materials: Steel and basalt. Available in different finishes and material op...
Steel, Other
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 12 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 12 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 25 x W 28 x H 45 cm I’m a middle-aged woman who had babies late—too late, some might...
Stoneware
$2,571 / item
Sculpture Bloomen 13 by Zanellazine Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculpture Bloomen 13 by Zanellazine Ceramics Dimensions: W 14 x H 42 cm Materials: Red clay. About: Giovanna Zighetti, ceramist and set designer, and Lucia Zamberletti, fashion cons...
Ceramic
Resin and Steel Sawfish Shaped Sculpture
By Viktor Mtz 1
Located in Mexico City, MX
An unusual dark resin sculpture in the shape of a sawfish rostrum by Mexican artist Viktor Martínez. The piece is mounted on an Industrial style steel ...
Steel
$19,287 / item
Large Totem Carbon by Maxence De Bagneux
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Totem Carbon by Maxence De Bagneux Dimensions: D 36 x H 220 cm Materials: Stoneware, burnt laminated wood. Maxence de Bagneux has devoted his free time since childhood to his ...
Stoneware, Wood
$7,714 / item
Bronze Oni Mask by Splady Art Studios
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze Oni Mask by Splady Art Studios Design by Alexander Yoshikawa Dimensions: W 11 x D 18 x H 25 cm. Materials: Bronze. "Oni Mask" is inspired by the prote...
Bronze
Lex Hogenhout Large Artwork 'Spatial Weave / Shelter X' The Netherlands 1970s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Lex Hogenhout Large Artwork 'Spatial Weave' The Netherlands 1970s. A large and impressive 'living' artwork by Dutch artist Lex Hogenhout. Suspended and leaning, this work almost wor...
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
$10,742 / 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
Yōtan Unique Lighted Totem in White Marble, Aluminum & Glass by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Yōtan Unique Lighted Totem in White Marble, Aluminum & Glass by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 40 x W 30 x H 300 cm. Materials: Marble, glass, and aluminum. Available in ...
Marble, Aluminum
Life Sized Wall Mounted Mule Deer Bust by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Life Sized Wall Mounted Mule Deer Bust by The Peak Antler Dimensions: W 73.66 x D 50.80 x H 132.08 cm Materials: naturally shed antlers Based in, produced and shipped from the US. ...
Antler
$1,344 / 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 55 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Numerated and signed by the artist. All ...
Ceramic
$27,002 / item
Rito 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
White Direction I Hand Crafted Sculpture by Rachael Heritage
Located in Geneve, CH
White Direction I Hand Crafted Sculpture by Rachael Heritage Each Piece is Unique Dimensions: D 26 x W 26 x H 38.5 cm Materials: recycled card, fibre-cement, white burnished plaster....
Other
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
Bronze Bust of Salvador Dalí Nº265/999 by Arno Breker 1975
By Arno Breker
Located in Madrid, ES
The name of the artist and the date, "Arno Breker 1974-75," are incised on Dali's neck, indicating the period during which Breker sculpted Dali from life. On the back of the neck, yo...
Marble, Bronze
Black Alongside Out Hand Crafted Sculpture by Rachael Heritage
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Alongside Out Hand Crafted Sculpture by Rachael Heritage Each Piece is Unique Dimensions: D 28 x W 24 x H 24 cm Materials: recycled card, fibre-cement, black burnished plaster....
Other
Stoneware and Bronze, Distressed Form NO.1 by Alexandria Roby
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware and Bronze, Distressed Form NO.1 by Alexandria Roby Dimensions: D 17.78 x H 10.16 cm Materials: White stoneware lined with bronze glaze Colors - Ivory, Sandstone, or Onyx ...
Stoneware
1984 Ceramic Post-Modern Sculpture by James Caswell Davis, Santa Monica
Located in Sacramento, CA
1984 Memphis-style ceramic sculpture by Santa Monica-based artist James Caswell Davis (1948-2015). The abstract wall sculpture features layered geometric forms, jagged edges, and vib...
Ceramic
$3,658 / set
Helle Fuchsia Cast Glass Sculpture by Bowen Liu
Located in Geneve, CH
Helle Fuchsia Cast Glass Sculpture by Bowen Liu Dimensions: D 2.25 x W 5 x H 7 cm Materials: Cast Glass Based in, produced and shipped from the US. Bowen Liu founded her award-win...
Other
Zebra Lucite Acrylic Sculpture by Abraham Palatnik
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Acrylic Lucite Zebra Sculpture by Abraham Palatnik A stunning acrylic zebra sculpture by renowned Brazilian artist Abraham Palatnik. This piece is a true modern work of art that comb...
Acrylic
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
Corpus Archetypus Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Corpus Archetypus Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 22 x D 32 x H 42 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Arabian luster glaze press mold, reduction firing. About: Fro...
Ceramic
Ivory and Red Stoneware Hand Coiled Contemporary Namara Sculpture By Munier
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Namara Sculpture by Munier Dimensions: W 55 x D 55 x H 45 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Weight: 12 kg. I specialize in the ancient technique of coil building, a traditional ha...
Ceramic
$2,185 / item
Emboss Wall Sculpture I by Sofia Tufvasson
Located in Geneve, CH
Emboss wall sculpture I by Sophie Rogers Dimensions: D 8 x W 32 x H 25 cm Materials: Ceramic, glaze Other glaze colors available. Wall sculpture with undulating shape like a dr...
Ceramic
Aura Handcrafted Pendant Lamp in Neutral Beige Bio-Based Resin by Waves.STUDIO
Located in Geneve, CH
Aura Handcrafted Pendant Lamp in Neutral Beige Bio-Based Resin by Waves.STUDIO Dimensions: Ø 35 x H 35 cm. Materials: Bio-based resin. All our lamps can be wired according to each c...
Resin
Lucido Costello Original Hand Made Iron Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely hand made iron sculpture is part of a set (male and female) - completely original by Lucido Costello, a well renowned heavy iron sculpture artist in Barcelona, Spain. Co...
Metal
Alba Mini Sculpture in Bio-Based Resin by Waves.STUDIO
Located in Geneve, CH
Alba Mini Sculpture in Bio-Based Resin by Waves.STUDIO Dimensions: Ø 12 x H 15 cm. Materials: Bio-based resin. Alba is a work of art that creates space for calm, wonder, and attenti...
Resin
$771 / item
Small Artefacto 03 by Federico Stefanovich
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Artefacto 03 by Federico Stefanovich Dimensions: D 10 x W 26 x H 20 cm. Material: Brass. Available in a larger size: D 19 x W 47 x H 36 cm. Federico Stefanovich presents himse...
Brass
Brass Accented Crystal Tabletop Decoration by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Accented Crystal Tabletop Decoration by Dainte Dimensions: D 11.5 x W 11.5 x H 18 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. The illustrious and luxurious crystal and brass tabletop de...
Crystal, Brass
Pisces White Tall Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Pisces White Tall Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D8 x W 28 x x H 35 cm Materials: Ceramic Also available in other colors and custom sizes from 20cm tall - 58cm...
Ceramic
Contemporary Art Sofa - Nandì Verà by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 20th century sofa from the De Curtis home in Lugano. Decorations and velvet in Pontoglio silk, exclusive design by the Author. Gold,...
Silk
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
Marble Screen by Andrea Giomi: Bardiglio & Carrara, Post-Modern Italy
Located in Geneve, CH
Marble Screen by Andrea Giomi Dimensions: D 210 x W 100 x H 190 cm Materials: Bardiglio Nuvolato marble, Carrara white marble, Guatemala green marble. Also available in alabaster ver...
Marble
$2,571 / item
Sculpture Bloomen 12 by Zanellazine Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculpture Bloomen 12 by Zanellazine Ceramics Dimensions: W 11 x H 60 cm Materials: Red clay, Orange and tobacco semi-refractorie clay, White fireclay. About: Giovanna Zighetti, cera...
Ceramic
$16,645 / item
São Paulo 03 Totem by Gabriela Campos
Located in Geneve, CH
São Paulo 03 Totem by Gabriela Campos Dimensions: W 36 x D 36 x H 180 cm. Materials: American Oak, Freijó. ESTÚDIO MAIS ALMA moves toward the authentic and the unique, whether in ...
Oak
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
$3,085 / item
Apollon Bust Sculpture by Lagu
Located in Geneve, CH
Apollon Bust sculpture by Lagu. Designed by Ufuk Ceylan. Dimensions: W 44 x D 35 x H 58 cm. Materials: Statuary Marble, Cast. Apollo is known as the god of music, art, the sun,...
Cast Stone, Marble
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
$30,251 / item
La Mer Chair by Pepe Valenti
Located in Geneve, CH
La Mer Chair by Pepe Valenti collaboration with Antoine Aimé Dimensions: D 80 x W 65 x H 109 cm. Materials: Chrome-plated stainless steel, acrylic. A cha...
Stainless Steel
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
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
'Love Knot' Murano Sculpture by Renato Anatrà, Signed, Italy, 1980's
Located in Doylestown, PA
Elegant 'Love Knot' abstract sculpture by Renato Anatrà, signed, Italy. Representing eternal love, this graceful sculpture is beautifully hand crafted of clear...
Murano Glass
Oval Rosso Francia Marble Contemporary Luxury Bath Tub By Serafini
Located in Geneve, CH
Rosso Francia tosca bath by Serafini Materials: Rosso Francia marble. Dimensions: D 92 x W 170 x H 50 cm Available in other marbles. Also available in shaped version. Tap not include...
Marble
Beige Irregular Stoneware Hand Coiled Sculptural Lumira Sculpture By Munier
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Lumira Sculpture by Munier Dimensions: W 45 x D 35 x H 35 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Weight: 9 kg. I specialize in the ancient technique of coil building, a traditional han...
Ceramic
1970s Iron Modernist Sculpture
Located in Sarasota, FL
A modernist sculpture in iron. Depicts a round face with simple raised and pierced features, decorated in a vibrant color palette. Artist is unknown.
Iron
$1,320 / item
Brutalist Sculpture by Vica Ceramica
Located in Geneve, CH
Brutalist Sculpture by Vica Ceramica Dimensions: D 34 x W 37 x H 27.5 cm Materials: High temp. Ceramic and different handmade clays VICA CERÁMICA-STU...
Enamel
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
Stoneware Clay, Ceramic Unbound Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Ceramic Unbound Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 32 x D 13.8 x H 17.5 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Unglazed ceramic sulface. Weight: 1,9 kg. Al...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Duramen Stainless Steel Top and Solid Walnut Sculptural Object by Jules Lobgeois
Located in Geneve, CH
Duramen Stainless Steel Top and Solid Walnut Sculptural Object by Jules Lobgeois Unique Piece Dimensions: D 35 x H 42 cm. Materials: Solid walnut, stainless steel. The heartwood is ...
Stainless Steel
105 Ltr Forms 25 Yellow Blown Glass Unique Decorative Object by Vogel Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
105 Ltr Forms 25 Yellow Blown Glass Unique Decorative Object by Vogel Studio One Of A Kind Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 25 cm. Materials: Hand-blown glass. Every glass object is blown, defo...
Blown Glass
$874 / item
Green Patina Pluto Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Green patina pluto vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 13 x D 13 x H 14 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin MOLDED, DYED, AND FINISHED BY HAND IN LA. CUSTOMIZATION AVAILABLE. ALL PIECES...
Resin, Plaster
Postmodern small glass sculpture by Impy Pilapil, signed, 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
A small postmodern art glass sculpture by Impy Pilapil, signed, Philippines late 20th century.
Art Glass
$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
Hagi White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Hagi White 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
Nell Bernard Leauté Abstract Ceramic Sculpture 'Deconstructed Construct'
By Nell Bernard
Located in Esbjerg, DK
This unusual object indeed looks like it was made by an infant child. However it was made by the abstract post-modern female Danish artist and sculptor Nell Bernard Leauté (1935-99)....
Ceramic