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.
$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
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
Mule Deer Antler Life Sized Bust Sculpture by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Mule Deer Antler Life Sized Bust Sculpture by The Peak Antler Dimensions: W 83.82 x D 55.88 x H 109.22 cm Materials: naturally shed antlers Based in, produced and shipped from the U...
Antler
Beige Stoneware Hand Coiled Organic Sculptural Luuina Sculpture By Munier
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Luuina Sculpture by Munier Dimensions: W 28 x D 28 x H 23 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Weight: 3.5 kg. I specialize in the ancient technique of coil building, a traditional h...
Ceramic
Stoneware Clay, Ceramic Flowing Silence Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Ceramic Flowing Silence Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 25 x D 10 x H 51 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Unglazed ceramic sulface. Weight: 3,8 kg. ...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
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
$2,784 / item
Satori 12 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Satori 12 sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Earthenware sculpture Dimensions: D 22 x W 29 x H 52 cm When Japanese Mountain Gods appear as children, t...
Earthenware
$876 / 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
$3,725 / item
Red Fold Room Divider by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Red Fold room divider by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 4 x W 70 x H 170 cm Materials: oak wood, leather straps. Available in other colors and ...
Leather, Oak
$18,269 / 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
Contemporary Art Green TOTEM Moon Mannequin in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabric and velvet embroidery are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
$1,710 / item
Paper Darkened Brass Bowl III by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper darkened brass bowl III by Gentner Design. Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 25.5 cm. Materials: darkened brass. Available in tarnished brass and darkened brass. The Paper Series em...
Brass
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
Prime Walnut, Any Leather Rings Only by Eternal Creek
Located in Geneve, CH
Prime Walnut, Any Leather Handles Only by Eternal Creek Dimensions: D 24 x H 3.2 cm Materials: Wood: Prime Walnut / Black Ash / Light Ash Leather: Shadow Black / Saddle Brown / Lond...
Leather, Wood
TOWERX23 Architectural Elm Wood Sculpture in Dark Finish by Towerland
Located in Geneve, CH
TOWERX23 Architectural Elm Wood Sculpture in Dark Finish by Towerland. Dimensions: W 12.5 x D 12.5 x H 26 cm. Materials: Elm Wood with Dark Finish. The TOWERX2 series is a solid woo...
Wood
Black XIV Décima Cuarta Mobile Sculpture by Joel Escalona
Located in Geneve, CH
Black XIV Décima Cuarta mobile sculpture by Joel Escalona Dimensions: D 120 x H 185 cm Materials: oak wood. Mobile made of natural white oak with burnt finish and stainless stee...
Oak
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
$1,628 / item
OTOMA_02 Vase by Emmanuelle Roule
Located in Geneve, CH
OTOMA_02 Vase by Emmanuelle Roule Unique piece. Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 31 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Vase made of white stoneware with glaze. Not w...
Stoneware
'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
Peter Shire x Vistosi Murano Postmodern Bone Sculpture with Cobalt Blue Base
By Peter Shire, Vistosi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Exceptional upright murano art glass sculpture by Peter Shire in collaboration with Vistosi Murano. Signed at bottom. Most likely one of kind. Upright bone floats above a cobalt blue...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
$3,415 / item
Il Corpo Bookends by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Il Corpo Bookends by Marcela Cure Dimensions: Upper W 19 x D 16.5 x H 31 cm / Lower W 22 x D 18 x H 31 cm Materials: Resin and Stone Composite Our Il Corpo sculpture is a set of...
Stone
$1,242 / item
Stoneware, Distressed Vessel NO.2 by Alexandria Roby
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware, Distressed Vessel NO.2 by Alexandria Roby Dimensions: D 17.78 x H 20.32 cm Materials: Black and White Stoneware Lined with Bronze Glaze Colors - Sandstone/Ivory or Onyx/Iv...
Stoneware
$6,538 / item
Concrete and Cray Totem 130 by Frederic Texier
Located in Geneve, CH
Concrete and Cray Totem 130 by Frederic Texier Dimensions: W 30 x D 20 x H 130 cm. Materials: Concrete coated with lime and cement. Color: Cray. Artist Frédéric Texier expresses a...
Concrete, Cement
$1,710 / item
Paper Brass Bowl III by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper brass bowl III by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 25.5 cm Materials: tarnished brass Available in tarnished brass and darkened brass. The Paper Series embodies the ...
Brass
Helle Lemon Tint Cast Glass Sculpture by Bowen Liu
Located in Geneve, CH
Helle Lemon Tint 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-...
Other
Yvonne Domenge Fiberglass And Gold Leaf Sphere Sculpture From "Monadas" Series
By Yvonne Domenge
Located in Mexico City, MX
A rare fiberglass with gold leaf sphere sculpture from the "Monadas" series by Mexican sculptor Yvonne Domenge. Conceived as an element for an astronomical exhibition, the sphere's s...
Gold Leaf
Set of Trio Vase, Dou Vase and Uno Vase by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of Trio Vase, Dou vase and Uno vase by Daniel Elkayam Dimensions: D 2.5 x W 16 x H 46 cm (Trio), D 2.5 x W 10 x H 39 cm (Dou), D 2.5 x W 10 x H 27 cm (Uno) Materials: Burnt bee...
Beech
TOWERX27 Architectural Elm Wood Sculpture in Dark Finish by Towerland
Located in Geneve, CH
TOWERX27 Architectural Elm Wood Sculpture in Dark Finish by Towerland. Dimensions: W 7.5 x D 13 x H 30.5 cm. Materials: Elm Wood with Dark Finish. The TOWERX2 series is a solid wood...
Wood
Contemporary Abstract Bronze Sculpture by Bertrand Créach
Located in London, GB
" Famille I " Bronze sculpture by Bertrand Creach, 2021. Limited edition 1/8, hand-carved and black patina finition. ______ Dimension: H 35 x 15.5 x ...
Bronze
$30,936 / item
Atlant Sapiens by Twenty Second Factory
Located in Geneve, CH
Atlant Sapiens by Twenty Second Factory Created by Vladislav Volosenko X Bogdan Kryvosheya Dimensions: D 52 x W 35 x H 60 cm Materials: Bronze. Founded in 2017 by Bogdan Kryvosheya,...
Bronze
Jack Dowd 1996 Life Size Penguin Butler Dumb Waiter Hydrocal Sculpture 64"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Jack Dowd whimsical, life-size anthropomorphic penguin butler sculpture featuring a detailed, elderly face man, dressed in a formal black tuxedo and bow tie, and holding a sm...
Fiberglass
Curved Dancer Teracotta Blend Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Curved Dancer Teracotta Blend Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 9 x W 26 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay, Terracotta Also available in other colors an...
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
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
Functional Sculpture 'Praying Mantis' by Salvino Marsura, Italy, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Functional sculpture by Italian artist Salvino Marsura, crafted in the 1950s. Hand-forged from steel and finished with vibrant powder pigments, the piece embodies Marsura’s deep resp...
Steel
$2,784 / item
Satori 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Satori 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Earthenware sculpture Dimensions: D23 x W32 x H45 cm When Japanese Mountain Gods appear as children, they are known as Satori. Satori...
Earthenware
$2,531 / item
Haniwa Warrior 12 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Haniwa Warrior 12 sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: black stoneware sculpture Dimensions: D11 x W33 x H59 cm My interpretation of ancient clay figurine...
Stoneware
Ray Teracotta Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Ray Terracotta Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 8 x W 30 x x H 30 cm Materials: Terracotta, Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and cus...
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
Contemporary Art TOTEM Clair De Lune Light Blue White N/Edit. by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 29 pieces. From Primitive clay magma, by playing with shapes, Sottsass makes the “philosophy” of a state of mind visible and concrete: as if in the musical atmosph...
Ceramic, Wood
Mayemba Rare Bronze African Women Sculpture, Congo, 2002
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Striking bronze sculpture by Congolese artist Mayemba, created in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2002 and depicting two African women carrying trays. The composition presen...
Bronze
$22,593 / item
Large High Clay Bathtub by Studio Loho
Located in Geneve, CH
Large High clay bathtub by Studio Loho Dimensions: D 85 x W 160 x H 54 cm Materials: Clay Other colors and raw or smooth exteriors available. Available in 4 sizes: W 130 (Small High), W 145 (Medium High), W 160 (Large High), and W 178 (X-Large High). The baths are entirely made of clay and are available in a wide range of colors or can be produced bespoke. The exterior of the clay can be raw or smooth according to preference, the interior of the baths is finished with a layer of smooth, silky lime plaster for maximum comfort. 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
$876 / item
Teal and Ochre Pluto Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Teal and Ochre 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 PIEC...
Resin, Plaster
Handled White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Handled White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 16 x W 34 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes fr...
Ceramic, Clay
Pisces Teracotta Blend Terracotta Clay Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Pisces Terracotta Blend Terracotta Clay Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D8 x W 27 x x H 30 cm Materials: Terracotta Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes...
Clay, Terracotta
Polished Cast Brass Calice Sculptural Object by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Calice Sculptural Object by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 12 x D 12 x H 18 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: ...
Metal
$3,925 / item
Light 31 Porcelain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Light 31 Porcelain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 32 x H 32 cm Material: White porcelain. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceram...
Porcelain
$3,196 / item
Le Gambe Sculpture by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Gambe Sculpture by Marcela Cure Dimensions: Leg 1 W 47 x D 12 x H 22 cm / Leg 2 W 29 x D 12 x H 29 cm Materials: Resin and Stone Composite Our Le Gambe sculpture is composed ...
Stone
$7,804 / item
Ramé Sage Green Wall Sculpture by NITUSH AROOSH
Located in Geneve, CH
Ramé Sage Green Wall Sculpture by NITUSH AROOSH Dimensions: Ø 100 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Available in different finishes. All our lamps...
Stainless Steel
$309 / item
Butter Plate by Marta Bonilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Butter plate by Marta Bonilla Dimensions: D9 x H9 cm Materials: Metal Butter plate: Piece modelled by hand, enamelled with matte white enamel and ...
Metal
$4,898 / item
Unda Form Sculpture by Dust and Form
Located in Geneve, CH
Unda Form sculpture by Dust and Form Dimensions: D 27 x W 25 x H 12 cm Materials: vermont imperial Danby marble In Latin, the word “unda” is used to describe water, specifically...
Marble
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
Vintage Black Rams Head Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Black Rams Head Sculpture We also have a white one in stock. Circa Late 20th Century
Acrylic
$3,410 / item
Charcoal Petal Gourd I by Julie Nelson
Located in Geneve, CH
Charcoal Petal Gourd I by Julie Nelson -One Of A Kind- Dimensions: D 28 x H 22 cm Materials: Ceramic stoneware and porcelain. Artist Julie Nelson uses the materiality of clay as a m...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$5,624 / item
Pitcher by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Pitcher by Laura Pasquino Limited Edition of 8 Dimensions: D 31 x H 48 cm Material: Soft-paste porcelain, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceramic...
Porcelain
$5,624 / item
Ewer by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Ewer by Laura Pasquino Limited Edition of 8 Dimensions: D 24 x H 46 cm Material: Soft-paste porcelain, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceramics a...
Porcelain
Mantar Pyramid Contemporary Figurative Sculpture by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Mantar Pyramid Contemporary Figurative Sculpture by Homa Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 50 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Smoke Mirror. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based in Istan...
Glass, Mirror
$30,936 / item
Dazed Sapiens by Twenty Second Factory
Located in Geneve, CH
Dazed Sapiens by Twenty Second Factory Created by Roman Shcherbakov aka Dase X Vladislav Volosenko X Bogdan Kryvosheya Dimensions: D 52 x W 35 x H 60 cm Materials: Bronze. "Sapiens"...
Bronze
$22,019 / item
CF Te16 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te16 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 36 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produced...
Ceramic
Alabaster Screen by Andrea Giomi, Post-Modern Design, Italy, 210 cm
Located in Geneve, CH
Alabaster Screen by Andrea Giomi Dimensions: D 210 x W 100 x H 190 cm Materials: Alabaster Volterra. Also available in another marble version. One of a kind inspired by the Basilica...
Alabaster
$515 / item
Ceramic Cockatoo Parrot Sculpture by Marioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic Cockatoo Parrot Sculpture by Marioni Dimensions: W 16 x D 16 x H 44 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Product code: 02276 Parrot in glazed ceramic. Available in different colors and ...
Ceramic
Abstract diabas sculpture by Robert Neuhauser, Switzerland, circa 1985
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Diabase sculpture by Robert Neuhauser, created in Switzerland, circa 1985. Carved from a monolithic block of diabase, a dense black volcanic stone, the sculpture combines rough-hewn...
Stone