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.
1980s Studio Art Pottery Raku Amphora Vase in Iridescent Cobalt Blue
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Sculptural studio art pottery vase featuring a dramatic amphora form with four loop handles and richly textured crossed appliqué decoration. Finished in a striking cobalt blue glaze ...
Pottery
Contemporary High-Polished Bronze Candelholder by Colo Studio, France
Located in London, GB
‘Fambloyant’ Candelabra by Colo Studio Material: Bronze, high-polished Dimensions: Ø 60 x H 60 cm Year: 2025 With the ‘Flamboyant’ Candelabra, Colo Studio deepens his exploration ...
Bronze
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
$1,865 / item
Ampla 08 Stoneware Clay Vase by SOIO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ampla 08 Stoneware Clay Vase by SOIO Studio Dimensions: Ø 33 x H 28 cm Materials: Stoneware clay, satin glaze. SOIO Studio is a design studio based in Dubai creating sculptural coll...
Clay, Stoneware
Unique Raw Clay Ceramic Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Raw Clay Ceramic Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: H 30.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded by artist Aslı Özen. What b...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Shiro Kuramata flower vase pale pink acrylic Japanese minimalist style
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Aluminium tube put into acrylic block. It's great work of Japanese minimalist style. Transparent body makes complex light reflections around. ...
Aluminum
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Black Marble Desk Pen Pencil Holder, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
A '90s Postmodern black and brown polished marble stone desk pen pencil holder, circa 1990s. Dimensions: 2.5" square x 4.19" height. Matching...
Stone, Marble
$605 / item
An3 Sculpture by Eglė Šimkus
Located in Geneve, CH
An3 Sculpture by Eglė Šimkus Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 13 x H 23 cm. Materials: Clay. My name is Eglė Šimkus, and I was born in Lithuania in 1990 to a R...
Clay
Set Of 4 Calipso Office Set in Tosca Leather, Wood & Dark Horn by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 4 Calipso Office Set in Tosca Leather, Wood & Dark Horn by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: Desk Blotter: D 50 x W 75 x H 5 cm. A4 Letter Tray: D 25 x W 34 x H 5 ...
Brass, Other
$10,584 / item
Regeneration 03-2 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Regeneration 03-2 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 9 x H 30 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbu...
Bronze, Other
Pair of Chinese Style Blue and White Porcelain Temple Ginger Jars
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Striking pair of large Chinese-style blue and white porcelain temple or ginger jars, each approximately 20 inches tall and displaying a richly decorative cobalt-blue and white palett...
Porcelain
Meritalia Half Ball, Small / Orange, Blue and Red by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Each vase by Edizioni del Pesce embodies a singular and unrepeatable identity, telling a different story through innovative shapes, intricate details and a varied chromatic range. Th...
Resin
Maitland Smith Tessellated Stone & Brass Square Box Postmodern
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage box attributed to Maitland Smith (no label present). Tessellated Stone & Brass Square Box. Postmodern era. Dominant colors: off-white, green and go...
Stone, Brass
Andrew Galvin Footed Tray, American Studio Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage footed art glass tray features colorful Op-art fused glass design with purple, marigold yellow, forest green, and teal blue colored glass elements seamlessly fused in rectan...
Glass, Art Glass
$432Sale Price|37% Off
1980s Postmodern Cased Glass Amphora Vase by Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz, Poland
Located in Glasgow, GB
A bold and sculptural cased glass vase designed by Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz and produced by Tarnowiec Glassworks, Poland, during the 1980s. This piece reflects a distinctly postmodern re...
Art Glass
Textured Black Sculptural Ceramic Large Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Textured Black Sculptural Ceramic Large Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 27.9 x H 30.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic st...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Alessandro Albrizzi Italian White Perspex Boxes 1990s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian perspex plexiglass jewelry or storage boxes designed by Franco Albrizzi, with engraved mark under base, Italy 1990s. Please note that ...
Plexiglass
Meritalia Half Ball, Small / Green, Light Blue and Pink by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Each vase by Edizioni del Pesce embodies a singular and unrepeatable identity, telling a different story through innovative shapes, intricate details and a varied chromatic range. Th...
Resin
1985 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Edmondo Cirillo Front Opus
Located in Brescia, IT
This engagind and intense artwork was create in 1985 by the Italian artist Edmondo Cirillo. It was forged in bronze and then silver plated. The title of this piece is "Stele frontal...
Bronze
Candle Holder, Hand-Crafted Recycled Metal & Steel, Sculptural, Panorammma
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
The Chrome Candle Holder is the first in a series exploring the potential of upcycled electroplating rods—industrial remnants transformed into sculptural artifacts. These rods, used ...
Copper, Steel, Chrome, Nickel
Meritalia Papavero Vase / Black and Yellow by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Each vase by Edizioni del Pesce embodies a singular and unrepeatable identity, telling a different story through innovative shapes, intricate details and a varied chromatic range. Th...
Resin
$1,200Sale Price|50% Off
Elsa Fedrigolli Sculptural Glass 1980s Italian Vase
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful 1980s Post Modern blue glass sculptural vase on a bronze vase made by famed Italian designer, Esa Fedrigolli. Rare. Signed.
Bronze
Ceramic vase Memphis by Ettore Sottsass red star-shaped color, Milan, late 1980.
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in Milan, IT
Memphis Milano painted ceramic vase, “HSING”by Ettore Sottsass, red star-shaped color. Alessio Sarri ceramiche. Memphis Group, an Italian design and architecture collective founded b...
Ceramic
Memphis Style Triangular Mixed Wood Trinket Box by Russ Keil
By Russ Keil
Located in San Diego, CA
Memphis style mixed wood triangular trinket box by Russ Keil, circa 1990s. The box measures 4.5"W x 4.5"D x 5.75"H and is made of a padouk and sugar maple hardwood . There is a small...
Maple, Padouk
Vintage Fabric Coconut Palm Tree Sculpture, 1990s
Located in Miami, FL
Single fabric coconut palm tree. The palm leaves are adjustable. Unsigned but most likely by Jeff and Lisa Wright, 1990s.
Fabric, PVC
Bronze Patinated Vide-Poche, Mid Century, France.
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Brussels, BE
Elegant tripode vide-poche Garouste et Bonetti Era, circa 1980, France. Patinated bronze in good original condition. Dimensions: 10 cm H, 10 cm diameter. All purchases are covered by...
Bronze
$300Sale Price|20% Off
1980s Blenko Blue Apple With Clear Stem, Original Label
By Blenko Glass
Located in Charleston, SC
A beautiful Blenko Blue Apple with a Clear Stem. It still retains its original label. This large hand blown apple measures 4" wide by 5" high by 4" deep. M...
Art Glass
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Italian Marble Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
Small post-modern Italian marble vase, circa 1970s. The vase is primarily a dark tan in color, but has cream, black and grey veining throughout. T...
Marble
$962 / item
Brass Oil Decanter by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass oil decanter by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 6.3 x W 10 x H 22.2 cm Materials: polished tarnished brass Made of brass and hand tarnished, the...
Brass
Abstract Sculpture of a Crane in Flight by Masatoyo Kishi "Kuki" Circa 1970s
By Masatoyo Kishi, Kuki
Located in Peabody, MA
A cast stone abstract sculpture of a crane in flight mounted on an acrylic pedestal, circa 1970s by the noted Japanese artist Masatoyo Kishi “Kuki”...
Cast Stone
Post-modern cast aluminium vase by Pascal Mourgue, signed
Located in London, GB
Brutalist cast aluminium vessel by the late French designer Pascal Mourgue (1943–2014). Featuring Mourgue’s signature blend of raw texture, modern geometry, and sculptural presence, ...
Aluminum
$344 / item
Tulipan Vase by MCB Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Tulipan Vase by MCB Ceramics Unique piece. Dimensions: D 20 x H 12 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Numerated and signed by the artist. All measures are indicati...
Ceramic
Space Age Kinetic Desk Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bringing a touch of Space Age design flair to your space, this mid-century clock features a kinetic sphere design, with the clock's hands rotating within the chrome frame. This cloc...
Metal
Cerium Oxide, Grey, Deruta Blue Dolphins Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Cerium Oxide, Grey, Deruta Blue Dolphins Vase by deBlona Dimensions: W 42 x D 30 x H 27 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Cerium Oxide, Grey, Deruta Blue. ...
Ceramic
Dancing woman in pink Venetian Murano glass, 1960s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Dancing woman in pink Murano Venetian glass, 1960s This exquisite Murano glass dancer, a piece that evokes the sophistication of the 1960s. Handcr...
Art Glass
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Sculptural Pawn Shape Brass Paperweight Made in England
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and whimsical brass paperweight that adds personality and style to your office or décor. The weighty piece is signed “Made in England” and adds style to any place. A great ...
Brass
$831Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Ettore Sottsass Model 592 "Fischietto" Vase For Habitat, 2000
By Ettore Sottsass, Habitat International
Located in London, GB
For sale a rare & iconic Post-Modern “FISCHIETTO” ("Whistle" in Italian) vase designed by Ettore Sottsass, produced by Habitat in 2000 and made of earthenware, glazed in light &a...
Ceramic, Earthenware
$1,651 / item
Sculpture FUNGHI 19 by Zanellazine Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculpture FUNGHI 19 by Zanellazine Ceramics Dimensions: W 15 x D 16 x H 33 cm Materials: Red clay, Green semi-refractorie clay, White fireclay. About: Giovanna Zighetti, ceramist an...
Ceramic
Sholapur Marble Vase by Michele De Lucchi, Carrara, 1985
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
'SHOLAPUR' sculptural marble vase / centerpiece Michele de Lucchi for Up & Up, Carrara Italy, 1985 Postmodern Marble sculpture centerpiece. Composed of several geometric elemen...
Marble
Pair of Post-Modern Italian Carrara Marble Vases
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice pair of post-modern Italian carrara marble vases, circa 1970s. Gorgeous black veins of marble throughout each vase. The pair are in very good vintage condition with no chips o...
Carrara Marble
$52,269 / 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
Towle Silversmith Nickel Plated Leaf Serving Tray Lizard Decor
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, Towle Silversmith Nickel Plated Leaf Serving Tray Lizard Decor Dimensions: 3.5" H x 21.5" L x 14" D Please visit take a look at our listings, we have an ama...
Nickel
Postmodern Catch it all Steer Head Bowl By Nambe
By Nambe
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool and rare bulls head bowl designed by Nambe circa 2000 , nice polished finish .
Aluminum
Modder Going Anyway Ceramic Sculpture by Françoise Jeffrey
Located in Geneve, CH
Modder Going Anyway Ceramic Sculpture by Françoise Jeffrey Dimensions: Ø 13 x H 10 cm Materials: stoneware piece, clay colour, coil-built, unglazed, year 2025 Weight: 0.4 kg. A lovi...
Clay, Stoneware
$679 / item
Fruit Platter in Terracotta by Marta Bonilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Fruit platter in terracotta by Marta Bonilla Dimensions: D22 x H25 cm Materials: Terracotta , clay. Fruit Platter in terracotta: Low temperature hand modeled piece.Kkeeps the na...
Clay, Terracotta
Meritalia Big Surprise 1, Large/ Blue, Green and Clear by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Each vase by Edizioni del Pesce embodies a singular and unrepeatable identity, telling a different story through innovative shapes, intricate details and a varied chromatic range. Th...
Resin
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Large Postmodern Pottery Vase by Jesper Packness, Memphis-Style, Denmark
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful sculptural post-modern ceramic vase by Jesper Packness, Denmark. A decorative piece with a cobalt blue shiny glaze and stripes in different colors. Signed on its undernea...
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Oversized Crystal Pencil Sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oversized pencil sculpture in crystal (ca. 1980s/1990s, USA). Good, vintage condition with a couple of small edge flecks present, as shown. C6 marking present near the eraser. Maker ...
Crystal
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
Postmodern Wall Clock by Empire
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A round white 1980s wall clock by Empire. A white frame and white face with dashed red and green lines to show where the clock's numbers would appear. Hands in the shape of pencils a...
Plastic
$7,115 / item
XIV Décima Cuarta Mobile Sculpture by Joel Escalona
Located in Geneve, CH
XIV Décima Cuarta mobile sculpture by Joel Escalona Dimensions: D 120 x H 185 cm Materials: oak wood. Also available with burnt finish. Mobile made of natural white oak or natu...
Oak
Jaca Vase No. 17 in Petrol Blue Organic Textured Ceramic by Hanna Englund
Located in Geneve, CH
Jaca Vase No. 17 in Petrol Blue Organic Textured Ceramic by Hanna Englund Dimensions: D 27 x W 28 x H 44,5 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Large vase with an organic textured exterior. Thi...
Ceramic
Orbit Bowl, Hand-Carved White Onyx with Blue Calacite Inlay, Panorammma
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
A sculptural centerpiece carved from solid white Onyx, this bowl celebrates the quiet elegance of natural stone. Its soft oval silhouette reveals delicate mineral veining. A subtle b...
Onyx, Steel, Nickel
Light Mahogany Tray with Antique Brass Handles
Located in Treadwell, NY
Individually stamped and numbered, these one of a kind presentation trays feature patinated brass handles with a satin finish lacquer top coat. Each wooden slab is has its own unique...
Brass
1980s Memphis Style Red Triangle Base Desk Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly designed 1980s Memphis Milano-inspired desk clock with a black triangular base, red plastic case, and black and white squiggle face. Looks like it could've been designed...
Plastic
$11,808 / item
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 10 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 10 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 44 cm (Dimensions are approximate). "I want my pot to remember what we ...
Stoneware
Dealbata flower vase Zanotta Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Zanotta, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"Dealbata" flower vase designed by Alessandro Mendini. It was produced as one of collection for Zabro by Alchimia. Later Zanotta chose it in a Zanotta edizioni collection. Zanotta Ed...
Ceramic
Meritalia Candelabre / Blue by Gaetano Pesce
By Fish Design, Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia
Located in Toronto, ON
"The flame: by definition lively, dancing. A free element, which cannot be controlled, but which can be captured to become part of special moments." The unique candelabras by Edizio...
Steel
Mini Green Wave Form Vase by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Mini Green Wave Form Vase by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 8.9 x W 8.9 x H 17.8 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Available in Crystal Cream, Mint Blue, Bronze...
Ceramic
$463Sale Price|35% Off
Murano Sommerso Glass Vase by Alessandro Mandruzzato, Italy, 1970s
By Alessandro Mandruzzato, G. Campanella & Co.
Located in Valencia, VC
A stunning Murano glass vase by Mandruzzato. Hand-produced in Venice circa the 1970s. Measurements: Height: 22.50cm (8.85 in.) Width: 13cm (5.10 in.) Depth:: 6cm (2.35 in) This va...
Art Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass