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's Postmodern Salem Cigarettes Advertising Wall Plastic Decorative Clock
Located in San Diego, CA
A very collectible classic wall plastic clock with Neon Graphics, by Salem cigarretes nice original condition clock has Japanese battery movement , no cracks on the case just some l...
Plastic
Extra Large Stone Bathtub by Studio Loho, Post-Modern Design, Belgium
Located in Geneve, CH
Extra large stone bathtub by Studio Loho Dimensions: D 85 x W 190 x H 57 cm Materials: stone Other stone types are possible upon request. Available i...
Stone
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
$959 / 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
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
"Isolated N.17" Stoneware Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz
Located in Geneve, CH
"Isolated n.17" stoneware vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz Dimensions: 31 x 23 cm Materials: hand-sculpted, glazed pottery The pieces are hand built white stoneware with grog,...
Pottery
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
Italian Abstract Expressionist Ceramic Sculpture by Enrico Stropparo, 1980s
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to present this ceramic sculptural opera by Italian artist Enrico Stropparo, created between the 1980s and 1990s and strongly influenced by Abstract Expressionism. We ...
Clay, Earthenware
Vintage Eldon Stacking Paper Trays, Clear Gray Acrylic, 1969
Located in Fairfield, CA
A set of 2 vintage stacking paper trays made out of clear gray acrylic. Modular design, can be used separately or stacked. Can hold 8.5" x 11" size paper. Made by Eldon, marked on th...
Acrylic
Piero Gilardi, Set of Two "Sassi" - "Rocks" Stones, Gufram Edition, Italy, 1960s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A seminal work by Italian artist Piero Gilardi, Sassi ("Rocks") is a pioneering exploration of form, material, and ecological commentary in the late 1960s. This suite of two stones, ...
Formica, Polystyrene
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
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
Glass paperweight with Churba vitrofusion technique
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Churba glass paperweight with vitrofusion technique Beautiful paperweight from the 70s made of Churba glass, using the vitrofusion technique, it has a striking design of veins encaps...
Art Glass
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
$1,646 / 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
$5,212 / 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
Meritalia Candelabre / Blue by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design
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
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
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
$462Sale Price|35% Off
Murano Sommerso Glass Vase by Alessandro Mandruzzato, Italy, 1970s
By G. Campanella & Co., Alessandro Mandruzzato
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
$687 / item
Paper Brass Bowl I by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper brass bowl I by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 25.4 x W 25.4 x H 12.7 cm Materials: tarnished brass Available in tarnished brass and darkened brass. The Paper Series embodies th...
Brass
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
Brass and Polished Aluminum Figurative Sculpture attributed Jean Arp, 1970
By Jean Arp
Located in Chicago, IL
Large Brass and Polished Aluminum Figurative Sculpture attributed to Jean Arp, 1970's Polished aluminum base with clear lacquer. Brass has some patina.
Aluminum, Brass
Ceramic Centerpiece, Memphis Style (inspired) by Jean Decloquement, France
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a ceramic sculpture or centerpiece designed by French artist Jean Decloquement. The piece features 8 ceramic vases in shapes prominent during the Memphi...
Ceramic
$110Sale Price|33% Off
Art Glass Vase, Green and Orange Applied Trail, Mdina Glass, Malta, 1980s
By Michael Harris, Mdina
Located in Glasgow, GB
An evocative example of 1980s art glass, this cylindrical vase was produced by Mdina Glass in Malta under the direction of Michael Harris—a pivotal figure in the development of Briti...
Art Glass
$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
Expressive Ceramic Female Sculpture by Evelyn van Baarda, Netherlands, 1981
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
A striking and highly expressive ceramic sculpture by Dutch artist Evelyn van Baarda, created in 1981. This powerful female figure is characterized by its voluptuous, rounded forms a...
Ceramic
$156Sale Price|20% Off
Post Modern Glass Pedestal Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
Impactful piece of glass that brings lines and design to your décor. This postmodern piece consists of two pieces: Blown glass in a purple hue is conjoined and shaped into a V shaped...
Glass
$2,380Sale Price|20% Off
1990s Modern Marquis Collection Of Beverly Hill Tessellated Stone Sculpture
By Marquis Collection of Beverly Hills 1
Located in Stafford, TX
Beautiful sculpture of 2 lovers made of tessellated stone! Great overall condition as seen!
Stone
$10,555 / item
Regeneration 03-1 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Regeneration 03-1 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 9 x H 25 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbu...
Bronze, Other
$6,401 / item
Morning Bed Clock by The Cult
Located in Geneve, CH
Morning Bed Clock by The Cult Dimensions: W 45 x D 30 x H 190 cm Materials: Metal Sheet folded, Automatice Paint The Cult STUDIO Generates Emotional Solutions And Experiences In Dif...
Metal
Murano Blue and White Handblown Flower
By Murano 5
Located in Pasadena, TX
This flower is handblown. It was crafted in Murano, Italy. It is blue and white with 3 petals. Makes for a great gift.
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
Meritalia Candelabre / Yellow 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
Contemporary Glass Vase Mini Mountain by Fos, Pink
By FOS
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Moulded and then mouth blown glass. One of a kind. The Mountain vases by FOS embody the surface of the mountain, calibrated to the size of human interiors. FOS explains, “It’s ...
Glass
Meritalia Big Surprise 2, Small / Light Blue and Green 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
Abstract Home Decor Handmade White Ceramic Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Abstract Home Decor Handmade White Ceramic Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 25 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio found...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Sculptural Vessel / Goblet, Post-Modern Design, Panorammma, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Making direct reference to the ability of bodily organs to function as vessels, while also alluding to plastic surgery and sex toys? Our soft vessels personify aided characters. Patients subdued by recomery. Impotent beings that struggle to perform the very tasks that define them as objects. Exhibited at Musée Des Arts Décoratifs Et Du Design De Bordeaux: Bordeaux (2023) PAD- BOON ROOM: Paris (2023) Healing- Club Mish Mish: Riyadh (2023) Mexican Design 1950's-now- Shak Gallery...
Stainless Steel, Nickel
Art Deco Revival LeGarcon Mannequin by Lindsey Balkweill
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Rare English Art Deco Revival Chrome & Resin LeGarcon Mannequin by Lindsey Balkweill This rare English Art Deco Revival Silver and Red Mannequin was created in the 1970s by ...
Resin
Ingrid Herrlin B.1932, Ceramic Sculpture, "Leash Il", Sweden, Post-Modern
Located in Stockholm, SE
Ingrid Herrlin b.1932, swedish sculptur. Herrlin mainly works works with ceramic and creates figurative art works in fruit, berries and other realistic shapes. This ceramic wall r...
Ceramic
Postmodern Wall Clock, 1980s
Located in Čelinac, BA
This postmodern clock is part of a unique series of24 hand made wall and table clocks bz the young designer ERNEST hofman from 1980. Each clock is unique.
Wood
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
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
Handmade Black Ceramic Abstract Home Decor Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Black Ceramic Abstract Home Decor Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 22 x H 25 cm Materials: Ceramic, stoneware Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded by ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$592 / item
Incense Column by Nick Sugihara
Located in Geneve, CH
Incense Column by Nick Sugihara Dimensions: D 12.7 x W 12.7 x H 43.18 cm. Materials: VG Douglas Fir. Sugihara Fine Furniture is a small furniture and interior studio based in San D...
Fir
'Pulpo' Vase by Gae Aulenti for Venini, Italy 2006
By Gae Aulenti, Venini
Located in Hellouw, NL
A sculptural glass piece from one of Italy’s most influential postwar designers. The 'Polpo' vase by Gae Aulenti was produced by Venini in a limited edition of 50 in 2006 and carries...
Glass
Ugo La Pietra, Limited Ed. Modern Decorative Box, Evoca by Morelato, Italy 1990
Located in Firenze, IT
Modern wood Scent Diffuser / decorative box designed by Ugo la Pietra Evoca Morelato Italy 1990s wood, marked on the bottom, numbered 511 H 26 cm 11 cm diam. Conditions: excellen...
Wood
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
$1,861 / 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
Italian Postmodern Wall Perpetual Calendar by Della Beffa for Ring a Date, 2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern Wall perpetual white calendar by Giorgio Della Beffa for Ring A Date, 2000-2010s Wall perpetual calendar in white plastic. The calenda...
Plastic
Yehia Yemini Silver Plate Candleholder, Bezalel School, Jerusalem Signed
By Yehia Yemini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice candleholder by the very well known silversmith and jeweler Yehia Yemini ( Yihye Yemini, 1896-1983) Bezalel School Jerusalem .This candleholder made in Star of David shape ...
Silver Plate
1980s Postmodern Reverse Painted Glass Wall Clock by Empire Art
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A postmodern Empire Art Products wall clock that looks like it could be straight out of a 1980s Swatch store or Pee Wee's Playhouse. Black and light blu...
Glass
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
Postmodern White Lacquered Earthenware Horse Head Decorative Object, Italy 1980s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
This large-scale figure of a horse head was produced in Italy and dates to the 80s. The white glaze gives this piece a modern look and captures the elegance and beauty of the horse....
Earthenware
$379 / item
Pavot Vase II by Pauline Pietri
Located in Geneve, CH
Pavot Vase II by Pauline Pietri Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 17 x H 26 cm. Materials: Paper pulp and bio-based paint. Eco-designed vase based on paper pulp - cardboard, paper, newsp...
Paper
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
Repoussé Black Lacquer Sheep Sculpture by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sheep sculpture (Male) Black lacquer Antique copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. This techniqu...
Copper
$4,691 / item
Dove Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Dove Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a Kind Dimensions: W 46 x D 30 x H 30 cm Material: Ceramic Finishing: Textured, Unglazed Artist stamp on the bottom Laura Pasquino Incorpora...
Ceramic
Archimede Seguso Style Murano Glass, Carnival Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Just a beautiful vase in the Carnival style colors murano glass vase.
Murano Glass
White Stoneware Sfondyli Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
White Stoneware Sfondyli Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 27 x H 23 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: Black, White, Brown, Red, White ...
Stoneware