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.
Postmodern Set of Three Aquamarine and Brown Murano Glass Candleholders, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. They are made in hand blown Murano glass. The bubbles and the difference in their dimensions are due to the handcraft process. These candleholder are vintage,...
Murano Glass
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
$4,400Sale Price / item|20% Off
Rare 1979 Donovan Leisure NYC Cia Law Firm 50th Anniversary Brass Paperweight
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Extremely rare New York City historical relic. A fiftieth anniversary brass cubic monolith commemorative desk sculpture. Issued to monogram; AWS. Approx. 45-60 members of firm a that time, only a handful were issued this paperweight in solid Brass weighing 8 lbs. 4.2 oz. Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine was an American white-shoe law firm, located in New York. It was founded in 1929 by General William "Wild Bill...
Brass
TOWERX14 Architectural Iron Sculpture in Matte Black by Towerland
Located in Geneve, CH
TOWERX14 Architectural Iron Sculpture in Matte Black by Towerland. Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x H 45 cm. Materials: Iron plate with Matte black brocade finish. The TOWERX1 series compr...
Iron
Tristan Govignon "Lotus VII" Abstract Bronze Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
Tristan Govignon, "Lotus VII" Cast bronze on a marble base
Marble, Bronze
$3,968 / item
Moon Vase by Martina Guandalini
Located in Geneve, CH
Moon Vase by Martina Guandalini Dimensions: W 22 x D 8 x H 21 cm. Materials: Scagliola and polished resin.. Custom colors and size available, please contact us. Martina Guandalini ...
Resin, Scagliola
Stoneware Clay, Swan IV Candleholder by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Swan IV Candleholder by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 21 x D 13.2 x H 13 cm Materials: Stoneware clay, unglazed surface, coated with protective wax. Weight: ...
Clay, Stoneware
Large Scandinavian Brass Candle Chandelier by Gusum, Sweden, 1980
Located in Stockholm, SE
Large and heavy brass chandelier that makes a bold statement with its substantial scale and presence. Crafted from solid brass in 1980 by designer Bernt Karlsson for Gusum — a Swedis...
Brass
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
Transparent and Murano Glass Pitcher Vase by La Murrina with Gold Leaf, Italy
By La Murrina
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This pitcher vase is made in transparent Murano glass and features gold leaf flakes. It is slightly ribbed. This is a vintage item, therefore it might show sl...
Gold Leaf
Four Post-Modern "Kombi" Vases by the Artist Margareta Hennix for Gustavsberg
By Margareta Hennix, Gustavsberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Four Post-Modern "Kombi" vases in white glazed stoneware made by the Swedish artist Margareta Hennix for Gustavsberg. Made in the 80´s and are in great condition. Measures: Small v...
Stoneware
Unique London Plane Long Bowl 45 cm by Matt Kavanagh
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique London Plane Long Bowl 45 cm by Matt Kavanagh. Signed by Matt Kavanagh. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 45 x D 26.5 x H 19 cm. Materials: London Plane, scorch & wax. Unique ...
Hardwood
Tennis Racket Desk Paper Clip Marble Malachite Resin Brass, Circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A chic and fun tennis racket and ball desk paper clip with a green marble-malachite-style resin, in the Modern style, circa 1960s, 1970s. Object, a brass tennis racket and ball paper...
Brass
Shell II Table Centerpiece by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Shell II table centerpiece by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 33 x D 43 x H 4.5 cm Materials: Sand stoneware, shiny camel glaze, Inspired by exten...
Stoneware
Vintage Large Earthenware Vide-Poche / Decorative Plate by Pino Castagna, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This catchall / vide-poche / decorative plate is made in glazed earthenware. It is signed by Pino Castagna. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show sl...
Earthenware
Extra Large Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Extra Large Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: D 120 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon request...
Copper
Sommerso Vase by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Murano, Italy, 1970s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Sommerso Vase by Flavio Poli for Seguso, Murano, Italy, 1970s This vase features a Sommerso design, characterized by its encapsulated layers of glass. Its shape is prismatic and elon...
Art Glass
Post-War Carved Marble Torso
Located in Queens, NY
American Post-War Design carved green marble stylized torso of a figure resting on a rectangular black base
Marble
Postmodern Handmade Scavo Glass Bottle / Vase by Luigi Mellara, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This bottle / vase is made in hand-blown polychrome scavo glass, with a etched and blown clear glass cap. It is signed by Luigi Mellara. It is vintage and handm...
Murano Glass
$6,974 / 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
Judith Stiles Postmodern Vase, New York Art Studio Pottery, 1980s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Playful vintage vase features hand painted abstract graphic designs in Postmodern style on ombre mauve pink background with turquoise rim and accent band on the bottom of the vase. The vase is hand signed by the artist on the bottom. Judith Stiles studied ceramic glazes under Susan Parks...
Ceramic, Pottery
1980s Rita Duvall Postmodern Polka Dots Geometric Taper Candle Holders – a Pair
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a pair of eye-catching candle holders by Rita Duvall, circa the 1980s, her work showcases her talent for combining form, color, and function in a unique ...
Ceramic
Eberhard Bank Carving, Sculpture of Two Dolomite Seals, on Black Obsidian Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This an amazing carving by the German certified artist Eberhard Bank. This sculpture is of two seals in white dolomite on snowflake black obsidian , seals are marked with monogram EB...
Stone
Pair of Late 20th Century French Enameled Glazed Black Ceramic Women Busts/Heads
Located in North Miami, FL
Pair of late 20th century french enameled glazed black ceramic women busts/heads By: unknown Material: ceramic, enamel, paint Technique: pressed, molded, enameled, polished, painted Dimensions: 9.5 in x 5.5 in x 13.5 in Date: late 20th century, circa 1970 Style: Post-Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Space Age, Minimalism Place of origin: France The sleek minimalism of French design in the 1960s and 70s took inspiration from groundbreaking fashion of the era. This stylish pair of black ceramic busts...
Enamel
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
Meritalia SENZAFINE Square Basket, Medium / Green by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Tangled polyurethane is used in Edizioni del Pesce to create a series of vases with various shapes: Senzafine by Gaetano Pesce. This intrinsic variety infuses each piece with its own...
Plastic
$2,646 / 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
$3,763 / 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
Castagno Large Leather Hand-Woven Decorative Basket by Oscar Maschera
Located in Geneve, CH
Castagno Large Leather Hand-Woven Decorative Basket by Oscar Maschera Dimensions: D 40 x W 50 x H 35 cm. Materials: Leather. Available in three different sizes. Prices may vary. Ple...
Leather
Postmodern Pair of Brown and Aquamarine Murano Glass Candleholders, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. They are made in hand-blown Murano glass. The bubbles and the difference in their dimensions are due to the handcraft process. These candleholder are vintage,...
Murano Glass
$505 / item
DYKA Centerpiece Bowl by ZEMNA
Located in Geneve, CH
DYKA Centerpiece Bowl by ZEMNA Designed by Tetiana Krasutska. Dimensions: D 17 x W 25 x H 14 cm. Materials: Clay. Each object in the DYKA collection is unique because it is sculpte...
Clay
Unique London Plane Long Bowl by Matt Kavanagh
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique London Plane Long Bowl by Matt Kavanagh. Signed by Matt Kavanagh. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 56 x D 19 x H 22 cm. Materials: London Plane, scorch & wax. Unique piece, h...
Hardwood
$502 / item
Moon Sandstone Vessel Vase by Moïo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Moon sandstone vessel vase by Moïo Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: W 17 x D 17 x H 18 cm Materials: White glaze and porcelain on tan stoneware Moïo Studio is the Berlin-based c...
Stoneware
$180 / item
Blue Vase by Siup Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue Vase by Siup Studio Dimensions: D15 x H28 cm Materials: Ceramics Siup is a small design studio based in Warsaw. The concept is created by three f...
Ceramic
Vintage Italian Postmodern Candleholder in Metal, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Italian Postmodern Candleholder in Metal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Brown Styles: Postmodern Cou...
Metal
Unique Hand-Painted Screen with Sculptural Brass by Jan Garncarek
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Hand-Painted Screen with Sculptural Brass by Jan Garncarek and Ewelina Makosa Each screen is unique and signed by Jan Garncarek and Ewelina Makosa Full brass frame. Hand painted on both sides of the screen. Dimensions: 180 x 5 x 200cm Weight:20 kg Hand painted cloth...
Brass
1st Edition 'Shiva' Vase by Ettore Sottsass for B.D Barcelona, Spain, c.1973
By Ettore Sottsass, BD Barcelona Design
Located in London, GB
Designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1973, the Shiva vase is a striking and sculptural piece that captures his bold approach to form and colour. Its clean lines and stacked form give it a ...
Ceramic
Bitossi Ceramiche Ball Shaped Vase by Aldo Londi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Toronto, ON
Part of Aldo Londi’s iconic Rimini Blu series, this hand-turned fire-clay vase is engraved with rhythmic stamped motifs and finished in a luminous crystalline glaze that amplifies it...
Ceramic
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
Postmodern Lucite “Golden Egg” Paperweight, “For a Good Egg” circa 1970s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Postmodern Lucite “Golden Egg” Paperweight, “For a Good Egg,” circa 1970s A playful and iconic vintage paperweight, featuring a metallic gold egg encapsulated within a clear Lucite c...
Lucite
Postmodern Sculptural Hand-Made Iridescent Blue Glazed Earthenware Vase, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s - 1970s. It is hand-made in glazed earthenware: fingerprints are still visible on its surface. It features iridescent colors, decorative scratches and irregular...
Earthenware
Biglia Box by Joe Colombo, Amethyst & Stainless Steel, Italy 1970s
By Joe Colombo
Located in Conversano, IT
Designed by Joe Colombo and produced by Arnolfo di Cambio in the early 1970s, the “Biglia” box is a refined example of material experimentation and functional design. The object refl...
Steel
Ash Candlestick Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash candlestick holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: Ash, brass Dimensions: H 45 mm x D 105 mm Colour: Yellow/light brown Notes: For dry use Since 2015, pro...
Brass
$14,777 / item
Vanguard 02-1 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Vanguard 02-1 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 7.5 x H 40 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbued...
Bronze, Other
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Poncho Green Art Glass Catwalk Sculpture by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda Sweden
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice poncho green art glass "Catwalk" sculpture / figurine by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda Sweden, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cra...
Art Glass
$850 / set
Resin Lego Sculptures, 2000’s, Signed
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Pair of resin Lego sculptures with a faux-marble finish. Both signed and numbered out of an edition of 100 (28 and 31 respectively) by contemporary arti...
Resin
$1,010 / item
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
New Franz Hermle Mantel Clock in DeArt Italian Fine Marquetry and Ormolu Case, N
By DeART, Franz Hermle
Located in Germantown, MD
A 21st Century German Franz Hermle Mantel Clock in DeArt Italian Fine Marquetry and Ormolu Case in new open box condition. Clock made in Germany by the historic, very famous Franz Hermle clock...
Brass, Ormolu
American Post-Modern Kneeling Figure Sculpture
By Carol Bruns
Located in Queens, NY
American Post-Modern Design bronze sculpture of a kneeling figure with lowered arms on a narrow rectangular base, (signed: CAROL BRUNS, 2003)
Bronze
Artist-Made Vintage Onyx / Agate & Walnut Lidded Vessel Box, Signed & Dated 1986
Located in Hastings, GB
This beautifully tactile sculptural onyx lidded box is a unique artist-made piece...unfortunately I've been unable to identify the maker's mark. We sourced it in Phoenix, Arizona. B...
Onyx
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
C. Jeré brass and chrome kinetic sculpture wall art
By Artisan House, Curtis Jeré, C. Jeré Artisan House
Located in Phoenix, AZ
C. Jeré uncommon kinetic brass and chrome wall sculpture. It’s made of a brass frame with two separate parts that connect or can be displayed separately. It can also be positioned offset (not pictured). Polished brass and chrome bent diamonds hang on hooks. These can slightly move under a fan or if touched, providing movement and an op art sparkling...
Brass, Chrome
Lumières du Paradis Low Candleholder by Katia Luna Benaï
Located in Geneve, CH
Lumières du Paradis Low Candleholder by Katia Luna Benaï. Dimensions: D 17 x H 20 cm. Materials: Reclaimed Venetian briccole wood, amber Murano glass. This captivating set, hand-cra...
Wood, Murano Glass
Nickel and Brass Minotauro Floor Hanger by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Nickel and Brass Minotauro Floor Hanger by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 61 x D 25 x H 145 cm Materials: Cast metal and carbon steel, painted or nickel-plated. Finishes: Polished Cast Br...
Metal
Unique Ash Bowl Kintsugi by Matt Kavanagh
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Ash Bowl Kintsugi by Matt Kavanagh. Signed by Matt Kavanagh. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 27 x D 27 x H 10 cm. Materials: Seasoned Ash, Polish, wax & pine resin glue. Uni...
Hardwood, Ash
Post-Modern Kombi Vases by Margareta Hennix for Gustavsberg, 1980s, Set of 7
By Gustavsberg, Margareta Hennix
Located in Bochum, NRW
Collection of Seven Post-Modern "Kombi" Vases, Margareta Hennix for Gustavsberg. Six vases in white glazed stoneware and one in black satin glaze, made by the Swedish artist Margare...
Ceramic
New Large Franz Hermle Mantel Clock in DeArt Italian Marquetry and Ormolu Case
By DeART, Franz Hermle
Located in Germantown, MD
A 21st Century German Franz Hermle Mantel Clock in DeArt Italian Fine Marquetry and Ormolu Case in new open box condition. Clock made in Germany by the historic, very famous Franz Hermle clock...
Brass, Ormolu
Unique Polished Oak Trough 9.5 cm Depth by Matt Kavanagh
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Polished Oak Trough 9.5 cm Depth by Matt Kavanagh. Signed by Matt Kavanagh. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 25 x D 9.5 x H 7.5 cm. Materials: Oak, scorch & oil, polish wax. ...
Hardwood, Oak
Krupp & Giuliana Gramigna vide poche steel and attb Fontana Arte glass
By Fontana Arte, Arthur Krupp, Giuliana Gramigna
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice collaboration design in this low bowl / vide -poche for Arthur Krupp and Gillian Gramigna , the crystal insert is attributed to Fontana Arte .No Chips or cracks in glass .
Stainless Steel
Tecton Tray in Travertine by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980
Located in Geneve, CH
Tecton Tray in Travertine by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980. Dimensions: W 26 x D 26 x H 6 cm. Materials: Travertine. This Tray is available in a selection of premium natural ston...
Travertine