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.
$1,303 / item
L´Étoile De Mer Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
L´Étoile De Mer Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 24 x H 26 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas ...
Sandstone
Transparent and Grey Sommerso Murano Glass Vase by Hora P with Rhomboid Base
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This vase is made in Sommerso Murano glass and is signed by Hora P. It is a vintage item, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considere...
Murano Glass, Sommerso
Sacred Vase for Divine Flowers in Steel by Frederic Gaillard
Located in Geneve, CH
Sacred Vase for Divine Flowers in Steel by Frederic Gaillard. Limited Edition of 8 pieces. Dimensions: W 23 x D 23 x H 40 cm. Materials: Brushed steel and painted steel. About the...
Steel
$1,954 / item
Amphora Vase by Moldra
Located in Geneve, CH
Amphora Vase by Moldra Dimensions: D 45 x H 40 cm Materials: Stoneware Moldra is a ceramic studio devoted to sculptural vases and objects. Rooted in the ancestral hand-building tech...
Stoneware
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
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 56 x H 38 cm. Materials: Solid walnut, stainless steel. The heartwood is ...
Stainless Steel
$30,658 / 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
$6,870 / 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
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 10 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 10 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Milk, Clay, and Ashes Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 44 cm I’m a middle-aged woman who had babies late—too late, some...
Stoneware, Clay, Ash
$1,504 / item
Wave Planter by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Wave Planter by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 45.72 x H 41.91 cm Materials: Stoneware To craft timeless, luxury furniture and objects that celebrates India’s rich artisanal heritage. Ou...
Stoneware
$82,094 / 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
$1,386 / item
Le Poisson Globe Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Poisson Globe Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 26 x H 26 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas is passionate a...
Sandstone
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
Popcorn Jar Down Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Popcorn Jar Down Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 26 x D 26 x H 37 cm. Materials: Ceramic. This piece is available in a wide range of ha...
Ceramic
$10,886 / 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
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
Contempory Design, Organic Form Dark Grey Ceramic Bowl by Niclas Wolf
Located in Geneve, CH
Geoprimitive 112 Ceramic Bowl by Niclas Wolf Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 66,5 x H 24 cm. Materials: Ceramic. GEOPRIMITIVE_ is a design series that compares and connects the Precambr...
Ceramic
$3,707 / 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
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
$4,537 / item
Platinum Luster Auri Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Platinum Luster Auri Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 29 x H 46 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: 24 Kt Gold Luster / Platinum Luster. A sculptural vase crafted from red clay sourced fr...
Ceramic
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
$1,498Sale Price / item|44% Off
John Miller Blue Plate Special Fries 2008 Hand Blown Pop Art Glass Sculptures
By John Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Inspired by Americana, Miller's work stands to bring new light and perspective to the often overlooked but ubiquitous cultural artifacts that form the American visual lexicon and lived experience. Maybe as impressive as the work itself, is the magnitude of which his creations come to life. At such an impressive scale, his process is truly spectacle to witness. Pieces from his famed ‘Blue Plate Special...
Blown 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
$2,345 / item
Platinum Luster Viel Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Platinum Luster Viel Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 22 x H 31 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: 24 Kt Gold Luster / Platinum Luster. A sculptural vase crafted from red clay sourced in...
Ceramic
$4,229 / item
Gold Luster Small Kósmos Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Luster Small Kósmos Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 30 x H 44 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Gold 24Kt luster, matte finish available in various colors. The ‘Kósmos’ vase exude...
Ceramic
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
Postmodern American Mid Century Modernist Ceramic Sculpture by Jaru Califirnia
By Jaru
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful ceramic sculpture Lovers by Jaru of California , in a beautiful copper glossy glaze excellent condition no chips or cracks. Signed and dated on the bottom this piece would ...
Ceramic
Vintage Murano Star Flower Shape Art Glass Dish, Italy
By Compagnia Di Venezia E Murano (C.V.M.)
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage hand crafted Murano star flower Art glass dish Italy. Stunning petaled flower or 6 pointed star-shaped hand blown glass dish in clear and pink, bl...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$7,036 / item
Untitled No. 57 Vase by Marea Hildebrand
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled No. 57 Vase by Marea Hildebrand Handmade Dimensions: D 46 x W 46 x H 52 cm Materials: Stoneware with slip, glaze. Marea Hildebrand (b. 1989) is a Zurich-based ceramic arti...
Stoneware
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
$1,457 / item
Le Tetraodon Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Tetraodon Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 30 x H 30 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas is ...
Sandstone
Leaves Pedestal Bowl by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Leaves pedestal bowl by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: tree leaves, brass Dimensions: H 7.5 x D 12 cm Colour: green/khaki Notes: for dry use Since 2015, product...
Brass
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
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
$2,814 / 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
Contemporary Design Unique Glass 'Mountain' Vase by FOS - Yellow
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 limite...
Aluminum
$11,573 / item
Pedregal Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pedregal Hammered Copper Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 60 x D 4 x H 120 cm. Materials: Copper. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon reque...
Copper
$7,818 / 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
Sven Wejsfelt, Vase, Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1981
Located in Stockholm, SE
A charming vase made by ven Wejsfelt. Made in Gustavsberg Studio and marked with the Studio hand. Modell "Castrol", and signed and dated 1981. Bright glaze, almost resembling a lemon...
Stoneware
$40,656 / set
Set of 2 Isa and Belle Vases by BRNV Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Isa and Belle Vases by BRNV Studio Dimensions: D 10 x H 30 cm, D 15 x H 20 cm (Dimensions may vary). Materials: Forust 3D printed wood dust, bronze. The "Isa" and the "Bell...
Bronze
$616 / item
Deficiency 11 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Deficiency 11 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics Dimensions: W 17 x D 17 x H 26 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Finish: Unglazed. Suitable for dry flowers Esra Misirli Kubilay is ...
Stoneware
$5,058 / item
Aegis Vase 450 by Lost Profile Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Aegis Vase 450 by Lost Profile Studio Dimensions: ⌀ 20 x H 45 cm Materials: Brass, White Glass Finishes: Aged Brass (waxed) only Notes: The brass...
Brass
Mint Green Coil #06 Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Mint Green Coil #06 Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 51 x D 56 x H 51 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Jarre-a-la-corde, oxidation firing. About: From early child...
Ceramic
$5,472 / item
Ceramic Petalouda Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic Petalouda Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 44 x H 32 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Black, blue, light blue, green, white. The “Petalouda” vase is a celebration of extraordin...
Ceramic
$3,765 / 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
White Stoneware Alavastron Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
White Stoneware Alavastron Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 20 x H 40 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: White, Red, Black, Brown, Blac...
Stoneware
Ambrogio Pozzi Enigma Geometric Porcelain Vase for Arte Ceramica Romana, 1987
Located in Berlin, DE
Ambrogio Pozzi “Enigma” geometric ceramic vase for Arte Ceramica Romana, Italy, 1987. This postmodern vase is a strong example of late 1980s Italian design, combining architectural f...
Ceramic
Mid-Century German Glass Block Bubble Vase from Karl Friedrich Glass, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Glass Block Bubble Vase from Karl Friedrich Glass, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 official proof of authenticit...
Glass
$22,839 / 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
$18,468 / 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
Lot of 3 Art Glass vases att. to Seguso c. 1980's
By Seguso
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional collection of three art glass vases, made in Italy, circa 1980's - attributed to Seguso. The vases feature a black glass bodies, with pink glass threading wrapped around ...
Art Glass
Coral Tropical Wood Patina Black Vase by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Coral Tropical Wood Patina Black Vase by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 39 x H 40 CM Materials: Tropical wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and c...
Other
80s Handmade Vintage Postmodern Memphis Aluminum & Inlaid Abstract Menorah
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Post modern artisan made one of a kind Hanukkah Menorah Measurements 11" W x 8" H x 6" D
Aluminum, Brass, Enamel
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
$3,056 / item
Floral Dance Heritage Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Floral Dance Heritage Vase by deBlona Dimensions: W 42 x D 30 x H 51 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Black, golden yellow, orange, light blue, copper green. The “Floral Dance” amph...
Ceramic
$2,653 / item
Antique Blue Peacock Heritage Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Antique Blue Peacock Heritage Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 34 x H 63 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Deruta Blue. The “Antique Blue Peacock” potiche vase is a stunning testament t...
Ceramic
Vintage Pop Art Candleholder by Verner Panton, 1980s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Scandinavian pop-art candleholder for tea lights called 'Lightning Stairs'. It is rather rare and it was designed by Verner Panton in 1973. This example is from the 80s and it was ma...
Steel
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
$687 / item
Dune Bloom Vase by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Dune Bloom Vase by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 38.1 x H 35.56 cm Materials: Stoneware A handcrafted ceramic vessel where flowing glazes meet earthy textures, creating a piece that fee...
Stoneware
Grenat Foncé Vase V in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Vase V in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 22 x H 47 cm. Materials: Clay with deep burgundy glaze. Dimensions may vary. Please c...
Clay