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.
Mindscape 02 Medium Travertine Sculpture by Jeroen Broux
Located in Geneve, CH
Mindscape 02 Medium Travertine Sculpture by Jeroen Broux Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 22,5 cm Materials: Travertine This modular sculpture, comprised of six individual stones, invite...
Travertine
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
$1,914 / item
Sira Vessel by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Sira Vessel by Deetee Home Dimensions: W 29.21 x D 29.21 x H 113.03 cm Materials: Stoneware Elegant and sculptural, the Sira Vessel draws inspiration from timeless architectural for...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Veletta Tissue Box Holder in Horn, Chromed Brass & Glossy Ebony by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Veletta Tissue Box Holder in Horn, Chromed Brass & Glossy Ebony by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 14 x W 26 x H 7 cm. Materials: Glossy ebony, horn, and chromed brass. Available in three fi...
Brass, Other
Oxidized bronze Green Blue Metallized Candle 4 Candles by Frederic Texier
Located in Geneve, CH
Oxidized bronze Green Blue Metallized Candle 4 Candles by Frederic Texier Dimensions: W 27 x D 20 x H 34 cm. Materials: Concrete coated with bronze powder and then oxidized, Metal p...
Concrete, Bronze
Priora Box in Horn, Brass & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss Finish by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Priora Box in Horn, Brass & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss Finish by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 20 x W 28 x H 11 cm. Materials: Wood with lacquered ivory gloss finish, horn, and chromed...
Brass, Other
Beige Irregular Stoneware Hand Coiled Sculptural Lumira Sculpture By Munier
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Lumira Sculpture by Munier Dimensions: W 45 x D 35 x H 35 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Weight: 9 kg. I specialize in the ancient technique of coil building, a traditional han...
Ceramic
Lucido Costello Original Hand Made Iron Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely hand made iron sculpture is part of a set (male and female) - completely original by Lucido Costello, a well renowned heavy iron sculpture artist in Barcelona, Spain. Co...
Metal
Unique Untitled 1 Hand Carved White Porcelain Vessel by Lee Jong Min
By Lee Jong Min
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Untitled 1 Hand Carved White Porcelain Vessel by Lee Jong Min. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 25 x D 25 x H 43.5 cm. Materials: Hand-carved white porcelain. "Untitled 1" is a ...
Porcelain
$677 / item
Woman 216 Vase by Karina Smagulova
Located in Geneve, CH
Woman 216 Vase by Karina Smagulova One of a Kind. Dimensions: Ø14 x H 24 cm. Materials: White and grey stoneware. With an Armenian and Kazakhstan he...
Stoneware
$1,010 / item
Black Stoneware Chytra Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Stoneware Chytra Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 27 x H 18 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: Black, White, Brown, Red, Patina ...
Stoneware
Ray White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Ray White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 11 x W 35 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes from 2...
Ceramic, Clay
Eclat Bowl in Cast Aluminum and Brass by Jordan Fleming
Located in Geneve, CH
Eclat Bowl in Cast Aluminum and Brass by Jordan Fleming. Limited Edition of 3. Dimensions: W 70 x D 80 x H 100 cm. Materials: Cast Aluminum and Brass Adornments. Each piece is treat...
Aluminum, Brass
Racine Candleholder in Black Patinated Bronze by Jules Desdoigts
Located in Geneve, CH
Racine Candleholder in Black Patinated Bronze by Jules Desdoigts. Dimensions: W 18 x D 18 x H 10 cm. Materials: Black Patinated Bronze. This black-patinated bronze candleholder was ...
Bronze
Leuca Sculpture in Horn, Lacquered Wood & Stainless Steel by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Leuca Sculpture in Horn, Lacquered Wood & Stainless Steel by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: D 16 x W 16 x H 80/90 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, horn, and lacquered w...
Stainless Steel, Other
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
Postmodern “LEGO” Telephone Phone by Tyco
By Tycos, Lego, Memphis Group
Located in Rome, IT
1990s telephone made of LEGO by Tyco.
Plastic
Orange Blue Resin Vase Postmodern Memphis Style by Steve Zoller
By Steve Zoller
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This vase is made of resin and fiberglass by American artist Steve Zoller. He is unique in his use of color, elemental shapes and flamboyant style. In 199...
Resin
Postmodern Design Rosenthal Gilbert Portanier Bowl from the 1980s
By Gilbert Portanier, Rosenthal 3
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Vintage Design vase made by Rosenthal Germany, designed by Gilbert Portanier in the 1980s. Beautiful colors with golden details. The bowl is in very nice condition. Measurements...
Porcelain
$4,553 / item
Gold Luster Large Kósmos Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Luster Large Kósmos Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 39 x H 42 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Matte finishing dark olive green, gold 24Kt luster. The ‘Kósmos’ vase exudes elegan...
Ceramic
Medusa Vase in Wheel-Thrown Glazed Stoneware by Robin Kerr
Located in Geneve, CH
Medusa Vase in Wheel-Thrown Glazed Stoneware by Robin Kerr Unique Piece Dimensions: D 24 x W 24 x H 43 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Robin Kerr is a Swiss ceramic artist living and work...
Stoneware
Decorative Resin Bottles by Constance Giraudon, France - Signed by the artist
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Collection of decorative resin bottles handcrafted by French artist Constance Giraudon, dating from 2014 and 2017. Signed by artist. Constance Giraudon beautifully continues the ar...
Resin
$1,176 / item
Faceted Low Bowl by Sophie Vaidie
Located in Geneve, CH
Faceted Low Bowl by Sophie Vaidie One Of A Kind. Dimensions: Ø 43 x H 14,5 cm. Materials: Brutal Beige stoneware with fine chamotte. In the beginning, ...
Stoneware
Berro Tray in Horn, Brass & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss Finish by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Berro Tray in Horn, Brass & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss Finish by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 35 x W 53 x H 7 cm. Materials: Wood with lacquered ivory gloss finish, horn, and chromed ...
Brass, Other
$439 / item
Mesa Urn by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Mesa Urn by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 24.13 x H 22.86 cm Materials: Stoneware DeeTee Home presents a stunning handmade ceramic pot with an earthy, weathered surface and bold rounded...
Stoneware
$1,153 / item
Madison Bowl, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Madison bowl, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Decorative bowl Handsculpted in crystal Measures: L 18 x H 14 x D 18 cm Madison Bowl: The stunnin...
Crystal
Antique Blue, Cerium Oxide, Golden Yellow Giglio Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Antique Blue, Cerium Oxide, Golden Yellow Giglio Vase by deBlona Dimensions: W 42 x D 30 x H 27 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Antique Blue, Cerium Oxide, Golden Yellow. The “Gigl...
Ceramic
Alba Mini Sculpture in Bio-Based Resin by Waves.STUDIO
Located in Geneve, CH
Alba Mini Sculpture in Bio-Based Resin by Waves.STUDIO Dimensions: Ø 12 x H 15 cm. Materials: Bio-based resin. Alba is a work of art that creates space for calm, wonder, and attenti...
Resin
$594
Vide-Poche
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Vide-poche in the format of a can cap, blue enameled porcelain, 20th century. Measures: D 27 cm, H 7 cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm product availability.
Porcelain
Set of 2 Blooming Cuts Candle Holder by Ebba Lindgren
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Blooming Cuts Candle Holder by Ebba Lindgren Dimensions: D 14 x W 14 x H 20 cm. Materials: Recycled textile fiberboard (“really board”), metal. Ebba Lindgren Is an interna...
Metal
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
Alessi Round Polished Stainless Steel Tray Postmodern
By Alessi
Located in Bochum, NRW
Alessi Round Polished Stainless Steel Tray Postmodern. Round tray with a leased edge. Maker's mark on the bottom. Diameter 48cm. Good use condition with minor wear.
Stainless Steel
Hagi White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Hagi White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 14 x W 32 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes from ...
Ceramic, Clay
Stabile No. 100, Hand-Blown Glass and Brass Light by Milla Vaahtera
Located in Geneve, CH
Stabile no. 100 by Milla Vaahtera Dimensions: D 21 x W 30 x H 90 cm Materials: Hand-blown glass, handcrafted brass. Milla Vaahtera "My method emerged from a desire to bring more int...
Brass
$3,635 / item
Tazón Bajo Galeana Bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne
Located in Geneve, CH
Tazón Bajo Galeana bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne Limited Edition of 10 + 1 AP Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 9 cm Material: alabaster Galeana is a collection of 6 objects designed b...
Alabaster
$261 / item
DYKA Drinking Bowl by ZEMNA
Located in Geneve, CH
DYKA Drinking Bowl by ZEMNA Designed by Tetiana Krasutska. Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 6 cm. Materials: Clay. Each object in the DYKA collection is unique because it is sculpted by...
Clay
$392 / item
Sculp Stationery Holder by Studio Indigene
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculp Stationery Holder by Studio Indigene Dimensions: D 19.68 x W 10.16 x H 13.33 cm Materials: Reclaimed Teak Wood. Colors Brown, Natural Wooden Finish. The Sculp Stationery Holde...
Wood
Matte Off White Glaze Sculptural Vase 3 by Anna Shipulina Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Matte Off White Glaze Sculptural Vase 3 by Anna Shipulina Ceramics Dimensions: D 22.9 x H 24.8 cm. Materials: Ceramic. A hand-built ceramic vase created using traditional pottery t...
Ceramic
Rib 16X Thin Tall Yellow Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 16X Thin Tall Yellow Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 12 x H 40 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels bor...
Other
$2,600Sale Price|31% Off
'Babel' Resin Wine Bucket by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design Italy, 1990s, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Limited edition 1990s flexible resin wine bucket by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design, Italy. Numbered 182/1000. Works great as an ice bucket, wine bucket, catch-all, vase, vessel, sculpture, planter, pot or jardinière. If you use it as a planter, we suggest an interior lining to protect the piece. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Gaetano Pesce, born on November 8, 1939, in La Spezia, Italy, is renowned as a leading figure in contemporary Italian design and architecture. Fearlessly experimental with materials and color, Pesce has collaborated with Italy’s foremost design companies, including Artemide, Vitra, Cassina, and B&B Italia. Pesce began his journey into design at the University of Venice, where he pursued architecture and graduated in 1965. Influenced by prominent figures such as Ernesto Nathan Rogers and Mario Bellini at the Venice College of Industrial Design, Pesce embraced a commitment to novelty and avant-garde principles. He co-founded the avant-garde architectural collective "Gruppo N," inspired by the Bauhaus aesthetic, during his formative years. Pesce’s portfolio encompasses a wide range of designs, from iconic furniture pieces to monumental architectural projects. His creations reflect a profound contemplation of modernity, exemplified by the La Mamma chair (1969), which evokes a prehistoric fertility figure, and the Organic Building in Osaka (1993), celebrated for its innovative hanging garden motif. Among his most celebrated furniture designs are the Up series for B&B Italia, including the Up5 armchair (La Donna) and Up6 ottoman (La Mamma), which challenge traditional notions of form and function with their bold, anthropomorphic shapes. Other notable designs include the 357 Feltri chair...
Resin
$1,343 / item
Brutalist Sculpture by Vica Ceramica
Located in Geneve, CH
Brutalist Sculpture by Vica Ceramica Dimensions: D 34 x W 37 x H 27.5 cm Materials: High temp. Ceramic and different handmade clays VICA CERÁMICA-STU...
Enamel
Contemporary Art The Bed Palm Tree Bed in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Bed in silk velvet, unique pieces hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabrics and the embroideries are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
Crystal and Brass Business Card Holder by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Crystal and Brass Business Card Holder by Dainte Dimensions: D 9 x W 13 x H 8 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. The sturdy yet minimalist b...
Crystal, Brass
$2,984 / item
Ceramic Petalouda Small Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic Petalouda Small Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 34 x H 42 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Matt pastel color, 24 kt gold luster. This exquisite large ceramic vase features a s...
Ceramic
Hermès Paris decorative box in leather and bronze.
By Hermès
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Hermès Paris decorative box in leather and bronze. This Hermès Paris decorative box features a cylindrical design covered in textured black leather on the exterior. The top and botto...
Bronze
$1,961 / set
Set Of 2 Brutal Vases by Sophie Vaidie
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Brutal Vases by Sophie Vaidie One Of A Kind. Dimensions: High Vase: Ø 11 x H 58 cm. Small Vase: D 6 x W 21 x H 26 cm. Materials: Beige stoneware with big chamotte. In the ...
Stoneware
$5,540 / item
Camino Wall Candle Holder by Sebastián Angeles
Located in Geneve, CH
Camino Wall Candle Holder by Sebastián Angeles Material: Brass Dimensions: W 18 x D 21 x H 55 cm Also Available: Steel version available. The transcendence of decisionmaking and its...
Brass
$6,907 / item
Ceramic Petalouda Iris Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic Petalouda Iris Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 44 x H 32 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Iris, black, blue, light blue, green, white. The ‘Petalouda Iris’ majolica vase captu...
Ceramic
$3,459 / 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
At 18, I Started Seeing The World Differently Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
At 18, I Started Seeing The World Differently Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 40 x D 5 x H 50 cm Materials: Yellow Cantera. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans paintin...
Stone
$5,230 / item
Karang Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Karang Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 53 x W 29 x H 20 CM Materials: Teak wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and creator. She w...
Other
1950s French Modernist Crucifix in Black Lacquered Metal and Ceramic
By Roger Capron, Peter and Denise Orlando, Georges Jouve
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Black Lacquered Metal Cross with Stylized Enameled Ceramic Christ A rare and sculptural French modernist crucifix from the 1950s, reflecting the postwar renewal of sacred art throug...
Iron
1980s Post Modern Gold and Black Ceramic Italian Vide Poche by Capodimonte
By Capodimonte
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This piece is as functional as it is decorative. It is ideal for an entryway table, coffee table, or desk to hold keys, coins, or small objects. It also works beautifully as a standa...
Ceramic
Marcello Morandini Serpentina White Porcelain Vase Pair for Rosenthal, 1980s
By Marcello Morandini, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of matte white porcelain “Serpentina” vases designed by Marcello Morandini for Rosenthal Studio-Line. The larger vase, form 3773/32, is stamped 1985; the smaller, form 3773/26, ...
Porcelain
Brown Stoneware Hand Coiled Organic Contemporary Sculpture By Munier
Located in Geneve, CH
Earthenware Tahlina Sculpture by Munier Dimensions: W 26 x D 26 x H 30 cm. Materials: Earthenware. Weight: 4.2 kg. I specialize in the ancient technique of coil building, a traditio...
Ceramic
$1,438 / item
Velvet Realities Green Wall Sculpture by Sven Jansse
Located in Geneve, CH
Velvet Realities Green Wall Sculpture by Sven Jansse Collaboration with Studio Somé (Robyne Somé) and Sven Jansse. Dimensions: W 44 x D 1 x H 97 ...
Other
Contemporary Art Pouf - Rose of Saint Petersbourg by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. Vintage rectangular ottoman decorated by the Author. Pontoglio silk and cotton velvets- Trimmings
Silk, Cotton
Set Of 2 Patino Lighter & Ash Tray in Horn, Brass & Gloss Ebony by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Patino Lighter & Ash Tray in Horn, Brass & Gloss Ebony by Arcahorn Dimensions: Lighter: D 8 x W 8 x H 9 cm. Ash Tray: D 16 x W 20 x H 5 cm. Materials: Horn, chromed brass, a...
Brass, Other
Postmodern Italian Pottery Planter with Flower Stand, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Pottery Planter with Flower Stand, 1980s
Ceramic
$863 / item
Peach Oxide Mercury Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Peach oxide mercury vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 14 x D 14 x H 25.5cm Materials: Plaster, Resin Molded, dyed, and finished by hand in LA. customization Available. All piec...
Resin, Plaster