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.
$8,780 / item
Ritus Cinco Candelabra by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Ritus Cinco Candelabra by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: W 120 x D 50 x H 160 cm Materials: Black volcanic stone. Treko Concrete is a Mexican studio based in Ensenada, that...
Stone
$16,413 / item
Sunset Wall Piece by Pepe Valenti
Located in Geneve, CH
Sunset Wall Piece by Pepe Valenti Dimensions: D 7 x W 70 x H 150 cm. Materials: Copper-plated stainless steel. Inspired by the immersive experience of th...
Stainless Steel, Copper
Small Brass Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Brass Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 40 x H 4 cm. Materials: Copper, Brass. Weight: 3 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industrial designer graduated ...
Copper, Brass
Decorative Bowl in Solid Brass by STOFF Nagel
Located in Geneve, CH
Decorative Bowl in Solid Brass by STOFF Nagel Dimensions: Ø 13,8 x H 5,6 cm. Materials: Brass. Available in different finish options: brushed brass, brushed chrome, or black. Price...
Brass
$31,264 / item
Dazed Sapiens by Twenty Second Factory
Located in Geneve, CH
Dazed Sapiens by Twenty Second Factory Created by Roman Shcherbakov aka Dase X Vladislav Volosenko X Bogdan Kryvosheya Dimensions: D 52 x W 35 x H 60 cm Materials: Bronze. "Sapiens"...
Bronze
Jon Price Crystalline Glaze Ceramic Vase, California, circa 1985
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jon Price Crystalline Glaze Ceramic Vase, California, circa 1985. Signed to the bottom.
Ceramic
Symbiosis Vase in Wheel-Thrown Glazed Stoneware by Robin Kerr
Located in Geneve, CH
Symbiosis Vase in Wheel-Thrown Glazed Stoneware by Robin Kerr Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 21 x W 21 x H 50 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Robin Kerr is a Swiss ceramic artist living and ...
Stoneware
$52Sale Price / set|58% Off
Set of Postmodern Memphis Era Plates by Claudia Shuride for Toscany Collection
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare set of plates designed by Claudia Shuride for The toscany Collection Japan, in Porcelain, finish no chips or cracks.
Ceramic
$33,550 / item
Horizon Sculpture by The GoodMan Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Horizon Sculpture by The GoodMan Studio Dimensions: W 153 x D 41 x H 153 cm Materials: Glass Made to order. Hanging installatiom Customizable in an...
Glass
Contemporary Art TOTEM Clair De Lune Light Blue White N/Edit. by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 29 pieces. From Primitive clay magma, by playing with shapes, Sottsass makes the “philosophy” of a state of mind visible and concrete: as if in the musical atmosph...
Ceramic, Wood
Small Stella 3D Printed Vase by Jimena Montemayor
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Stella 3D Printed Vase by Jimena Montemayor Dimensions: D 23 x H 20 cm. Materials: 3D printed polylactic and aluminum filament. Available in l...
Other
$4,144 / item
Untitled 56 by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled 56 by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 42 cm x H 40 cm Material: Stoneware. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceramics as well as...
Stoneware
Tan Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson - Post-Modern Design, Australia
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Tan Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 0.4 cm Materials: Leather Our leather desk mats are made of vegetable tanned s...
Leather
Set of 3 J D Candle Holders Timber by Nish Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 J D Candle Holders Timber by Nish Studio Dimensions: D12 x H 79/ 98.7 /118 cm Materials: Ash, Timber satined natural light, chocolate + grey N I S H is a Cape Town based ...
Wood
A Very Good & Large Post Modernist Bronze Nude Torso by George Foster, SSC
By George Foster
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A finely proportioned near life size bronze nude torso exhibiting a fine reddish / brown patina and supported on it's detachable base signed with the artists monogram. In very good overall condition and priced competitively in comparison to similar examples in the marketplace. George Foster is a member of the highly regarded Sculptors Society of Canada (SSC) and has exhibited at several prestigious international venues including the Smithsonian in Washington DC, The Canadian National Museum in Ottawa and The Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal. Among his many commissions was the casting of the ‘Nellie’ - the annual ACTRA Awards...
Bronze
Resin Decorative Basket in Multi-Color Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Resin Decorative Basket in Multi-Color Epoxy Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 22,9 x W 25,4 x H 22,9 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin.
Epoxy Resin
Lotuso Ecru Ceramic Decorative Bowl by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Lotuso Ecru Ceramic Decorative Bowl by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 31 x W 31 x H 8 cm. Materials:Ceramic. Different marble and ceramic options available. Custom options available on request. Please contact us. Our mission is to encourage people to make their home the best place to be, to get inspired and to receive friends and family. Designed and manufactured by ourselves, we offer lightings to help people creating distinctive living spaces. Enhancing the authenticity of natural and organic materials using associations and contrasts. Extreme quality behind a facade of ultra-minimalism. We find our materials to the source to ensure we give the best value...
Ceramic
Post Modern Victor Carranza Minimalist Mikasa Art Pottery Ceramic Cone Vase
By Mikasa
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Beautiful post-modern minimalist style conical vase designed by Mexican designer, Victor Carranza, and manufactured in Japan by Mikasa. This vase has a...
Ceramic
Flat Oval Shape, Plain Ruby Red Ceramic Hand-sculpted Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Furi Vase by Willem Van Hooff Core Vessel Series Dimensions: W 23 x D 10 x H 41 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces are hand-made and might present slight variations in sizes) Material...
Ceramic, Earthenware
$1,042 / item
Gaia Vase by Arturo Erbsman
Located in Geneve, CH
Gaia vase by Arturo Erbsman The name GAIA expresses its origin - 'from the earth' and is inspired by the earliest form of Japanese Ikebana style called Tatehana, or “standing flowers”. GAIA is a contemporary shallow vase designed to receive one or several single stem flowers in a unique arrangement. Carefully sculpted in a capsule shape from a single block of soft pink onyx, it is also available in Carrara marble. The vase comes with eleven holes that differ in diameter and has superficial chambers for each stem. Focusing on shape and line, simplicity and nature GAIA is an exquisite centerpiece for your everyday rituals. Due to their natural origin (onyx and marble), variations may exist and are to be embraced, making each vase truly one of a kind. Materials: Pink onyx. Also available in Carrara marble Dimensions: W36 x D10 x H4 cm Arturo Erbsman is a French designer whose works reflect different points of intersection between manufactured objects and the four elements of nature. He focuses on showing the delicacy of distinct aspects of water like ice, snow, stalactites, condensation and vapor in his handmade lighting objects. He derives his source of inspiration from his faraway travels and from closely observing natural phenomena of everyday life. Arturo Erbsman 2017 Salone Satellite 20 years of creativity - Milan Design Week 2016 Château de Maisons-Laffitte, France 2016 Design Stars / IFFS - Singapore design week 2015 Nature(s) Galerie Glassbox / Mains d’Oeuvre - COP21 Paris 2015 Now le Off - Paris design week 2015 Salone Satellite 2015 - Milan design week 2015 Maison&Objet, Parcours d'inspiration Nature Made - Paris 2015 Equations design at Cité des sciences et de l'industrie - Paris 2014 I designer del futuro at La Rinascente - Milan 2014 Biennale Interieur - Kortrijk, Belgium 2014 Experience/s at Bastille Design Center for the Designer's days - Paris 2014 Salone Satellite 2014 – Milan design week 2014 Formes at Cité des sciences et de l’industrie – Paris 2013 Salone Satellite 2013 – Milan Design Week 2013 Ambiente 2013 – Frankfurt 2013 Ecobat 2013 – Paris 2013 DMY International Design Festival – Berlin...
Onyx, Marble
$521 / item
Oxblood Wave Form Vase by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Oxblood Wave Form Vase by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 14 x W 14 x H 28 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Available in Crystal Cream, Mint Blue, and Oxblood c...
Ceramic
1970s Howard Miller vintage modern minimalist wall clock
By Nathan Horwitt, Herman Miller
Located in Phoenix, AZ
1970s Howard Miller wall clock model 622-740. I am assuming that this was designed by Nathan George Horwitt due to it being the same dimensions, materials, build and similar style as...
Aluminum
$573 / item
Dou Vase by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Dou vase by Daniel Elkayam One of a kind Dimensions: D 2.5 x W 10 x H 39 cm Materials: burnt beech wood Jerusalem-born Art-designer and Photogr...
Wood
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
Set of 2 Italian Satinato Series Vase and Glass Attributed to Carlo Moretti, 70s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Italian Satinato Series Vase and Glass attributed to Carlo Moretti, 1970s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer...
Glass
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
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
$473 / item
Brass Bottle Opener by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass bottle opener by Gentner Design. Dimensions: D 14 x W 1.9 x H 1.9 cm. Materials: polished brass. Strong in form and heavy in weight, the...
Brass
$3,493 / item
Artificial Formations Concrete Bowl by Davide Ronco
Located in Geneve, CH
Artificial Formations Concrete Bowl by Davide Ronco One of a Kind Dimensions: D 100 x H 50 cm. Materials: Concrete. Concrete, the most widely used material in the world after water...
Concrete
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
$840 / item
Charcoal Kaen Palo Santo by Monics+Vieira
Located in Geneve, CH
Charcoal Kaen Palo Santo by Monics+Vieira Dimensions: Ø 18 x H 4 cm. Materials: Combination of micro-ceramic coating and a Liquid Metal mixture Milan and Dubai based design duo MONI...
Metal, Other
$859 / item
Slate Blue Mercury Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Slate blue 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 PIECE...
Resin, Plaster
$4,928 / item
São Paulo 01 Totem by Gabriela Campos
Located in Geneve, CH
São Paulo 01 Totem by Gabriela Campos Dimensions: W 36 x D 36 x H 120 cm. Materials: American Oak, Freijó. ESTÚDIO MAIS ALMA moves toward the authentic and the unique, whether in ...
Oak
Contemporary Blackened Brass Teardrop Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Brass Planchart Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 19 cm Materials: Blackened brass. The Planchart Handle is a bold, unique utilitarian object, created in ho...
Brass
$817 / item
Brass Eleven Candleholder by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Eleven candleholder by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 7.6 x H 2 cm Materials: polished brass Also available in darkened brass. Milled from a solid piece of brass, the cande...
Brass
Artefacto Chan Maák Cab Decorative Object by Lørdag & Søndag
Located in Geneve, CH
Artefacto Chan Maák Cab Decorative Object by Lørdag & Søndag Dimensions: D 18 x W 50 x H 55 cm. Materials: Wicker. Lørdag & Søndag is a design studio founded in 2011 by Salv...
Wicker
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
$5,684 / item
Ewer by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Ewer by Laura Pasquino Limited Edition of 8 Dimensions: D 24 x H 46 cm Material: Soft-paste porcelain, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceramics a...
Porcelain
$1,954 / item
Artefacto 02 by Federico Stefanovich
Located in Geneve, CH
Artefacto 02 by Federico Stefanovich Dimensions: D 16 x W 35 x H 33 cm. Material: Brass. Federico Stefanovich presents himself as a designer of furniture, accessories and lighting, ...
Brass
Marble Screen by Andrea Giomi: Bardiglio & Carrara, Post-Modern Italy
Located in Geneve, CH
Marble Screen by Andrea Giomi Dimensions: D 210 x W 100 x H 190 cm Materials: Bardiglio Nuvolato marble, Carrara white marble, Guatemala green marble. Also available in alabaster ver...
Marble
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
$568 / item
Avelaine Bowl by Cuit Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Avelaine Bowl by Cuit Studio One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 30 x W 35 x H 16 cm. Materials: Stoneware white crackled matt. Due to the handmade process of this item, each piece will be...
Stoneware
Organic Form Gradient Light Amber Glass Vase by Aina Kari
Located in Geneve, CH
Il Dodge Murano Glass Vase by Aina Kari One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 15 x H 30 cm. Materials: Murano glass. Aina Kari After working for different world-renowned brands in Italy and ...
Murano Glass
$1,302 / item
Triple Bowl by Sophie Vaidie
Located in Geneve, CH
Triple Bowl by Sophie Vaidie One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 27 x W 46 x H 17 cm. Materials: Brutal Beige stoneware with fine chamotte. In the beginning, there was a need to make, wit...
Stoneware
Galactica Wall Star Decorative Object in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Galactica Wall Star Decorative Object in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Dimensions: D 4,2 x W 40 x H 40 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. A shining and galactic decoratio...
Other
Tunnel Candelabra in Gypsum & Fiberglass by Brent Warr Studios
By Brent Warr
Located in Bainbridge, GA
The Tunnel Candelabra by Brent Warr is an evocative fusion of sculpture and function. With its softened geometric limbs and matte white finish, the piece conjures a sense of movement...
Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass, Plaster, Hardwood, Paint
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan. Dimensions: W 27 x D 26 x H 18 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artis...
Ceramic
Galactica Lunar Decorative Object in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Galactica Lunar Decorative Object in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 80 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Corner mirror inspired by the dark si...
Other
Galactica Wall Flash Decorative Object in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Galactica Wall Flash Decorative Object in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Dimensions: D 4,2 x W 68 x H 100 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Wall accessory, tribute to Dav...
Other
Galactica Mappaluna Decorative Object in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Galactica Mappaluna Decorative Object in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Dimensions: D 22 x W 31,5 x H 20 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Would you like the moon? Today...
Other
Ziro Postmodern Wall Clock, Metal & Wood, Memphis Style, 1980s UK
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern English Wall Clock from Ziro, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Wood Col...
Metal
$40,643 / 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
$3,908 / 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
$2,972 / 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
$7,508 / item
Gold Ceramic Petalouda Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Ceramic Petalouda Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 44 x H 32 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: 24 Kt Gold, black, blue, light blue, green, white. The ‘Petalouda Gold’ majolica vase...
Ceramic
Nero 15 Decorative Object and Mirror by Studio Lievito
Located in Geneve, CH
Nero 15 decorative object and mirror by Studio Lievito Dimensions: D20 x W20 X H15 cm Materials: Bucchero ceramic, mirror. Weight: 1.5 kg Fragments of a distant time, shaped by hand...
Ceramic, Mirror
$10,160 / set
Set of Objects and Leaf Table by Sofia Alvarado
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of Objects and Leaf Table by Sofia Alvarado Objects: Balance in Depression, Licuala Grandis Dimensions: D 150 x W 70 x H 40 cm Materials: Zapatero Wood FI is an ornamental artis...
Metal
Pair of Tall Crystal Candlesticks by William Yeoward Crystal, London, UK
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of Tall Crystal Candlesticks by William Yeoward Crystal London, England etched label on bottom "out of production" "old world charm with new world design" "Founded in 1995, W...
Crystal
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Baccarat Crystal Glass Zodiac Dragon
By Baccarat
Located in Mérida, YU
Baccarat Crystal Glass Ornament Zodiac Dragon. 2012. Perfect condition. Marked.
Crystal
Vintage Memphis Style Adjustable Candleholders, Atomic Design, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A pair of vintage Danish postmodern or Memphis style candlestick holders in string metal. Adjustable in height up to 28 cm. They are reminiscent in style to similar design from Marku...
Steel, Chrome