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.
$1,193 / item
Hand Carved Marble Vessel by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand carved marble vessel by Tom Von Kaenel. Dimensions: D 19 x W 25 x H 10 cm. Materials: Marble Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzerland in 1961. Already ...
Marble
Memphis Style Ceramic Vase by Luciano Florio Paccagnella for Florio Keramia, 90s
By Florio Keramia, Luciano Florio Paccagnella
Located in Lucija, SI
Postmodern designed by Florio Paccagnella for Florio Keramia, Italy, 1990s Luciano Florio Paccagnella is a Memphis Group hero that has been forgotten by history. Paccagnella was discovered by Matteo Thun after finishing his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts at Brera in Milan. He was introduced to Ettore Sottsass...
Ceramic
Set of 3 Wood and Aluminum Vaso Torno by Atelier Andre Ferri
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Wood and Aluminum Vaso Torno by Atelier Andre Ferri Dimensions: W 25 x D 60 x H 15.5 cm W 25 x D 32 x H 15.5 cm W 25 x D 29 x H 32 cm Materials: Wood, Aluminum. ANDRÉ F...
Aluminum
Joel O'Dorisio for Lost Angel Glass Vase, American Studio Art Glass, 2003
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Fused glass vase features complex multilayered colored glass core in dark Bordeau or burgundy red, toffee brown, cream, and deep cobalt blue colors, encased in clear glass in sommer...
Art Glass, Sommerso
$2,735 / item
Untitled No. 46 Vase by Marea Hildebrand
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled No. 46 Vase by Marea Hildebrand Handmade Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 28 cm Materials: Stoneware with slip, glaze. Marea Hildebrand (b. 1989) is a Zurich-based ceramic arti...
Stoneware
Black Alongside In Hand Crafted Sculpture by Rachael Heritage
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Alongside In Hand Crafted Sculpture by Rachael Heritage Each Piece is Unique Dimensions: D 26 x W 24 x H 26 cm Materials: recycled card, fibre-cement, black burnished plaster. ...
Other
$1,099 / item
Beige Stoneware Amphora Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Stoneware Amphora Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 16 x H 36 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: Black, Beige, Brown, Red, Terraco...
Stoneware
$19,889 / item
Surrounded by Green Vase by Paolo Marcolongo
Located in Geneve, CH
Surrounded by Green Vase by Paolo Marcolongo Dimensions: D 31 x W 16.4 x H 16.2 cm Materials: Murano Glass and Iron. Paolo Marcolongo was born in Padua in 1956, he attended the A...
Iron
Vintage Italian Korno Thermos Coffee or Tea Bottle by G. Gagliani, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Italian Postmodern Korno Thermos Coffee or Tea Bottle by G. Gagliani for Macabo, Milano and Alfi, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attr...
Plastic
Raw & Rainbow Rainwow Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw & Rainbow Rainwow Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: D 2,5 x W 14 x H 7 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. "Somewher...
Aluminum
Raw & Rainbow Mrs Rainbow Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw & Rainbow Mrs Rainbow Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 23 x H 41 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Slender form...
Aluminum
Raw & Rainbow Mr Raw Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw & Rainbow Mr Raw Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 31 x H 35 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Pure shapes and s...
Aluminum
Architettura Domestica Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Architettura Domestica Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: D 18 x W 41 x H 65 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. A jewel ...
Aluminum
$3,510 / item
Natural Fold Room Divider by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural 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 ...
Leather, Oak
$1,160 / item
Camino Small
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
The transcendent character of decision making and its consequences, which are inflection points in everyday life, are concepts that are through the new collection by Sebastián Ángele...
Brass
Extra Large Vintage 80s Modern Embossed Pink Vase
Located in Fairfield, CA
An extra large vintage 80s modern ceramic vase. Nice tapered oval shape with an embossed design on each side. Glossy pink glaze. A sculptural postmodern acc...
Ceramic
Collection of Five Turned Wood Artisan-Created, Hand-Carved, Wood Boxes, Japan
Located in Round Top, TX
A collection of five (5) wood boxes: Two are by studio artist L.W. Joy and were all created in the early 2000's and are turned from two exotic hardwood species. They are the two sma...
Felt, Wood
1990s Signed Master Craftsman Hand Turned Cocobolo Studio Wood Trinket Box Lid
Located in San Diego, CA
Exquisite hand turned signed and dated solid cocobolo lidded trinket box. Beautiful sculptural form. Perfect for jewelry or loose leaf tea. One of a kind piece.
Cocobolo
$700Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary Solid Black and White Abstract Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Hand carved and polished sculpture, in a black and white blend combination unsigned, circa 1990s.
Marble
$3,640 / item
Hole Vase by Solem Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Hole Vase by Solem Ceramics Dimensions: D 7.5 x W 20.5 x H 33 cm. Materials: White stoneware, glaze. This vase is water safe. Please contact us. Solem’...
Stoneware
$2,600 / item
Sculpture Bloomen 11 by Zanellazine Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculpture Bloomen 11 by Zanellazine Ceramics Dimensions: W 20 x H 58 cm Materials: Red clay, Brown semi-refractorie clay, White fireclay. About: Giovanna Zighetti, ceramist and set ...
Ceramic
Stoneware Clay, Body II Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Body II Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 20 x D 19 x H 14 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Unglazed ceramic sulface. Weight: 3 kg. Collection: Body ...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Small Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 40 x H 4 cm. Materials: Copper. Weight: 3 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industr...
Copper
$3,777 / item
Sculptural Vase 2 by Donatas Zukauskas
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural Vase 2 by Donatas Zukauskas Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 28 x W 30 x H 66 cm. Materials: Recycled paper, concrete, cardboard, and glue. All products are handmade and uniqu...
Concrete, Other
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...
Brass
Soft Pink Attachment II Hand Crafted Sculpture by Rachael Heritage
Located in Geneve, CH
Soft Pink Attachment II Hand Crafted Sculpture by Rachael Heritage Each Piece is Unique Dimensions: D 32 x W 25 x H 25 cm Materials: recycled card, fibre-cement, soft pink burnished ...
Other
$1,146 / 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
Modern Steel and Brass Vessel
By Erik Johnson, Argosy Designs
Located in Treadwell, NY
DUAL VESSEL NO.1 Hot-rolled steel plate, various brass alloys Dimensions: 10” L x 6.25” W x 10.75” H Weight: 15lbs 1 of 1
Brass, Steel
$1,430 / item
Structured By Nature Medium Vase by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Structured By Nature Medium Vase by David Valner Dimensions: D 22 x W 22 x H 52 cm. Materials: Glass. Weight: 8 kg. Finish: Medium-size “branches” production style, smoke color. “Au...
Glass
Ettore Sottsass Shiva Capsule Limited Edition Blue Vase 158/999
By BD Barcelona Design, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Barcelona, ES
Blue Shiva ceramic vase designed by Ettore Sottsass, circa 1973, edited by BD in Barcelona. This piece has been produced as a limited edition with a total of only 999 units. This is...
Ceramic
$1,441 / item
Copa Buding Sculpture by Vica Ceramica
Located in Geneve, CH
Copa buding sculpture by Vica Ceramica Dimensions: D 34 x H 49 cm Materials: high temp. ceramic, wooden base VICA CERÁMICA-STUDIO is a design and sculpture studio established i...
Enamel
1980s Postmodern Black Wall Clock by Linden
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A beautiful postmodern wall clock from the 1980s by West German clockmaker Linden. It has a black case, black face with geometric accents, and red and green hands, Striking contras...
Plastic
Resin and Steel Sawfish Shaped Sculpture
By Viktor Mtz 1
Located in Mexico City, MX
An unusual dark resin sculpture in the shape of a sawfish rostrum by Mexican artist Viktor Martínez. The piece is mounted on an Industrial style steel ...
Steel
Amazonia Vase (Large), Silver and Matte Orange, Turquoise Feet by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Sparkling silver, Opaque Orange and Clear Blue with Turquoise 'Feet'. * All the pieces are hand-mad...
Resin
Raw & Rainbow Alla Terra Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw & Rainbow Alla Terra Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 28 x H 55 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Golden tactil...
Aluminum
Raw & Rainbow Bruto Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw & Rainbow Bruto Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 65 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Bruto in the name ...
Aluminum
$2,340 / item
Sleeping Stone I by Terre Brute
Located in Geneve, CH
Sleeping Stone I by Terre Brute Dimensions: 43 x 30 x 25 cm Materials: Unglazed white stoneware. "Throughout my work, I try to embrace the fluidity and organic forms found in nature...
Stoneware
Raw & Rainbow Gallo Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw & Rainbow Gallo Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 67 x H 67 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. As a hymn to joy, ...
Aluminum
Raw & Rainbow Pavone Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw & Rainbow Pavone Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 29 x H 55 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. The vain peacock ...
Aluminum
Raw & Rainbow Juno Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw & Rainbow Juno Sculpture in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition Of 10 Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 35 x H 65 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. A junoesque and col...
Aluminum
$23,659 / item
United Baskets by RF Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
United baskets by RF Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: D 300 x H 310 cm Materials: Reed United Baskets explores the process of landscape transformation and the persistence of local cr...
Reed
$160Sale Price|20% Off
Tessellated Stone Obelisk in the Style of Marquis of Beverly Hills
By Marquis Collection of Beverly Hills 1
Located in San Diego, CA
Tessellated stone obelisk in the style of Marquis Collection of Beverly Hills, circa 1980s. The piece was made in the Philippines and measure...
Stone
$1,646 / item
OTOMA_02 Vase by Emmanuelle Roule
Located in Geneve, CH
OTOMA_02 Vase by Emmanuelle Roule Unique piece. Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 31 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Vase made of white stoneware with glaze. Not w...
Stoneware
Postmodern Italian Pottery Planter with Flower Stand, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Pottery Planter with Flower Stand, 1980s
Ceramic
Contemporary Art Fountain Le Colonne White, Light Blue by Alessandro Mendini
By Mirabili, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 99 numbered and signed copies of the Column composed by 3 elements, base in polychrome ceramic, 24 white grés tiles with decorations and a bronze fish sculpture. This fountain is called “Le Colonne...
Bronze
$437 / item
Small Coral Vase by Dzovag Kotchian
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Coral Vase by Dzovag Kotchian Dimensions: W 12 x D 12 x H 30 cm Materials: Stabilized Raw Clay, Metal. Dzovag Kotchian's work develops through theoretical reflection and arti...
Metal
$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
$1,146 / item
Harlem Vase, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Harlem vase, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Decorative bowl Hand-sculpted in crystal Measures: L 21.3 x H 17.8 x D 10 cm Art Deco is a distinctive architectural style that ...
Crystal
Grey Stoneware Symposio Bowl by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey Stoneware Symposio Bowl by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 34 x H 10 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes...
Stoneware
$10,399 / item
Unique Ceramic Artwork Signed by Jojo Corväiá
By Jojo Corväiá
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique ceramic artwork signed by Jojo Corväiá Measures: 49cm diameter x 53cm high Ceramic object / natural pigments, glaze Jojo Corväiá: In essen...
Ceramic
Blue Ceramic Vase by Siup Studio, Post-Modern Design, 15cm Diameter
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
Brown Stoneware Hand Coiled Organic Sculptural Inara Sculpture By Munier
Located in Geneve, CH
Earthenware Inara Sculpture by Munier Dimensions: W 23 x D 24 x H 25 cm. Materials: Earthenware. Weight: 3.3 kg. I specialize in the ancient technique of coil building, a traditiona...
Ceramic
The Throne Sculpture in Glazed Ceramic & Black Epoxy by Lucile Gracile
Located in Geneve, CH
The Throne Sculpture in Glazed Ceramic & Black Epoxy by Lucile Gracile Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 52 cm. Materials: Glazed ceramic and black epoxy. Born in 1988, lives and works ...
Ceramic, Epoxy Resin
Textured Uneven Sculptural Classic Coral Stone Seating by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Fractus sculptural seating by Andres Monnier. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 120 x L 50 x H 50 cm. Materials: Coralina clasica. Stone options availabl...
Stone
Povl Candle Holder by Franco V, Handcrafted Blackened Steel Design
By Franco V
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed and handcrafted in Brooklyn NY by artist Franco V the Povl candle holders offer endless possibilities for creative expression. Designed for customization, they combine bea...
Steel
Contemporary Organic Form, Dark Grey Ceramic Sculptural Vase by Niclas Wolf
Located in Geneve, CH
Geoprimitive 079 Sculptural Vase by Niclas Wolf Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 35 x H 59,5 cm. Materials: Ceramic. GEOPRIMITIVE_ is a design series that compares and connects the Preca...
Ceramic
Where Everything Ends Where Everything Begins Bronze Key by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Where Everything Ends Where Everything Begins Bronze Key by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: L 10 to 60 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Pati...
Bronze
Metal Heart Candleholder in Patinated Solid Brass by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Metal Heart Candleholder in Patinated Solid Brass by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 3,5-4 x H 5-6 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Solid ...
Brass
Large Gravity Bowl in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Large dium Gravity Bowl in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 15 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated c...
Bronze
Medium Gravity Bowl in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Gravity Bowl in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 12 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated cast ...
Bronze