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.
$12,449 / item
Incarnato 2 Sculpture by Camille De Prêtre
Located in Geneve, CH
Incarnato 2 Sculpture by Camille De Prêtre Dimensions: W 24 x D 24 x H 156 cm. Materials: Burned pine. About Camille De Prêtre is a Belgian artist and furniture designer based betw...
Wood
Signal-Low, On Base Sculpture in Fibre Cement & Plaster by Rachael Heritage
Located in Geneve, CH
Signal-Low, On Base Sculpture in Fibre Cement & Plaster by Rachael Heritage Unique Piece Dimensions: D 20 x W 22 x H 33 cm. Materials: Fibre-cement and burnished plaster. Shapes for...
Cement, Other
Rosenthal Century New Wave Porcelain Vase and Bowl by Wirkkala and Hafner, 1980s
By Tapio Wirkkala, Dorothy Hafner, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Rosenthal Studio-Line porcelain vase and bowl from the Century: New Wave series, combining Tapio Wirkkala’s Century forms with Dorothy Hafner’s New Wave decoration. Wirkkala designe...
Porcelain
Prime Walnut, Any Leather Rings Only by Eternal Creek
Located in Geneve, CH
Prime Walnut, Any Leather Handles Only by Eternal Creek Dimensions: D 24 x H 3.2 cm Materials: Wood: Prime Walnut / Black Ash / Light Ash Leather: Shadow Black / Saddle Brown / Lond...
Leather, Wood
Rosenthal Eosin Porcelain Vase Trio by Johan van Loon and Helmut Drexler, 1990s
By Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Curated trio of Rosenthal Studio-Linie porcelain vases pairing Johan van Loon’s folded forms with Helmut Drexler’s satin-iridescent Eosin decoration. The finish shifts between gold,...
Porcelain
$917 / item
Atheria Vase by Moldra
Located in Geneve, CH
Atheria Vase by Moldra Dimensions: D 26 x H 24 cm Materials: Stoneware Moldra is a ceramic studio devoted to sculptural vases and objects. Rooted in the ancestral hand-building tech...
Stoneware
Blue Moon Wall Art by Christian Friedl - Post-Modern Design, Austria
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue Moon Wall Art by Christian Friedl Limited Edition of 3 Dimensions: D 25 x W 140 x H 140 cm. Materials: Oak, concrete. Blue Moon is a rare natural s...
Concrete
$1,107 / 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
$17,571 / item
Urn by Rick Owens
By Rick Owens
Located in Geneve, CH
Urn by Rick Owens 2007 Dimensions: L 34 x W 34 x H 57 cm Materials: Bronze Weight: 37 kg Available in Black finish or Nitrate (Dark Brown) finish. ...
Bronze
Joel O'Dorisio for Lost Angel Rounded Glass Vase, American Studio Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Fused glass vase features complex multilayered colored glass core in ruby red, beige, cream, and deep cobalt blue colors, encased in clear glass in sommerso technique. Rounded form o...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso
TOWERX23 Architectural Elm Wood Sculpture in Dark Finish by Towerland
Located in Geneve, CH
TOWERX23 Architectural Elm Wood Sculpture in Dark Finish by Towerland. Dimensions: W 12.5 x D 12.5 x H 26 cm. Materials: Elm Wood with Dark Finish. The TOWERX2 series is a solid woo...
Wood
$1,965 / item
Unique Organic Sculptural Vase by Maria Loram
By Maria Loram
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Organic Sculptural Vase by Maria Loram Dimensions: W 30.5 x D 30.5 x H 21.6 cm Materials: Stoneware with a glazed finish. Colors: Beige. Custom dimensions and glaze finishes ...
Stoneware
$7,552 / 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
$1,072 / item
Shibui 10 Sculpture by WANAS
Located in Geneve, CH
Shibui 10 Sculpture by WANAS Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 38 cm. Materials: Brass, rosewood, teak wood, and wood. The size is customisable on request. Please contact us. Why is it t...
Brass
Wing Wide Wall Piece in Welded Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor
Located in Geneve, CH
Wing Wide Wall Piece in Welded Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor Limited Edition of 5 + 2AP. Dimensions: D 25 x W 228 x H 122 cm. Materials: Mirror-polished stainless ...
Stainless Steel
Fedora Jewlery Box in Glossy Ebony, 24K Gold-Plated Brass, & Horn by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Fedora Jewlery Box in Glossy Ebony, 24K Gold-Plated Brass, & Horn by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 13 x W 21 x H 8 cm. Materials: Glossy ebony, engraved 24K gold-plated brass, and horn. Av...
Brass, Other
Vintage German Postmodern Wall Clock from Dugena, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage German Postmodern Wall Clock from Dugena, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Plast...
Plastic
Medea Picture Frame in Horn & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Medea Picture Frame in Horn & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: D 5 x W 19 x H 24 cm. Materials: Horn and lacquered wood. Ava...
Other
$7,934 / item
Ramé Turquoise Wall Sculpture by NITUSH AROOSH
Located in Geneve, CH
Ramé Turquoise Wall Sculpture by NITUSH AROOSH Dimensions: Ø 100 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Available in different finishes. All our lamps can be wired according to each count...
Stainless Steel
Set Of 3 Bacco Smoking Lighter & Ash Trays in Horn, Brass & Wood by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 3 Bacco Smoking Lighter & Ash Trays in Horn, Brass & Wood by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: Lighter: D 10 x W 10 x H 9 cm. Cigarette Ash Tray: D 16 x W 16 x H 4...
Brass, Other
Agneta Box III in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Agneta Box III in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 16 cm. Materials: Leather, wood, brass, and horn. Round box in Aida pebbled leat...
Brass
Italian Glazed Ceramic Banana Sculpture (After Warhol) (After Maurizio Cattelan)
By (after) Andy Warhol, Maurizio Cattelan
Located in Round Top, TX
From the early 20th century, and before, the imagery of the humble banana has always captured our interest and attention. From Claes Oldenburg to Any Warhol and more recently, Mauriz...
Ceramic
$3,276 / item
Grain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Grain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a Kind Dimensions: D 37 cm x H 38 cm Material: Ceramic Finishing: Textured, Unglazed Artist stamp on the bottom Laura Pasquino Incorporatin...
Ceramic
Postmodern Hand-Painted Ceramic Vase Signed Albert, 1991
Located in Berlin, DE
Hand-painted postmodern ceramic vase signed and dated “Albert ’91.” The vase has a tall, tapered trapezoidal form finished in glossy black glaze. Broad brushstrokes in ochre, pale ye...
Ceramic
Karl Till Postmodern Glazed Ceramic Vases for Karlsruhe Majolika, 1996
Located in Berlin, DE
Matched pair of postmodern glazed ceramic vases designed by Karl Till for the Staatliche Majolika Manufaktur Karlsruhe in 1996. Their slender forms are complemented by a carefully ba...
Ceramic
Estremoz Marble Sculpture by Jean-Frédéric Bourdier
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Jean-Frédéric Bourdier Estremoz Marble sculpture Signed and dated France 2007 210 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm
Marble
$1,000 / 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
Agneta Box II in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Agneta Box II in Aida Pebbled Leather, Horn, Brass, & Ebony Veneer by Arcahorn Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 13 cm. Materials: Leather, wood, brass, and horn. Round box in Aida pebbled leath...
Brass
$1,739 / item
Paper Brass Bowl III by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper brass bowl III by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 25.5 cm Materials: tarnished brass Available in tarnished brass and darkened brass. The Paper Series embodies the ...
Brass
$1,048 / item
Unfolding Vase by Moldra
Located in Geneve, CH
Unfolding Vase by Moldra Dimensions: D 35 x H 22 cm Materials: Stoneware Moldra is a ceramic studio devoted to sculptural vases and objects. Rooted in the ancestral hand-building te...
Stoneware
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
Gilbert Portanier Alta Mira Porcelain Plate for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Rosenthal, Gilbert Portanier
Located in Berlin, DE
Gilbert Portanier’s “Alta Mira” porcelain plate for Rosenthal Studio-Line combines expressive ceramic art with the precision of German porcelain production. Abstract figures, calligr...
Porcelain
Gilbert Portanier Liguria Porcelain Wall Plate for Rosenthal, Germany
By Rosenthal, Gilbert Portanier
Located in Berlin, DE
Gilbert Portanier’s “Liguria” porcelain wall plate for Rosenthal Studio-Line turns a functional form into a richly layered ceramic artwork. Abstract and biomorphic motifs in red, blu...
Porcelain
Gilbert Portanier Alta Mira Porcelain Wall Plate for Rosenthal Studio-Line
By Rosenthal, Gilbert Portanier
Located in Berlin, DE
Gilbert Portanier’s “Alta Mira” porcelain wall plate for Rosenthal Studio-Line combines expressive ceramic art with late 20th-century German design. The matte white surface is decora...
Porcelain
$2,871 / item
Golden Reef Sculpture by Vica Ceramica
Located in Geneve, CH
Golden Reef Sculpture by Vica Ceramica Materials: High temp. Ceramic Dimensions: D 45 x W 39 x H 42cm VICA CERÁMICA-STUDIO is a design and sculpture studio established in Mexic...
Enamel
$524 / item
Ceramic Cockatoo Parrot Sculpture by Marioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic Cockatoo Parrot Sculpture by Marioni Dimensions: W 16 x D 16 x H 44 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Product code: 02276 Parrot in glazed ceramic. Available in different colors and ...
Ceramic
Contemporary Art Pouf - Saudade by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. Semi-circular pouff designed by Gabriel. Vintage chenille Pontoglio cotton velvets, silk and cotton trimmings, designer decorations
Cotton, Silk
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
Alessandro Mendini & Linde Burkhardt Limited Edition Ceramic by Superego 2000s
By Linde Burkhardt, Superego, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Limited edition ceramic vase model Colletto 4 from 4 Mani series, it was composed of two different pieces (a black one and a white one) designed by Alessandro Mendini decorated by Li...
Ceramic
“Frammento” — Postmodern Totemic Sculpture in Pietra di Vicenza
Located in Weesp, NL
Importing Art into the United States is exempt from all U.S. tariffs but please, do check “Frammento” — Postmodern Totemic Sculpture in Pietra di Vicenza by Alberto Cabiddu, 1997 C...
Limestone
Maze Candelabra in Wood & Fiberglass by Brent Warr Studios
By Brent Warr
Located in Bainbridge, GA
The Maze Candelabra by Brent Warr is a striking fusion of sculpture and function, conceived as a bold architectural gesture for the modern interior. Each piece is built from a wood c...
Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass, Plaster, Hardwood, Paint
$1,667
Caleido Bowl
Located in Milano, MI
The progressive extinction of some traditional craft techniques brings with it a difficult availability of some materials: this is the case of some types of glass used for stained gl...
Stained Glass
$1,024 / item
Unique Arq 009 Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Arq 009 vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz Dimensions: Ø 15 x H 23 cm Materials: hand-sculpted glazed stoneware. The Arq series emerged from our own past production. Draw...
Stoneware
$7,671 / item
Horas Lotus Teak Wood Sculpture by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Horas Lotus Teak Wood Sculpture by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 66 x H 31 CM Materials: Teak wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and creator. Sh...
Other
Lex Hogenhout Large Artwork 'Spatial Weave / Shelter X' The Netherlands 1970s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Lex Hogenhout Large Artwork 'Spatial Weave' The Netherlands 1970s. A large and impressive 'living' artwork by Dutch artist Lex Hogenhout. Suspended and leaning, this work almost wor...
Metal
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
$6,909 / 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
$537 / item
Urchin Petri Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Urchin Petri vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 13 x H 14 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin MOLDED, DYED, AND FINISHED BY HAND IN LA. CUSTOMIZATION AVAILABLE. ALL PIECES ARE MADE TO ...
Resin, Plaster
$891 / item
Teal and Ochre Pluto Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Teal and Ochre Pluto vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 13 x D 13 x H 14 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin MOLDED, DYED, AND FINISHED BY HAND IN LA. CUSTOMIZATION AVAILABLE. ALL PIEC...
Resin, Plaster
Tiffany & Co. Atlas Crystal Candlestick Holder Vintage Modern
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Tiffany & Co. Atlas crystal candlestick holder, known for its heavy, architectural vertical ribbing design. Heavy, clear cut crystal. Tapered columnar shape...
Crystal
Postmodern Green Ceramic Braided Woven Abstract Centerpiece Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Stunning woven braided ceramic centerpiece bowl glazed in a chic glossy green. Great size for a coffee table or entryway. Very unusual abstract shape, pleasing from every angle. Not ...
Ceramic
$6,647 / item
Concrete and Cray Totem 130 by Frederic Texier
Located in Geneve, CH
Concrete and Cray Totem 130 by Frederic Texier Dimensions: W 30 x D 20 x H 130 cm. Materials: Concrete coated with lime and cement. Color: Cray. Artist Frédéric Texier expresses a...
Concrete, Cement
Pisces White Tall Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Pisces White Tall Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D8 x W 28 x x H 35 cm Materials: Ceramic Also available in other colors and custom sizes from 20cm tall - 58cm...
Ceramic
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
Curved Dancer Teracotta Blend Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Curved Dancer Teracotta Blend Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 9 x W 26 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay, Terracotta Also available in other colors an...
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
A large smoked glass and chrome sculpture by Runstadler Studios, signed, 1990
Located in View Park, CA
A stunning smoked glass and metal sculpture by Runstadler Studios, signed, 1990. Edition 20/30, this rare piece depicts periods a large wing fanning out, emerging from a chrome plint...
Chrome, Steel
Inspired from Earth’s Origins, Organic Form Clay Sculptural Vase by Niclas Wolf
Located in Geneve, CH
Geoprimitive 115 Sculptural Vase by Niclas Wolf Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 45 x H 57 cm. Materials: Ceramic. GEOPRIMITIVE_ is a design series that compares and connects the Precamb...
Ceramic
$3,585 / item
Large Pleomorph 50B Sculpture by Abid Javed
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Pleomorph 50B sculpture by Abid Javed Dimensions: W 25 x D 10 x 50 cm (Dimensions are variable) Materials: stoneware. Multiple clay color and size options. Handmade stone...
Stoneware
$1,489 / item
Recovered Large Vase by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Recovered Large Vase by David Valner Dimensions: D 23 x W 23 x H 24 cm. Materials: Glass. Weight: 9,5 kg. Finish: Large size, purple and yellow. “The history of a glass factory and ...
Glass
Unique London Plane Amphora by Matt Kavanagh
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique London Plane Amphora by Matt Kavanagh. Signed by Matt Kavanagh. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 19 x D 16 x H 66.5 cm. Materials: London Plane, scorch & wax, chemical black. ...
Hardwood