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.
$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
Ambrosia Vessel with Lid in Multi-Colored Cast Resin by Joseph Algieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Ambrosia Vessel with Lid in Multi-Colored Cast Resin by Joseph Algieri Dimensions: D 20,3 x W 20,3 x H 35,6 cm. Materials: Cast resin.
Resin
$5,194 / item
Motion Sculpture IV by Sofia Tufvasson
Located in Geneve, CH
Motion sculpture IV by Sophie Rogers Dimensions: D 17 x W 32 x H 25 cm Materials: Ceramic, glaze Other glaze colors available. A play with the M...
Ceramic
FRAGMENT Ochre I Sculptural Vase by Donatas Zukauskas
Located in Geneve, CH
FRAGMENT Ochre I Sculptural Vase by Donatas Zukauskas. Dimensions: W 27 x D 8.5 x H 48 cm. Materials: Handcrafted mineral composite. FRAGMENT Ochre I stands as an architectural obje...
Cement, Composition, Other
Steven Klinsky Ceramic Vase, 1990's
By Steve Chase
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Steven Klinsky Ceramic Vase, 1990's. Steven Klinsky has worked with designer Steven Chase.
Ceramic
$2,337 / item
V1315 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
V1315 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 53 x W 56 x H 39 cm. Materials: Oak wood. In Pietschmann’s sculptures, trees that for centuries were part of a lan...
Oak
"Kopka" Post Modern Candelabra In Polished Steel by FXFV
By Franco V
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Named for Alfred Kopka, the first craft master at the Bauhaus school's metal shop, expertly crafted by hand in Brooklyn, NY, the Kopka Candelabra is a sculptural addition to any spac...
Steel
Grey Stoneware Coiled Moon Jar by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey Stoneware Coiled Moon Jar by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 23 x H 27 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware, Earthenware Available finishes: Experimental Glaze...
Earthenware, Stoneware
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan. Dimensions: W 19 x D 16 x H 24 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artis...
Ceramic
Glass basket from Bleikristall, Germany
By Bleikristall
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Bleikristall Crystal Basket, Germany This Bleikristall crystal basket from Germany features a striking, vibrant green color, enhanced by its distinctive, deep-cut pattern. The design...
Art Glass
Colorful Crystal Perfume Flacon, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Colorful crystal perfume flacon, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Hand-sculpted in crystal Measures: Small Height 20 cm Width 7 cm Depth 7 cm Weight 0.8 kg Material: fine ha...
Crystal
Contemporary Silver Aluminium Gio Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Gio Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 7.4 x D 1.5 x H 12 cm Materials: Aluminium The Gio Hook is sand cast in Aluminium. Named after Signor Ponti...
Aluminum
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
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan. Dimensions: W 28 x D 28 x H 21 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artis...
Ceramic
$200 / item
Brass Brute Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Brute Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 3 x D 2 x H 10 cm Materials: Brass This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors and sash windows. Each piece is s...
Brass
Postmodern Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz for Richartz Art Collection, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz for Richartz Art Collection, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark, I am sure that it...
Glass
Hermès desk magnifying glass, Paris, France, ca. 1960-1970
By Hermès
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Hermès Paris Desk Magnifying Glass, France, ca. 1960-1970 Impressive large-format magnifying glass made of silver-plated metal, signed Hermès Paris. The handle features a sculpture i...
Metal
$767
Nebula Beta
Located in Milano, MI
Serena Confalonieri continues her research in the field of self-production and craftsmanship. The subject, once again, is hand-blown borosilicate glass. After her Calypso floral glasses collection and Arabesque vases...
Blown Glass
Sholapur Marble Vase by Michele De Lucchi, Carrara, 1985
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
'SHOLAPUR' sculptural marble vase / centerpiece Michele de Lucchi for Up & Up, Carrara Italy, 1985 Postmodern Marble sculpture centerpiece. Composed of several geometric elemen...
Marble
$1,429 / 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, green color. “Au...
Glass
$1,440 / 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
Contemporary Glass Vase Mini Mountain by Fos, Pink
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 ...
Glass
New Franz Hermle Mantel Clock in DeArt Italian Fine Marquetry and Ormolu Case
By DeART, Franz Hermle
Located in Germantown, MD
A 21st Century German Franz Hermle Mantel Clock in DeArt Italian Fine Marquetry and Ormolu Case in new open box condition. Clock made in Germany by the historic, very famous Franz Hermle clock...
Brass, Ormolu
$883 / item
Green Patina Pluto Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Green patina 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 PIECES...
Resin, Plaster
$1,003 / 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
Baccarat Clear Crystal Porcupine Hedgehog Figurine Paper Weight Post-Modern
By Baccarat
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Baccarat clear crystal porcupine or hedgehog figurine, which is often used as a paperweight.It is crafted from heavy, polished French crystal and features s...
Crystal
$212 / item
Impruneta Clay Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Impruneta Clay Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio Dimensions: D 23 x H 4.8 cm Materials: Impruneta Clay. A number of 31 bowls of identical shape, made in limited edition by fine Italian ar...
Clay
Postmodern Candleholder by Markus Börgens for D-Tec, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Candleholder by Markus Börgens for D-Tec, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Official proof of authenticity such as vinta...
Metal
Zebra Lucite Acrylic Sculpture by Abraham Palatnik
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Acrylic Lucite Zebra Sculpture by Abraham Palatnik A stunning acrylic zebra sculpture by renowned Brazilian artist Abraham Palatnik. This piece is a true modern work of art that comb...
Acrylic
Brass Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson, Post-Modern Design, Australia, 2023
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Brass The Ribbon Hook is sand cast in solid brass. Ribbon hook has two protruding blocks to allow you to...
Brass
Memphis Style Ceramic Vase by Luciano Florio Paccagnella for Florio Keramia, 90s
By Luciano Florio Paccagnella, Florio Keramia
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
$6,268 / item
Tray Object 002 by Louise Roe
Located in Geneve, CH
Tray Object 002 by Louise Roe Dimensions: Ø 50 x H 8 cm. Materials: Polished steel. THE ROE STUDIO TRAY OBJECT 002 Our Metal Tray in Chrome exhibits a dis...
Steel
Ettore Sottsass Postmodern "Tigris" Porcelain Vase for Memphis Milano, 1983
By Porcellane San Marco, Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in London, GB
For sale is a rare, early Post-Modern “TIGRIS” porcelain vase designed by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano and produced by Porcellane San Marco in the 1980s. In 1983, Ettore Sotts...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$1,145 / 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
Bronze Sculpture La Rosa Dei Venti by the Artist Giampaolo Talani
Located in Pistoia, IT
Going ahead in the blowing wind.
Bronze
Set of 3 Small Dusty Peach Cibele Plant Stand by OK Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Small Dusty Peach Cibele Plant Stand by OK Design Dimensions: D 35 x H 30 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Available in small, medium, and large. Available in black, whi...
Metal
$1,947 / 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
Boho Artisan Pigmented Plaster Scagliola Plinth
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Add a splash of artistic flair to your vignette with this striking vintage Scagliola plinth. Expertly crafted using the traditional Italian technique of blending plaster and pigments...
Plaster
Postmodern Black Art Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Black Art Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz for Richartz Art Collection, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additi...
Glass
$6,787 / item
Untitled 19 Stoneware Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled 19 Stoneware Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 50 x H 49 cm Material: White and beige stoneware, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ...
Stoneware
$112,145
72.5° Arcs x9
By Bernar Venet
Located in Paris, FR
Black patina steel sculpture 70 x 43 x 30 cm Title engraved at base of work Archive number: bv03ss10 To achieve a flawless curve, 72.5° Arcs x9 is based on the fundamental principle...
Steel, Stainless Steel
$1,420 / item
Saturn's Return Plant Stand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Saturn's Return Plant Stand features a sliced steel sphere planter that hangs by delicate yet sturdy chain inside a solid steel rolled ring. A smaller steel ...
Steel
$779 / item
White Bowl by Sophie Vaidie
Located in Geneve, CH
White Bowl by Sophie Vaidie One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 20,5 x W 31 x H 16,5 cm. Materials: Beige chamotted stoneware and porcelain slip. In the begin...
Stoneware, Porcelain
Contemporary Art Armchair Elica L / R Black Leather by Paolo Portoghesi
Located in Pistoia, IT
Elica is another of Portoghesi’s limpid creations, defined by his poetics of the perceptive, dynamic fields of the directional lines. His poetics are, in turn, defined by various inf...
Bronze
$7,141 / item
Elephante 3, Stool by Studio Noon
By Noon Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Elephante 3, stool by Studio Noon Dimensions: W 68.5 x D 68.5 x H 53 Material: pigmented cement Signed and editioned 1/50 Noon is a Philadelphia based collaboration betwe...
Cement
$1,429 / 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 “bark” production style, smoke color. “Authen...
Glass
Vintage Boho Original Studio Pottery Tray
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Introduce a soft, sculptural touch to your interior with this distinctive vintage studio pottery tray. Hand-built using the slab technique, this ceramic piece exemplifies the playful...
Pottery
$743 / item
Channel Sculptural Vessel by Karin Amdal
Located in Geneve, CH
Chanel Sculptural Vessel by Karin Amdal One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 14 x W 13 x H 15.5 cm. Materials: Ceramic / Grey stoneware clay. Pieces are hand-made, one of a kind, and sizes ...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
$701 / item
Burnt Mirror by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Burnt mirror by Daniel Elkayam One of a Kind Dimensions: D 10 x W 27 x H 42 cm Materials: Burnt beech wood Jerusalem-born Art-designer and phot...
Wood
$1,402 / item
BG 436 Handcrafed Sculpture by Bronwen Grieves
Located in Geneve, CH
BG 436 handcrafed sculpture by Bronwen Grieves Dimensions: D40 x W16 x H16 cm Materials: black stoneware white slip. Other models can be done. Fired to 1180 c Bronwen Griev...
Stoneware
Murano Orange with Black incluisions Handblown Flower
By Murano 5
Located in Pasadena, TX
This flower is handblown. It was crafted in Murano, Italy. It has a beautiful orange with black color. Makes for a great gift.
Art Glass
Italian Postmodern Stainless Steel Fruit Bowl from Alessi, 1980s
By Alessi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Italian Postmodern Stainless Steel Fruit Bowl from Alessi, 1980s
Stainless Steel
$7,861 / item
Ramé Blue Wall Sculpture by NITUSH AROOSH
Located in Geneve, CH
Ramé Blue 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 country. I...
Stainless Steel
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
Duo Reflected Black and Gold Marble Sculptural Coffee Table by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Raza center piece by Andres Monnier One of a kind. Dimensions: D 40 x W 160 x H 40 cm. Materials: Portoro black marble. Stone options available: Grey, black and white marble, natural...
Marble
Postmodern German Yellow Ear Clips, 1980s, Set of 2
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Yellow Ear Clips, 1980s, Set of 2
Plastic
Salar Candle Holder in Polished Bronze & Volcanic Stone by Estudio Andean
Located in Geneve, CH
Salar Candle Holder in Polished Bronze & Volcanic Stone by Estudio Andean Dimensions: D 23 x W 23 x H 26,5 cm. Materials: Bronze and volcanic stone. SALAR is a sculptural candl...
Stone, Bronze
Unique Sculptural Ceramic Swiggle in Blue by Austin Coudriet
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Sculptural Ceramic Swiggle in Blue by Austin Coudriet. One of a kind. Dimensions: W 43 x D 30 x H 66 cm. Materials: Ceramic (stoneware), underglaze. About Austin Coudriet is...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Memphis Milano Cucumber Ceramic by Martine Bedin
By Martine Bedin, Memphis Milano
Located in Toronto, ON
Cucumber is an eccentric ceramic vase designed by Martine Bedin in 1985. The chubby, asymmetrical and dynamic form is enhanced by the lively combination of colors and the original de...
Ceramic, Paint
Nell Bernard Leauté Abstract Ceramic Sculpture 'Deconstructed Construct'
By Nell Bernard
Located in Esbjerg, DK
This unusual object indeed looks like it was made by an infant child. However it was made by the abstract post-modern female Danish artist and sculptor Nell Bernard Leauté (1935-99)....
Ceramic