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.
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
Helle Lemon Tint Cast Glass Sculpture by Bowen Liu
Located in Geneve, CH
Helle Lemon Tint Cast Glass Sculpture by Bowen Liu Dimensions: D 2.25 x W 5 x H 7 cm Materials: Cast Glass Based in, produced and shipped from the US. Bowen Liu founded her award-...
Other
$627 / item
Brass Bud Vase III by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass bud vase III by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 5 x W 5 x H 10 cm Materials: dull tarnished brass Each of these delicately, handcrafted Bud Vase...
Brass
Unique Harvest Green Graal Glass Vase by Tiina Sarapu
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique green graal harvest glass vase by Tiina Sarapu 2018 Dimensions: H 27 cm Materials: Glass Glass in my works signifies the world between opaque and translucent, visible and invisible, material and immaterial, real and unreal. It is a world of shady shapes, exciting and elusive. I studied glass art in Estonian Academy of Arts in 1990–1996. I have been working for the Department of Glass Art at the Estonian Academy of Arts as a teacher and technician, from 2003-2017 as an associate professor. I have taken part in several exhibitions, conferences, symposiums and workshops since 1994 both in Estonia and abroad. I have earned attention at several international contests of glass art. My works are owned by several institutions and collectors. I also received the honorable nomination for the title of “Recognized Glass Artist of Estonia 2004-2005” and the annual Kristjan Raud...
Glass
Small Black Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson - Post-Modern Design
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Black 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...
Leather
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
Contemporary Bronze Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Contemporary Bronze Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Bronze An antidote to last-minute rummaging, the Ribbon Hook features two protruding bloc...
Bronze
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Miniature Mariposa Chair Desk Decoration by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 23 x W 23 x H 23 cm. Materials: Black leather and metal. Finish: Crude Nature lea...
Metal
$1,289 / 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
Alessi Girotondo Round Stainless Steel Tray Postmodern in Yellow
By Alessi
Located in San Diego, CA
Cut paper dolls motif created by design Duo Stefano Giovannoni and Guido Ventury early production. Beautiful color and condition
Stainless Steel
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
$4,771 / item
Unique Unda Form by Dust and Form
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Unda Form by Dust and Form Dimensions: W 24.7 x D 27' x H 12 Materials: black Belgian marble. Special black Belgian marble Unda form. It is one of its kind and has a stun...
Marble
Gaetano Pesce Medium Indian Summer Vase Clear Pink & Matte Lime for Corsi Design
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
The Medium Indian Summer Vase by Italian designer Gaetano Pesce for Corsi Design is a sculptural resin vessel from the iconic Fish Design collection, originally designed in 1995. Ha...
Resin
$3,435 / 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
Hazelnut Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Hazelnut Leather and Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: Steel, Leather Also Available: Different leather and frame colors availab...
Steel
$171 / item
Blackened Brute Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Brute Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 9,3 x D 2 x H 25 cm Materials: Blackened bronze. This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors, and sash window...
Bronze
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
Moonbulb White Raku Clay Sandy Glaze Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Moonbulb White Raku Clay Sandy Glaze Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 18 x W 28 x x H 43 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and cu...
Ceramic, Clay
$3,846 / item
AT-MN 2 Vessel by Cristina Vallejo
Located in Geneve, CH
AT-MN 2 Vessel by Cristina Vallejo Dimensions: D 15 x H 18 cm Materials: 100 % Cotton cord and polyester thread. Weight: 0.29 Kg ELSUR is a furniture and product publisher, establis...
Cotton
Gail Markiewicz Hand Built Sculptural Ceramic Vessel in Pastel and Blush Tones
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A sculptural hand-built ceramic vessel by American ceramic artist Gail Markiewicz. Executed in the artist's signature patchwork construction technique, the vessel is composed of indi...
Ceramic, Pottery
Postmodern Alarm Desk Clock Designed by Dietrich Lubs For Braun
By Dietrich Lubs, Braun
Located in San Diego, CA
Classic analouge alarm battery desk top clock simple elegant design , in great condition battery AA not included.Model BC01W
Plastic
$2,362 / item
Ash and Copper Vase by Vlad Droz
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash and copper vase by Vlad Droz. Dimensions: ?29 x H30 cm. Materials: Ash and Copper. One of a kind. Ash and Copper Vase by Russian Vlad Droz. This vase is greenturned, charr...
Copper
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
Ambrogio Pozzi Enigma Geometric Porcelain Vase for Arte Ceramica Romana, 1987
Located in Berlin, DE
Ambrogio Pozzi “Enigma” geometric ceramic vase for Arte Ceramica Romana, Italy, 1987. This postmodern vase is a strong example of late 1980s Italian design, combining architectural f...
Ceramic
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
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
Modernist Wastepaper Basket, Solid Beech, France, Circa 1930
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
This sculptural object exemplifies the rigorous formal language that emerged in France during the interwar years, as designers began moving beyond decorative Art Deco toward a more s...
Beech
Set of Three Memphis Style Bronze Candlesticks by Christian de Beaumont
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Title Set of Three Memphis Style Bronze Candlesticks by Christian de Beaumont, France, 1980s Description A sculptural set of three bronze candlesticks by Christian de Beaumont, pr...
Bronze
Large Matte White Medusa Vase by Gaetano Pesce, Post-Modern Italy
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, CA
Matte White 'Medusa' Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. Variations in the dimensions...
Resin
Canadian Ceramic Bowl by Sung Wook Park for Umbra
By Umbra
Located in San Diego, CA
Canadian Ceramic Bowl by Sung Wook Park for Umbra, a rare piece out of production nice white mate porcelain finish.
Ceramic
$7,602 / item
Ramé Copper Wall Sculpture by NITUSH AROOSH
Located in Geneve, CH
Ramé Copper 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....
Stainless Steel
$11,141 / 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
Silver Geometric Aluminum Brass Modular Totem Mirror By Studio Sol Leccia
Located in Geneve, CH
TOOOTEM Miroir Totem by STUDIO SOL LECCIA Dimensions: D 5 x H 205 cm Materials: Mirror, Aluminum and Brass. TOOOTEM's were born from the desire to create nomadic work, both strong ...
Aluminum, Brass
$1,860 / item
Kodama 16 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Kodama 16 sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: black stoneware ceramic sculpture. Dimensions: D5 x W27 x H30 cm Earth is hurt, her people hurt, bombed, ...
Stoneware
$2,853 / item
Untitled 40 by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled 40 by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 38 cm x H 38 cm Material: Porcelain. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceramics as well as...
Porcelain
$6,906 / 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
Vintage Italian Ceramic Roaring Tiger Sculpture by Favaro Cecchetto, 20th Centur
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Italian Ceramic Roaring Tiger Sculpture by Favaro Cecchetto, 20th Century A striking Italian ceramic sculpture by Favaro Cecchetto, depicting a roaring tiger in a dynamic, f...
Ceramic
Ettore Sottsass Attb Marble round box/ jewelry/decor , black and white
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful round box , polished very well inside and out , unsigned .
Marble
Set of 3 Black Cibele Plant Stands by OK Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Black Cibele Plant Stands by OK Design Dimensions: D 35 x H 30 cm, D 35 x H 45 cm, D 35 x H 54 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Available in small, medium, and large. Av...
Metal
$6,906 / item
Elephante Stool, Studio Noon
By Noon Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Elephante stool, studio noon Limited Edition of 50 Signed Dimensions: 24” H x 24” W x 24” D Material: pigmented cement Noon is a Philadelphia based collaboration between desig...
Cement
Polished Cast Brass Calice Sculptural Object by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Calice Sculptural Object by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 12 x D 12 x H 18 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: ...
Metal
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Poncho Green Art Glass Catwalk Sculpture by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda Sweden
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice poncho green art glass "Catwalk" sculpture / figurine by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda Sweden, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cra...
Art Glass
$2,488 / item
M Ceramic Vase in White Matte by Mathilde Martin
Located in Geneve, CH
M Ceramic Vase by Mathilde Martin One Of A Kind. Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 30 cm. Opening: 14,5 cm. Foot: 6 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Handmade. Dimensions may vary. Please contact us. D...
Ceramic
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
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
Medium Origins Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Origins Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 70 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper. Weight: 7 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industrial designer graduated and...
Copper
V21354 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
V21354 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 20 x W 47 x H 16 cm. Materials: Oak wood. In Pietschmann’s sculptures, trees that for centuries were part of a la...
Oak
V21064 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
V21064 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 14 x W 18 x H 20 cm. Materials: Oak wood. In Pietschmann’s sculptures, trees that for centuries were part of a la...
Oak
American Mouthblown Gass Vase Signed & Dated by Laurie Thal
Located in San Diego, CA
Laurie Thal Signed and Dated 1988 Mouth-Blown Glass Vase in Blue and Purple Striking and sculptural, this exceptional mouth-blown glass vase by American artist Laurie Thal is signed ...
Blown Glass
V21254 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
V21254 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 24 x W 28 x H 23 cm. Materials: Oak wood. In Pietschmann’s sculptures, trees that for centuries were part of a la...
Oak
$26,369 / item
Rito Rock Installation Sculpture by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Rito Rock Installation Sculpture by Andres Monnier Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 78 x W 78 x H 200 cm. Materials: Travertine. Treko Concrete is a...
Marble
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Fabric Coconut Palm Tree Sculpture, 1990s
Located in Miami, FL
Single fabric coconut palm tree. The palm leaves are adjustable. Unsigned but most likely by Jeff and Lisa Wright, 1990s.
Fabric, PVC
$1,152 / item
Brass Sweep Dustpan and Brush by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Sweep dustpan and brush by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 20 x W 18 x H 6.3 cm Materials: tarnished brass, horsehair This dust pan and brush bring a whole new dimension to clean...
Brass
Here My Soul Sculpture in Glazed Ceramic by Lucile Gracile
Located in Geneve, CH
Here My Soul Sculpture in Glazed Ceramic by Lucile Gracile Dimensions: D 25 x W 25 x H 40 cm. Materials: Glazed ceramic. Born in 1988, lives and works in Paris. Ceramic artist usi...
Ceramic
Kathy Erteman, b.1952, Studio Artist Ceramic Vase Vessel, Postmodern, 1991
By Kathy Erteman
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Striking, early example of Kathy Erteman’s work, dating to 1991.
Ceramic
$250Sale Price|50% Off
Glass Pendulum Clock Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
By Nathalie du Pasquier, Memphis Milano
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Glass pendulum clock by Sessa. It can be used as both standing on the table and hanging on the wall. Takashi Kato designed a lot of clocks in the 1980s-19...
Glass, Plastic
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
$593 / item
Deficiency 14 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Deficiency 14 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics Dimensions: W 32 x D 32 x H 21 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Finish: Unglazed. Suitable for dry flowers Esra Misirli Kubilay is ...
Stoneware
Rough Organic Form, Dark Grey Sculptural Contemporary Vase by Niclas Wolf
Located in Geneve, CH
Geoprimitive 081 Sculptural Vase by Niclas Wolf Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 28 x W 64 x H 58,5 cm. Materials: Ceramic. GEOPRIMITIVE_ is a design series that compares and connects th...
Ceramic
$954 / item
Set of 3 Mn Vases by Josefina Munoz
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Mn vases by Josefina Munoz Mn collection Dimensions:H12 X ?7,5, H18 X ?11, H25 X ?13,5cm Material: ceramics (black sandstone and transparent enamel) Available in: sol...
Ceramic