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.
$3,578 / item
Kastle Pink Small Vase by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle pink small vase by Purho Dimensions: D20 x H35 cm Materials: Glass Other colours and dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design, a wor...
Glass
$3,008 / item
Apollon Bust Sculpture by Lagu
Located in Geneve, CH
Apollon Bust sculpture by Lagu. Designed by Ufuk Ceylan. Dimensions: W 44 x D 35 x H 58 cm. Materials: Statuary Marble, Cast. Apollo is known as the god of music, art, the sun,...
Cast Stone, Marble
João De Barro Nest Wall Separating + Sculpture by Mameluca
Located in Geneve, CH
João de Barro nest wall separating by Mameluca Material: clay, carboard, others Dimensions: D 300x H 250 cm Scientific Name - Rufous Hornero (Gmelin, 1788) The couple builds t...
Clay, Paper
$1,128 / item
Door Handle by Atelier Thomas Serruys
Located in Geneve, CH
Door handle by Atelier Thomas Serruys. Dimensions: D 4 x H 5.3 cm Materials: Brass. Solid brass door handle, hand-turned with square peg. Perfec...
Brass
Set of XL Revolved Burnt Vase, Slim Vase and Small Vase by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of XL revolved burnt vase, slim revolved burnt vase and small revolved burnt vase by Daniel Elkayam Dimensions: D 10 x W 10 x H 32 cm (XL), D 10 x W 10 x H 26 cm (Slim), D 10 x W...
Beech
$3,076 / 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
$2,707 / item
Satori 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Satori 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Earthenware sculpture Dimensions: D23 x W32 x H45 cm When Japanese Mountain Gods appear as children, they are known as Satori. Satori...
Earthenware
Memphis Style Ceramic Vase Shell by Florio Keramia
Located in Debrecen, HU
The SHELL vase, designed by Italian artist Luciano Florio Paccagnella for Florio Kerámia in the 1990s, is a striking example of postmodern ceramic design. Its sweeping, shell-inspire...
Ceramic
Set of Trio Vase, Dou Vase and Uno Vase by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of Trio Vase, Dou vase and Uno vase by Daniel Elkayam Dimensions: D 2.5 x W 16 x H 46 cm (Trio), D 2.5 x W 10 x H 39 cm (Dou), D 2.5 x W 10 x H 27 cm (Uno) Materials: Burnt bee...
Beech
Organic Shape, Plain Terracotta Ceramic Large Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Lata Vase by Willem Van Hooff Core Vessel Series Dimensions: W 58 x D 10 x H 26 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces are hand-made and might present slight variations in sizes) Material...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Amazonia Vase (Lrg), Clear Orange & Blue with Pastel Blue Feet by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, CA
Amazonia Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Clear Orange and Blue with Pastel Blue Feet. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore uni...
Resin
Set of 4, 2 Plizé Boxes & 2 Beebee Jars by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4, 2 plizé boxes & 2 beebee jars by Made by Choice with Hanna Anonen Dimensions: W17 x D17 x H22 cm (L - white), W17 x D17 x H15.5 cm (M - blue) ( Plizé boxes) D18 x H30 cm (L- green), D15.5 x H24 cm (S - orange) Beebee jars Materials: birch plywood Also available: different colors & sizes. The Plizé box – Serrated surface balanced with a spherical knob is an eye-catcher like no other. Irresistible color combinations make this box a centerpiece of any space. About Made by Choice: Nordic Happiness. Nordic Happiness is our grand theme and guiding star. Studies show that Nordic people are among the happiest on Earth. Nordic happiness is composed of authentic values and sustainable choices. The vision of Choice is based on the added value of collective creation while promoting sustainable Nordic values through authentic design. Rooted in the traditions of Finnish woodworks, Made by Choice is a creative powerhouse of collaborative thinkers, believers and makers, establishing a global brand for the 21st century. Committed to producing durable, bold and innovative designs, we combine contemporary woodworking methods and modern technology. Halikko is home to our 4000 square metre campus where we turn abstract concepts into tangible objects. Our team in our office in Helsinki coordinates all operations and installations. Made by Choice's agile, purpose driven approach means all new products are developed on demand, for a specific project and need, and carries the authentic story of it's reason of existence. Our products are developed and manufactured at our own factory in south-western Finland by some of the best craftsmen in the world. Choice is inspired by heritage and Nordic urban...
Birch, Plywood
Stuart Kern American Black Leather Medical Caduceus Desk Paperweight In Box
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Vintage American-made leather medical paperweight by Stuart Kern, a maker of fine bench-made leather goods. This sculptural, softly padded square paperweight is finished in supple b...
Leather
Rede Guzzini Italian Modernist Sculptural Lucite Centerpiece Bowl Tray
By Rede Guzzini
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Sculptural Italian modernist centerpiece by Rede Guzzini, handmade in Italy. This elongated translucent white Lucite serving tray features an organic, free-form recessed interior wit...
Lucite
$4,387 / item
Ardea Cinerea Vase by Elke Sada
Located in Geneve, CH
Ardea Cinerea vase by Elke Sada Unique piece Dimensions: W 31 x D 32 x H 45 cm Materials: black grogged clay, coloured slips, transparent glaze. What i...
Clay
$852 / 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
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: Chocolate leathe...
Metal
$330 / item
Turned Brass Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Turned Brass Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio Dimensions: D 23 x H 4.8 cm Materials: Turned Brass. A number of 31 bowls of identical shape, made in limited edition by fine Italian artisa...
Brass
$1,059 / item
Terracotta Moon Jar No 10 by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Terracotta Moon Jar No 10 by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 14 x H 18.5 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Local Terracotta Clay from the Island of Crete Growing up in Gr...
Clay
$5,470 / item
Pitcher by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Pitcher by Laura Pasquino Limited Edition of 8 Dimensions: D 31 x H 48 cm Material: Soft-paste porcelain, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceramic...
Porcelain
Postmodern Patinated Brass Double Desk Letter Tray Paper Holder
Located in San Diego, CA
Double letter tray in polished brass finish with black enamel lining by Mc Donald Products of Buffalo New York. Very nice accent to any executive desk
Brass
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Modern Steel and Brass Object
Located in Treadwell, NY
Modern steel and brass sculptural object by Erik Johnson of APD. 1 of 1 Stamped APD 00039 Letter of Authenticity included with the piec...
Steel, Brass
$440Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Thick Lucite and Brass Candle Holders by Josh Lazar Mid-Century Modern
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern heavy thick lucite candles holders with brass tops. Signed Josh Lazar 1986 on the bottom. Good vintage condition, crystal clear with a few scratches and we...
Brass
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
$4,843 / item
Coexist Sky Decorative Object by Secondome Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Coexist Sky Decorative Object by Secondome Edizioni Limited Edition Of 30 Pieces + 3 A.P. Designer: Gio Tirotto. Dimensions: D 30 x W 32 x H 38 cm. Materials: Handblown glass and br...
Brass
$5,584 / item
Imperial M Decorative Object by Kreoo
Located in Geneve, CH
Imperial M Decorative Object by Kreoo Designed by Christophe Pillet Dimensions: Ø 50 x H 16 cm. Materials: Black and Gold marble. Available in different marble and travertine optio...
Marble
$1,002 / item
May I Kiss You Grey Vase by Erica Zanella
Located in Geneve, CH
May I Kiss You Grey Vase by Erica Zanella Dimensions: D 9 x W 27 x H 29 cm. Materials: Plaster. May I Kiss You was a regular solid block that was hollowed out, transforming into so...
Plaster
$1,378 / 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, red color. “Authenti...
Glass
$626 / item
Small Brutal Vase by Sophie Vaidie
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Brutal Vase by Sophie Vaidie One Of A Kind. Dimensions: 6 x W 21 x H 26 cm. Materials: Beige stoneware with big chamotte. Also available in a taller size. Please contact us. ...
Stoneware
$2,461 / item
Haniwa Warrior 12 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Haniwa Warrior 12 sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: black stoneware sculpture Dimensions: D11 x W33 x H59 cm My interpretation of ancient clay figurine...
Stoneware
A POP inflatable "NANA" SCULPTURE by NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
A large inflatable sculpture of "Nana", Pop, Post-Modernist, New Realist, in black plastic with a jersey with brightly colored pictorial motifs, marked on the thigh: Niki de Saint Ph...
Plastic
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
$6,769 / item
Untitled No. 56 Vase by Marea Hildebrand
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled No. 56 Vase by Marea Hildebrand Handmade Dimensions: D 44 x W 44 x H 51 cm Materials: Stoneware with slip. Marea Hildebrand (b. 1989) is a Zurich-based ceramic artist with...
Stoneware
Large hand-painted aluminum wall-mount sculpture, signed by artist, 2018
Located in View Park, CA
« Untitled Ribbon »: a very unique and special painted metal wall-mounted sculpture by Mary Chabre, 2018. Featuring a malleable aluminum ribbon that curls at either end with various ...
Aluminum
$239 / item
Crystal Pen Tray by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Crystal Pen Tray by Dainte Dimensions: D 11 x W 28 x H 3 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. A stylish desk tray uniquely combines clear crystal with brass metallic accents. Minimalist yet distinctive, the beautiful design will showcase your elevated taste. Universal grooves fit any sized pen, and an extendable brass tray slides out to hold even more desktop essentials. This modern crystal and brass pen tray...
Crystal, Brass
Original 1960s Junghans brass wall clock with a genuine leather strap
Located in München, DE
Rare original 1960s Junghans brass wall clock with a genuine leather strap for hanging and glass cover. Made in Germany. Features a beautiful, intricate design; the suspension consis...
Brass
$3,484 / item
Tazón Bajo Galeana Bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne
Located in Geneve, CH
Tazón Bajo Galeana bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne Limited Edition of 10 + 1 AP Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 9 cm Material: alabaster Galeana is a collection of 6 objects designed b...
Alabaster
$136 / item
Brass Brute Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Brute Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 9.3 x D 2 x H 2.5 cm Materials: Brass This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors and sash windows. Each piece i...
Brass
Unique Arq 007 Musgo Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Arq 007 Musgo Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz. Dimensions: Ø 15.5 x 15.5 cm Materials: Hand-sculpted glazed stoneware. The Arq series emerged from our own past product...
Stoneware
Set of 3 Dusty Peach Cibele Plant Stands by OK Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Dusty Peach 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 lar...
Metal
$1,025 / item
Bunny Sweet Fuchsia Decorative Object by Aki Kuroda
Located in Geneve, CH
Bunny Sweet Fuchsia Decorative Object by Aki Kuroda Dimensions: D 22 x W 29 x H 60 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 2 kg. Available in different color options. Prices may vary. ...
Other
Functional Sculpture 'Praying Mantis' by Salvino Marsura, Italy, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Functional sculpture by Italian artist Salvino Marsura, crafted in the 1950s. Hand-forged from steel and finished with vibrant powder pigments, the piece embodies Marsura’s deep resp...
Steel
Piero Gilardi, Set of Two "Sassi" - "Rocks" Stones, Gufram Edition, Italy, 1960s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A seminal work by Italian artist Piero Gilardi, Sassi ("Rocks") is a pioneering exploration of form, material, and ecological commentary in the late 1960s. This suite of two stones, ...
Formica, Polystyrene
$1,116 / item
Geology Candle Holder by Atelier V&F
Located in Geneve, CH
Geology Candle Holder by Atelier V&F Dimensions: D 10 x W 80 x H 43 cm. Materials: Cast aluminum. The collection of「 GEOLOGY 」is our reflection and exploration of the synchrony of ...
Aluminum
$513 / item
Olive Petri Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Olive 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 o...
Resin, Plaster
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
$7,589 / 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
$27,259 / item
Planet 01 Sculpture by Kris Lamba Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Planet 01 Sculpture by Kris Lamba Studio Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 65 cm Materials: Polished bronze. Weight: 25 Kg. Kris Lamba was born in London in 1984. He creates large and sma...
Bronze
Querandi glass vase in white
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Querandí White Glass Vase The Querandí glass vase is a distinctive piece of design, with a body that gently widens toward the center and converges into a narrow base. Its shape resem...
Art Glass
Mantar Pyramid Contemporary Figurative Sculpture by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Mantar Pyramid Contemporary Figurative Sculpture by Homa Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 50 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Smoke Mirror. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based in Istan...
Glass, Mirror
$2,940 / item
Dark Crystals Overgrown Candelabra, Mark Sturkenboom
Located in Geneve, CH
Dark Crystals overgrown candelabra, Mark Sturkenboom Hand-sculpted unique design artwork by Mark Sturkenboom Dimensions: 42 x 32 x 8 cm Material: aluminium candleholder, natural g...
Crystal, Aluminum
$433 / item
Puff Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Puff Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 24 x D 24 x H 26 cm. Materials: Ceramic. This piece is available in a wide range of hand-painted f...
Ceramic
$1,424 / 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 clear. “The history of a glass factory and i...
Glass
$1,196 / item
Recovered Medium Vase by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Recovered Medium Vase by David Valner Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 30 cm. Materials: Glass. Weight: 7 kg. Finish: Medium size, turquoise and green. “The history of a glass factory an...
Glass
$10,028 / 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
$1,105 / item
Italicus by Rampinelli Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Italicus by Rampinelli Edizioni Designed by Claudio Larcher Dimensions: D 10 x W 20 x H 18.5 cm, D 8 x W 16.5 x H 18.5 cm. Materials: Metal. CLAUDIO LARCHER Small cast iron objects ...
Metal
$182 / item
Beechwood Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Beechwood Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio Dimensions: D 23 x H 4.8 cm Materials: Beechwood. A number of 31 bowls of identical shape, made in limited edition by fine Italian artisans in ...
Beech
Raw Rosalin L Light Pink Mouth Blown Crystal Glass Vase Vessel by Milena Kling
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw Rosalin L Vase by Milena Kling Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 40 cm. Materials: Mouth-blown crystal glass. Each RAW Vase is one of a kind and personally signed by Milena Kl...
Glass
$8,148 / item
Basket Shape Green Vase by Emilie Lemardeley
Located in Geneve, CH
Basket Shape Green Vase by Emilie Lemardeley Unique Piece Dimensions: ⌀ 48 x H 38 cm Materials: Hand blown glass. DRYADE Collection All in crystal, these large vases are raised and ...
Blown Glass
$2,632 / item
Rotunda Vessel by Atelier ACM
Located in Geneve, CH
Rotunda Vessel by Atelier ACM Dimensions: D 37 x W 42 x H 18 cm. Materials: Jesmonite. Our collection stands as a reaction against the mass-produced world we live in where people no...
Other