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.
$18,672 / item
Laguna Sculpture by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Laguna Sculpture by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 19 x W 90 x H 45 cm Materials: Horn, wood, brass. Horn sculpture. Base with sections of Venetian canal wood inside translucent transparent...
Brass
$8,752 / item
Ritus Cinco Candelabra by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Ritus Cinco Candelabra by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: W 120 x D 50 x H 160 cm Materials: Black volcanic stone. Treko Concrete is a Mexican studio based in Ensenada, that...
Stone
Priora Box in Horn, Brass & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss Finish by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Priora Box in Horn, Brass & Lacquered Wood with Ivory Gloss Finish by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 20 x W 28 x H 11 cm. Materials: Wood with lacquered ivory gloss finish, horn, and chromed...
Brass, Other
$1,119 / item
Fungus Medium Vase by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Fungus Medium Vase by David Valner Dimensions: D 16 x W 17 x H 35 cm. Materials: Glass. Weight: 3,5 kg. Finish: Medium size, mint and grey, and matte surface. “The mystery of myceli...
Glass
Pine Candle Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pine candle holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: pine, brass Dimensions: H 55 mm x D 65 mm Colour: reddish Notes: for dry use Since 2015, product designer E...
Brass
Symbiosis Vase in Wheel-Thrown Glazed Stoneware by Robin Kerr
Located in Geneve, CH
Symbiosis Vase in Wheel-Thrown Glazed Stoneware by Robin Kerr Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 21 x W 21 x H 50 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Robin Kerr is a Swiss ceramic artist living and ...
Stoneware
$531 / item
Algae Petri Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Algae 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
$435 / item
Saturnus Small Vase by Atlas Project
Located in Geneve, CH
Saturnus Small Vase by Atlas Project Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 30 cm. Materials: Stainless steel mirror and brushed brass. Available in different sizes. Please contact us. SATUR...
Brass, Stainless Steel
$1,249 / item
Carafe 4 Vase by Anna Karountzou
Located in Geneve, CH
Carafe 4 vase by Anna Karountzou Dimensions: W 14.5 x D 12.5 x H 33 cm Materials: black stoneware clay, clear glaze inside, handmade crater glaze outside, fi...
Other
$1,638 / 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
$341 / item
Turned Copper Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Turned Copper Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio Dimensions: D 23 x H 4.8 cm Materials: Turned Copper. A number of 31 bowls of identical shape, made in limited edition by fine Italian arti...
Copper
$341 / item
Turned Bronze Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Turned Bronze Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio Dimensions: D 23 x H 4.8 cm Materials: Turned Bronze. A number of 31 bowls of identical shape, made in limited edition by fine Italian arti...
Bronze
$5,583 / item
II Segunda Sculpture by Joel Escalona
Located in Geneve, CH
II Segunda sculpture by Joel Escalona Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 175 cm Materials: oak wood, metal. Also available in burnt finish. S...
Metal
$1,201 / item
Sanayi313 V Vase by Sanayi 313
Located in Geneve, CH
Sanayi313 v vase by Sanayi 313 Unique Piece Dimensions: W 15 x D 10 x H 58 cm Materials: Ash Veneered Vase, Metal Leg SANAYI313 is an Istanbul-based inter...
Metal
$1,460 / item
Essenza by Rampinelli Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Essenza by Rampinelli Edizioni Designed by Antonio De Marco Dimensions: D 13.5 x H 32 cm Materials: Metal. ANTONIO DE MARCO Essenza represents a bridge between two seemingly distant...
Metal
$282 / item
Leyki Vase 22 by Zieta
By Zieta
Located in Geneve, CH
Leyki Vase 22 by Zieta Dimensions: D 13 x W 11 x H 22 cm. Materials: Polished stainless steel. Multifunctional subtlety Leyki is a functional object with an architectural twist. It ...
Stainless Steel
$1,295 / item
Triple Bowl by Sophie Vaidie
Located in Geneve, CH
Triple Bowl by Sophie Vaidie One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 27 x W 46 x H 17 cm. Materials: Brutal Beige stoneware with fine chamotte. In the beginning, there was a need to make, wit...
Stoneware
$2,956 / item
Medium Le Sud Vase by Olivia Cognet
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Le Sud vase by Olivia Cognet Dimensions: D 30 x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic. Each of Olivia’s handmade creations is a unique work of art, the snapshot of a precious moment ca...
Ceramic
$1,167 / item
Supernova IV Amber Iridescent M Vase by ELOA
Located in Geneve, CH
Supernova IV amber iridescent m vase by ELOA. No UL listed Material: glass Dimensions: D 15 x W 17 x H 36 cm Also available in different colours and dimensions. Supernova is a coll...
Glass
$2,202 / item
Poured Vessel 04 by Joana Kieppe
Located in Geneve, CH
Poured Vessel 04 by Joana Kieppe Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 19 x W 22 x H 30 cm. Materials: White high-temperature clay. Reproduction is entirely manual...
Clay
$518 / item
Oxblood Wave Form Vase by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Oxblood Wave Form Vase by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 14 x W 14 x H 28 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Available in Crystal Cream, Mint Blue, and Oxblood c...
Ceramic
Wish Diagonal Vase by Kreoo, Marble, Post-Modern Design, Italy, 118 cm
Located in Geneve, CH
Wish Diagonal Vase by Kreoo Designed by Christophe Pillet Dimensions: Ø 54 x H 118 cm. Materials: Marble. Vase made with inserts of different materials associating industrial techn...
Marble
$1,472 / 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 pink. “The history of a glass factory and it...
Glass
Postmodern Large Art Glass Bowl from Johansfors, Sweden, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Large Art Glass Bowl from Johansfors, Sweden, 1980s
Glass
$7,178 / item
Royal S Vase by Kreoo
Located in Geneve, CH
Royal S Vase by Kreoo Designed by Christophe Pillet Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 29 cm. Materials: Verde Smeraldo onyx. Available in different marble and travertine options. Available in t...
Onyx
Contemporary Triple Tray in Pink Bronze by Arno Declercq
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze triple tray by Arno Declercq Materials: pink bronze Measures: W30 x D 28 x H 19 cm Arno Declercq Belgian designer and art dealer who makes bespoke objects with passion...
Bronze
$3,227 / item
Peana Model 3 Large Green Vessel by Eter Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Peana Model 3 Large Green Vessel by Eter Design Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 15.2 x H 56 cm. Materials: Clay. Sustainable - Eco-friendly. Handmade. E...
Clay
$2,840 / 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
$1,437 / item
Melty Sculpture by Vica Ceramica
Located in Geneve, CH
Melty Sculpture by Vica Ceramica Dimensions: D 40 x W 39 x H 28 cm Materials: High temp. Ceramic VICA CERÁMICA-STUDIO is a design and sculpture studio established in Mexico City V...
Enamel
$918 / item
Ola Sculpture by Vica Ceramica
Located in Geneve, CH
Ola sculpture by Vica Ceramica Materials: high temp. ceramic, polished cement base. Dimensions: D 16 x W 25 x H 14 cm VICA CERÁMICA-STUDIO is a de...
Cement
$247 / item
Bruciata Wooden Tray by Gabor Gobi
Located in Geneve, CH
Bruciata Wooden Tray by Gabor Gobi Limited Edition Of 5 Pieces. Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 4 cm. Materials: Pine wood. Elegantly crafted, these wooden trays—ideal for jewelry or as...
Pine
$3,887 / item
Moon Vase by Martina Guandalini
Located in Geneve, CH
Moon Vase by Martina Guandalini Dimensions: W 22 x D 8 x H 21 cm. Materials: Scagliola and polished resin.. Custom colors and size available, please contact us. Martina Guandalini ...
Resin, Scagliola
$2,591 / item
Bonnie Tribu M40.22 Sculpture by Léontine Furcy
Located in Geneve, CH
Bonnie Tribu M40.22 Sculpture by Léontine Furcy. Unique piece. Materials: Raw white sandstone. Dimensions: L 38 x H 40.5 cm. Léontine Furcy, ceramic artist, tells about herself...
Sandstone
$1,560Sale Price|20% Off
Op Art Acrylic Cube Sculpture by Vasa Mihich
Located in San Diego, CA
Op Art acrylic cube sculpture by Vasa Mihich, circa 1986. The optical look is changed by rotating the piece and letting the light refract at dif...
Lucite, Acrylic
$2,275 / item
Fedora Box II by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Fedora Box II by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 13 x W 13 x H 8 cm Materials: Wood, horn, brass, gold. Box in glossy ebony. Lid in hand engraved 24K gold plated brass with raised rounded ho...
Gold, Brass
Postmodern yellow and pink Swedish Ps Series Tripod Bowl Ola Wihlborg Ikea
By IKEA
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Swedish Ps Series Tripod Bowl by Ola Wihlborg for Ikea
Metal
$2,202 / item
Emboss Wall Sculpture I by Sofia Tufvasson
Located in Geneve, CH
Emboss wall sculpture I by Sophie Rogers Dimensions: D 8 x W 32 x H 25 cm Materials: Ceramic, glaze Other glaze colors available. Wall sculpture with undulating shape like a dr...
Ceramic
$977 / item
Poured Vessel 06 by Joana Kieppe
Located in Geneve, CH
Poured Vessel 06 by Joana Kieppe Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 15 cm. Materials: Lotus high temperature clay with white oxide. Reproduction is entirely manual, therefore...
Clay
$824 / item
Mool Vase by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
Mool Vase by DAaZ Dimensions: D 18 x W 34 x H 40.9 cm. Materials: Crystal. DAaZ Furniture honors the spirit of adventure. We embrace the escape of the ordinary and revel in the mag...
Crystal
$1,979 / item
Poured Vessel 03 by Joana Kieppe
Located in Geneve, CH
Poured Vessel 03 by Joana Kieppe Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 19 x W 20 x H 27 cm. Materials: Tobacco high-temperature clay. Reproduction is entirely manual, therefore it will be a v...
Clay
$20,214 / item
Isa Vase by BRNV Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Isa Vase by BRNV Studio Dimensions: D 10 x H 30 cm (Dimensions may vary). Materials: Forust 3D printed wood dust, bronze. The "Isa" and the "Belle" are two artistic pieces derived f...
Bronze
Contemporary Organic Shape, Rustic Light Blue Ceramic Pot by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Anga 3D Pot by Willem Van Hooff Dimensions: Ø 28 x H 42 cm. Materials: Glazed earthenware. This piece is fired twice in the kiln above 1200 degrees to add this glaze glass effect o...
Earthenware
Unique Mosi Sculptural Large Sidetable by Marthine Spinnangr
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique MOSI sculptural large sidetable by Marthine Spinnangr One of a Kind Dimensions: D 50 x W 28 x H 79 cm Materials: Ceramic Different glaze types available MOSI is inspired by a morf sketch process inspired by nature walks and human poses to capture an aliveness in the expression. The name MOSI is inspired by the moss that surrounded the trails on by the lakes, sea and mountain...
Ceramic
Set of 3 J D Candle Holders Timber by Nish Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 J D Candle Holders Timber by Nish Studio Dimensions: D12 x H 79/ 98.7 /118 cm Materials: Ash, Timber satined natural light, chocolate + grey N I S H is a Cape Town based ...
Wood
$1,167 / item
Mirage Contenitore Basso by Studio Intervallo
Located in Geneve, CH
Mirage Contenitore Basso by Studio Intervallo Dimensions: D 30 x H 3.2 cm Materials: white Arabescato marble. Available in other stones. The Mirage collection comes from the mo...
Marble
Large Torre Buding 05 Sculpture by Vica Ceramica
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Torre buding 05 sculpture by Vica Ceramica Materials: high temp. ceramic Dimensions: D 8 x H 60 cm VICA CERÁMICA-STUDIO is a design and sculpture studio established in Mex...
Ceramic
Set of 4 Brass Candle Holder by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Brass Candle Holder by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 4 x H 6 cm Materials: Brass 4 x candle holder 8 x threaded ring 4 x combination stick OX DENMARQ is a Danish design ...
Brass
$718 / item
Hole Red Vase by Shou
Located in Geneve, CH
Hole red vase by Shou Dimensions: D 40 x H 35 cm Materials: Stainless steel and electrostatic coated steel Colour: Red 'Hole' vase inspired by the obscurity of the universe and...
Stainless Steel
Set of 5 Brass Candle Holder by Oxdenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 5 Brass Candle Holder by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 4 x H 6 cm Materials: Brass 5 x candle holder 8 x threaded ring 4 x combination stick OX DENMARQ is a Danish design ...
Brass
$612 / item
Deficiency 11 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Deficiency 11 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics Dimensions: W 17 x D 17 x H 26 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Finish: Unglazed. Suitable for dry flowers Esra Misirli Kubilay is ...
Stoneware
Trinidad Candelabra by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Trinidad Candelabra by Andres Monnier One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 130 cm Materials: White marble from San Luis Potosí, stainless steel. Designer's biography Treko con...
Marble, Stainless Steel
Limited Edition Enamelled Bronze Sculpture entitled "Tinsel" by Tim Cotterill
Located in London, GB
This delightful limited edition bronze frog by Tim Cotterill captures a moment of poised curiosity and charm. With its sleek, rounded form and upward gaze, the sculpture conveys both...
Bronze, Enamel
Post-Modern Solid Teak Danish Style Desk Tray "6500" Series by Eldon
Post-Modern solid teak Danish style desk tray "6500" Series by Eldon, circa 1980s. The tray is in good vintage condition and measures approximately 11.5"W x 2.25"D x 17.25"L. The tray is heavy, solid teak and is marked with the Eldon "Woodline 6500...
Teak
$270 / item
Perséfone Wine Jar by Cuit Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Perséfone Wine Jar by Cuit Studio One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 8 x W 12 x H 24 cm. Materials: Natural and black stoneware. Mix of natural and black stoneware, glazed inside with tra...
Stoneware
Vintage Mixed Wood Inlaid Box / Humidor Style Storage Case
Located in San Diego, CA
A handsome vintage mixed wood inlaid presentation box featuring striking geometric banded inlay across the hinged lid. Crafted with warm-toned exotic and domestic woods, the top show...
Wood
$4,900 / item
III Tercera Sculpture by Joel Escalona
Located in Geneve, CH
III Tercera sculpture by Joel Escalona Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 160 cm Materials: oak wood, metal. Also available in burnt finish. ...
Metal
$310 / item
Nomad Jar Lindsey by Gilles & Cecilie
Located in Geneve, CH
Nomad Jar Lindsey by Gilles & Cecilie Unique Dimensions: H 9 x W 6.5 cm Material: terracotta with iron Gilles and Cecilie Studio created the Nomad Jar Family to explore drawing...
Iron
$3,734 / item
Ivory Pentacle IX by Julie Nelson
Located in Geneve, CH
Ivory pentacle IX by Julie Nelson One of a Kind Dimensions: W 36 x D 38 x H 26 cm Materials: Ceramic stoneware and porcelain Artist Julie Nelson use...
Ceramic, Porcelain
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
Set of 4 Darkened Brass Coasters by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 darkened brass coasters by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 12 x W 9.5 cm Materials: darkened brass Hand-formed from a sheet of brass, emphasizing ...
Brass