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.
$2,858 / 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
Klaus Lehmann, Postmodern German Studio Pottery Art Column Vase Sculpture
Located in Hamburg, DE
Klaus Lehmann, Postmodern German Studio Pottery Column Art Vase Sculpture, 1981
Pottery
Tall Post-Modern Art Glass Vase by Young & Constantin, Green and Cobalt Organic
By Young & Constantin 1
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking and sculptural hand-blown art glass vase by Young & Constantin, executed in a vivid green body with a contrasting cobalt blue freeform rim. The vase features an elegant, e...
Art Glass
The tree of seven possibilities from Elvio Becheroni's Amazonia series
Located in Milano, IT
**The Tree of Seven Possibilities** by Elvio Becheroni is an extraordinary and unique sculpture, part of the renowned series "Amazonia - Disenchanted Forest" created in 1992. This pi...
Wood
Vintage Postmodern Ceramic Pique Fleur Vase, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Ceramic Pique Fleur Vase, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Style: Postmodern Color: Beige Item Ty...
Ceramic
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
Vintage German Porcelain Candleholder from Kaiser, 1980s
By Kaiser
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage German Porcelain Candleholder from Kaiser, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark, Official proof of authenticity such as vi...
Porcelain
Vintage Arthur Court Polished Aluminum Chickadee Paperweight
By Arthur Court
Located in Doraville, GA
Beautiful polished aluminum alloy partridge paperweight with ruby red eyes designed by Arthur Court Designs in 1992. The partridge is 3 1/2 inches long, 3.0 inches wide and 2 1/2 inc...
Aluminum
$260Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Italian Marble Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous post-modern Italian marble vase, circa 1970s. Striking tan, brown and cream fleck throughout the vase. The piece is in very good vintage...
Marble
"Encirclement" Patinated Bronze Figure Of A Nude Male Acrobat By Louis Lutz
By Lutz
Located in Norwood, NJ
LUTZ, Louis, (French, 1940-): "Encirclement" Patinated bronze figure of a male nude acrobat supported by steel rings, affixed to steel plinth. Signed dated and numbered 2/8, Blanchet...
Bronze, Steel
Riedel x Mesa Design Large Black Centerpiece Glass Bowl, Post-Modern Italy, 1980
Located in Vienna, AT
A straight and large, 14 inches diameter postmodern centerpiece glass bowl from the 1980s. Crafted from deep black glass, this bowl stands out with its reduced, elegant design, featu...
Art Glass
$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
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Italian Marble Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
Small post-modern Italian marble vase, circa 1970s. The vase is primarily a dark tan in color, but has cream, black and grey veining throughout. T...
Marble
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Italian Marble Column Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice post-modern Italian marble column paperweight, circa 1980s. The piece is primarily cream in color with grey and black veining throughout....
Marble
Mayemba Rare Bronze African Women Sculpture, Congo, 2002
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Bronze Sculpture by Mayemba (1946-), Congo, 2002. This striking bronze sculpture by the Congolese artist Mayemba (1946-) features two African women with trays, capturing a powerful e...
Bronze
Post-Modern Stainless Steel And Bronze Sculpture By Gary Slater
Located in Houston, TX
Post-Modern Stainless Steel And Bronze Sculpture By Gary Slater. Offered is a stunning stainless steel and bronze signed abstract sculpture by Arizona artist Gary Slater. Slater's wo...
Bronze, Stainless Steel
Set of 2 Postmodern Italian Metal Candleholders, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Metal Candleholders, 1980s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Wood Color: Black Country of Origi...
Metal
1980s Wakita Spring Table Clock
By Wakita, Shohei Mihara
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A striking postmodern table clock by Wakita featuring a sculptural white coiled spring base supporting a minimalist white face. The clean circular dial displays simple gray dot hour ...
Metal
Postmodern Ceramic Box by Rita Duvall (1987)
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A beautiful handmade Postmodern ceramic trinket or jewelry box by Rita Duvall, similar in style to the work of Peter Shire and Michael Duvall. Glazed i...
Ceramic
Futurist Cryogenic Freezing Chamber Tube Sculpture Hero Prop, 1997 Austin Powers
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Large 12-foot tall Futurist cryogenic freezing chamber tube sculpture for the 1997 smash comedy "Austin Powers" starring Mike Myers. This large sculpture is made of a wood frame and ...
Resin, Plaster, Wood
Amber Splash Vase by Mana - Recycled Plastic, Post-Modern Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Amber Splash Vase by Mana Dimensions: D 16 x W 12 x H 18.5 cm. Materials: Recycled pet from post-consumer plastics, mainly discarded bottles/single use food packaging, collected and ...
Plastic
1980s Post Modern Gold and Black Ceramic Italian Vide Poche by Capodimonte
By Capodimonte
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This piece is as functional as it is decorative. It is ideal for an entryway table, coffee table, or desk to hold keys, coins, or small objects. It also works beautifully as a standa...
Ceramic
$370Sale Price|20% Off
Miniatur Vase in Aleppo Technique by Milan Vobruba, Gusum, Sweden, 1978
By Gusums Bruk
Located in Bochum, NRW
Bowl in Aleppo technique by Milan Vobruba, Gusum, Sweden, 1980 Colorless glass with irregular fusions. Rough surface with fire polished applications. Signed engraved under the stand:...
Glass
Large Scale Postmodern Ceramic Birds Figurines Jaru Art Pottery of California
By Jaru
Located in Miami, FL
A striking pair of large scale postmodern ceramic birds sculptures by Jaru Art Pottery of California in pastel tones of pink and teal. Dated 1985. Feature a stylish 1980s Art Deco ...
Ceramic
$569Sale Price / set|20% Off
Post-Modern wrought iron candlesticks, Sweden, 1980s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Post-Modern wrought iron and oak candle holders, Sweden, 70s. Made of hand-worked wrought iron and chrome-plated, and stained oak wood. Of a certain brutalist style mixed with Memphi...
Chrome, Wrought Iron
Miguel Berrocal "Torso Marzotto" Bronze Sculpture Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Miguel Berrocal, master of the puzzle sculptures, made this Torso, titled Marzotto signed and number 240/1500, made of parts as shown in pictures.
Bronze
Christopher Schumaker Set of 2 Wood, Lead and Bronze Sculptures
Located in Mexico City, MX
A set of abstract wood, lead and bronze sculpture by Canadian artist Christopher Schumaker. One is titled "Path", signed and dated on base 1985. Dimensions: 61.5 x 27 x 9 cm....
Bronze, Lead
$180Sale Price|62% Off
Ceramic Rose, Peach, Grey Vase with Perforated Decor, 1980s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rose, peach, white and dark grey glazed barrel shaped handmade ceramic vase wiith perforated decor and asymmetrical top. Stamped under base. Beautiful vintage condition. Denmark, 1...
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
$1,470 / 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
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Live Edge in Maple Burl Wood Trinket Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A highly sculptural studio crafted live edge maple burl wood trinket box, circa 1980s. The box has a removable lid and measures 7.25" W x 2.875" D x 2.75" H and is in very good vinta...
Maple
Medium Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Wave Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 70 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper. Weight: 7 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican indust...
Copper
A POST-MODERN Sculptural FRUIT PLATE by NICOLAS DEWAEL, Ed. FONDICA, 1980-1990
An elegant and sculptural Fruit Plate (or Center Table Plate), Post-Modern, Shabby-Chic, Neoclassical, sculptural golden metal base, wide and thick suspended glass bowl fixed by a go...
Metal, Gold Leaf
Post Modern Art Time Wall Clock designed by Nicolai Canetti, 1984
By Canetti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Nicolai Canetti for Art time post modern wall clock. Black enamel background with reds and whites. Sweep second hand. Great design and hard to find! Working condition! Produced in Ja...
Aluminum
$1,565 / item
Specimen Vessel Aluminium Vase by Bureau of Entropy
Located in Geneve, CH
Specimen Vessel Aluminium Vase by Bureau of Entropy. Limited edition, numbered & signed. Dimensions: W 8 x D 8 x H 22 cm. Materials: Aluminium. Specimen Vessel is assembled without ...
Aluminum
1985 Italy Wooden Abstract Sculpture by Urano Palma Grande Trono Big Throne
By Urano Palma
Located in Brescia, IT
This very intense and engaging artwork was created by Urano Palma that is a well known Italian artist who starts to create his artworks following the philosophy of Lucio Fontana. He ...
Wood
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Decorative Marble Box circa 1980
By Sergio Asti, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Postmodern Decorative Marble Box circa 1980.
Marble
$780Sale Price|20% Off
Incredible Massive Giant Perfume Bottle by Pierre Cardin Display Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Authentic incredible large display perfume bottle by Pierre Cardin France, made of glass with liquid in excellent condition.
Glass
Gorgeous Desk Set in Maple Burlwood by Michael Elkan
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous desk set in burlwood maple by American craftsman Michael Elkan, circa 1990s. The set is in very good condition and measures 13.5"W x 4.5"D x 4.5"H. Incredible craftsmanship...
Maple
Phillipe Starck Postmodern Officina Candle Holder for Alessi France
Located in San Diego, CA
Candle holder aluminum vase designed by Phillipe Starck for Alessi circa 1980's .
Aluminum
$1,500 / item
Modern Aluminum Sculptural Bookends
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: Sculptural bookends Architectural forms, minimalist design, and Machine Age simplicity inform these statuesque bookends. Each p...
Aluminum
$711 / item
Raw Rose M Vase by Milena Kling
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw Rose M Vase by Milena Kling Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 13 x H 30 cm. Materials: Mouth-blown crystal glass. Each RAW Vase is one of a kind and personally signed by Milena Kling...
Glass
$712 / item
Raw Berlin Blue S Vase by Milena Kling
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw Berlin Blue S Vase by Milena Kling Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 19 x H 20 cm. Materials: Mouth-blown crystal glass. Each RAW Vase is one of a kind and personally signed by Milen...
Glass
$1,435 / item
Rhythm Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Rhythm Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 56 cm. Materials: Ceramic. “Rhythm” pulsates with movement and cadence, a ceramic ...
Ceramic
Cisco Jiménez "Vinagrillo" Hand Painted Ceramic Jar
Located in Mexico City, MX
A rare Cisco Jiménez hand painted ceramic jar depicting a whip scorpion with a sphere on top. Signed and dated 2011. Born in Cuernavaca, México in 1969, Cisco Jiménez is a multidi...
Ceramic
Arctuaria Totem in Marble, Travertine & Steel by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Arctuaria Totem in Marble, Travertine & Steel by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 40 x W 30 x H 170 cm. Materials: Marble, steel, and travertine. Available in different fin...
Travertine, Marble, Steel
Postmodern Glass Candleholder from Rosenthal Studio Line, 1980s
By Rosenthal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Glass Candleholder from Rosenthal Studio Line, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials...
Glass
"YOU SPIN ME ROUND" Desk Clock by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An exceptional architectural desk clock with bold postmodern spirit, "YOU SPIN ME ROUND" by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies exhibits a striking structure that commands attention thro...
Wood
Vintage Rosenthal Lead Crystal Heart Bud Vase or Paper Weight
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage Rosenthal lead crystal heart vase. These heavy, handcrafted pieces were often made in Brazil and are designed to function as both a decorative sculp...
Acrylic
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
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
Jonathan Christie Ruby Red Art Glass Sacred Heart Decanter Bottle Sculpture 35"
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare vintage Jonathan Christie 1990s oversized decanter / bottle. Crafted of thick hand-blown ruby-red art glass featuring a teardrop /heart-shaped bottle and stopper capped with a t...
Art Glass
$2,450Sale Price|30% Off
Massive Post-Modern Stacked Art Glass Menorah by Bill Meek Studio
Located in San Diego, CA
Massive post-modern stacked art glass menorah by Bill Meeks Studio, circa 1995. The piece features stacked pieces of free form art glass to form what looks like an ice sculpture. Ab...
Art Glass
Murano Glass Abstract Head Sculpture by Maestro Fabio Tagliapietra, 21th Century
Located in NICE, FR
This Murano glass sculpture is a signed work by Fabio Tagliapietra, one of the most distinctive contemporary Murano glass artists. The sculpture represents a stylized human head divi...
Murano Glass
Postmodern Ceramic Carafe Vase by JS for Mobach
By Mobach
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Ceramic Carafe Vase by JS for Mobach, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Color: Black Styles: Postmodern Item Type:...
Ceramic
$2,289 / 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
$1,375Sale Price|20% Off
Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso with White Canes, Italy
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This is an extremely fine vase, designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso's company in Murano. It is made in hand-blown glass with white canes. This is...
Murano Glass
Vintage Postmodern Pottery Candle Holder by Renate and Hans Heckmann, 1980s
By Renate & Hans Heckmann
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern German Studio Pottery Candle Holder by Renate and Hans Heckmann, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additio...
Ceramic
$220Sale Price / set|20% Off
Postmodern Set of 3 Japanese Lacquerware Serving Trays with Handles
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare set of 3 lacquerware serving trays, excellent condition never used in gray finish top with black bottom with wrapping handles, made in Japan.
Lacquer
$749Sale Price|20% Off
Handmade Ceramic Poodle Sculpture by Maker Bassano, Italy, 1980s
By Bassano
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Ceramic poodle figure from Bassano, Italy, 1980s. White glazed ceramic with golden details. Totally timeless piece. Very much in the style of the Spanish ceramic creations of Manises...
Ceramic
Set of 2 Italian Postmodern Minimalist Vases from Bel Mondo, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Italian Postmodern Minimalist Vases from Bel Mondo, 1980s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Mater...
Ceramic