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.
$19,263 / item
Surrounded by Green Vase by Paolo Marcolongo
Located in Geneve, CH
Surrounded by Green Vase by Paolo Marcolongo Dimensions: D 30 x W 16.6 x H 16.2 cm Materials: Murano Glass and Iron. Paolo Marcolongo was born in Padua in 1956, he attended the A...
Iron
$2,300 / item
Red Tetris Vase by Dechem Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Red Tetris vase by Dechem Studio. Dimensions: D 30 x W 23 x H 60 cm. Materials: glass. Available in smoke grey, cobalt blue, red, crystal and alabaster white. Strict geometric ...
Glass
$3,960 / item
Aegis Vase 350 by Lost Profile Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Aegis Vase 350 by Lost Profile Studio Dimensions: ⌀ 15 x H 35 cm Materials: Brass, White Glass Finishes: Aged Brass (waxed) only Notes: The brass...
Brass
$4,406 / item
Balance 01 Sculpture by Joana Kieppe
Located in Geneve, CH
Balance 01 Sculpture by Joana Kieppe Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 19 x W 20 x H 80 cm. Materials: Ivory and lotus high temperature clay. Reproduction is e...
Clay
$7,542 / item
Olympia Chair, Studio Noon
By Noon Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Olympia chair, Studio Noon Signed and editioned 1/50 Dimensions: 48.5” H x 22” W x 22” D Material: pigmented cement Noon is a Philadelphia based collaboration between designer/arch...
Cement
Set of 2 Aluminum Towel Hooks by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Aluminum Towel Hooks by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 5 x H 9 cm Materials: Aluminum The Towel Hook is sand cast and hand finished. They are manufactured in small batche...
Aluminum
$2,140 / item
Poured Vessel 05 by Joana Kieppe
Located in Geneve, CH
Poured Vessel 05 by Joana Kieppe Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 19 x W 25 x H 25 cm. Materials: Ivory high temperature clay with white and black oxide. Reproduction is entirely manual,...
Clay
$125 / item
Aluminium Brute Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Brute Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 9.3 x D 2.5 x H 2 cm Materials: Aluminum This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors and sash windows. Each ...
Aluminum
Postmodern Alarm Clock from Marco, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Alarm Clock from Marco, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Plastic Color:...
Metal
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
Signed Jaroslav Svoboda Czech Bohemian Art Glass Dolphin Sculpture, Cobalt Blue
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking signed Czech art glass dolphin sculpture by Jaroslav Svoboda, rendered in rich cobalt-blue and clear glass with an intricate internal net-like pattern of silvery-white inc...
Art Glass
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
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
$1,007 / item
Mustard Dubos Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Mustard Dubos vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 14 x D 14 x H 38 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin MOLDED, DYED, AND FINISHED BY HAND IN LA. CUSTOMIZATION AVAILABLE. ALL PIECES ARE ...
Resin, Plaster
$3,500
Modern Brass Vessel
By Argosy Designs, Erik Johnson
Located in Treadwell, NY
VESSEL (COMET ENCKE) Various brass alloys Dimensions: 9” L x 4” W x 8.125” H Weight: 6lbs 1 of 1
Brass
$629 / item
Brass Bud Vase I by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass bud vase by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 5 x W 5 x H 10 cm Materials: dull tarnished brass Each of these delicately, handcrafted Bud Vases is...
Brass
Vintage Postmodern German Studio Pottery Vase, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern German Studio Pottery Vase, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Material: Ceramic Color: Blue Styles: Postmodern Country of Or...
Ceramic
Set of 2, Plizé Boxes, L White - M Blue by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, plizé boxes, L white - M blue by Made by Choice with Hanna Anonen Dimensions: W17 x D17 x H22 cm (L), W17 x D17 x H15.5 cm (M) Materials: Birch Plywood Also available:...
Birch, Plywood
$4,784 / item
Musti Decorative Object by Laura Pehkonen
Located in Geneve, CH
Musti Decorative Object by Laura Pehkonen Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 41 x W 41 x H 41 cm. Materials: Hand-built ceramic. Laura Pehkonen (b. 1985) is a ceramic and visual artist liv...
Ceramic
Mini Crystal Cream Botryoidal Planter by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Mini Charcoal Botryoidal Planter by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 15.2 x W 20.3 x H 15.2 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Available in Bronze, Green, Crystal Cream, and Charcoal colors. O...
Ceramic
$516 / item
Vermillion Petri Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Vermillion 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...
Resin, Plaster
$1,007 / item
Oxide Dubos Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Oxide Dubos vase by Elyse Graham. Dimensions: W 14 x D 14 x H 38 cm. Materials: plaster, resin. Molded, dyed, and finished by hand in LA. customization. Available. All pieces ar...
Resin, Plaster
1980's Postmodern Italian Travertine Soap Towel dish tray
Located in San Diego, CA
Exceptional vintage Italian Postmodern travertine bath accessories, dating to circa the 1980s. This sophisticated ensemble showcases the bold yet understated character of Italian des...
Travertine
$137 / item
Aluminium Bottle Bracket by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Bottle Bracket by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 4 x D 7 x H 7.7 cm Materials: Aluminium, Brass, Black Bronze Bottle Bracket is a solid, hand poured form available in dual or ...
Aluminum, Brass, Bronze
$19,263 / item
Surrounded by Red Vase by Paolo Marcolongo
Located in Geneve, CH
Surrounded by Red Vase by Paolo Marcolongo Dimensions: D 26 x W 16.7 x H 16.2 cm Materials: Murano Glass and Iron. Paolo Marcolongo was born in Padua in 1956, he attended the Art...
Iron
$400Sale Price|40% Off
Pop Art brown bag porcelain vases
Located in Asheville, NC
Very good vintage condition with no chips or scratches. Large 8”H x 5”W x 3.5”D Small 5”H x 3.5”W x 2”D
Porcelain
Yaacov Agam, “Image-Magic” – Illuminated Plexiglass Light Sculpture Signed
By Yaacov Agam
Located in Weesp, NL
Yaacov Agam, “Image-Magic” – Illuminated Plexiglass Light Sculpture (Signed & Numbered) Artist: Yaacov Agam Title: Image-Magic Medium: Illuminated Plexiglass Sculpture Edition: M...
Acrylic, Plexiglass
Terracotta Moon Jar No 9 by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Terracotta Moon Jar No 9 by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 14 x H 18 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Local Terracotta Clay from the Island of Crete Growing up in Greec...
Clay
Paper Darkened Brass Bowl I by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper darkened brass bowl I by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 25.4 x W 25.4 x H 12.7 cm Materials: darkened brass Available in tarnished brass and darkened brass. The Paper Series emb...
Brass
$2,518 / item
Bud Decorative Object by Laura Pehkonen
Located in Geneve, CH
Bud Decorative Object by Laura Pehkonen Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 14 x W 14 x H 21 cm. Materials: Hand-built anagama wood-fired ceramic, glaze. Laura Pehkonen (b. 1985) is a ceram...
Ceramic, Wood
Ritratto Red Wall Hanging Flower Vase Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Alessandro Mendini, Marutomi
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"Ritratto" flower vase for the wall designed by Alessandro Mendini for Marutomi. Designed in the late 90s and start production in 2000. No longer production. New old stock in box. W...
Plastic
$830 / item
Peach Oxide Mercury Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Peach oxide mercury vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 14 x D 14 x H 25.5cm Materials: Plaster, Resin Molded, dyed, and finished by hand in LA. customization Available. All piec...
Resin, Plaster
Postmodern Black Decorative Object, Metal, Acrylic and Steel
Located in New York, NY
A black metal and clear acrylic with steel nails decorative object, Postmodern period, circa late-20th century. Piece is rectangular in shape, comprised of three pieces acrylic (black and clear), black metal screws and thin metal nails, approximately 1000 of them, making this an interesting Postmodern decorative...
Metal
$830 / item
Oxblood Huxley Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Oxblood Huxley vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 14 x D 14 x H 25.5 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin MOLDED, DYED, AND FINISHED BY HAND IN LA. CUSTOMIZATION AVAILABLE. ALL PIECES A...
Resin, Plaster
$17,123 / item
Blooming Sculpture II by Emilie Lemardeley
Located in Geneve, CH
Blooming Sculpture II by Emilie Lemardeley Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 43 x W 56 x H 75 cm. Materials: Bronze and mixed technique. Designed as jewellery for the interior, the Lemard...
Bronze, Other
1980s Michael Harvey Pop Art Ceramic Tank Top Shirt Vase, Canada
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A playful 1980s ceramic vase by Canadian artist Michael Harvey, modeled with remarkable realism after a classic ribbed tank top. The soft blue-gray surface captures the folds, seams ...
Ceramic
$789 / item
Brass Eleven Candleholder by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Eleven candleholder by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 7.6 x H 2 cm Materials: polished brass Also available in darkened brass. Milled from a solid piece of brass, the cande...
Brass
$503 / item
Soft Vide Poche by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Soft vide poche by Sophie Parachey Dimensions: W 26 x D 12 x H 3.5 cm Materials: Sand stoneware, shiny camel glaze. Inspired by extended stays in ...
Stoneware
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
Guy Dill Large Welded Mid Century Post Modern Abstract Steel Table Sculpture
By Guy Dill
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and impressive steel sculpture by world renowned artist Guy Dill. It consists of black welded steel circa 1990's. Welded signature.
Cut Steel
Sera Clamp Candle Lamp in Matte Burnished Iron Polished Brass by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Sera Clamp Candle Lamp in Matte Burnished Iron Polished Brass by Mingardo Dimensions: D27.5 x W22 x H26 cm. Materials: Matte burnished iron structure and lampshade with a RAL 9010 w...
Brass, Iron
$1,762 / item
Appuntito Vase Large by Project 213A
Located in Geneve, CH
Appuntito Vase Large by Project 213A Dimensions: W25 x D34 x H24cm Materials: Ceramic Each its own individual, the touch of hand from the ceramists, the blaze from the kiln, the div...
Ceramic
$1,922 / 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
Postmodern Italian Milano Series Candleholder, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Milano Series Candleholder, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Pl...
Metal
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
Vintage Hand Blown Green Glass Centerpiece Bowl, Empoli, Italy, 1970s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Empoli, Italy, 1970s. It is a high-quality centerpiece made in green hand blown and modeled glass. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but...
Blown Glass
$830 / item
Mn Medium Vase by Josefina Munoz
Located in Geneve, CH
Mn Medium vase by Josefina Munoz Mn collection Dimensions: H25 X ?13,5 cm Material: Ceramics (Black Sandstone and Transparent Enamel) Available in: Soliflor, and Small. Ce...
Ceramic
Drab Hanger in Gold Stainless Steel, Heat Collection, Zieta
By Zieta
Located in Geneve, CH
Drab Hanger in Flamed Gold stainless steel, Heat Collection, Zieta Dimensions: D 5 cm x W 46 cm x H 188 cm Material: Stainless steel. About the heat collection: The heat uses hig...
Stainless Steel
$835 / item
Stomata 7 Vase by Anna Karountzou
Located in Geneve, CH
Stomata 7 vase by Anna Karountzou Dimensions: D 9 x H 31 cm Materials: mixed black and white stoneware clay, clear glaze inside, fired at 1240 Born and based in Athens, Greece, ...
Other
Rosso Levanto Terrazzo Pentagonal Narcissus 2017 Vase by Tino Seubert
Located in Geneve, CH
Rosso Levanto Terrazzo Pentagonal Narcissus 2017 vase by Tino Seubert. Dimensions: Ø24 x H 60 cm. Materials: Rosso Levanto terrazzo marble, polished stainless steel, brown Parsol g...
Marble, Stainless Steel
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
Beige Stoneware Lagynos Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Stoneware Lagynos Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 19 x H 23 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: Black, Beige, Brown, Red, Terraco...
Stoneware
$274 / item
Soliflore Brass Vase by Mademoiselle Jo
Located in Geneve, CH
Soliflore Brass Vase by Mademoiselle Jo Dimensions: Ø 8.5 x H 15 cm. Materials: Turned brass with magnet and EVA foam tray. Hollow cylinders of 15 cm ...
Magnets, Brass
$805 / item
Hand Carved Marble Vessel by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand carved marble vessel by Tom Von Kaenel. Materials: marble. Dimensions: W 17 x D 17 x H 28 cm. Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzerland in 1961. Already...
Marble
$2,140 / 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
$1,236 / item
Sympoiesis No 92 Vessel by Studio Viv Lee
Located in Geneve, CH
Sympoiesis no 92 vessel by Studio Viv Lee Unique and signed Dimensions: W 25 x D 14 x H 28 cm Materials: White stoneware, glaze containing foraged oyster sh...
Stoneware
Green Terrazo Heptagonal Narcissus Vase by Tino Seubert
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Terrazo Heptagonal Narcissus Vase by Tino Seubert Dimensions: Ø 18 x H 40 cm. Materials: Green Terrazzo, brass. Tino Seubert When he first made his now signature wicker and al...
Brass
A SCULPTURAL BRUTALIST CANDELABRA CANDLE HOLDER Unique ARTIST Piece, France 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional sculptural Chandelier, Candelabra, Candlesticks, Candle holder, Brutalist, Rustic Modern, Shabby-Chic, , superb patinated wrought iron structure with 4 long light ar...
Metal
Tall Amber Splash Vase by Mana - Recycled Plastic, Post-Modern Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Tall Amber Splash Vase by Mana Dimensions: D 16 x W 12 x H 27 cm. Materials: Recycled pet from post-consumer plastics, mainly discarded bottles/single use food packaging, collected a...
Plastic