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.
A Set of 5 Architectural RADICAL & POSTMODERN Metal VASES, by KAPPA, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional and spectacular set of 5 geometric vases, Post-Modern, Radical, 5 different sizes stainless steel rectangular structures, forming together a kind of "Cityscape" set of...
Metal
Versace & Archimede Seguso Murano Blown Glass Footed Vase
By Archimede Seguso, Gianni Versace
Located in Downingtown, PA
Couture Glass: Gianni Versace by Archimede Seguso Murano Vase, circa 1990 A superb example of late-20th-century design collaboration, this Murano blown glass footed vase embodies th...
Blown Glass
$495
Wood Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A rectangular wood box, Postmodern design period, circa late-20h century. Box has three wood hues, velvet lined, easy open/close lid. Very good condition as shown.
Velvet, Wood
Salimbeni Luxe sterling silver, gilt and Malachite picture frame Italy .
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful luxury picture frame in malachite and gold wash sterling silver. The picture window measure 3x2 inches. Marked in bottom as shown ,Made in Italy and (star) 391 FI , as Fir...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Oversized Crystal Pencil Sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oversized pencil sculpture in crystal (ca. 1980s/1990s, USA). Good, vintage condition with a couple of small edge flecks present, as shown. C6 marking present near the eraser. Maker ...
Crystal
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Danish Oak Elephant by Kay Bojensen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Danish Oak Elephant by Kay Bojensen, articulating arms, legs and trunk. Excellent condition.
Oak
$421 / item
Sharp Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Sharp Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 22 x D 22 x H 23 cm. Materials: Ceramic. This piece is available in a wide range of hand-painted ...
Ceramic
Vintage Black, Red and Yellow Encased Hand-Blown Murano Glass Flower Vase, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. It is made in encased and hand-blown Murano glass. With its original label. This vase is vintage, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be c...
Murano Glass
White, Black and Blue Hand-Painted Ceramic Jug / Vase in the Style of Picasso
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in France, 1960s - 1970s. It is made in white hand-painted ceramic with blue and black motifs, that recalls Pablo Picasso's style. It is a vintage item, therefore it might show ...
Ceramic
Postmodern Plaster Nude by David Fisher for Austin Productions, circa 1981
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Sleek, glamorous, and graceful Nude by David Fisher for Austin Productions, 1981. Beautiful detail in this postmodern icon. Stand on black plinth base...
Cast Stone
Postmodern “LEGO” Telephone Phone by Tyco
By Memphis Group, Tycos, Lego
Located in Rome, IT
1990s telephone made of LEGO by Tyco.
Plastic
Art Glass Sommerso Blue Bird Paperweight Figurine
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Abstract blue art glass bird figurine was hand blown in sommerso technique, with flue and white speckled gather of colored glass encased in clear glass. Minimal, sculptural tail and...
Art Glass
Vintage Murano Red & Opalescent Glass Perfume Bottle with Stopper
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This exquisite vintage Murano glass perfume bottle features a striking combination of deep ruby red glass framed by clear ribbed layers, creating a captivating optical depth. Its ele...
Glass, Art Glass
Bitossi Ceramiche Hand-Torn Clay Vase, Tall by Formafantasma
By Bitossi, Formafantasma
Located in Toronto, ON
Designed by Formafantasma for Bitossi’s “Clay” collection, this hand-turned white fire-clay vase is engraved and torn by hand at the rim, giving its vertical form a raw, broken crown...
Ceramic
$395 / item
Post Modern Display Mannequin
Located in Riverdale, NY
Post Modern Display Mannequin from a Japanese store formerly located on Madison Ave, NY. Articulated fiberglass mannequin body has screws at join...
Metal
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear Orange and Pastel Pink by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
Large "Indian Summer" Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Clear Orange and Matte Pastel Pink. *All the pieces are hand-made and...
Resin
Obliqua Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Obliqua Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 12 x W 28 x x H 45 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes fr...
Ceramic, Clay
$107Sale Price|33% Off
Art Glass Vase, Green and Orange Applied Trail, Mdina Glass, Malta, 1980s
By Michael Harris, Mdina
Located in Glasgow, GB
An evocative example of 1980s art glass, this cylindrical vase was produced by Mdina Glass in Malta under the direction of Michael Harris—a pivotal figure in the development of Briti...
Art Glass
$272Sale Price|53% Off
1980s Postmodern Female Face Ceramic Sculpture in the Austin Productions Style
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Large scale, Postmodern / 1980s Art Deco revival Female Head Ceramic Sculpture in the Austin Productions Style. Circa 1980s Features a flatten female head figure molded on a...
Ceramic
A unique ceramic vase by Tony Evans, signed, late 20th century
By Tony Evans
Located in View Park, CA
A absolutely stunning and wildly unique ceramic vase - art piece really - by Tony Evans, signed, late 20th century. Featuring an idiosyncratic lava glaze over scintillating pigments ...
Ceramic
Italy Post-Modern Mario Buccellati Silver Bowl Leaf
Located in Brescia, IT
This silver bowl of Mario Buccellati has an intense beauty and for this reason we can say that it can be a piece of art. The centerpiece is finely engraved, with details that reproduce the imprint of a leaf. On the back, we can see its feet that are made with the shape of two folded leaf. It is a really masterpiece of high Italian craftsmanship. The piece was made in 1980 but we can say that it is in excellent conditions. It has its original and elegant blu box...
Silver
Vintage Crystal Globe on Stand
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage crystal globe on a square stand. Made of clear crystal with contrasting frosted continents. Made in Ireland by Godinger Shannon Crystal, original label attached to the base...
Crystal
BeoCom 6000 Desktop Telephone in Royal Blue by Martin Iseli for Bang & Olufsen
Located in San Diego, CA
BeoCom 6000 cordless handset and table charger by Martin Iseli for Bang & Olufsen, circa 1990s. The phone is royal blue and grey and has a grey cradle / table charger; it is in very...
Plastic
Vintage German Postmodern Wall Clock from Staiger, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage German Postmodern Wall Clock from Staiger, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Plast...
Plastic
$10,430 / item
Regeneration 04 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Regeneration 04 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 7.5 x H 30 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbu...
Bronze, Other
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Small Memphis Style Postmodern Mirror
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool Memphis style small wall mirror signed Hill Brin, circa 1990s. There is a lot of intricate pottery detail and image overlap on the frame of the handmade mirror.
Pottery
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear and Matte White by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, CA
Size Large Clear and Matte White 'Indian Summer' Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. ...
Resin
Polychrome Ceramic Vase by Carlo Zauli, 1960s
By Carlo Zauli
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Single flower vase in polychrome ceramic, signed on the bottom. Carlo Zauli (Faenza, 19 August 1926 - Faenza, 14 January 2002).
Ceramic
$132Sale Price|40% Off
Post Modern German Brass "Clear Drops" Oil Lamp Candlestick by Freddie Andersen
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original Freddie Andersen "Clear Drops" oil lamp made in West Germany. This lamp features an elegant brass stem, a handblown glass reservoir, and a sleek black resin base, creating a...
Brass
$4,483 / item
Platinum Luster Soreis Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Platinum Luster Soreis Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 35 x H 40 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: 24 Kt Gold Luster / Platinum Luster. A sculptural vase hand-thrown from red clay sour...
Ceramic
$11,472 / item
Element 02 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Element 02 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 15 x H 30 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbued wit...
Bronze, Other
$1,416 / item
Sun Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Sun Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 48 x D 48 x H 42 cm. Materials: Ceramic. “Sun” is a unique ceramic piece that captures the essence ...
Ceramic
$702 / item
Spike Planter by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Spike Planter by Deetee Home Dimensions: W 35.5 x D 35.5 x H 43.2 cm Materials: Stoneware Sculpted with a raw, textured finish, its organic form and raised spikes give it a sculptur...
Stoneware
Art Deco Black Ceramic Vase by Claude Dumas, Remix Edition, Circa 1980
By Claude Dumas
Located in COLMAR, FR
Art Deco black ceramic vase by French designer Claude Dumas – early 2000s Remix Gallery edition, made from the original mould, sourced in France, in very good vintage condition This...
Clay
Large Post-Modern Lucite Sculpture by Shlomi Haziza
Located in San Diego, CA
Large colorful abstract lucite sculpture by Israeli artist, Shlomi Haziza, circa early 1990s. The piece is in good vintage condition with no chips, cracks; there is some minor crazin...
Lucite
$1,030 / item
Gaya Vase by Moldra
Located in Geneve, CH
Gaya Vase by Moldra Dimensions: D 38 x H 28 cm Materials: Stoneware Moldra is a ceramic studio devoted to sculptural vases and objects. Rooted in the ancestral hand-building techniq...
Stoneware
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear Turquoise and Silver by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Large "Indian Summer" Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Clear Turquoise and Silver. * All the pieces are hand-made and theref...
Resin
Postmodern solid wood yellow green red Monokel candleholder from Ikea, 1980s
By IKEA
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern solid wood yellow green red Monokel candleholder from Ikea, 1980s
Metal
Postmodern Pyramid Desk or Table Clock by Makiko Taniguchi, Japan, 1980s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful post-modern black and red triangle desk / table / mantel clock from the 1980s. Designed by Makiko Taniguchi, Japan. Made of metal and plastic...
Metal
Set of 2 Two Head Sculptured Dolls by Studio Mano
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Two Head Sculptured Dolls by Studio Mano. Dimensions: W 11.5 x D 8 x H 13 cm. Materials: Porcelain white clay and clear gloss glaze, Santa Fe clay, or Brown clay. Studio M...
Ceramic
Rosenthal Signed Faceted Crystal Heart Paperweight in Original Box
By Rosenthal
Located in San Diego, CA
Rosenthal Signed Faceted Crystal Heart Paperweight in Original Box, circa 1980s. A beautifully crafted faceted crystal heart paperweight signed by the renowned German porcelain and g...
Crystal
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Leather Desk Mail Letter Holder
Located in New York, NY
A brown leather and gold brass plate desk letter mail holder, Postmodern design, circa late-20th century. Hold mail, letters, or other correspondence.
Metal, Brass
$89Sale Price|31% Off
Vintage Clear Lucite Fan Shaped Card Holder by Guzzini 1980s Made in Italy
By Guzzini
Located in Amityville, NY
Vintage clear lucite or acrylic post modern fan shaped card holder, sorter or separator made in Italy in the 1980s by Guzzini. Marked "Guzzini Made in Italy" this originally was sold...
Lucite
1980's Postmodern Memphis Design George Matsumoto Magic Cube Hidden Office
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Ingenious, Memphis Era, Postmodern "Magic Cube" with hidden compartments filled with desk/office supplies. Designed by renowned Japanese-American, modernist architect, George Matsum...
Plastic
$913 / item
Vijayam Vase by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Vijayam Vase by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 22.86 x H 34.29 cm Materials: Stoneware Handcrafted with precision by our skilled artisans, the pot's balanced form and subtle texture lend...
Stoneware
$25,000 / item
Anton Smit - "Faith Mask" Resin and Iron Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Anton Smit is a profoundly influential South African sculptor recognized for his monumental works that evoke deep themes of suffering, reconciliation, glory, and sublimation. He is c...
Iron
Large Vintage Post Modern Sculptural Spiral Ikebana Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Lutz, FL
Large vintage Post Modern Sculptural Spiral Shaped Ikebana vase by Keiko & David Hergesheimer of Catalpa Lane Pottery c.1990’s. Interesting spiral shape with textured gradient gl...
Clay, Pottery
Robert Lee Morris, "Mouse with Vase & Flowers Candle Holder"
Located in Queens, NY
Robert Lee Morris, "Mouse with Vase & Flowers Candle Holder", 1990's, Brass, Signed
Brass
An authentic postmodern vase by Lindsey B., 1983
Located in View Park, CA
An elegant postmodern vase featuring a cloaked figure by Lindsey B., signed, 1983. Tones of snow and licorice. 5” W x 3.25” D x 8.75” H
Ceramic
$252Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Calacatta Marble Pedestal Vase Made in Italy Around 1980s
Located in Rümmingen, BW
"shipping note: If your region or country is not listed under the shipping options please contact us directly" Striking Italian pedestal vase sculpted from Calacatta marble, dating ...
Ceramic, Clay
Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe Glass Plate by Rosenthal, Germany
By Rosenthal, (after) Andy Warhol
Located in Bochum, NRW
Andy Warhol × Rosenthal Studio Line — Marilyn Monroe Limited Edition Plate, 1990s Striking limited‑edition Rosenthal Studio Line pla...
Glass
Set of 5 Postmodern Flash One Series Bowl Set by Dorothy Hafner, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern set of bowls from the series flash one by rosenthal after a design by the artist dorothy hafner from 1982. the bowls are in very good condition without defects. Only one b...
Porcelain
Ziro Postmodern Wall Clock, Metal & Wood, Memphis Style, 1980s UK
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern English Wall Clock from Ziro, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Wood Col...
Metal
Italy Cast Bronze Figurine Man Sculpture by Aron Demetz Title Ricordo
By Aron Demetz
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense bronze sculpture was made by the well known Italian artist, Aron Demetz, in 2004, Italy. This is a lost wax bronze hand painted. The title is "Ricordo" translated in "Me...
Bronze
Postmodern Green Ceramic Braided Woven Abstract Centerpiece Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Stunning woven braided ceramic centerpiece bowl glazed in a chic glossy green. Great size for a coffee table or entryway. Very unusual abstract shape, pleasing from every angle. Not ...
Ceramic
$51,511 / item
Brummit Fir Christmas Tree Sculpture by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Brummit Fir Christmas Tree Sculpture by The Peak Antler Dimensions: W 132.08 x D 132.08 x H 396.24 cm Materials: naturally shed antlers Based in, produced and shipped from the US. ...
Antler
A monumental bronze female nude sculpture by Somchai, circa 1970
Located in View Park, CA
A monumental nude sculpture of a femme torso in bronze by Hattakitkosol Somchai, signed, circa 1970. A striking rarity of Somchai’s oeuvre, this piece stands at nearly twenty-six inc...
Bronze
Contemporary Art The Perfect Big Half-Moon Silk Velvet Sofa by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabric and the embroideries are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
$515 / item
Acies Circum Bowl by Justus Knut Schomann
Located in Geneve, CH
Acies Circum Bowl by Justus Knut Schomann Dimensions: W 40 x D 30 x H 3 cm Materials: Casted Arcylic, Diamond polished. Weight: 2.4 Kg. Justus K...
Acrylic
Abstract Sculpture of a Crane in Flight by Masatoyo Kishi "Kuki" Circa 1970s
By Kuki, Masatoyo Kishi
Located in Peabody, MA
A cast stone abstract sculpture of a crane in flight mounted on an acrylic pedestal, circa 1970s by the noted Japanese artist Masatoyo Kishi “Kuki”...
Cast Stone