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.
$617 / 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
$1,175 / item
Incense Object by Henry D'ath
Located in Geneve, CH
Incense object by Henry D'ath Dimensions:D55 x W20 x H6 cm Materials:Wood, Calligraphy Ink Piece is handmade by artist. Henry d’ath is a new zealand born, hong kong based art...
Wood
Postmodern West German Pottery Vase from Steuler, 1980s
By Steuler
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern West German Pottery Vase from Steuler, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Material: Ceramic...
Ceramic
Miguel Berrocal Opus 294 Bronze Medal La Mecánica Electricidad Gijón 1980s
By Miguel Berrocal, Miguel Ortiz Berrocal
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Very rare and hard-to-find example, the Bronze medal Opus 294 was created by Miguel Berrocal as a commemorative piece for the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineers in Gijón...
Bronze
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: Grass Green leat...
Metal
$1,436 / item
Velvet Realities Blue Wall Sculpture by Sven Jansse
Located in Geneve, CH
Velvet Realities Blue Wall Sculpture by Sven Jansse Collaboration with Studio Somé (Robyne Somé) and Sven Jansse. Dimensions: W 63 x D 1 x H 90 cm Materials: Print on CNC’d Acryllic...
Other
Postmodern Perforated Metal Desk Utensilo Organizer, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Perforated Metal Desk Utensilo Organizer, 1980s
Metal
Two-part marble sculpture by Robert Neuhauser, Switzerland 1980s
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
A unique piece : two-part marble sculpture by Robert Neuhauser, created in Switzerland in the mid-1980s. Composed of two solid rounded volumes, the piece is structured by an irregul...
Marble
Lino Tagliapietra glass egg sculpture/ object, for Effetre International 1983.
By Lino Tagliapietra, Effetre International Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful , larger than normal egg made and designed by The well known Italian artist Lino Tagliapietra , This is a large egg signed and dated .
Murano Glass
$2,089 / item
In Alto Colori Wall Vase by Maxime Louis-Courcier
Located in Geneve, CH
In Alto Colori Wall Vase by Maxime Louis-Courcier Dimensions: W 6 x D 22 x H 28 cm Materials : Earthenware / Glossy Glaze Other variations of this item are available. Please contact...
Earthenware
Postmodern Hilton Series Plate from Rosenthal, 1980s
By Rosenthal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Hilton Series Plate from Rosenthal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic S...
Ceramic
Postmodern Metal Zenlight Candle Holder from Wagner Design
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal Zenlight Candle Holder from Wagner Design, in Flawless conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Material: Metal...
Metal
William Sklaroff for Smith Metal Arts Plastic Pen Holder
By William Sklaroff, Smith Metal Arts
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Aluminum enameled pen holder from the hugely successful Radius One line of desk accessories. Designed by William Sklaroff in the 1960s and produced by Smith Metal Arts. This piece pr...
Plastic
Set of 7 German Postmodern Flying Objects Series Soup Plates, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
German Postmodern Flying Objects Series Soup Plates by David Palterer and Sieger Design for Arzberg, 1990s, Set of 7, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an...
Ceramic
$17,189 / item
CF Te2.6 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te2.6 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 55 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produce...
Ceramic
Postmodern German Studio Pottery Abstract Candleholder and Aroma Lamp, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern German Studio Pottery Abstract Candleholder and Aroma Lamp, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Color: Blue ...
Ceramic
Set of 2 Italian Satinato Series Vase and Glass Attributed to Carlo Moretti, 70s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Italian Satinato Series Vase and Glass attributed to Carlo Moretti, 1970s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer...
Glass
Postmodern Metal & Bamboo Candleholder from Wagner Design, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal & Bamboo Candleholder from Wagner Design, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Bamb...
Metal
Postmodern Glass Cake Plate, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Glass Cake Plate, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Glass Styles: Postmodern Color: Black Item Type: Vintage, Anti...
Glass
Postmodern Ceramic Minimalist Vase from Asa Selection, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Ceramic Minimalist Vase from Asa Selection, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: C...
Ceramic
Post-Modern Italian Marble Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice post-modern Italian marble vase, circa 1980s. The vase is primarily green in color, but has brown and tan veining throughout. The vase is in very good vintage condition w...
Marble
Gio Ponti for Argenteria Sabattini Italian Silver-Plated "Hand" Sculpture 1978
By Sabattini Argenteria, Gio Ponti
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian sculpture ‘Hand’ in silver-plated metal designed by Gio Ponti for Argenteria Sabattini in 1978 with the manufacturer’s mark and the author’s name engraved. Please note that ...
Silver Plate
$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
Murano Sommerso Orb Blue Art Glass Vintage Ashtray Italy
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Gorgeous vintage Murano Venetian handblown art glass bowl or ashtray. Italian Murano Sommerso orb blue and clear art glass ashtray Extremely hard to fi...
Blown Glass
Vase 1 Atlantis Collection by Angeliki Stamatakou
Located in Geneve, CH
Vase 1 Atlantis Collection by Angeliki Stamatakou One of a kind, 2022 Dimensions: H 9.5 x W 11 cm. Materials: Stoneware, handmade glaze. Colors: blue, pink, ivory. Angeliki St...
Stoneware
$522 / item
Rustyvase 2 Stoneware Vase by Odatempo
Located in Geneve, CH
Rustyvase 2 stoneware vase by Odatempo Dimensions: W24.5 x D22.5 x H0.007 cm Materials: enameled white stoneware Audrey Langlet is a Paris-based ceramist. Trained in fashion and...
Stoneware
$1,180Sale Price|20% Off
Jon Kuhn Early Sculptural Op-Art Vase, American Art Studio Glass, 1982
By Jon Kuhn
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Triangular faceted vase features a graphic pattern of ruby red, white, and dichroic glass encased in clear glass layers in sommerso technique. The body of the vase is cut and polished in triangular shape, exposing complex, colorful core; the subtle sheen of dichroic glass adds complexity and visual interest to a reserved color scheme. The vase is signed and dated by the artist in etching on the bottom; this rare, hard to find example of American studio glass would make a great gift to any studio glass, art collector, or modern design enthusiast. Jon Kuhn is one of the foremost glass artists in his field, creating highly intricate architectural glass art sculpture that has won world-wide acclaim. He received BFA from Washburn University in 1974, MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1978, and Honorary DFA from Washburn University in 2006. Jon Kuhn early work was done in molten glass, but currently he works in cold glass that is cut, polished, and fused, resulting in sculptures that take in surrounding light, then reflects and refracts it back; they appear to change color and radiance when viewed from different angles and lighting. Kuhn creates cold glass art in a variety of shapes and forms, but he is perhaps best known for his glass cubes which contain a colorful glass interior cased in clear glass. Kuhn’s work stands out for its complexity, its geometric forms, and for its mesmerizing presence. Jon Kuhn glass...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso
Carlo Nason yellow artistic bottle in Murano glass, with original box
By Carlo Nason
Located in Milano, IT
∑Carlo Nason for Murano Glassworks Artistic Bottle / Small Decanter, 1980s Murano glass with original label and original box A refined artistic bottle, or small decanter, designed b...
Murano Glass
Postmodern small glass sculpture by Impy Pilapil, signed, 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
A small postmodern art glass sculpture by Impy Pilapil, signed, Philippines late 20th century.
Art Glass
$4,570 / item
Balance 02 Sculpture by Joana Kieppe
Located in Geneve, CH
Balance 02 Sculpture by Joana Kieppe Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 4 x W 25 x H 50 cm. Materials: Ivory and lotus high temperature clay. Reproduction is en...
Clay
Postmodern Art Glass Vase from Sweden
By Kosta Boda
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Scandinavian Postmodern white and neon/florescent yellow art glass fluted vase from Kosta Boda, Sweden. Vase is numbered40015 and signed by artist designer on bottom as s...
Crystal
Colored Murano vase by Alfredo Barbini, postmodern, label
Located in Milano, IT
Alfredo Barbini for Vetrerie Murano, 1990 Art Glass Vase with Original Label Present An extraordinary Murano art glass vase created by Alfredo Barbini for Vetrerie Murano in 1990, a...
Murano Glass
Eclectic Sculptural Coat Rack Memphis Era California Design by Tom McMichael
By Tom McMichael, Ettore Sottsass
Located in San Diego, CA
Eclectic Sculptural Coat Rack Memphis Era California Design by Tom McMichael, circa 1980s. Incredible wood carved sculptural coat rack with black lacquer base and detail scalloped ar...
Oak, Lacquer
Idalion vintage flower vase Venini Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"idalion" flower vase designed by Alessandro Mendini for Venini. Vintage blue color. Made in 1995. "Venini 95 A.mendini" Carving on bottom. No chips, no cracks. good condition.
Blown Glass
$17,759 / 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
Postmodern Vintage Photo Frame in Birch & Stainless Steel by Michael Graves
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredibly stylish postmodern picture frame by Architect Michael Graves in solid Birch wood and steel edges retains label. High design with aesthetics and style YSL, YVES SAINT LAUR...
Steel
Morform Ceramic Sculpture in Terracotta Stoneware Clay by Catalin Filip
Located in Geneve, CH
Morform Ceramic Sculpture in Terracotta Stoneware Clay by Catalin Filip. Dimensions: W 35 x D 35 x H 40 cm. Materials: Terracotta Stoneware Clay, textured natural ceramic finish. Mo...
Ceramic, Stoneware
1980s White Postmodern Wall Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Wakita, Shohei Mihara
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly elegant and sophisticated 1980s wall clock designed by Shohei Mihara for Wakita. Postmodern, Memphis Group-influenced design at its finest! White with red, green, and yel...
Glass, Plastic
$200Sale 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
Scandinavian Surreal Female Figurine 'Lizard Queen' in the Style of Åke Holm
Located in Esbjerg, DK
An unusual Scandinavian studio-piece in the shape of this voluptuous female torso with lizard head and neck. Unknown ceramist circa 1970-80 reminiscent of pieces by Beatrice Wood and...
Ceramic
$6,255 / set
Set of 5 Barbican Vases by a Space
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 5 Barbican Vases by A Space Dimensions: D22,86 x W20,32 x H30,48 cm D20,32 x W20,32 x H20,32 cm D12,7 x W15,24 x H12,7 cm D10,16x W10,16x H22,86 cm D15,875 x W13,97 x H...
Other
Radical Memphis style table clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white dial on black background. Designer's signature visible on the ...
Metal
Emily Brock Postmodern Office Signed 1997 Fused Art Glass Table Sculpture
By Emily Brock
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A fused glass sculpture by Emily Brock presents a finely detailed Postmodern interior vignette rendered entirely in glass. Etched signature and dated 1997 on the base. This work depi...
Art Glass
1961 Danish Holmegaard Blue Glass "Duckling" Vase by Per Lütken
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1961 Holmegaard blue glass "Duckling" vase by Per Lütken, Denmark. Monogram signature, Per Lütken, dated 1961 & Holmegaard signature. Lütken was the ar...
Blown Glass
1970s Post-Modern Humaniod Bust by Kahn Ceramics
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful heavy glazed ceramic bust from late female Washington D.C. area artist, Kahn. About 8.5 inches high.
Ceramic
Vintage Glazed Ceramic Architectural Pottery Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A true testament to mid-century modern artistry, this vintage glazed ceramic sculpture features a bold, architectural form with striking geometric cutouts and dynamic negative space....
Ceramic
Post-Modern Figurative Sculpture in Plaster, Bone-White Finish, USA
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
This striking late 20th-century sculpture captures a quiet moment of introspection through a simplified, figurative form. Rendered in a crisp, bone-white finish, the piece features a...
Plaster
$2,037 / item
Haniwa Warrior 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Haniwa Warrior 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Black stoneware sculpture Dimensions: D11 x W31 x H65 cm My interpretation of ancient clay figurine...
Stoneware
$2,955 / item
Haniwa Warrior 15 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Haniwa Warrior 15 sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Black stoneware sculpture Dimensions: D11 x W33 x H57.5 cm My interpretation of ancient clay figurine...
Stoneware
Echo on Wood Hand Carved Marble Sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Echo on wood hand carved marble sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel. Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 76 cm. Materials: marble, wood Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzer...
Marble
Huge Cenedese Pink Scavo Spherical or Globe Shaped Murano Glass Vase
By Cenedese
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A wonderfully large, spherical Murano glass vase in pink with brown highlights. The vase has an incredible 1980s Memphis School or Miami appeal. It is a bold and impressive piece of ...
Murano Glass
$13,533 / item
Cf Te18 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te18 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 48 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produced...
Ceramic
$6,398 / item
CF KH 16 by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF KH 16 by Caturegli Formica. Dimensions: W 10 x D 7.5 H 29 cm. Materials: Concrete, plaster, paint, glass, cotton. Khalikia (?a????a) vessels, 2017-18. These pieces are m...
Concrete
$22,306 / item
CF Te16 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te16 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 36 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produced...
Ceramic
$24,324 / item
CF Te17 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te17 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 50 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produced...
Ceramic
Patinated Bronze Sculpture of Reclining Beauty by Alice Riordan
Located in New York, NY
Lovely patinated bronze sculpture of a reclining female beauty mounted on black marble plinth by the American sculptor and painter, Alice Riordan. 10 1/2 in tall, 17 3/4 in wide and...
Bronze
$800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Three Post-Modern Geometric Ceramic Vases by James Johnston
By James Johnston
Located in San Diego, CA
Hard to find set of three post-modern geometric ceramic vases by James Johnston, circa 1980s. The vases have a mat green glazed stoneware finish with sharp geometric lines and are s...
Stoneware
Unique Warm Brown Ceramic Big Vase with Body Large Opening by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Tuja Big Vase by Willem Van Hooff. Dimensions: W 48 x D 10 x H 50 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces are hand-made and might present slight variations in sizes) Material: Glazed Ceram...
Ceramic
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Murano Glass Paper Way Fish Aquarium
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful double-sided glass fish aquarium by Italian Murano. Nice condition, no chips or cracks.
Blown Glass
$1,020 / item
Bowl Vase by Sophie Vaidie
Located in Geneve, CH
Bowl Vase by Sophie Vaidie One Of A Kind. Dimensions: Ø 17,5 x H 38,5 cm. Materials: Beige stoneware with crater glaze. In the beginning, there was a n...
Stoneware