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.
$1,234 / 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
$1,131 / 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
Grey Stoneware Coiled Moon Jar by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey Stoneware Coiled Moon Jar by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 23 x H 27 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware, Earthenware Available finishes: Experimental Glaze...
Earthenware, Stoneware
$3,658 / item
Large Atacama Vase by Josefina Munoz
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Atacama vase by Josefina Munoz Dimensions: D20 x H25 cm Material: Ceramic Available in: Small and Large sizes this project is the result of the experimentation with a part...
Ceramic
$3,017 / item
Medusa Vase by Casa Alfarera
Located in Geneve, CH
Medusa vase by Casa Alfarera Dimensions: D45.7 x H48.3 cm Materials: Matte Black glaze The Medusa Vase is a large flower pot or decorative piece that ta...
Glass
$3,622 / 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
Miniature Mid-Century Ceramic High Glaze Bottle Neck Vase Studio Pot by Sari
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Fine miniature hand-thrown, high-glaze ceramic pot signed Sari. The piece is in excellent condition, with no chips or repairs. It has a natural firing crack on the bottom.
Ceramic, Pottery
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
Doris Porter Caesar Attributed Gilt and Patinated Bronze Sculpture
By Doris Porter Caeser
Located in Astoria, NY
Doris Porter Caesar (American, 1892-1972) Attributed Standing Female Nude Gilt and Patinated Bronze Sculpture, numbered edition "1/10" to left leg, mounted on red patinated iron base...
Bronze, Iron
Pipe, Pair of Steel Sculpted Vases, Signed by Lukasz Friedrich
Located in Geneve, CH
Pipe, pair of steel sculpted vases, signed by Lukasz Friedrich Steel vases “Pipe” Dimensions: D 12 x H 30 cm Finish: black or rusty patina on steel, wax Unique and signed.
Steel
Postmodern Candleholder by Markus Börgens for D-Tec, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Candleholder by Markus Börgens for D-Tec, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Official proof of authenticity such as vinta...
Metal
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
Bronze Patinated Abstract 02 Decorative Object by Herma de Wit
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze Patinated Abstract 02 Decorative Object by Herma de Wit Limited Edition of 8 + 2 AP pieces. Dimensions: D 14 x W 23 x H 22 cm. Materials: Patinated bronze. Nature, a boundle...
Bronze
$262 / 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
Contemporary Bronze Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Contemporary Bronze Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Bronze An antidote to last-minute rummaging, the Ribbon Hook features two protruding bloc...
Bronze
Bitossi Ceramiche Vaso Rocchetto by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Toronto, ON
Designed by Ettore Sottsass for Bitossi in 1958, this cylindrical vase from his black-and-white collection wears a façade of squares and grids, a stark geometry that feels equal part...
Ceramic
$5,028 / item
Motion Sculpture IV by Sofia Tufvasson
Located in Geneve, CH
Motion sculpture IV by Sophie Rogers Dimensions: D 17 x W 32 x H 25 cm Materials: Ceramic, glaze Other glaze colors available. A play with the M...
Ceramic
$2,845 / 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
Postmodern German Chrome Wall Clock from Junghans, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern German Chrome Wall Clock from Junghans, 1980s
Metal
Nell Bernard Leauté Abstract Ceramic Sculpture 'Deconstructed Construct'
By Nell Bernard
Located in Esbjerg, DK
This unusual object indeed looks like it was made by an infant child. However it was made by the abstract post-modern female Danish artist and sculptor Nell Bernard Leauté (1935-99)....
Ceramic
$905 / set
Set of 4 Ripple Vessel by Derya Arpac
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Ripple vessel by Derya Arpac Dimensions: D 17 x H 7 cm Materials: Pigmented Concrete Also available: Other colours available Derya Arpac is a Copenhagen based architec...
Oak, Fir
$251 / item
Diosa Vase by Camila Apaez
Located in Geneve, CH
Diosa Vase by Camila Apaez. Materials: Ceramic. Dimensions: 13 x H 27 cm Options: White Bone, Chocolate, Charcoal black, Natural, Barro tostado. Additional pictures are just re...
Ceramic
Hermès Paris decorative box in leather and bronze.
By Hermès
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Hermès Paris decorative box in leather and bronze. This Hermès Paris decorative box features a cylindrical design covered in textured black leather on the exterior. The top and botto...
Bronze
$2,068 / item
Kastle Pink Small Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle Pink small bowl by Purho Dimensions: D24 x W16 x H10cm Materials: Glass other colours and Dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design , a w...
Glass
$902 / item
Kastle Violet Mini Bowl by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kastle Violet Mini Bowl by Purho Dimensions: D15 x W11 x H6cm Materials: Glass Other colours and dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design , ...
Glass
Ceramic Nomad Jar Disco Tower by Gilles & Cecilie
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic nomad jar disco tower by Gilles & Cecilie Unique Dimensions: H 8 x W 7.5 cm Material: Ceramic painted two tone yellow Gilles and Cecilie Studio created the Nomad Jar Fa...
Ceramic
$1,451 / item
Supernova IV Steel Blue L Vase by Eloa
Located in Geneve, CH
Supernova IV steel blue L vase by Eloa No UL listed Material: glass Dimensions: D15 x W17 x H41 cm Also available in different colours and dimensions. SUPERNOVA is a collection of ...
Glass
Jon Gilmore 1992 Postmodern Lucite & Brass Pendulum Clock on Speckled Base
By Jim Gilmore
Located in St. Louis, MO
A striking 1992 Postmodern kinetic mantel clock designed by Jon Gilmore for Accessory Art Products, Inc. (Orange, CA). Embodying the iconic Memphis Design Movement aesthetic of the e...
Brass
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
$1,165 / item
Sympoiesis No 103 Vessel by Studio Viv Lee
Located in Geneve, CH
Sympoiesis no 103 vessel by Studio Viv Lee Unique and Signed Dimensions: W 20.5 x D 11.5 x H 31.5 cm Materials: terracotta, glaze All vessels are coil bu...
Terracotta
Flat Oval Shape, Plain Ruby Red Ceramic Hand-sculpted Vase by Willem Van Hooff
Located in Geneve, CH
Furi Vase by Willem Van Hooff Core Vessel Series Dimensions: W 23 x D 10 x H 41 cm (Dimensions may vary as pieces are hand-made and might present slight variations in sizes) Material...
Ceramic, Earthenware
$2,715 / item
Hand Carved Marble Vessel by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand carved marble vessel by Tom Von Kaenel Dimensions: D45 x W21 x H13 cm Materials: Marble Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzerland in 1961. Already in hi...
Marble
$1,634 / item
Tuja Big Vase 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
Postmodern Danish Metal Candleholder from Royal Copenhagen, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Danish Metal Candleholder from Royal Copenhagen, 1980s
Metal
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 11 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 11 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 24 x W 28 x H 45 cm I’m a middle-aged woman who had babies late—too late, some might...
Stoneware
$905 / item
Ganges Round Hydro Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Ganges round hydro vase by Elyse Graham. Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x H 23 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin MOLDED, DYED, AND FINISHED BY HAND IN LA. CUSTOMIZATION AVAILABLE. ALL PIECE...
Resin, Plaster
Anzolo Fuga Attb Murano Glass Vase
By Anzolo Fuga
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice and large glass vase for a very well known glass blower artist.
Murano Glass
Set of 2 Bay Keramik Vases by Bodo Mans, Memphis Style, 1980, Germany
By Bodo Mans, Bay Keramik
Located in Andernach, DE
Wonderful set of 2 studio artist vases by Bay Keramik. Here from a mid century modern series ''BAY Extra'', which featured selected artists. This series (479 ...) has been designed b...
Ceramic
Postmodern Art Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Art 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. Additional i...
Glass
$1,051 / item
Epoca Ed.O. I by A. Vetra
Located in Geneve, CH
Epoca Ed.O. I by A. Vetra Dimensions: Ø 28 x H 46 cm Materials: Whity Clay. One of a kind. Epoca is a vase collection made with recycled clay and oxide finishing, whose textured objects...
Clay
Postmodern Wooden Bowl by Pietro Manzoni, Memphis Style, Italy, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Multi-colored wooden bowl by Pietro Manzoni. This large bowl follows postmodern forms and colors. M Branding on the bottom. This piece has an attribution mark. Additional informatio...
Wood
Judith Stiles Postmodern Vase, New York Art Studio Pottery, 1980s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Playful vintage vase features hand painted abstract graphic designs in Postmodern style on ombre mauve pink background with turquoise rim and accent band on the bottom of the vase. The vase is hand signed by the artist on the bottom. Judith Stiles studied ceramic glazes under Susan Parks...
Ceramic, Pottery
$2,719 / item
Memories Heritage Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Memories Heritage Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 34 x H 53 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Copper green, purple, antique blue, antiqued finishing. The “Memories” vase, crafted in ex...
Ceramic
Rosenthal Eosin Vase & Bowl Trio, Johan van Loon, Helmut Drexler, Germany, 1990s
By Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Three porcelain forms by Dutch designer Johan van Loon, finished in Helmut Drexler's satin multicolour Eosin decor, for Rosenthal Studio Linie, Germany, 1990s. The set comprises a bo...
Porcelain
Pyrus Rock Pyramid Installation in Basalt & Stainless Steel by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Pyrus Rock Pyramid Installation in Basalt & Stainless Steel by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 250 x W 250 x H 250 cm. Materials: Stainless steel and basalt. Available in ...
Stainless Steel, Other
Ettore Sottsass Attb Marble round box/ jewelry/decor , black and white
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful round box , polished very well inside and out , unsigned .
Marble
Aura Sculpture in Bio-Based Resin by Waves.STUDIO
Located in Geneve, CH
Aura Sculpture in Bio-Based Resin by Waves.STUDIO Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 35 cm. Materials: Bio-based resin. Aura is designed to evoke a sense of tranquility and curiosity, inviting th...
Resin
$1,200 / set
Post Modern Glazed Ceramic Bowl
Located in Houston, TX
Post Modern Glazed Ceramic Bowl. Offered is a absolutely gorgeous Postmodern glazed ceramic decorative bowl in a variety of colors. This lovely bowl is the perfect cocktail table acc...
Ceramic
Pair of Postmodern Zigzag Candelholders, 70s
Located in Lucija, SI
Pair of Postmodern zigzag candelholders made from aluminium They are made in Italy in early 80s
Aluminum
Set of Three Large Postmodern Tasselated Mactan Stone Floor Vases. Circa 1980s.
Located in Miami, FL
Set of Three Large Postmodern Tasselated Mactan Stone Floor Vases. Circa 1980s. Features: Three Sizes Stone Floor Vases with polished bodies and accentuated rough mactan stone detail...
Stone
$272Sale Price|20% Off
Tim Lazer Art Glass Vase, Blue Swirl Design, Post-Modern, USA, 1990
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an art glass vase designed by Tim Lazer (signed on the bottom). Blue tones in swirl motion. Post-modern , dated 1990. Dimensions: 3.5" H x 3.75" diameter. P...
Art Glass
1980 VeArt White Filigrana Italian Design Murano Glass Set of Bottles
By VeArt
Located in Brescia, IT
Set of 2 Bottles VeArt Italy, 1982 White Filigrana Glass VeArt Sticker Label Veart Sign Engraved Perfect Condiction h 26 / diam 14.5 cm h 22.5 /diam 12 cm
Blown Glass
Italian Glazed Ceramic Banana Sculpture (After Warhol) (After Maurizio Cattelan)
By Maurizio Cattelan, (after) Andy Warhol
Located in Round Top, TX
From the early 20th century, and before, the imagery of the humble banana has always captured our interest and attention. From Claes Oldenburg to Any Warhol and more recently, Mauriz...
Ceramic
Rare Post-Modern Artist Signed Ceramic Raku 1980s Pottery Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
A unique rare tall Raku fired art pottery vase, circa 1980's. This piece is 11.25" tall, 3" wide and 10.5" deep and is in good vintage condition. The iridescent and mottled colors, a...
Pottery
Large Colorful Post-Modern Ceramic Centerpiece Bowl by Bender
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous large colorful post-modern ceramic bowl / centerpiece by Bender, circa 1980s. This beautiful piece is in great vintage condition with no cracks or chips and measures 14.5"D...
Pottery
1980s Postmodern Canetti Wall Clock
By Wakita
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A vibrant postmodern wall clock from Canetti's Moderntime Collection, showcasing the playful geometric abstraction of perfect 1980s design. Featuring a light gray face encased in a m...
Metal
1980s Postmodern Wall Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Shohei Mihara, Wakita
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! Black with white, red, green, ...
Glass, Plastic
Franz Josef Altenburg Ceramic Art Vase, Austria, 1980s
By Franz Josef Altenburg
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautifully shaped vase/vessel by Franz Josef Altenburg (Austria, 1941–2021), dated to the 1980s. Handmade from red-brown ceramic with a light green to beige glaze. In very conditi...
Ceramic
Vintage Danish Art Glass Bowl from Greve Glaskunst, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Danish Art Glass Bowl from Greve Glaskunst, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Glas...
Glass