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.
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
Large Post-Modern Ovoid Marble Vase or Decorative Vessel, 1980s
Located in San Diego, CA
A substantial post-modern marble vase or decorative vessel, crafted from a richly figured natural stone displaying dramatic swirls and veining in shades of charcoal, taupe, brown, an...
Marble
$3,972 / item
Puparin Vase by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Puparin vase by Purho Dimensions: D12 x H32 cm Materials: Murano glass Available in other colors. Puparìn is a vase from the Laguna Collection desi...
Murano Glass
White Stoneware Psykter Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
White Stoneware Psykter Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 30 x H 25 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: Black, White, Brown, Red, White P...
Stoneware
$2,084 / item
Sculptural Wall Vase II by Alexandra Madirazza
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural Wall Vase II by Alexandra Madirazza Dimensions: W 40 x D 25 x H 45 cm (These are approximate measurements) Materials: Stoneware Also ava...
Stoneware
$3,981 / item
Mascareta Vase by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Mascareta vase by Purho Dimensions: D18 x H28 cm Materials: Murano glass Available in other colors. Mascareta is a vase from the Laguna Collection ...
Murano Glass
Papaya Vase by Siup Studio - Ceramic Post-Modern Design, 21cm
Located in Geneve, CH
Papaya vase by Siup Studio Dimensions: D13 x H21cm Materials: Ceramics Siup is a small design studio based in Warsaw. The concept is created by three ...
Ceramic
$7,111 / item
Elephante 3, Stool by Studio Noon
By Noon Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Elephante 3, stool by Studio Noon Dimensions: W 68.5 x D 68.5 x H 53 Material: pigmented cement Signed and editioned 1/50 Noon is a Philadelphia based collaboration betwe...
Cement
Miami Crystal T-Light Holder, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Miami crystal T-Light holder, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Decorative Vase Handsculpted in crystal Measures: W 8 H 19.8 D 8 cm The Miami crystal T-Light holder creates a ...
Crystal
$1,321 / set
Set of Trio Vase and Dou Vase by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of Trio Vase and Dou Vase by Daniel Elkayam Dimensions: D 2.5 x W 16 x H 46 cm (Trio), D 2.5 x W 10 x H 39 cm (Dou) Materials: Burnt beech wood Jerusalem-born Art-designer and ...
Beech
Multicolored Glazed Earthenware Vase by Roberto Rigon for Bertoncello, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy by Roberto Rigon for Bertoncello, 1970s. It is made in multicolored glazed earthenware. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can...
Earthenware
Radical Memphis style table lamp clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table lamp clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with red lamp-shaped dial on black background. Signature "Missiani" ...
Metal
$2,792 / 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
$930 / item
Column Vase by Marta Bonilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Column vase by Marta Bonilla Dimensions: D27 x H37 cm Materials: Terracotta, Clay Column vase: Piece of high temperature hand modeled with pinkish brown clay with chamotte. Glaz...
Clay, Terracotta
$930 / 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
$1,575 / item
Fine Handcut Crystal Grand Lauderlale Perfume Flacon
Located in Geneve, CH
Fine handcut crystal grand Lauderlale perfume flacon. Materials: Fine handcut crystal Dimensions: D 11 x W 11 x H 32.5 cm Weight: 3.16 kg. Reflections Copenhagen, a collection of handmade decorative mirrors and Crystal pieces, finely balanced to Challenge the traditional styles and shapes of todays’ homes by adding new dimensions and possibilities to interior decorating. Julie Hugau and Andrea Larsson, inspired by the graphic expression of Art Deco, the vast contrasts of the 1980s and the opportunity to explore the delicate materials that the mirrors are made of, combined their visions and the start of Reflections was a fact. The collection sums up their perspectives of how to provide new expressions through strength and form, the mirrors are designed with a strong visual structure to create a contrast of light and reflections through non-traditional mirror images. A concept built on Julie’s flair for design and production, Andrea’s eye for interior and colors together with their shared vision of creating a product that unites art and decor. Remember, everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you made. If you want a different result, make a different choice Welcome to the world of Reflections. The beauty of craftsmanship All Reflections...
Crystal
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
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
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
$1,810 / item
Platinum River Vase by Angeliki Stamatakou
Located in Geneve, CH
Platinum River vase by Angeliki Stamatakou One of a kind, 2022, Featured in Milan Design Week Dimensions: H13 x W12 cm. Materials: Stoneware, clear glaze, platinum. Angeliki St...
Platinum
Large Old Rose Glass Vase "Cartoccio" in the style of Fontana Arte, 1980s, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
The design is of the 30s, but this vase is made in the 1980s. This handmade vase is in the style of Fontana Arte. It is made in old rose and has a very nice ‘Cartoccio’ (paper bag) s...
Murano Glass
Lotuso Black Marble Decorative Bowl by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Lotuso Black Marble Decorative Bowl by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 31 x W 31 x H 8 cm. Materials: Black marble. Different marble and ceramic options available. Custom options available on request. Please contact us. Our mission is to encourage people to make their home the best place to be, to get inspired and to receive friends and family. Designed and manufactured by ourselves, we offer lightings to help people creating distinctive living spaces. Enhancing the authenticity of natural and organic materials using associations and contrasts. Extreme quality behind a facade of ultra-minimalism. We find our materials to the source to ensure we give the best value...
Marble
$2,792 / item
Satori 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Satori 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Earthenware sculpture Dimensions: D23 x W32 x H45 cm When Japanese Mountain Gods appear as children, they are known as Satori. Satori...
Earthenware
$2,544 / item
Haniwa Warrior 12 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Haniwa Warrior 12 sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: black stoneware sculpture Dimensions: D11 x W33 x H59 cm My interpretation of ancient clay figurine...
Stoneware
Sienna with Blue Drip Mercury Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Sienna with blue drip 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...
Resin, Plaster
$6,241 / item
Tray Object 002 by Louise Roe
Located in Geneve, CH
Tray Object 002 by Louise Roe Dimensions: Ø 50 x H 8 cm. Materials: Polished steel. THE ROE STUDIO TRAY OBJECT 002 Our Metal Tray in Chrome exhibits a dis...
Steel
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
Small Black Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson - Post-Modern Design
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Black Leather Desk Mat by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 0.4 cm Materials: Leather Our leather desk mats are made of vegetable tanned...
Leather
$505 / item
Roca Sculpture by Vica Ceramica
Located in Geneve, CH
Roca sculpture by Vica Ceramica Dimensions: D 17 x H 27 cm Materials: High Temp. Ceramic. VICA CERÁMICA-STUDIO is a design and sculpture studio es...
Enamel
$879 / item
Coral Patina Pluto Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Coral patina pluto vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 13 x D 13 x H 14 cm Materials: plaster, resin Molded, dyed, and finished by hand in LA. Customization Available. All pieces...
Resin, Plaster
$1,845 / item
King Violet Vase by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
King violet vase by Purho Dimensions: D20 x H40 cm Materials: Glass Other colours and dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design, a work of sy...
Glass
$2,127 / item
Kountess Vase by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Kountess vase by Purho Dimensions: D 25 x H 18 cm Materials: glass Other colours and dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made i...
Glass
$1,081 / item
Fine Handcut Crystal Oklahoma Tray
Located in Geneve, CH
Fine handcut crystal Oklahoma tray Materials: Fine handcut crystal Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 30 cm Weight: 7.5 kg. Reflections Copenhagen, a collection of handmade decorative mirrors and crystal pieces, finely balanced to Challenge the traditional styles and shapes of todays’ homes by adding new dimensions and possibilities to interior decorating. Julie Hugau and Andrea Larsson, inspired by the graphic expression of Art Deco, the vast contrasts of the 1980s and the opportunity to explore the delicate materials that the mirrors are made of, combined their visions and the start of Reflections was a fact. The collection sums up their perspectives of how to provide new expressions through strength and form, the mirrors are designed with a strong visual structure to create a contrast of light and reflections through non-traditional mirror...
Crystal
$7,600Sale Price|20% Off
Large Post Modern Lucite Sculpture by Norman Mercer c 1991
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular post modern sculpture by noted artist Norman Mercer, signed and dated ( Aug. '91 ). This impressive piece is created of colored lucite, which creates a mesmerizing prismatic effect, changing colors and hues as you change your perspective. The large lucite diamond...
Lucite
Unique MOSI Sculptural Sidetable by Marthine Spinnangr
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique MOSI sculptural sidetable by Marthine Spinnangr One of a Kind Dimensions: D 28 x W 24 x H 48 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
Joel O'Dorisio for Lost Angel Glass Bud Vase, American Studio Art Glass, 2005
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Fused glass vase features complex multilayered colored glass core in dark Bordeau or burgundy red, cream, and sapphire blue colors, encased in clear glass in sommerso technique. Com...
Glass, Sommerso, Art Glass
$18,618 / item
Analogic Sci-Fi Grey Vase by Mut Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Analogic Sci-Fi Grey Vase by Mut Design Limited Edition Dimensions: D 25 x W 25 x H 45 cm. Materials: Glass colored. Inspired by computer motherboards and the flamboyant spacecraft...
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
$259 / 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
Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Vanni Viviani Monumentalmente Vostro
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Vanni Viviani, a well known artist of years 80' in Italy. This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1000 pieces; we ca...
Bronze
$3,878 / item
Handmade Sphere of Colors by Le Meduse
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Sphere Of Colors by Le Meduse Unique piece Dimensions: W 30, D 30, H 30 cm Materials: Painted wood. Each model is unique because it is handmade, it can be reproduced i...
Other
$744Sale 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
Mackenzie-Childs Black and White Plate or Dish, 1993
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful authentic designer plate or dish by designers' MacKenzie-Childs, circa 1990s, New York. A rare piece, hand-painted plate with a black and wh...
Art Glass
$530 / item
Ice Petri Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Ice 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 to ord...
Resin, Plaster
Danish Designer, Vase, Ceramic, Denmark, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed budded ceramic vase, designed and produced in Denmark, c. 1970s.
Ceramic
$176 / item
Strawberry Vase by Siup Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Strawberry Vase by Siup Studio Dimensions: D11 x H20cm Materials: Ceramics Siup is a small design studio based in Warsaw. The concept is created b...
Ceramic
Pine Candlestick Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pine candlestick holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: Pine bark, brass Dimensions: H 45 mm x D 105 mm Colour: Reddish Notes: For dry use Since 2015, product...
Brass
$2,127 / 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
$1,198 / 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
Queens Crystal T-Light Holder, Handsculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Queens crystal T-light holder, handsculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Handsculpted in crystal Measures: W 9, H 13.8, D 4 cm Art Deco is a distinctive architectural s...
Crystal
$22,085 / item
Cf Te2.1 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te2.1 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 65 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produce...
Ceramic
Ash Candle Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash candle holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: ash, brass Dimensions: H 55 mm x D 65 mm Colour: yellow/light brown Notes: for dry use Since 2015, product d...
Brass
$1,222 / item
Small Glowing Vase Table Lamp by Dechem Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Small glowing vase table lamp by Dechem Studio. Dimensions: D 25.5 x H 23.5 cm. Materials: glass. Available in 2 sizes: H 23.5, H 38.5 cm. Something between vase and lamp, Glow...
Glass
$4,043 / item
Hand Carved Marble Sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand carved marble sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel Dimensions: D 10 x W 12.5 x H 60 cm Materials: marble Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzerland in 1961. Alrea...
Marble
Set of 4 Twirling Birds Sculputes by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 twirling birds sculputes by Warm Nordic Dimensions: Small: D8,5 x W2,5 x H3,6 cm Medium: D9 x W4,5 x H4 cm Large: D15 x W3,7 x H4,3 cm X-la...
Oak, Teak, Walnut
Yellow-Yellow Cochlea Della Liberazione Soils Edition Vase by Coki Barbieri
Located in Geneve, CH
Yellow-yellow Cochlea Della Liberazione Soils edition vase by Coki Barbieri Dimensions: W 14 x D 14 x H 30 cm. Materials: Handcrafted stone made with Matera stone fragments, sedime...
Stone
Blob Vase by Siup Studio, Ceramic, Post-Modern Design, Poland, 2023
Located in Geneve, CH
Blob Vase by Siup Studio Dimensions: D12 x W17 x H15cm Materials: Ceramics Siup is a small design studio based in Warsaw. The concept is created by th...
Ceramic
$812 / 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
Memphis Crystal T-Light Holder, Handsculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Memphis crystal T-light holder, handsculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Handsculpted in crystal Measures: W 6 H 26.5 D 6 cm The Memphis crystal T-Light holder introdu...
Crystal
Chicago Azure Crystal T-Light Holder, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Chicago Azure crystal T-light holder, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Hand-sculpted in crystal Measures: W 10, H 13, D 10 cm. The Reflections Copenhagen Chic...
Crystal