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.
Large Vintage 80s Modern Black Ceramic Swirl Vase
Located in Fairfield, CA
An extra large vintage 80s modern ceramic vase. Nice cylinder shape with an embossed swirl design around the sides, finished in a glossy black glaze. A scul...
Ceramic
$5,713 / item
Crust N°2 by RF Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Crust N°2 by RF Studio Dimensions: W 34 x D 34 x H 49 cm Materials: Diverse recycled amazon timber Crust is part of the concept of skin that covers mineral and vegetable organisms a...
Wood
Danish Postmodern Glazed Studio Stoneware Bowl by Bing & Grøndahl
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Footed stoneware dish with asymmetrical edge. Decorated with dusty pink, plum purple, salmon and light green pastels. Unidentified ceramist in the postmodern style for B&G in Denmark...
Stoneware
Lucite Jewelry Vanity Box
Located in New York, NY
A square Lucite jewelry or trinket box, Postmodern design, circa late-20th century, 1990s. Great to hold jewelry or other small items on a vanity, des...
Lucite
Ophelia Purple Crystal T-Light Holder, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Ophelia purple crystal T-light holder, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Handsculpted in crystal Measures: W 9, H 7.8, D 9 cm The Ophelia purple crystal T-Ligh...
Crystal
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
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
Ophelia Rose Crystal T-Light Holder, Handsculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Ophelia rose crystal T-light holder, handsculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Handsculpted in crystal Measures: W 9 H, 7.8, D 9 cm. The Oph...
Crystal
Nashville Crystal T-Light Holder, Handsculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Nashville crystal T-light holder, handsculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Handsculpted in crystal Measures: W 8, H 18, D 8 cm The Nashville crystal T-Light holder rad...
Crystal
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
Modernist Executive Desk Ink Pen Holder
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple, elegant design on this executive pen holder circa 1980s. Made of solid steel with a metallic orange finish and a magnetic pen holder. In very nice condition with light surfac...
Steel
Hand Sculpted Burnt Brass POD Contemporary Art Bowl by Samuel Costantini
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass hand sculpted POD bowl by Samuel Costantini Entirely handmade by the artist Edition 18 + 2 AP Measures: D 12 x H 6 cm Materials: Brass Samuel Costantini The ability to create objects lies in the tradition in our hands. In ancient times, they were our only means of realising our thoughts. Artisan is the one with this ability to breathe life into the raw material. Since Samuel Constantin was a young boy has tried to create the objects of his imagination. He has always believed when you make an object you have created yourself it is possible to bequeath...
Brass
Large Abstract Pink Ceramic Planter
Located in Fairfield, CA
A large vintage postmodern ceramic planter. Unique organic abstract shape. Glossy pale blush finish to the ceramic.
Ceramic
Postmodern Round Pop Art Desk or Table Clock, Memphis Milano Style, Italy, 1990s
By Nathalie du Pasquier, George Sowden, Memphis Milano
Located in Vienna, AT
An eye-catching post-modern Pop-Art Italian desk or table clock from the early 1990s. Outstanding design, the housing is made of black rubber, it has a clear see-trough clocks face, ...
Plastic, Plexiglass, Rubber
1980s Opalescent Swirl Glass Vase by Larry Laslo for Mikasa
By Larry Laslo, Mikasa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lovely opalescent glass vase designed by Larry Laslo in the 1980s for Mikasa. Very heavy glass with a pronounced beautiful swirl and colors that shift depending on the vantage poin...
Art Glass
Tree Leaves Candlestick Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Tree leaves candlestick holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: tree leaves, brass Dimensions: H 45 mm x D 105 mm Co...
Brass
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
Pine Candle Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pine candle holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: pine, brass Dimensions: H 55 mm x D 65 mm Colour: reddish Notes: for dry use Since 2015, product designer E...
Brass
Mocap "white/yellow" Illusionistic Wall Clock
By Jan Paul
Located in Maastricht, NL
“Time is an illusion” Most wall-clocks have the same basic shape: round. Also the same looking time-indication by numbers or stripes. “MOCAP” steps away from the basic. It’s appeara...
Steel
$392Sale Price|28% Off
Masa Mami Pink Satin Glaze Memphis Style Squiggle Vase
Located in View Park, CA
A monumental pink postmodern Memphis Milano style cylindrical ikebana vase with squiggle collar, late 20th century. Signed by artist Masa Mami. One fla...
Ceramic
Darkened Brass Eleven Candleholder by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Darkened Brass Eleven candleholder by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 7.6 x H 2 cm Materials: darkened brass Also available in polished brass. Milled from a solid piece of brass, the c...
Brass
$234 / item
Ripple Vessel by Derya Arpac
Located in Geneve, CH
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 architect and fu...
Oak, Fir
Orbit Bowl, Mexican White Onyx Stone, with Pink Marble Inlay
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
A sculptural centerpiece carved from solid white Onyx, this bowl celebrates the quiet elegance of natural stone. Its soft oval silhouette reveals delicate mineral veining. A subtle g...
Onyx, Steel, Nickel
$2,133 / item
FUWA FUWA, No. 15 Bottle by Yusuké Y. Offhause
Located in Geneve, CH
FUWA FUWA, No 15 bottle by Yusuke´ Y. Offhause One of a Kind, the work is in two parts (ceramic and glass). Dimensions: D 7 x W 7 x H 20.5 cm. Materials: stoneware, porcelain, gla...
Porcelain, Stoneware, Glass
$569Sale Price|20% Off
1980s Murano Glass Vase with Blue and Light Blue Canes and Avventurine
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This wonderful vase is made with two-colored Murano hand-blown glass canes. A drawing of this model can be found in the book on Dino Martens. It is a vintage p...
Murano Glass
$1,173 / item
Petalo Blue Small Vase by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Petalo blue small vase by Purho Dimensions: D20 x H22 cm Materials: Glass other colours and Dimensions are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in Italy design, a work of...
Glass
$312 / set
Pair of Plain Vases II by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of plain vases II by Studio Cúze Each piece is unique. Dimensions: W 7.5 x H 21 cm Materials: Ceramic Studio Cúze I am a Berlin based Japanese...
Ceramic
$369Sale Price|20% Off
Orange Blown and Etched Glass Tulip Vase by Carlo Moretti, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This wonderful tulip vase was designed by Carlo Moretti and is made in hand-blown and etched glass. It is labeled, but it is illegible. This is a vintage piece...
Blown Glass
Contemporary Enamel Painted Bronze Sculpture entitled "Frog" by Barry Stein
Located in London, GB
A charming limited edition enamel painted bronze study of an alert frog with excellent rich green colour. The bronze with fabulous colour and hand finished detail. Signed Barry Stein...
Bronze
Set of 3 Nero 52 Decorative Objects and Mirrors by Studio Lievito
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Nero 52 decorative object and mirror by Studio Lievito Dimensions: D20 x W20 x H15 // D23 x W23 X H30 // D24 x W24 X H52 cm Materials: Bucchero ceramic, mirror. Weight: 5.5 ...
Ceramic, Mirror
$3,911 / 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
$1,173 / item
Supernova IV Amber Iridescent M Vase by ELOA
Located in Geneve, CH
Supernova IV amber iridescent m vase by ELOA. No UL listed Material: glass Dimensions: D 15 x W 17 x H 36 cm Also available in different colours and dimensions. Supernova is a coll...
Glass
Unique Arq 005 Blanco, Hueso Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Arq 011 Blanco, Hueso vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz Dimensions: Ø 15.5 x 27 cm Materials: hand-sculpted glazed stoneware. The Arq series emerged from our own past pr...
Stoneware
Vintage Round Post Modern Green Marble Ashtray 1970 Made in Italy
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage carrara marble stone green Italian ashtray or catchall. Post Modern stylish post modern round green onyx marble stone ashtray with three indents...
Marble
$1,872 / set
Set of 2 Volcan Duo Vase by Sophie Parachey
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Volcan Duo vase by Sophie Parachey Dimensions Big: W 37 x D 27 x H 9.5 cm Dimensions Small: W 18 x D 9 x H 21 cm Materials: Raw handpicked clay from Guatemala Also avail...
Clay, Stoneware
Artifacts of Disharmony Yellow Buoy Sculpture by Tero Kuitunen
Located in Geneve, CH
Artifacts of disharmony yellow buoy sculpture by Tero Kuitunen. Material: Hand Blown glass, handbuild ceramic, leather. Dimensions: D 25 x H 29cm. ...
Ceramic, Leather, Glass
$592 / item
Large Candle Stick 2 by Michael Gittings
Located in Geneve, CH
Large candle stick 2 by Michael Gittings Dimensions: d 35 x w 35 x h 35 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Michael Gittings Michael Gittings imagines w...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Original Mixed Media Jenga Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This compelling original mixed media sculpture is a provocative blend of classical iconography and contemporary conceptualism. Centered on a substantial wooden box, the piece feature...
Wood
$4,077 / 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
$1,955 / item
Handemade Object #3 by Henry D'ath
Located in Geneve, CH
Handemade object #3 by Henry D'ath Dimensions: D 15 x H 60 cm Materials: wood, calligraphy Ink Piece is handmade by artist. Henry d’ath is a new zealand born, hong kong based...
Wood
PF03 Handmade Sculptural Bust On Wood Plinth by Object Atelier
Located in Geneve, CH
PF03 Handmade Sculptural Bust On Wood Plinth by Object Atelier One Of a Kind. Dimensions: D 20 x 20 x H 42 cm (Dimensions may vary). Materials: Natural fibers, aggregates, pigments, ...
Natural Fiber, Wood
Soft Outcome Hand Carved Marble Sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Soft Outcome hand carved marble sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel. Dimensions: D 22 x W 30 x H 38 cm. Materials: marble. Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzerland ...
Marble
$1,149 / item
Sky Pasteur Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Sky Pasteur vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 28 x D 28 x H 30 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin Molded, dyed, and finished by hand in LA. Customization Available. All pieces are ma...
Resin, Plaster
$1,149 / item
Sage and Turquoise Jupiter Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Sage and Turquoise Jupiter vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 28 x D 28 x H 30.5 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin Molded, dyed, and finished by hand in LA. Customization Available. ...
Resin, Plaster
$860 / item
Slate Blue Mercury Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Slate blue 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 PIECE...
Resin, Plaster
$886 / item
Bone and Ice Blue Pluto Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Bone and Ice blue 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 P...
Resin, Plaster
Cisco Jiménez Hand-Painted Big Ceramic Vase With Green And Black Lines
Located in Mexico City, MX
A big white ceramic vase hand-painted with green and black lines by Mexican artist Cisco Jiménez. The lines on the vase are entangled in a dynamic composition. The vase is signed and...
Ceramic
$704 / item
Burnt Mirror with Cuts by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Burnt mirror with cuts by Daniel Elkayam One of a Kind Dimensions: D 10 x W 27 x H 42 cm Materials: Burnt beech wood Jerusalem-born Art-designer and Photographer based in Te...
Wood
Vintage Bitossi Flavia Pottery Vase Londi Italian Turquoise Monochrome 10"
By Bitossi
Located in Wilton, CT
Bitossi Flavia vase in rouleau form with deep turquoise monochrome glaze. Hand turned. Circa 1980's (the Flavia name was used from about the mid seventies to the late nineties). 10 1...
Pottery
Postmodern Lucite Desk Pen Holder
Located in New York, NY
A Lucite and U.S. coppery penny decorated desk pen holder, Postmodern design period, United States of America. All copper pennies encased in Lucite are dated 1953 - 1981. A great des...
Copper
$1,564 / item
Dug Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Dug Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 45 x D 45 x H 46 cm. Materials: Ceramic. “Dug” evokes the essence of excavated earth, from which cl...
Ceramic
$1,434 / 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
Blue Murano vase by Alfredo Barbini, postmodern, label present
Located in Milano, IT
Alfredo Barbini for Vetrerie Murano Murano Glass Vase with Original Label 1990s A striking Murano glass vase by Alfredo Barbini for Vetrerie Murano, dating to the 1990s, and retaini...
Murano Glass
Popcorn Jar Up Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Popcorn Jar Up Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 23 x D 23 x H 37 cm. Materials: Ceramic. This piece is available in a wide range of hand...
Ceramic
Kathy Erteman, b.1952, Studio Artist Ceramic Vase Vessel, Postmodern, 1991
By Kathy Erteman
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Striking, early example of Kathy Erteman’s work, dating to 1991.
Ceramic
Popcorn Jug Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Popcorn Jug Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 24 x D 24 x H 28 cm. Materials: Ceramic. The “Popcorn Jug” from the Popcorn series captures...
Ceramic
1980 Lucite Copper Penny Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
An '80s modern or Postmodern period Lucite and copper U.S. penny paperweight, 1980, USA. All pennies are of the year 1980. A great desk accessory or ...
Copper
$1,955 / item
Rupture Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Rupture Sculpture in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 39 x D 39 x H 50 cm. Materials: Ceramic. “Rupture” explores the beauty of breakage and reinvent...
Ceramic
Big Sculptural Vase in Ceramic by Liliana Silva
Located in Geneve, CH
Big Sculptural Vase in Ceramic by Liliana Silva. Signed by Liliana Silva. Dimensions: W 35 x D 35 x H 39 cm. Materials: Ceramic. “Big” is an imposing presence in my collection, a ce...
Ceramic
Set of Two Salvador Dali Limited Edition Sculpture Lamp Drawers and Muletas
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of Two Salvador Dali Limited Edition Sculpture Lamp Drawers and Muletas Muletas and Drawers Lamp. Carved structure in black varnished limewood. Lampshade in black linen. The ...
Linen