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.
1990s Postmodern Studio Pottery Ceramic Sculpture Hand Signed by The Artist.
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage 1990s Postmodern Studio Pottery Ceramic Sculpture Hand Signed by The Artist. Signed Lored 1990 Feature a rounded seashell fossil shape with contrasting black glazing and matt...
Pottery, Ceramic
Sergio Bustamante Signed Man At Window Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce vintage ceramic art sculpture by legendary 20th century Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante (b.1949). Fantastical surrealist style hand pa...
Earthenware
Vintage Postmodern Tessellated Stone Abalone Shell Decorative Box, 1970s
By Karl Springer, Maitland Smith
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A striking vintage postmodern decorative box showcasing the luxurious craftsmanship associated with late 20th century tessellated stone furniture and accessories. Hand clad in richly...
Marble, Brass
Post-Modern Solid Marble Orb Vase in Green Granite, Sculptural Stone Vessel
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautifully proportioned postmodern stone vase, carved from a single block of solid marble with a softly rounded orb form. The surface reveals a richly variegated green and grey ma...
Marble
1980s Pink Heart Wall Clock by Lorenz
By Lorenz
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fun round postmodern Lorenz wall clock with multi-color accents from Japan. A pink case, white face, red and blue heart hands, red heart second hand, and red and blue hearts for n...
Plastic
Vintage Italian Postmodern Candleholder in Metal, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Italian Postmodern Candleholder in Metal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Brown Styles: Postmodern Cou...
Metal
Marcelo Morandín Foundation of Tenochtitlan Eagle With Snake Sculpture
Located in Mexico City, MX
A plated bronze eagle sculpture by Argentine-born Mexican sculptor Marcelo Morandín. The ethereal sculpture depicts Mexico's national symbol and coat of arms, an eagle devouring a ra...
Stone, Bronze
Gail Markiewicz Hand Built Sculptural Ceramic Vessel in Pastel and Blush Tones
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A sculptural hand-built ceramic vessel by American ceramic artist Gail Markiewicz. Executed in the artist's signature patchwork construction technique, the vessel is composed of indi...
Ceramic, Pottery
Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso with White Canes, Italy
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This is an extremely fine vase, designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso's company in Murano. It is made in hand-blown glass with white canes. This is...
Murano Glass
Stephen Kaye Post-Modern Floor Vase, Pottery & Plaster, 20th Century
By Stephen Kaye
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A monumental studio pottery vessel by American ceramic artist Stephen Faye, distinguished by its dramatic rounded form and richly layered metallic surface. The hand-crafted ceramic b...
Pottery, Ceramic
Riedel x Mesa Design Large Black Centerpiece Glass Bowl, Post-Modern Italy, 1980
Located in Vienna, AT
A straight and large, 14 inches diameter postmodern centerpiece glass bowl from the 1980s. Crafted from deep black glass, this bowl stands out with its reduced, elegant design, featu...
Art Glass
$212Sale Price|20% Off
Post-modern Art Glass Vase by Odd Ingar Karlengen for Hallingglass Norway
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Almost every color imaginable appears in the palette of this studio art glass vase by Norwegian Glass Designer Odd Ingar Karlengen. It is signed by hand and its a piece unique made a...
Art Glass
Postmodern Pink Scavo Glass Decorative Fish Figure, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This fish is made in scavo glass. It is vintage, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in excellent original condition. Mea...
Murano Glass
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan. Dimensions: W 14 x D 14 x H 18 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artis...
Ceramic
$356Sale Price|25% Off
Leather Suede Jewelry Catchall
Located in New York, NY
A light brown/tan leather and suede jewelry catchall, Postmodern design, circa late-20th century. A square leather and suede catchall with round corners. Piece has a leather exterior...
Leather, Suede
Pyramid-shaped stacked ceramic ashtrays / centerpiece, Amalgames, France, 1980s
Located in Firenze, IT
Pyramid-shaped stacked ceramic ashtrays / centerpiece Amalgames, France, 1980s Set of 3 ashtrays / vide poche / centerpiece H 25 cm - 25 × 25 cm Conditions: excellent consistent ...
Ceramic
$37,658Sale Price|20% Off
The great Force of Nature in Elvio Becheroni's Amazonia series
Located in Milano, IT
"The Great Force of Nature" by Elvio Becheroni is a majestic sculpture, part of the series "Amazonia - Disenchanted Forest," embodying the artist's deep respect for nature and, at th...
Wood
$350 / item
1980s Black Postmodern Wall Clock by Citizen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A truly stunning and rare Memphis Milano inspired wall clock made in Japan by Citizen. Black case, black face with a dot at 12 o'clock and "CITIZEN" at 6 o'clock, and amazing multi-...
Metal
Henry Summa Sommerso Helix Sculpture, American Studio Art Glass
By Henry Summa
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Graphic art glass sculpture or paperweight was created with intertwining blue glass spiral coil helixes and controlled bubbles core fused in clear glass layer in sommerso technique. The sculpture has triangular shape with slightly elevated base and soft, rounded edges; the minimal shape of the piece allows the bold flow of the pattern to take the center stage. The vase is signed and dated by the artist in etching on the bottom; it is in good vintage condition with minimal, age-appropriate signs of use on the bottom. Rare, hard to find example of New Mexico studio glass would make a great gift to any studio glass or art collector. Henry Summa (1949-2008) has been working in glass since 1972. His early training in the glass arts was based on an apprenticeship at renowned Glory Hole Glassworks in New Mexico. Canyon Road Studio, known then as Glory Hole Glassworks, was owned by Peter Vanderlaan...
Art Glass, Sommerso
Black and Red Blown Murano Glass Fish Decorative Figure, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Murano, Italy, 1980s. This fish is made in hand-blown sommerso Murano glass with murrains. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be conside...
Murano Glass
1980s 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! Black with white, red, green, ...
Glass, Plastic
Collection of Five Turned Wood Artisan-Created, Hand-Carved, Wood Boxes, Japan
Located in Round Top, TX
A collection of five (5) wood boxes: Two are by studio artist L.W. Joy and were all created in the early 2000's and are turned from two exotic hardwood species. They are the two sma...
Felt, Wood
V21144 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
V21144 Vessel in Natural Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 21 x W 31,5 x H 17 cm. Materials: Oak wood. In Pietschmann’s sculptures, trees that for centuries were part of a ...
Oak
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
$192Sale Price|41% Off
Post Modern Baldelli Porcelain Candle Holder, Made In Italy
By Baldelli
Located in San Carlos, CA
Vintage Baldelli Candle Holder: A Touch of Italian Charm Add a pop of color and European elegance to your home with this stunning vintage candle holder from Baldelli. Crafted in It...
Porcelain
Postmodern Light Peach Corrugated Cardboard Vase by Flute, Chicago
Located in Miami, FL
Corrugated cardboard vase rendered in light peach by Flute, Chicago circa 1980s. Best to use with dried arrangements.
Natural Fiber
“Mark the School Teacher” Figural Ceramic Bust by Xiang Yang for Currey & Co.
By Currey & Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking and whimsical figural ceramic bust titled “Mark the School Teacher,” designed by Xiang Yang for Currey & Company. This sculptural work exemplifies Yang’s distinctive a...
Ceramic
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan. Dimensions: W 27 x D 26 x H 18 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artis...
Ceramic
Vintage Postmodern Ceramic Pique Fleur Vase, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Ceramic Pique Fleur Vase, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Style: Postmodern Color: Beige Item Ty...
Ceramic
$1,160 / item
Camino Small
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
The transcendent character of decision making and its consequences, which are inflection points in everyday life, are concepts that are through the new collection by Sebastián Ángele...
Brass
Post-Modern American Studio Raku Ceramic Covered Vessel or Box, circa 1980s
Located in San Diego, CA
Expressive American studio raku ceramic covered vessel dating to the late 20th century. This sculptural postmodern form features a hand-built matte charcoal-black body raised on four...
Pottery
$832Sale Price|34% Off
Postmodern Tessellated Stone Inlay Mod Cachepot / Planter Attrib. Maitland-Smith
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Postmodern Tessellated Stone Inlay Mod Cachepot/PPlanter, Attributed to Maitland-Smith, Circa 1980s This striking postmodern tessellated stone inlay cachepot/planter, attributed to...
Stone
Vintage Flower Art Glass Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Flower Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style Murano of Italy, circa 1980s. This heavy vintage art glass egg paperweight, crafted in the style of Murano, showcases a vibrant ...
Art Glass
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
Vintage Italian Korno Thermos Coffee or Tea Bottle by G. Gagliani, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Italian Postmodern Korno Thermos Coffee or Tea Bottle by G. Gagliani for Macabo, Milano and Alfi, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attr...
Plastic
Joke Stroes Luster Glazed Studio Pottery Object for Mobach The Netherlands 1980s
By Mobach
Located in Meer, VAN
Joke Stroes Studio Pottery Object for Mobach, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 1980s. Wonderful post-modern studio pottery object by renowned studio pottery master Joke Stroes for Mobach, ...
Pottery
Bitossi Ceramiche Hand Turned Vase by Marco Zanini
By Bitossi, Marco Zanini
Located in Toronto, ON
Designed by Marco Zanini for Bitossi, this stacked-form vase plays with scale and colour, layering conical and cylindrical shapes in glossy green, cobalt, and deep black for a compos...
Ceramic
Majestic Postmodern Brutalist Glass & Stainless Steel Pair of Candle Holders
By Philippe Starck, Danny Lane
Located in San Diego, CA
Majestic unique pair of candle holders with a brutalist glass finish and polished stainless frames incredible design circa 1980's.
Stainless Steel
$706 / item
Liconchi Vase by Marioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Liconchi Vase by Marioni Dimensions: W 49 x D 20 x H 18 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Product code: 02271 As a reminder of the geological shapes of the rock cavity, the Liconchi vase exp...
Ceramic
Large Raku Pottery Cat on Lucite Base by Tony Evans
By Tony Evans
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice large raku pottery sitting cat on lucite base by noted artist Tony Evans, circa 1980s. The piece is signed on the base and extremely well crafted; it has wonderful green ...
Pottery, Lucite
Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi & Sieger Design
Located in Hamburg, DE
Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi & Sieger Design for Ritzenhoff, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional inf...
Ceramic
1980s White 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! White with red, green, and yel...
Glass, Plastic
Sitting Black & White Cat Art Glass Sculpture by Maciej Habrat, 1990s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage art glass sculpture features an expressionist, Modernist sitting cat figure in black and white fused glass; the use of clear glass and controlled air bubbles add texture and ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
German Postmodern Studio Line Vase by Werner Schreib for Rosenthal, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
German Postmodern Porcelain Studio Line Vase by Werner Schreib for Rosenthal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark, Official proof...
Porcelain
Postmodern Metal Wood Candleholder, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal Wood Candleholder, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Wood Color: Black Styles: Postmodern Item Type: ...
Metal
Kosta Boda Art Glass Vase by Kjell Engman, Sweden — Tall Sculptural
Located in San Diego, CA
Striking Swedish art glass vase designed by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda, one of Scandinavia’s most celebrated glasshouses. This example showcases Engman’s signature organic form—an e...
Art Glass
Alessi Round Polished Stainless Steel Tray Postmodern
By Alessi
Located in Bochum, NRW
Alessi Round Polished Stainless Steel Tray Postmodern. Round tray with a leased edge. Maker's mark on the bottom. Diameter 48cm. Good use condition with minor wear.
Stainless Steel
$220Sale Price / item|20% Off
Post Modern Candle Holders Signed By Tony Evans
By Tony Evans
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Post Modern candle holders signed on the underside By Tony Evans.
Brass
$1,153 / item
Shibui 12 Sculpture by WANAS
Located in Geneve, CH
Shibui 12 Sculpture by WANAS Dimensions: D 33 x W 33 x H 40 cm. Materials: Brass and wood. The size is customisable on request. Please contact us. Why is it that the simplest of th...
Brass
$1,129 / item
Shibui 03 Sculpture by WANAS
Located in Geneve, CH
Shibui 03 Sculpture by WANAS Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 38 cm. Materials: Brass and wood. The size is customisable on request. Please contact us. Why is it that the simplest of th...
Brass
Jeff Koons resin paperweight/sculpture for Guggenheim Bilbao "Flower Puppy"Cube
By Jeff Koons, Guggenheim Museum
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a rare sculpture , paperweight probably made for the gift shop in Bilbao Spain . for the Guggenheim as seen of the amazing art work of Jeff Koons of the Flower Puppy.
Resin
Neos Lorenz du Pasquier & Sowden Postmodern Clock
By Nathalie du Pasquier, George Sowden
Located in Chicago, IL
Neos Lorenz du Pasquier & Sowden Postmodern Clock A blue and purple plastic postmodern wall clock with yellow hands and numbers designed by Nathalie du Pasquier and George Sowden for...
Plastic
Postmodern Alarm Desk Clock Designed by Dietrich Lubs For Braun
By Dietrich Lubs, Braun
Located in San Diego, CA
Classic analouge alarm battery desk top clock simple elegant design , in great condition battery AA not included.Model BC01W
Plastic
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Sculptural Pawn Shape Brass Paperweight Made in England
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and whimsical brass paperweight that adds personality and style to your office or décor. The weighty piece is signed “Made in England” and adds style to any place. A great ...
Brass
Christopher Schumaker Set of 2 Wood, Lead and Bronze Sculptures
Located in Mexico City, MX
A set of abstract wood, lead and bronze sculpture by Canadian artist Christopher Schumaker. One is titled "Path", signed and dated on base 1985. Dimensions: 61.5 x 27 x 9 cm....
Bronze, Lead
Vintage Arthur Court Polished Aluminum Chickadee Paperweight
By Arthur Court
Located in Doraville, GA
Beautiful polished aluminum alloy partridge paperweight with ruby red eyes designed by Arthur Court Designs in 1992. The partridge is 3 1/2 inches long, 3.0 inches wide and 2 1/2 inc...
Aluminum
1980s Postmodern Black & Silver Pendulum Desk Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic postmodern vintage desk, mantel, or shelf clock with a oval base, rounded top case, geometric hands, and a silver pendulum 'ring' above the base of the clock that keeps t...
Plastic
Rare Pair Danish Post Modern Memphis Adjustable Candle Holders
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Very rare pair of Tall, Minimalist, Post Modern Adjustable Height, Candle Holders. Made in the Netherlands Beautiful lines and clever design. The disk that the candles rest upo...
Metal, Chrome
Lucite Abstract Art Sculpture 20th Century
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
This is a unique lucite art sculpture with a post-modern design. Three yellow circles are trapped within a 1 1/4” thick transparent lucite mold. Unsigned.
Lucite
$3,560Sale Price|25% Off
William Ludwig Bronze Figural Sculpture of a Warrior Dated 1987
Located in Peabody, MA
A 1980s bronze sculpture of a helmeted figure on a solid walnut base by Louisiana artist William Ludwig (1935-2011).. Although New England born in Hartford, CT., he was known as a so...
Bronze