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.
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
$1,560Sale Price|20% Off
Emerald Green Murano Glass Vase Archimede Seguso style 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large heavy and thick decorative art glass swung vase in emerald green Murano, Italy, 1960s. Measures: 42 inches tall x 8 inches diameter at the base. Colle...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Postmodern Italian Voilà Voilà Metal Tablet Bowl by Philippe Starck, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Voilà Voilà Metal Tablet Bowl by Philippe Starck for Alessi, 1980s, in Flawless conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional i...
Metal
Grenat Foncé Vase VI in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Vase VI in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 22 x H 46 cm. Materials: Clay with deep burgundy glaze. Dimensions may vary. Please ...
Clay
$1,625Sale Price|35% Off
Post Modern White Marble Ram Sheep Sculpture by Masatoyo Kishi Kuki 32/200
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Solid white marble modernist elephant sculpture by Japanese Artist Masatoyo Kishi, circa 1970s. Impressive hand-carved sculpture by the listed artist and sculptor who goes by the nam...
Marble
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Afacan. Dimensions: W 19 x D 16 x H 24 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artis...
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 20 x D 19 x H 32 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artis...
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
Postmodern Black Metal, Clear Acrylic and Steel Nails Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A Postmodern period clear and black acrylic and metal decorative object, circa late-20th century Piece is rectangular in shape, comprised of three pieces acrylic (black and clear), black metal screws and thin metal nails (approximately 500), making this an interesting Postmodern decorative object...
Metal
Memphis Style Ceramic Vase Shell by Florio Keramia
Located in Debrecen, HU
The SHELL vase, designed by Italian artist Luciano Florio Paccagnella for Florio Kerámia in the 1990s, is a striking example of postmodern ceramic design. Its sweeping, shell-inspire...
Ceramic
Memphis Style Ceramic Vase "Ilios" by Florio Keramia 1990s
Located in Debrecen, HU
The ILIOS vase, designed by Italian artist Luciano Florio Paccagnella in the 1990s, is a striking example of postmodern ceramic design. Its sculptural silhouette and brilliant red gl...
Ceramic
1985 Italy Cast Iron Abstract Sculpture by Urano Palma Cast Iron Throne
By Urano Palma
Located in Brescia, IT
This very intense and engaging artwork was created by Urano Palma that is a well known Italian artist who starts to create his artworks following the philosophy of Lucio Fontana. He ...
Iron
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
Signed & Limited Edition Art Glass Vase by Olle Brozén for Kosta Boda Sweden
By Kosta Boda
Located in München, BY
Tall, elegant and highly decorative art glass vase with stripes. Designed by Olle Brozén for Kosta Boda Sweden, 1980s. Signed at the bottom: Olle Brozén. 7341012. Kosta Boda. Lim. Ed...
Art Glass
Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s
Metal
Salviati Murano Glass, Candle Holder /Centerpiece , Marked
By Salviati
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful glass holder made by Salviati, marked and dated 1998.
Glass
Memphis Milano Carrot Vase by Nathalie Du Pasquier
By Nathalie du Pasquier, Memphis Milano
Located in Toronto, ON
Nathalie Du Pasquier focuses on contrasting colours for Carrot, a cylindrical handpainted blue ceramic vase with two bands relying on decorative decals, sublimated in the kiln. Desig...
Ceramic, Paint
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
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
Vintage Postmodern German Studio Pottery Vase, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern German Studio Pottery Vase, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Material: Ceramic Color: Blue Styles: Postmodern Country of Or...
Ceramic
Resin and Steel Sawfish Shaped Sculpture
By Viktor Mtz 1
Located in Mexico City, MX
An unusual dark resin sculpture in the shape of a sawfish rostrum by Mexican artist Viktor Martínez. The piece is mounted on an Industrial style steel ...
Steel
$760Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Post-Modern Wood Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
A really cool and unique vintage post-modern wood sculpture, circa 1967. The industrial looking piece is in good vintage condition and measures ...
Wood
$22,648 / item
Extra Large High Clay Bathtub by Studio Loho
Located in Geneve, CH
Extra large high clay bathtub by Studio Loho Dimensions: D 85 x W 178 x H 54 cm Materials: clay Other colors and raw or smooth exterior available. Available in 4 sizes: W 130 (Small ...
Clay
Jensen Kvarnes Fish Sculpture, American Studio Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Playful "Seela" fish sculpture features colorful fused glass body in green, blue, and purple palette; the colored glass is encased in clear glass layer in sommerso technique, adding...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso
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
$800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Three Post-Modern Geometric Ceramic Vases 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
Richard Meier Postmodern Silverplate Candlestick for Italian Swid Powell, 1980's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Silver-plated candlestick designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell, Italy. This striking postmodern design exemplifies Meier’s sculptural, architectural approach, bringing bold pres...
Silver Plate
Heino Large pottery / ceramic vase , rare Chinese Yellow Celadon glaze
By Otto Heino
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing studio pottery vase by the well known potter Otto Heino . This vase has the rare Yellow Celadon glaze , that the formula was lost for the Chinese artists and Otto created it ...
Ceramic
Ritratto Blue Wall Hanging Flower Vase Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Alessandro Mendini, Marutomi
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"Ritratto" flower vase for the wall designed by Alessandro Mendini for Marutomi. Designed in the late 90s and start production in 2000. No longer production. New old stock in box. W...
Plastic
Mid-Century German Glass Block Bubble Vase from Karl Friedrich Glass, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Glass Block Bubble Vase from Karl Friedrich Glass, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 official proof of authenticit...
Glass
$1,914 / item
Structured By Nature Large Vase by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Structured By Nature Large Vase by David Valner Dimensions: D 22 x W 22 x H 72 cm. Materials: Glass. Weight: 9 kg. Finish: Large-size “bark” production style, orange color. “Authent...
Glass
1980's Postmodern Frosted Lucite Block Kinetic Radiometer Rare Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare kinetic Sculpture a radiometer encased lucite cube with a frosted finish , inside holds a blue glass radiometer that when light or sun goes thru start spining a beautiful and un...
Lucite
Contemporary Art Organic Form, Dark Grey Ceramic Bowl by Niclas Wolf
Located in Geneve, CH
Geoprimitive 122 Ceramic Bowl by Niclas Wolf Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 47 x H 35 cm. Materials: Ceramic. GEOPRIMITIVE_ is a design series that compares and connects the Precambria...
Ceramic
Contemporary Dark Grey Ceramic Hand-sculpted Candlestand by Niclas Wolf
Located in Geneve, CH
Geoprimitive 120 Sculptural Candlestand by Niclas Wolf Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 42 cm. Materials: Ceramic. GEOPRIMITIVE_ is a design series that compares and connects the ...
Ceramic
Ben Jones Untitled Ladder from the Ladder Series c. 2015
By Ben Jones
Located in Chicago, IL
Ben Jones Untitled Ladder from the Ladder Series c. 2015 Acrylic on wood construction. A sculptural work from Ben Jones's Ladder Series, reflecting the artist's distinctive visual la...
Wood
Set of 2 Postmodern Italian Metal Candleholders, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Metal Candleholders, 1980s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Wood Color: Black Country of Origi...
Metal
Postmodern Abstract Scupture by Curtis Jere Signed & Dated Marble & Steel MCM
By Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
Majestic and rare sculpture by Curtis Jere, circa 1990 signed and dated, solid raw steel with original patina and oxidation, sitting on solid marble cylinder base.
Belgian Black Marble, Steel
Tea 1750 Collection Sculptural Divan by AMBER x IÑIGO CALLEJA
Located in Geneve, CH
Tea 1750 Collection Sculptural Divan by AMBER x IÑIGO CALLEJA Dimensions: W 180 x D 100 x H 100 cm. Materials: Old Tea Beams, Steel. Iñigo Calleja is an engineer, designer and sou...
Steel
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
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
$3,782 / item
Untitled No. 51 Vase by Marea Hildebrand
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled No. 51 Vase by Marea Hildebrand Handmade Dimensions: D 36 x W 36 x H 36 cm Materials: Stoneware with slip. Marea Hildebrand (b. 1989) is a Zurich-based ceramic artist with...
Stoneware
Robert Eickholt Large Dichroic Disc Sculpture, American Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage art glass sculpture features complex central structure of fused colored and dichroic glass with layered gold foil fragments, surrounded by controlled bubbles, encased inside...
Gold
Marble Male and Female Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A substantial Post-Modern or modern style marble head/bust carved figurative sculpture piece of two people embraced side-by-side, circa mid to late-20th century. Marble is grey with ...
Marble
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
Postmodern Modern Marble and Brass Ashtray Box, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A chic Postmodern marble and brass sphere ball ashtray box, circa 1970s. Piece makes a great decorative object box as well as an ashtray (three indents ar...
Marble, Brass
Postmodern Table Clock, 1980s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Tis Postmodern is part of unique series of 24 hand made wall or table clock by the young designer Ernest Hofman from 1980s.Each clock is unikue.
Wood
1980 Vintage Sculpture Post Modern Abstract Bronze the Bather
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Roberto Nanut, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy. This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1.000 pieces; we can...
Bronze
Postmodern German Minimalist Vase from Arzberg, 1980s
By Arzberg
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern German Minimalist Vase from Arzberg, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional...
Porcelain
Large Postmodern German Studio Pottery Vase from Ernst Loesche, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Large Postmodern German Studio Pottery Vase from Ernst Loesche, 1980s
Ceramic
Swedish Designer, Bowl, Burl Wood, Sweden, 1983
Located in High Point, NC
A burl wood bowl designed and produced in Sweden, 1983.
Wood, Burl
Abstract Figure Sculpture in White by Vicki Arthur
Located in Los Angeles, CA
White sculpted clay abstract figure. Signed - Vicki Arthur '99 Additional information Material: Clay Creator: Vicki Arthur Item type: Vintage Dimensions: 10 W x 7 D x 2.5 H in Condi...
Clay
$550Sale Price / set|20% Off
Post-Modern wrought iron candlesticks, Sweden, 1980s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Post-Modern wrought iron and oak candle holders, Sweden, 70s. Made of hand-worked wrought iron and chrome-plated, and stained oak wood. Of a certain brutalist style mixed with Memphi...
Chrome, Wrought Iron
$3,782 / item
Drop No. 2 Stoneware Vase by Studio Cupla
Located in Geneve, CH
Drop No. 2 Stoneware Vase by Studio Cupla Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 35 x W 45 x H 40 cm. Materials: Ceramics, stoneware. 15 Kg. A mound of molten clay that is deposited on the gr...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Set of 2 Postmodern Athena Bowl by M. Peppercorn & Sieger Design for Ritzenhoff
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Athena Bowl by M. Peppercorn & Sieger Design for Ritzenhoff, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional infor...
Ceramic
$6,590 / item
Fragment 25 by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Fragment 25 by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 49 x H 42 cm Material: Unglazed white stoneware. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korean ceramics as w...
Stoneware
Set of Two Mark Brazier-Jones Candlesticks Model Olympia 1990s, Signed & Dated
Located in München, BY
Gorgeous set of two candlesticks. The set consists of one table and one wall candlestick. Model Olympia. Created by Mark Brazier-Jones. Both are signed and dated: Wall Candlestick: M...
Copper, Steel
$21,536 / item
CF Te1.12 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te1.12 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 64 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produc...
Ceramic
Vintage Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal Styles: Postmodern Period: 1980s Item Type: Vi...
Metal