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.
$2,297 / item
Balance Sculpture II by Sofia Tufvasson
Located in Geneve, CH
Balance sculpture II by Sophie Rogers Dimensions: W 17 x H 15 Materials: Ceramic, glaze Other glaze colors available. The inspiration comes f...
Ceramic
$213Sale Price / set|57% Off
Set of Three 1980s Blue Green Ceramic Vases / Candle Sticks
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Set of three handmade Danish ceramic vases / candle sticks with graphic decor using the raw ceramic as part of a straight lined pattern resembling a landscape or a sunset. Same stylized decoration in blues and aqua green on all three vases. A small handmade ridge on the inside of each item makes for perfect placement of tea lights. A 80s ceramic...
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
Original 1977 Tapio Wirkkala "Paper Bag" Ceramic Vase for Rosenthal
Located in Malmö, SE
Original Tapio Wirkkala "Paper Bag" porcelain Vase for Rosenthal. Early production, made between 1979 and 1980. Excellent condition. Marked 'Rosenthal' 'Studio Linie' and 'Germany'...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$1,990 / item
Haniwa Warrior 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Haniwa Warrior 11 Sculpture by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Black stoneware sculpture Dimensions: D11 x W31 x H65 cm My interpretation of ancient clay figurine...
Stoneware
$2,888 / 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
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Black Corrugated Cardboard Vase by Flute, Chicago
Located in Miami, FL
Corrugated cardboard vase rendered in matte black by Flute, Chicago circa 1980s. Vase sits at a slight angle. Best to use with dried arrangements.
Paper
Unique Elementa Trivet in Satin Brass by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Elementa Trivet/ Fruit Holder/ Paper Roll Holder in Brass by Mingardo Dimensions: D9 x H2.5 cm Materials: natural satin brass and natural varnished iron Weight: 2 kg Also av...
Brass, Iron
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
A Very Unusual Patchwork Collage Ceramic Rhinoceros.
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Very Unusual Patchwork Collage Ceramic Rhinoceros. This charming Rhinoceros is by La Vie Collage is from the Safari Collection it has a patchwork decoration of jungle animals T...
Ceramic
$1,125 / 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
$1,125 / item
Sterling Pasteur Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Sterling 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 a...
Resin, Plaster
$1,125 / 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
$1,125 / item
Blue Ombre Jupiter Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue Ombre 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. CUSTOMI...
Resin, Plaster
$867 / 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
$1,229 / item
Polidor Tray in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Polidor Tray in Powder-Coated Aluminium by altreforme Dimensions: Ø 80 x H 3 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Available in different graphics. Dimensions may vary. Please cont...
Aluminum, Other
$1,786 / item
Under Sheets Sculpture by Ana Botezatu
Located in Geneve, CH
Under sheets sculpture by Ana Botezatu Dimensions: D 33 x W 28 x H 8.5 cm Materials: Glazed earthenware Ana Botezatu (b. 1982, Bra?ov (former Kronstadt), Romania) lives and work...
Earthenware
$2,088 / 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
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
Paul Hoff for Gustavsberg — Limited Edition Stoneware Pumpkin, 1989
By Paul Hoff, Gustavberg
Located in Bochum, NRW
A rare and beautifully crafted stoneware pumpkin by renowned Swedish designer Paul Hoff, produced by Gustavsberg in 1989. This striking piece comes from a limited edition of only 15...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$2,285 / item
Kiss Me Vase in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Kiss Me Vase in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Dimensions: Ø 13 x H 45 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Iconic vase tribute to the lipstick, fundamental ladies’ ally and...
Aluminum, Other
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
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
Mid-20th Century Hand Blown Glass "Horse Head" by Archimede Seguso
Located in London, GB
An enchanting hand-blown glass horse head by Archimede Seguso which embodies both power and refinement, capturing the noble spirit of the animal in fluid, sculptural form. The sweepi...
Glass
Postmodern Black and Terracotta Ceramic Bowl, 1980s 1990s
By Mikasa
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful black ceramic and terracotta bowl, Postmodern design period, circa late-20th century, 1980s, 1990s. Made in Portugal. Bowl has a black glazed ceramic exterior/interior an...
Ceramic, Terracotta
1970s Lucio Del Pezzo Trigon Italian Design Neodada Framart Wood Sculpture
Located in Brescia, IT
Lacquered wood Limited edition of 100 pieces Original wood box Excellent condition.
Wood
White Woven Wicker Pottery Centerpiece Bowl
Located in New York, NY
A chic round off-white/antique white 'woven' 'wicker' pottery centerpiece bowl with soft edge, circa late-20th century to the early aughts. Beautiful as a standalone piece or fill wi...
Ceramic, Pottery
Original Surrealist Painted Mannequin Torso Sculpture Mona Lisa Portrait 1970s
Located in Troy, MI
Unique artist-made painted mannequin sculpture circa 1970s Torso of a vintage female mannequin serves as a three dimensional canvas, hand-painted with a surreal reinterpretation of ...
Fiberglass, Paint
Modern Steel and Brass Vessel
By Erik Johnson, Argosy Designs
Located in Treadwell, NY
DUAL VESSEL NO.1 Hot-rolled steel plate, various brass alloys Dimensions: 10” L x 6.25” W x 10.75” H Weight: 15lbs 1 of 1
Brass, Steel
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
Ritratto Red Wall Hanging Flower Vase Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Marutomi, Alessandro Mendini
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
Radical Memphis style table clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white dial on black background. Designer's signature visible on the ...
Metal
$1,090 / item
Amphora Maxi Vase in Polished Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
Amphora Maxi Vase in Polished Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 38 x H 60 cm. Materials: Polished aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or polished aluminum. Available in two d...
Aluminum
Vintage Black Abstract Tessellated Stone Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
Elevate your space with this compelling abstract sculpture, meticulously crafted from high-quality tessellated stone. Featuring a distinctive black hue interspersed with intricate gr...
Stone
Richard Marquis Latticino Glass Cone Vase /Sculpture, by Noble Effort, 1985
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful glass latticing and murrains glass cone vase by the well known glass blower Richard Marquis.
Glass
$436Sale Price|20% Off
Tapio Wirkaala "Porcelaine Noire" Centerpiece for Rosenthal Studio Linie, 1970s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Centerpiece, fruit bowl, plate in black porcelain, vintage modernism, designed by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Linie “Porcelaine Noire” serie...
Porcelain
Amphora Mini Vase in Licorice Glossy Varnished Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
Amphora Mini Vase in Licorice Glossy Varnished Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 40 cm. Materials: Aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or polished aluminum. Available ...
Aluminum
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
Post-Modern Ceramic Sculptural Vase by MarCo M.A.C. Sculpture, California 1980s
By MAC
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking Postmodern ceramic vase by MarCo for M.A.C. Sculpture, California, dating to the 1980s. This architectural form features a bold, stacked profile with flared cylindrical op...
Ceramic
Vintage Glass Wall Clock Green and Orange Murano Memphis Style Italy, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage glass wall clock Green and orange Murano Memphis Style Italy, 1980s This unique vintage wall clock impresses with its high-contrast design in Memphis style. The square shape...
Glass
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
Tapio Wirkkala and Dorothy Hafner Vase for Rosenthal
By Dorothy Hafner, Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Oslo, NO
Refreshing vase from the 'Century New Wave' series in porcelain. Designed by Tapio Wirkkala and Dorothy Hafner. Made by Rosenthal from 1985. The vase is an exemplary piece from...
Porcelain
Stroma Sculptural Candelabra in Forged Steel by Metalmorphosis Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Stroma Sculptural Candelabra in Wrought Iron by Metalmorphosis Studio Dimensions: Ø 45 x H 30 cm. Materials: Forged Steel Stroma is a wrought iron sculptural candelabra that referen...
Steel
Vintage Hand Blown Green Glass Centerpiece Bowl, Empoli, Italy, 1970s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Empoli, Italy, 1970s. It is a high-quality centerpiece made in green hand blown and modeled glass. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but...
Blown Glass
Miguel Berrocal Opus 294 Bronze Medal La Mecánica Electricidad Gijón 1980s
By Miguel Berrocal, Miguel Ortiz Berrocal
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Very rare and hard-to-find example, the Bronze medal Opus 294 was created by Miguel Berrocal as a commemorative piece for the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineers in Gijón...
Bronze
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
Sidney Cash Optical Glass Vases for the Museum of Modern Art NY MOMA
Located in Sharon, CT
Designed by Sydney Cash, very thin printed lines on very thin glass. two optical vases published in 2000 by The Museum of Modern Art NY, MOMA. Sidney Cash is an important contempora...
Glass
1980s French Postmodern Mantle Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A sculptural French postmodern mantel clock with blue and splatter painted supports, gray face and accents, and black numbers and hands. A fantastically contrasting low triangular s...
Wood
Crafted in Wood: "Circle in a Square" Single Piece of Maple Wood Bowl, 1980's
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Crafted in Wood: "Circle in a Square" Wood Bowl Post Modern / 1980's made / turned from a single piece of wood "fun on a horizontal surface but would also look great on a wall"
Maple
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
$2,200Sale Price|20% Off
Massive Tall Sculpture Solid Block of Lucite in Purple Tint
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful unique thick piece of Lucite in purple tint color, different shades as the light goes thru unsigned, circa 1970s.
Lucite
Postmodern Studio Ceramic Tall Candlestick by Michael Duvall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning and unique 1980s Michael Duvall (1950-2004) studio pottery candlestick. This piece features a striking sculptural form, showcasing vibrant colors, patterns and textures, w...
Ceramic
Ceramic Postmodern Geometric Abstract Sculpture 2 Piece by Lee Hun Chung 1990
By Lee Hun Chung
Located in San Diego, CA
Ceramic charcoal geometric Abstract sculpture by Hun-Chung Lee, Korea, signed and dated 1990. Very rare piece 2 piece sculpture one cube sits on the base.
Ceramic
$1,200Sale Price|50% Off
Elsa Fedrigolli Sculptural Glass 1980s Italian Vase
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful 1980s Post Modern blue glass sculptural vase on a bronze vase made by famed Italian designer, Esa Fedrigolli. Rare. Signed.
Bronze
1980 Lucio Del Pezzo Metalart Sculpture Italian Neodada Postmodern Design
Located in Brescia, IT
Metal sculpture Excellent condition.
Metal
Modern Brass and Copper Vessel
By Argosy Designs, Erik Johnson
Located in Treadwell, NY
SHADOW VESSEL (9:28 AM 9.14.23) Brass and copper Dimensions: 13” L x 2” W x 7.375” H Weight: 4.5lbs 1 of 1
Brass, Copper
Italian Postmodern Memphis Era Baldelli Ceramic Centerpiece Vase
Set of 2 Flowr Vases 21.5 cm in Sand Matt Glazed Ceramic by Roel Vandebeek
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Flowr Vases 21.5 cm in Sand Matt Glazed Ceramic by Roel Vandebeek. Materials: Matt-glazed ceramic. Dimensions: Ø 8.5 x H 21.5 cm. Roel Vandebeek Humour, user-centred design...
Ceramic
Set of Three Mid-Century Modern Art Glass Pieces by Margareta Hennix, Sweden
By Margareta Hennix, Johansfors Glasbruk
Located in Bochum, NRW
Margareta Hennix for Johansfors Glasbruk Set of Three Signed & Numbered Mid-Century Modern Art Glass Pieces by Margareta Hennix for Johansfors Glasbruk . An exceptional trio of scul...
Gold Leaf
Set of 2 Flowr Vases 26 cm in Sand Matt Glazed Ceramic by Roel Vandebeek
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Flowr Vases 26 cm in Sand Matt Glazed Ceramic by Roel Vandebeek. Materials: Matt-glazed ceramic. Dimensions: Ø 7 x H 26 cm. Roel Vandebeek Humour, user-centred design, tact...
Ceramic
Postmodern small glass sculpture by Impy Pilapil, signed, 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
A small postmodern art glass sculpture by Impy Pilapil, signed, Philippines late 20th century.
Art Glass