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.
Set of Three Large Postmodern Tasselated Mactan Stone Floor Vases. Circa 1980s.
Located in Miami, FL
Set of Three Large Postmodern Tasselated Mactan Stone Floor Vases. Circa 1980s. Features: Three Sizes Stone Floor Vases with polished bodies and accentuated rough mactan stone detail...
Stone
$953 / item
Unique Ukiyo III Vase by Marthine Spinnangr
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Ukiyo III vase by Marthine Spinnangr One of a Kind Dimensions: D 30 (top) / 14 (bottom) x W 12 x H 40 cm Materials: Stoneware Clay Differ...
Clay, Stoneware
$305 / item
Nomad Jar Pebble Tower by Gilles & Cecilie
Located in Geneve, CH
Nomad jar pebble tower by Gilles & Cecilie. Unique. Dimensions: H 8 x W 6 cm. Material: terracotta with iron. Gilles and Cecilie studio created the Nomad Jar Family to explore ...
Iron
$1,856 / item
Medium Atacama Vase by Josefina Munoz
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Atacama vase by Josefina Munoz Dimensions: D20 x H25 cm Material: Ceramic Available in: Small and Large sizes this project is the result of the experimentation with a part...
Ceramic
$330 / item
Cohiki Vetus Vase i by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Cohiki Vetus vase I by Studio Cúze Dimensions: W 23 x H 26 cm Materials: ceramic With its handles and rustic appearance, this vase exudes an antique flair. Pottery and high-qual...
Ceramic
$6,090 / set
Set of 5 Barbican Vases by a Space
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 5 Barbican Vases by A Space Dimensions: D22,86 x W20,32 x H30,48 cm D20,32 x W20,32 x H20,32 cm D12,7 x W15,24 x H12,7 cm D10,16x W10,16x H22,86 cm D15,875 x W13,97 x H...
Other
$173 / 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
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
$2,415 / item
Stomata 12 Vase by Anna Karountzou
Located in Geneve, CH
Stomata 12 vase by Anna Karountzou Dimensions: W 25 x D 23 x H 36 cm Materials: Black stoneware clay, clear glaze inside, decorated outside with volcano rock...
Other
Oinochoe Perla Stoneware Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz
Located in Geneve, CH
Oinochoe Perla stoneware vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz. Dimensions: D 16 x H 28 cm. Materials: Stoneware. . The N.3 series is the result of a profound analysis of the differ...
Stoneware
Unique Arq 011 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 11.5 x 24 cm Materials: hand-sculpted glazed stoneware. The Arq series emerged from our own past pr...
Stoneware
Unique Cálpide Blanco, Hueso Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Cálpide Blanco, hueso vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz Dimensions: Ø 16 x 16 cm Materials: Hand-sculpted glazed stoneware. The Arq series emerged from our own past prod...
Stoneware
Lydión Granito Stoneware Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz
Located in Geneve, CH
Lydión Granito stoneware vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz Dimensions: D 16 x H 24 cm Materials: Stoneware The N.3 series is the result of a profound analysis of the different ...
Stoneware
Unique Arq 006 Musgo Vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Arq 006 musgo vase by Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz. Dimensions: Ø 15 x 23 cm. Materials: hand-sculpted glazed stoneware. The Arq series emerged from our own past production...
Stoneware
$173 / item
Furry Doggo Sculpture by Siup Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Furry doggo sculpture by Siup Studio. Dimensions: D5 x W17 x H15 cm. Materials: Ceramics. Siup is a small design studio based in Warsaw. The concept is created by three friends ...
Ceramic
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
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
$5,085 / item
Motion Sculpture IV by Sofia Tufvasson
Located in Geneve, CH
Motion sculpture IV by Sophie Rogers Dimensions: D 17 x W 32 x H 25 cm Materials: Ceramic, glaze Other glaze colors available. A play with the M...
Ceramic
$21,719 / 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
$16,737 / item
CF Te2.6 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te2.6 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 55 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produce...
Ceramic
$13,003 / item
Cf Te12 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te12 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 H 14 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures pro...
Ceramic
$23,684 / item
CF Te17 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te17 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 50 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produced...
Ceramic
$13,177 / item
Cf Te18 Terre by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF Te18 Terre by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 45 x H 48 cm Materials: Ceramic Terres, Dakar, Senegal, 1987-1991 TERRES is a series of symbolic ceramics sculpures produced...
Ceramic
Postmodern Ceramic Bowl, ca. 1980s
By Haeger
Located in New York, NY
A Modern style or Postmodern period stone white round ceramic bowl, circa 1980s, USA. Maker's mark on bottom as shown in image #15. Dimensions: 7" diameter. Black acrylic waterfall table...
Ceramic
"STEP BY STEP" Desk Clock by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning architectural desk clock that channels Memphis Milano at its best, "Step By Step" by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies showcases the artist's mastery of geometric form and p...
Corian
$508 / item
Rustyvase 2 Stoneware Vase by Odatempo
Located in Geneve, CH
Rustyvase 2 stoneware vase by Odatempo Dimensions: W24.5 x D22.5 x H0.007 cm Materials: enameled white stoneware Audrey Langlet is a Paris-based ceramist. Trained in fashion and...
Stoneware
$1,907 / item
Half Life Object by Sofia Alvarado
Located in Geneve, CH
Half life object by Sofia Alvarado Dimensions: D 40x H 25 cm Materials: lacquered solid metal One of a Kind. FI is an ornamental artist who embodies the creative revelation of ...
Metal
Set of 3 Please Stand Up Seating Objects by Haus Otto
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Please Stand Up Seating Objects by Haus Otto Dimensions: D25 x W57 x H40 cm Each Materials: recycled foam Weight: 7 kg Each »Please stand up« is a seating object that ...
Foam
Echo on Wood Hand Carved Marble Sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Echo on wood hand carved marble sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel. Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 76 cm. Materials: marble, wood Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzer...
Marble
Postmodern American Mid Century Modernist Ceramic Sculpture by Jaru Califirnia
By Jaru
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful ceramic sculpture Lovers by Jaru of California , in a beautiful copper glossy glaze excellent condition no chips or cracks. Signed and dated on the bottom this piece would ...
Ceramic
$2,878 / 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
$1,983 / 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
Rene Magritte ceramic decorative plate , marked edition with original box .
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful decorative plate made by Adage et Flammarion , for the Magritte Collection .edition 330/1000 Box measures 9.5 x 9.5 x 1 high . shows light ware and scratches in cardboard .
Ceramic
Postmodern Ceramic Bowl, 20th Century
By Peter Shire
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Postmodern Ceramic Bowl, 20th Century.
Ceramic
One Of a Kind Pogge Vessel in Pigmented Cement by Studio Noon
By Noon Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
One Of a Kind Pogge Vessel in Pigmented Cement by Studio Noon One Of a Kind Dimensions: W 35,6 x D 35,6 x H 35,6 cm Material: Pigmented cement. Based in, produced and shipped from t...
Cement
1980s Marc Sijan Hyperrealist Cast Lucite Sculpture on Acrylic Base
By Marc Sijan
Located in Delray Beach, FL
An exceptional 1980s hyperrealist lucite bust sculpture by renowned American artist Marc Sijan, celebrated for his pioneering sculptures that blur the line between sculpture and phot...
Acrylic, Lucite
$500Sale Price|20% Off
Burl Wood Box Organic Modern Postmodern
Located in New York, NY
A studio elder burl wood box, hand-crafted and signed by artist, Organic Modern style Post-Modern period, circa late-20th century. A beautiful hand-made blond elder burl wood box wit...
Burl
$215Sale Price|54% Off
Postmodern Art Glass Vase by Colin Terris for Caithness, 1990
Located in Glasgow, GB
This Postmodern art glass vase by Colin Terris for Caithness Glass, titled Xanadu and produced in Scotland circa 1990, reflects the designer’s contribution to late 20th-century Briti...
Art Glass
Heide Warlamis Postmodern Memphis Design Large Vase, Vienna Collection, 1980s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and decorative large vase (13.5” tall) from the 1980s, designed by artist and designer Heide Warlamis as part of her renowned Vienna Collection series. The vase reflects ...
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Rare 1990s Chanel Baroque Pearl Necklace
By Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld, Thierry Mugler, Paloma Picasso, Chanel
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredibly chic necklace from the Autumn-Winter 1996 Chanel collection. This beautiful goldtone chain with six faux baroque pearls in white and grey is simply irresistible. This nec...
Metal
$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
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Barbara Brenner Porcelain Vase for Rosenthal
Located in Miami, FL
Large organic postmodern porcelain vase by Barbara Brenner for Rosenthal, 1980s.
Porcelain
Pair Post-Modern Marble Interlocking Rings / Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of post-modern marble interlocking rings / paperweight, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good condition with no chips or cracks and measures 5"W x 3.5"D x 3"H. Beautiful brown ...
Marble
Shiro Kuramata Vase #1, Pink Aluminum & Lucite, 1980 Post-Modern
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Vase #1 by Shiro Kuramata, 1980, manufactured by Ishimaru Co., Ltd., Japan. This iconic vase by Shiro Kuramata perfectly illustrates his unique approach to design, blending minimali...
Aluminum
Michael Lax Design Grainware METAAL Vase, circa 1992
By Michael Lax
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Measures 12-3/4” high, 7-1/2” wide at the mouth, 2-7/8” wide at the base. Stamped on base METAAL Grainware c 1992 Michael Lax Design ML-4012 There are some light scuffs and scratches especially toward the base, patina to finish. See images for detail. Michael Lax (1929–1999) was an American industrial designer who created household products for companies such as Copco, Lightolier, Dansk, Salton, Metaal, Mikasa, Tupperware, and American Cyanamid. Several of his best-known products, including the Lytegem lamp by Lightolier and the Copco enamel...
Aluminum
Project Materia 2025 Stack Fishies Sculpture in Glass by Project Materia
Located in Geneve, CH
Project Materia 2025 Stack Fishies Sculpture in Glass by Project Materia. Designed by Laurids Gallée. Limited Edition of 14. Dimensions: W 36 x D 9.6 x H 14 cm. Materials: Mouth-blow...
Blown Glass
Modernist Wastepaper Basket, Solid Beech, France, Circa 1930
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
This sculptural object exemplifies the rigorous formal language that emerged in France during the interwar years, as designers began moving beyond decorative Art Deco toward a more s...
Beech
Postmodern Black and White Glass Candleholder Halskov & Dalsgaard Holmegaard
By Holmegaard
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Black and White Glass Candleholder by Halskov & Dalsgaard for Holmegaard, Set of 4
Glass
$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
Hand Hammered Brass Smiley Face Sculpture
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A super cool and distinctive 1980s postmodern smiley face sculpture, expertly handcrafted from hammered brass sheets brazed together to form a seamless, playful expression. This one-...
Brass
$209Sale 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
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
A large smoked glass and chrome sculpture by Runstadler Studios, signed, 1990
Located in View Park, CA
A stunning smoked glass and metal sculpture by Runstadler Studios, signed, 1990. Edition 20/30, this rare piece depicts periods a large wing fanning out, emerging from a chrome plint...
Steel, Chrome
Jon Kuhn Early Sculptural Op-Art Vase, American Art Studio Glass, 1982
By Jon Kuhn
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Triangular faceted vase features a graphic pattern of ruby red, white, and dichroic glass encased in clear glass layers in sommerso technique. The body of the vase is cut and polished in triangular shape, exposing complex, colorful core; the subtle sheen of dichroic glass adds complexity and visual interest to a reserved color scheme. The vase is signed and dated by the artist in etching on the bottom; this rare, hard to find example of American studio glass would make a great gift to any studio glass, art collector, or modern design enthusiast. Jon Kuhn is one of the foremost glass artists in his field, creating highly intricate architectural glass art sculpture that has won world-wide acclaim. He received BFA from Washburn University in 1974, MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1978, and Honorary DFA from Washburn University in 2006. Jon Kuhn early work was done in molten glass, but currently he works in cold glass that is cut, polished, and fused, resulting in sculptures that take in surrounding light, then reflects and refracts it back; they appear to change color and radiance when viewed from different angles and lighting. Kuhn creates cold glass art in a variety of shapes and forms, but he is perhaps best known for his glass cubes which contain a colorful glass interior cased in clear glass. Kuhn’s work stands out for its complexity, its geometric forms, and for its mesmerizing presence. Jon Kuhn glass...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso
Miguel Berrocal Opus 294 Bronze Medal La Mecánica Electricidad Gijón 1980s
By Miguel Ortiz Berrocal, Miguel 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
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
1980's Coat-rack Designed by Perry Yu for Umbra
Located in San Diego, CA
Postmodern coatrack by Umbra designed by Parry Yu circa 1980's black lacquered wood versatyle and great design
Wood
1985 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Annie Lambert Vento Wind
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Annie Lambert, a talented young artist of years 80' in Italy. This is a multiple of a numbe...
Bronze
Set of 2 Bay Keramik Vases by Bodo Mans, Memphis Style, 1980, Germany
By Bay Keramik, Bodo Mans
Located in Andernach, DE
Wonderful set of 2 studio artist vases by Bay Keramik. Here from a mid century modern series ''BAY Extra'', which featured selected artists. This series (479 ...) has been designed b...
Ceramic
Vintage Extra Large Black Ceramic Swirl Vase, Post-Modern, 1980s
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