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.
Multipod Structure Intuitive Built Sculpture 1 by Anna Shipulina Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Multipod Structure Intuitive Built Sculpture 1 by Anna Shipulina Ceramics Dimensions: W 28 x D 44 x H 14 cm. Materials: Ceramic. A hand-built ceramic sculpture that doubles as a ve...
Ceramic
$5,261 / item
Trophy Mother of Pearl Sculpture by Henry Baumann
Located in Geneve, CH
Trophy Mother of Pearl Sculpture by Henry Baumann Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 49 cm. Materials: Resin and brass. Satin matt finish. Unique ...
Brass
Val Saint Lambert Cut Glass Vase in Ruby Red
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Val Saint Lambert Cut Glass Vase in Ruby Red Val Saint Lambert cut glass vase in a ruby red hue. It features oval panels carved with detailed floral motifs, alternating with areas ...
Art Glass
Rib 12X Thin Burgundy Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Thin Burgundy Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 12 x H 30 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels born f...
Other
Vintage Boho Tessellated Stone and Reed Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your décor with this vintage Boho tessellated stone and reed box. Handcrafted with a mosaic of natural stone and woven reed, it exudes organic elegance and earthy texture. Pe...
Stone
Postmodern Glass and Steel Ice Bucket / Bowl by Roberto Sambonet, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s-1980s. This ice bucket / bowl by Roberto Sambonet is made in glass and steel and features a mirrored top with a palm design. It might show slight traces of use s...
Steel
$1,052 / item
Genesis Vase by Moldra
Located in Geneve, CH
Genesis Vase by Moldra Dimensions: D 35 x H 25 cm Materials: Stoneware Moldra is a ceramic studio devoted to sculptural vases and objects. Rooted in the ancestral hand-building tech...
Stoneware
$220Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Postmodern Style Candleholders Designed by Kate Spade for Lenox
By Kate Spade, Lenox's Ceramic Art Company
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of porcelain postmodern style candle holders, beautiful colors with silver edge accent by Kate Spade for Lenox.
Porcelain
Italy 1980 Abstract Sculpture by Nevio De Luca
Located in Brescia, IT
This Italian artist follow his soul and imagines the scenes story telling the life. This is the cinema story, a dreaming bronze in which we can find a movie. Only one piece, bronze o...
Brass, Bronze
1978 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Fanna Roncoroni Forma Ovale Oval Shape
Located in Brescia, IT
This engaging artwork was created in 1978 by the Italian artist Fanna Roncoroni. It is a multiple of 1000 pieces. The title is "Forma ovale", translate in "Oval shape". Maria Pia Fa...
Bronze
1969 Italy Abstract Bronze Sculpture Andrea Picini Bintou
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an intense bronze abstract sculpture and it was created by the Italian artist Andrea Picini. This artwork is a multiple of 70 specimen and thi...
Bronze
Pari Daiza Capsule Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Pari Daiza Capsule Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 53 x D 53 x H 30 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, copper glaze, Arabian Luster glaze, oxidation and reduction f...
Ceramic
Pari Daiza Capsule Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Pari Daiza Capsule Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 53 x D 53 x H 30 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, copper glaze, Arabian Luster glaze, oxidation and reduction f...
Ceramic
Pari Daiza Capsule Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Pari Daiza Capsule Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 53 x D 53 x H 30 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, copper glaze, Arabian Luster glaze, oxidation and reduction f...
Ceramic
1974 Italy Ugo La Pietra Ad Arte Red Bronze Abstract Sculpture Candleholders
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork is a multiples limited not numbered specimens created by the Italian artist Ugo La Pietra, a well known Internationally artist. This pieces are useful as candleholders. Ugo La Pietra was born in Bussi Sul Tirino (Italy) in 1938. Starting from late 50's his artworks were exhibited in important and Internationally Museum, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Museum of Contemporary Craft in New York, Royal College of Art, CCA Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal, are a few between a lot of them. He founded in 1962/1963 an artistic group "Cenobio group" which art was an experimental way to be artist, to the opposite of the Pop Art and Kinetics art, with a language that came trought the conceptual art, narrative art...
Bronze
Olas Sculpture in Black Marble & Stainless Steel by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Olas Sculpture in Black Marble & Stainless Steel by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 40 x W 150 x H 110 cm. Materials: Black marble and stainless steel. Available in differ...
Marble, Stainless Steel
$140Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Leather Wrapped Desktop Letter Organizer by C.P. Leathercraft
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage leather wrapped desktop letter organizer by C.P. Leathercraft, circa 1970s. The piece is in good vintage condition with some scratches ...
Leather
$394 / item
Lehar Vase by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Lehar Vase by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 31.75 x H 44.45 cm Materials: Stoneware The Lehar Vase is a sculptural ceramic piece defined by rhythmic hand-painted lines that flow across ...
Stoneware
J of the Fertile Crescent Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
J of the Fertile Crescent Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 51 x D 102 x H 107 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Jarre-a-la-corde, oxidation firing. About: From ear...
Ceramic
Italy 1985 Postmodern Abstract Bronze Sculpture
By Edoardo Franceschini 1
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork by the Italian artist Edoardo Franceschini becomes a landscape where the use of bright colors, it evoques the worlds of our dreams. All his production is characterized b...
Bronze
E of the Fertile Crescent Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
E of the Fertile Crescent Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 97 x D 102 x H 61 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Jarre-a-la-corde, oxidation firing. About: From earl...
Ceramic
D of the Fertile Crescent Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
D of the Fertile Crescent Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 48 x D 102 x H 102 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Jarre-a-la-corde, oxidation firing. About: From ear...
Ceramic
C of the Fertile Crescent Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
C of the Fertile Crescent Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 81 x D 81 x H 140 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Jarre-a-la-corde, oxidation firing. About: From earl...
Ceramic
1977 Italy Wooden Abstract Sculpture by Urano Palma Non Dialogo No Words
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 ...
Wood
Wall Tiles in Yellow wty#01 Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Wall Tiles in Yellow wty#01 Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 64 x D 89 x H 4 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, high temp. oxidation firing, press molds. About: Fro...
Ceramic
Postmodern Contemporary Lacquer Dresser Box Made in Italy
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Stunning Lacquer Lidded Box made in Italy. Lavender lacquer offset with Brass Piping and Bone corner detail. Wood lined with a tight fit. Matching picture frame...
Brass
Shoehorn Sh#03 Gloss Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Shoehorn Sh#03 Gloss Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 36 x D 102 x H 30 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, glaze, luster, oxidation firing, press molds, steel, paint...
Ceramic
Italian crystal photo holder for FONTANA ARTE
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant 1980s Photo Frame by Fontana Arte - Italian Design in Satin-Finished Blue Crystal with Original Box A refined piece of Italian design history, this elegant photo frame was pr...
Crystal
Shoehorn Sh#02 Rough Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Shoehorn Sh#02 Rough Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 36 x D 102 x H 30 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, glaze, luster, oxidation firing, press molds, steel, paint...
Ceramic
1980 Italy Bronze Abstract Kinetic Sculpture Bruno Chersicla Playwork
Located in Brescia, IT
This sculpture is a multiple 1 piece of 1000 realized in 1980 by the well known Italian artist Bruno Chersicla. All the pieces are numbered and signed by the artist and completed by...
Bronze
Rush Dougherty The Ice Palace Sevres Cristal France Signed Crystal Paperweight
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Cristal De Sevres French Crystal Sculpture "The Ice Palace" signed by Rush Dougherty Sevres France. Beautiful paperweight sculpture by Rush Dough...
Crystal
Shoehorn Sh#01 Bumps Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Shoehorn Sh#01 Bumps Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 36 x D 102 x H 30 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, glaze, luster, oxidation firing, press molds, steel, paint...
Ceramic
Figure Fig#03 Candycane Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Figure Fig#03 Candycane Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 25 x D 15 x H 20 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, glaze, oxidation firing, Jarre-a-la-corde, steel, paint....
Ceramic
Figure Fig#02 Hanger Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Figure Fig#02 Hanger Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 20 x D 14 x H 20 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, glaze, oxidation firing, Jarre-a-la-corde, steel, paint. A...
Ceramic
Figure Fig#01 Spring Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Figure Fig#01 Spring Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 51 x D 15 x H 20 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, glaze, oxidation firing, Jarre-a-la-corde, steel, paint. A...
Ceramic
Dealbata Porcelain Vase by Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta, '1987'
By Zanotta, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An amazing postmodern white porcelain vase designed by Alessandro Mendini (born 1931) for Zanotta's "Edizioni" collection and produced in limited numbers. Released as one of three va...
Porcelain
Post Modern Art Time Wall Clock designed by Nicolai Canetti, 1984
By Canetti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Nicolai Canetti for Art time post modern wall clock. Black enamel background with reds and whites. Sweep second hand. Great design and hard to find! Working condition! Produced in Ja...
Aluminum
$148Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 2 Aluminum Bolt Style Postmodern Candle Holders
Located in San Diego, CA
Stylish set of 2 postmodern aluminum candle holders. This pair has clean lines and a luminous aluminum finish. The bolt like design makes this ...
Aluminum
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Five Candle Holder in White Enamel by Conrian Design
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid five candle holder in white enamel by Conrian Design, 1980s. The piece has a nice post modern look with 3/4" candle openings. #1846.
Enamel, Steel
$220Sale Price / set|20% Off
Postmodern Set of 3 Japanese Lacquerware Serving Trays with Handles
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare set of 3 lacquerware serving trays, excellent condition never used in gray finish top with black bottom with wrapping handles, made in Japan.
Lacquer
1986 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Patrizia Guerresi Girasole Sunflower
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an engaging bronze sculpture created by the Italian artist Patrizia Guerresi, in 1986. The piece is a multiple of 1000 specimens on a green-painted wooden base. The title is ...
Bronze
1970s Post Modern Blue Ceramic Vase by Rigon for Bertoncello
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This 1970s Postmodern blue ceramic vase, designed by Rigon for Bertoncello, is an iconic example of Italian ceramic artistry during the era. The vase features a bold, sculptural form...
Ceramic
$400Sale Price|20% Off
Lucite Sculpture Signed Vaham 88
Located in Denton, TX
Sculpted abstract Lucite on stand in the style of Van Teal.
Lucite
Postmodern Iridescent Black and Azure Cased Glass Vase, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, Murano, 1980s. It is made in quite heavy 3-layered iridescent black and cornflower blue hand-blown cased glass. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show sligh...
Murano Glass
$18,641 / item
Andromeda Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Andromeda Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 30 x H 30 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbued with...
Bronze, Other
Laminated Acrylic Ospiti Collection Sculpture by A. Anastasio for Design Gallery
By Andrea Anastasio, Andrea Anastasio 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An extremely limited edition acrylic sculpture designed by Andrea Anastasio in 1999 for his Ospiti Collection for Design Gallery of Milan, Italy. Sometimes called “Passato” and constructed of florescent red acrylic laminated between clear acrylic, this piece is a clever formulation of a two dimensional fruit bowl that possesses a depth resulting from the shifting colors and reflections caused by the fluorescent laminated acrylic...
Acrylic
Postmodern Brown Murano Glass Fish Decorative Figure by Vincenzo Nason, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Vincenzo Nason & C. Murano, Italy, 1970s. This fish is made in Murano glass. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in exce...
Murano Glass
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
Terry Balle, Large Studio Acrylic/Resin, Vase/Sculpture/ Optical Planter, Signed
By Terry Balle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great, large optical resin vase /planter for the known artist Terry Balle, signed in bottom Balle as shown.
Resin, Plastic, Acrylic
1980 Italy Post Modern Abstract Figurative Bronze Sculpture by Marisa Ruberti
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Marisa Ruberti, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy. This is a multiple of a numbere...
Bronze
Tanya Poust Patinated Bronze Female Figure Sculpture, Post-Modern, USA
Located in Astoria, NY
Tanya Poust (American, XX) Stylized Female Figure Patinated Bronze Sculpture, floating atop a stem above a black marble plinth. 17.25" H x 16" W x 9.5" D. Provenance: From a New Yo...
Bronze
SALVATORE POLIZZI Molded Art Etched Glass Wave Footed Bowl Signed 1980s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1980s Molded Art Etched Glass Wave Footed Bowl Signed by the listed glass artist SALVATORE POLIZZI. One of a kind light aqua blue etched Art Glass footed bo...
Art Glass
1980s Colorful Handprint Wall Clock by Devito
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fun postmodern colored wall clock from the 1980s by Devito. It has a yellow plastic case, blue, red, yellow, white and green face with multicolored handprints, and black and red c...
Plastic
Set of 3 Decorative Containers by Gianfranco Frattini for Progetti '1974'
By Progetti, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A very cool and extremely versatile set of decorative objects designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Progetti in 1974. With melamine (hard plastic) bowls and vulancized rubber tops, the...
Plastic, Rubber
Italy 1980 Bronze Abstract Sculpture Walter Valentini Tracce Tracks
Located in Brescia, IT
Walter Valentini was born in 1928 in South Italy. A painter and engraver, he lives and works in Milan. He is Holder of the chair for engraving at the ...
Bronze
2000s Organic Modern Movable Hand-Carved Sicilian Wood Sculpture by Sciacca
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This sculpture is a contemporary, hand-carved wooden artwork from the 2000s. It features a series of intricately shaped wood blocks and organic forms stacked in a vertical arrangemen...
Iron
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Memphis Rare Porcelain Serving Plater by Block Chromatics
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare Postmodern Memphis era, serving plater in porcelain made in Germany, circa 1980s, perfect condition like new never used.
Porcelain
Italy 1980 Bronze Abstract Sculpture Piero Perin Testina Little Head
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Piero Perin. Piero Perin was born in 1924, in Cervarese , near Padua Italy. He lived and worked in Padova where he teached at the Scho...
Bronze
1990s John Bergen Studio Postmodern Black and White Ceramic Amorphous Vase
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a stunning, ceramic vase by designer John Bergen, circa the 1990s. This ceramic vase embodies postmodern attributes with its ...
Ceramic
Italy 1980 Post-Modern Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Graziano Pompili
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense abstract bronze sculpture, it is a multiple in limited edition not numbered. The title "Paesaggio con ombra", translated in Landscape with shadow. These bronze sculpture...
Bronze