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.
Postmodern Tusca Vase by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal, 1980s
Located in Uppsala, SE
This is the smallest model of the Tusca vase series, designed by Lino Sabattini and produced by Rosenthal in the 1980s. The white porcelain vase features a silver coloured motif and ...
Porcelain
1980s Black & White Stacked Desk or Mantel Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a perfect contrast of white and black enameled metal, black lucite accents, and primary colored hands, this postmodern clock is designed with a stacked trianglular design that g...
Metal
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Italian Marble Column Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice post-modern Italian marble column paperweight, circa 1980s. The piece is primarily cream in color with grey and black veining throughout....
Marble
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
Norwegian 1980s Post-Modern Glass Vase by Odd Ingar Karlengen for Hallingglass
Located in Barcelona, ES
Charming 1980s post-modern patterned Hallingglass glass vase designed by Odd Ingar Karlengen.
Art Glass
Gilbert Portanier Alta Mira Porcelain Plate for Rosenthal, 1970s
By Gilbert Portanier, Rosenthal
Located in Berlin, DE
Gilbert Portanier’s “Alta Mira” porcelain plate for Rosenthal Studio-Line combines expressive ceramic art with the precision of German porcelain production. Abstract figures, calligr...
Porcelain
Gilbert Portanier Alta Mira Porcelain Wall Plate for Rosenthal Studio-Line
By Rosenthal, Gilbert Portanier
Located in Berlin, DE
Gilbert Portanier’s “Alta Mira” porcelain wall plate for Rosenthal Studio-Line combines expressive ceramic art with late 20th-century German design. The matte white surface is decora...
Porcelain
Two Rare Signed Hand Blown Glass Sculptures by John Bingham
By John Bingham
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of two clear art glass orb sculptures by John Bingham, circa 1980. Signed (engraved) "John Bingham" the base of the rims. Dimensions listed are for the larger of the two. S...
Art Glass
$16,241 / item
Sunrise Wall Piece by Pepe Valenti
Located in Geneve, CH
Sunrise Wall Piece by Pepe Valenti Dimensions: D 7 x W 70 x H 150 cm. Materials: Brass-plated stainless steel. Inspired by the immersive experience of th...
Stainless Steel, Brass
Memphis Milano style table clock in painted metal, 1980s
Located in STRASBOURG, FR
1980s table clock made of painted sheet metal and plastic, Memphis Milano inspired design, in the style of Ettore Sottsass. In mint condition, taken out of its box for the photo, i...
Metal
1980s Postmodern Table Clock attr. to Shohei Mihara for Wakita and Canetti
Pair of Post-Modern Small Black Marble Cannisters / Boxes
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful pair of post-modern small black marble cannisters / boxes, circa 1970s. The cannisters are in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measure 2.875"D x 4...
Marble
Gunnar Andersson, Vase, Stoneware, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown and beige and green-glazed stoneware vase designed by Gunnar Andersson and produced by Höganäs Keramik, Sweden, c. 1970s.
Stoneware
Curt Addin, Vase, Stoneware, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A semi blue-glazed stoneware vase designed and produced by Curt Addin, Glumslöv, Sweden, 1970s.
Stoneware
Silvana Maisano Bronze Study for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing bronze, lost-wax casting of a study for the MOMA in San Francisco submitted by sculptor, Silvana Maisano in 1984. It is a fantastic sculpture with a wonderful patina. ...
Bronze
Swedish Designer, Candlesticks, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of pine candlesticks designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Fits 0.85” diameter candles
Pine
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
2006 Bronze Sculpture by Ugo Riva Innocente Provocazione
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an intense bronze sculpture created by the Italian artist Ugo Riva, in 2006. Lost wax bronze on iron basement. The title of this artwork is "I...
Bronze
Post-Modern Oblong Vase by Royal Haeger, Glazed Ceramic, USA, 1980s
By Royal Haeger
Located in New York, NY
A stunning abstract Haeger beige/ ecru vase, medium size. In great condition, no crazing, chips or cracks. This piece coordinates with four other matching vases, listed separately, s...
Ceramic, Pottery
Wabi Sabi Black Modern Minimalist Ceramic Large Vessel by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Wabi Sabi Black Modern Minimalist Ceramic Large Vessel by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: H 30.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded b...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Swedish Designer, Candlesticks, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of turned pine candlesticks designed and produced in Sweden, 1970s.
Pine
"YOU SPIN ME ROUND" Desk Clock by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An exceptional architectural desk clock with bold postmodern spirit, "YOU SPIN ME ROUND" by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies exhibits a striking structure that commands attention thro...
Wood
Old Pink Plastic & Rubber '90s Wrist Watch by a. Mendini for Museo Alchimia
By Studio Alchimia, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Wrist watch designed by Alessadro Mendini for Museo Alchimia, '90s. This manual wind watch was a prototype for the Swatch, a well-known company for whic...
Stainless Steel
Swedish Designer, Vase, Glazed Stoneware, Sweden, C. 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A blue and beige, glazed stoneware vase designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 7.93"H x 4.5"W x 3.0"D All items ship from High Point, North Caroli...
Stoneware
Goebel Black and Gold Porcelain Turkey Sculpture, West Germany, circa 1970s
Located in Berlin, DE
A large black-and-gold porcelain turkey sculpture produced by Goebel in West Germany, circa 1970s. The turkey is not usually considered the most glamorous of birds, but Goebel makes ...
Porcelain
Postmodern Bowl by Ettore Sottsass for Marutomi 1997
Located in Kelkheim (Taunus), HE
Object: Bowl Manufacturer: Marutomi Designer: Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007) Date: 1997 Period: Postmodern Material: Plastic Origin: Japan Height: 8.5 cm Diameter: 14 cm Condition: Very...
Plastic
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
"EARLY PRIMARY" Wall Clock by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning contemporary wall clock that brings bold artistic flair to any space, this "Early Primary" piece by Kim Mullis as Wilderness Bodies showcases a captivating array of geomet...
Corian
Morbelli 24k Gold and White Porcelain Wall Plate "Planisfero Celeste", Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy by Morbelli, 1970s. It is made in white porcelain, which is decorated with 24k gold inlaid lamina. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of u...
Gold
Italy 1980 Riccardo Dalisi Black Metal Painted Sculpture Caffellatte
Located in Brescia, IT
This sculpture is a multiple 1 piece of 50 realized in 1980 by the well known international artist Riccardo Dalisi. All the pieces are numbered and signed by the artist and completed...
Metal
$2,343Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Wood Sculpture by Aldo Guarnieri
Located in Milano, IT
This sculpture by Aldo Guarnieri, created in the 1990s, speaks with the strength of the material and the delicacy of form. Crafted from wood, its surface resembles a mosaic of interw...
Metal
Contemporary Art Bronze Sculpture Marinaio by Giampaolo Talani
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited Edition of 8 Pieces.
Bronze
Framed Brass Sculpture by Sverre Høvren Johnsen, Norway, 1978
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brass sculpture made by the Norwegian sculptor and goldsmith Sverre Høvren Johnsen, (1943- ) in 1978.
Brass
Sterling silver pair gilded and enamel green guilloche candlesticks marked 925.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful pair of candle holders in sterling silver and gold wash and enamel work.
Sterling Silver
1980s Avant-Garde Black and Green Marble Stone Brass Cones Candlesticks - a Pair
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a pair of avant-garde candlesticks, circa the 1980s. The foundation of each piece is a robust cone which then transitions into an inverted cone at the t...
Marble, Metal, Brass
Hand Blown Art Glass Bowl by Andriy Petrovskyi, Late 20th Century
Located in View Park, CA
A handblown art glass bowl by Ukrainian artist Andriy Petrovskyi, signed, late 20th century. Tones of swimming pool blue and frost. Warbling edge and featuring three handles. Wonderf...
Art Glass
Senape Flower Vase Ettore Sottsass Japanese Urushi Laquer Model B
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Senape flower vase designed by Ettore Sottsass for Marutomi. This model is limited Japanese urushi lacquer model. Japanese traditional ur...
Plastic
Vintage Round Post Modern Green Marble Ashtray 1970 Made in Italy
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage carrara marble stone green Italian ashtray or catchall. Post Modern stylish post modern round green onyx marble stone ashtray with three indents...
Marble
Italy, 1990, Post-Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture by Filippo Panseca
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting bronze sculpture multiple art work signed by the Italian artist Filippo Panseca. Title The secret of the Pharaoh This is a multiple of a numbered edition of...
Bronze
Geometric Enameled Iron Wall Mounted Postmodern Indoor/Outdoor Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Black enameled iron indoor / outdoor wall relief sculpture, circa 1980's easy to mount cool design that blends well with mid Century contemporary Boho home decor.
Iron
$4,400Sale Price / item|20% Off
Rare 1979 Donovan Leisure NYC Cia Law Firm 50th Anniversary Brass Paperweight
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Extremely rare New York City historical relic. A fiftieth anniversary brass cubic monolith commemorative desk sculpture. Issued to monogram; AWS. Approx. 45-60 members of firm a that time, only a handful were issued this paperweight in solid Brass weighing 8 lbs. 4.2 oz. Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine was an American white-shoe law firm, located in New York. It was founded in 1929 by General William "Wild Bill...
Brass
$392Sale Price|28% Off
Masa Mami Pink Satin Glaze Memphis Style Squiggle Vase
Located in View Park, CA
A monumental pink postmodern Memphis Milano style cylindrical ikebana vase with squiggle collar, late 20th century. Signed by artist Masa Mami. One fla...
Ceramic
Naive Ceramic Mermaid Sculpture / Vase by Rein Follestad, Norway, 1990s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Naive and kitsch ceramic mermaid sculpture / vase made by Norwegian artist Rein Follestad.
Ceramic
$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
Handmade Rimini Blue Lacquered Ceramic Jug by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Handmade in Italy, 1970s. This jug is made in Rimini blue lacquered ceramic. It is a vintage item, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in excell...
Ceramic
Post-Modern Art Glass Vase by Leon Applebaum
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous post-modern art glass vase by Leon Applebaum, circa 1970s. This vase is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measu...
Art Glass
Set of 2 1980s Ashtrays & Picture Frame in Cut Glass
By Fontana Arte, Gallotti & Radice
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This set is composed by 2 glass ashtrays and 1 glass picture frame. Very good condition. Picture frame: cm 13 H x 10 W x 2,6 D Ashtray: cm 3 H x 9 W x 9 D.
Cut Glass
$236Sale Price / set|20% Off
Rare Pair of Post-Modern Wrought Iron Candelabra
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage rare pair of post-modern wrought iron candleholders. The two pieces are graphic and clean lined. Wrought iron in wave-like shapes peak with a golden disk that holds the candl...
Wrought Iron
2006 Italy Bronze Sculpture by Ugo Riva Con gli Occhi Nelle Stelle
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an intense bronze sculpture created by the Italian artist Ugo Riva, in 2006. Lost wax bronze. The title of this artwork is "Con gli occhi nell...
Bronze
Large Brass Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Brass Mar de Cobre Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: D 100 x H 5 cm. Materials: Copper, Brass. Weight: 12 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industrial designer graduat...
Copper, Brass
Vintage Querandí Green Art Glass Vase, Argentina, 1970s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Querandí Green Art Glass Vase, Argentina, 1970s A stunning vintage Querandí art glass vase, crafted in a rich emerald green. The piece features a distinctive organic silhoue...
Art Glass
Postmodern Ceramic Bud Vase for Rosenthal, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern porcelain bud vase by Rosenthal, 1980s.
Porcelain
FRAGMENT Ochre II Sculptural Vase by Donatas Zukauskas
Located in Geneve, CH
FRAGMENT Ochre II Sculptural Vase by Donatas Zukauskas. Dimensions: W 19 x D 8.5 x H 64.5 cm. Materials: Handcrafted mineral composite. FRAGMENT Ochre II is a sculptural art object ...
Cement, Composition, Other
Italy 1980 Riccardo Dalisi White Painted Metal Amanti
Located in Brescia, IT
This sculpture is a multiple 1 piece of 50 realized in 1980 by the well known international artist Riccardo Dalisi. All the pieces are numbered and signed by the artist and complete...
Metal
1980 Italy Abstract Bronze Sculpture by Mirella Forlivesi Stupore
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense artwork was created by the Italian artist Mirella Forlivesi. Title "Stupore" traslated in "Astonishment". The piece is a multiple of 1...
Bronze
1978 Vintage Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Fanna Roncoroni, Italy, Labyrinth
Located in Brescia, IT
This engaging artwork was created in 1978 by the Italian artist Fanna Roncoroni. It is a multiple of 1000 pieces numbered and signed by the author. The title is "Labirinto", translat...
Bronze
Abstract ceramic buste by Dieter Eichelmann, Germany 1980s
Located in ECHT, NL
Hand crafted ceramic buste. Made by Dieter Eichelmann in the 1980s. Made in the style of Picasso and Karel Appel. The abstract figure has a different look from all angles. The piece ...
Clay, Paint
Handmade Abstract Hygge Decor White Ceramic Sculptural Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Abstract Hygge Decor White Ceramic Sculptural Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 35 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic ...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Barbara Brenner Porcelain Vase for Rosenthal
Located in Miami, FL
Large organic postmodern porcelain vase by Barbara Brenner for Rosenthal, 1980s.
Porcelain
$4,453
Têtard
Located in PARIS, FR
Nice "Têtard" bronze sculpture by the British artist Nicolas Kennett. Signed & numbered 1/8.
Bronze