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.
Shauna Watkins Op-Art Paperweight, American Studio Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage art glass paperweight features Op-Art design with dark, almost black Burgundy red glass circular structure, surrounded by striped glass ribbon in blue, white, and burnt oran...
Art Glass, Sommerso
Scorpion Sculpture, Enrique "Sebastian Carbajal, 1990
By Enrique Sebastian Carbajal
Located in Chicago, IL
Scorpion Sculpture, Enrique "Sebastian Carbajal, 1990's Born Enrique Carbajal Gonzalez, Sebastian adopted his pseudonym after seeing a painting called St. Sebastian by Italian Renais...
Steel
Large Concave Ceramic "Rock Shaped" Catchall / Vide-Poche, Artist Unknown
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large Concave Ceramic "Rock Shaped" Catchall / Vide-Poche Not Marked - Artist Unknown - American (perhaps Japanese) "is it real or is it memorex" "internet says rocks are the hotte...
Ceramic
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear Turquoise and Silver by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
Large "Indian Summer" Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Clear Turquoise and Silver. * All the pieces are hand-made and theref...
Resin
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear Pink and Matte Lime by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, CA
Indian Summer Vase, size Large, in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. * All the pieces are hand-made and therefore unique. Variations in the hu...
Resin
$1,609 / item
Bronze Lighter by Rick Owens
By Rick Owens
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze lighter by Rick Owens Dimensions: L 11.5 x W 5.5 x H 3 cm Materials: Bronze Weight: 0.45 kg Available in Black and Nitrate finish. Rick ...
Bronze
Handcrafted Memphis style desk clock made from copper, Netherlands 1980s
By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass
Located in ECHT, NL
Hand crafted table clock. The housing has been hand made from copper plate and opper wire. The details are painted in primary colors giving it the distinctive Memphis "look" and fee...
Copper
Contemporary F.ACE Golden Finish Aluminium Wall Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
F.ACE Aluminium Wall Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 5 x H 10 cm Materials: Aluminium The F.ACE Hook is a riff on our popular compass Hook. It is sand cast in solid Alumin...
Aluminum
$209 / item
Brass Counter Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Counter Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 4 x H 5 cm Materials: Brass Designed for hanging bags and coats under bar counters. Each ...
Brass
80s Modern Cream Sphere Vase
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage 80s ceramic vase. High gloss cream glaze in a simple modern sphere shape.
Ceramic
Tall Post-Modern Art Glass Vase by Young & Constantin, Green and Cobalt Organic
By Young & Constantin 1
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking and sculptural hand-blown art glass vase by Young & Constantin, executed in a vivid green body with a contrasting cobalt blue freeform rim. The vase features an elegant, e...
Art Glass
Meritalia Candelabre / Black by Gaetano Pesce
By Fish Design, Meritalia, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
The flame: by definition lively, dancing. A free element, which cannot be controlled, but which can be captured to become part of special moments." The unique candelabras by Edizion...
Steel
Vintage Black Canetti Camera Clock
By Canetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic post modern clock by Canetti in the shape of a camera. Clock’s face is set into the camera's lens and body is solid wood with a moving film advance lever. In good vintage...
Wood
Vintage Pop Art Candleholder by Verner Panton, 1980s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Scandinavian pop-art candleholder for tea lights called 'Lightning Stairs'. It is rather rare and it was designed by Verner Panton in 1973. This example is from the 80s and it was ma...
Steel
Post-Modern Glass Vase by Roger Selden for Vis-à-vis Collection of Ritzenhoff
By Roger Selden
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Cheerful glass vase designed by Roger Selden for the Vis-à-vis Collection of Ritzenhoff, 1999. This black and white vase from the Vis-à-vis Collection has a stylized cartoon chara...
Glass
Mizukage Unique Water Feature in Carved Basalt Stone by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Mizukage Unique Water Feature in Carved Basalt Stone by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 40 x W 80 x H 50 cm. Materials: Basalt stone. Available in different material optio...
Stone
1970s Howard Miller zebrawood and chrome wall clock designed by Arthur Umanoff
By Howard Miller, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Phoenix, AZ
1970s Howard Miller wall clock model 616 designed by Arthur Umanoff Associates. “Zebrawood” veneer (described as “Leriex rosewood veneer” in the 1975/1976 catalog), chrome frame and hour marks, and original George Nelson hands. 13.5” round, 2.75” deep. The clock matches the well known Peter Protzman desk...
Chrome
$19,840Sale Price|20% Off
Yoichi Ohira Murano Art Glass Vase Mosaic Murrine Sporgenti Unique L. Serena
By Yoichi Ohira
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A rare and exquisite example of Yoichi Ohira's finest works, an art glass vase handcrafted on the venetian island of murano. Blown glass canes with mirrune and powder inserts, polish...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Italian Postmodern Wall Perpetual Calendar by Della Beffa for Ring a Date, 2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern Wall perpetual white calendar by Giorgio Della Beffa for Ring A Date, 2000-2010s Wall perpetual calendar in white plastic. The calenda...
Plastic
Italian Murano Striking Glass Striped Bowl Signed by Lino Tagliapietra for Veart
Located in San Diego, CA
Majestic candy striped swirl bowl signed and dated , Veart 1989 by Lino Tagliapietra Italian Murano Blown glass, masterpiece very nice and clean condition no chips or cracks large pi...
Blown Glass
Large Glass Postmodern Memphis Milano Wall Clock by Bino, Italy 80s
Located in Lucija, SI
Large Postmodern Memphis Milano wall clock produce by Bino Italy. Made in glass Unique piece
Glass, Plastic
Vintage Murano Red & Opalescent Glass Perfume Bottle with Stopper
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This exquisite vintage Murano glass perfume bottle features a striking combination of deep ruby red glass framed by clear ribbed layers, creating a captivating optical depth. Its ele...
Glass, Art Glass
Vintage Boho Italian Monumental Glazed Ceramic Snail
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Make a bold sculptural statement with this magnificent vintage Italian ceramic snail shell. Rendered on a monumental scale, this piece transforms a simple organic form into a work of...
Ceramic
David Goldhagen Cosmic Vortex Art Glass Pod on Stand
Located in Savannah, GA
A David Goldhagen art glass pod on stand entitled “Cosmic Vortex”. With dimmable backlight. Etched with signature, number and title. glass piece: 25 inches wide by 10 inches d...
Art Glass
$373 / item
Pavot Vase I by Pauline Pietri
Located in Geneve, CH
Pavot Vase I by Pauline Pietri Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 25.5 cm. Materials: Paper pulp and bio-based paint. Eco-designed vase based on paper pulp - cardboard, paper, news...
Paper
Post-Modern Double Letter Tray
Located in San Diego, CA
Post-modern polished chrome double letter tray, circa 1980s. The tray is in good vintage condition in heavy duty black plastic Made in The USA.
Plastic
A unique ceramic vase by Tony Evans, signed, late 20th century
By Tony Evans
Located in View Park, CA
A absolutely stunning and wildly unique ceramic vase - art piece really - by Tony Evans, signed, late 20th century. Featuring an idiosyncratic lava glaze over scintillating pigments ...
Ceramic
1980s Postmodern Desk Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Wakita, George Sowden, Nathalie du Pasquier, Shohei Mihara
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic Japanese postmodern vintage desk, mantel, or shelf clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita. (This design can also be found with markings from NEOS, the clock company that spec...
Metal
Nature Leather and Black Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by Ox Denmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature leather and black steel maggiz magazine rack by Ox Denmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: steel, leather Also available: different leather and frame colors av...
Steel
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Danish Oak Elephant by Kay Bojensen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Danish Oak Elephant by Kay Bojensen, articulating arms, legs and trunk. Excellent condition.
Oak
Stoneware Clay, Unglazed Ceramic Ethereal Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Unglazed Ceramic Ethereal Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 25.5 x D 19 x H 35 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Unglazed ceramic sulface. Weight: 5,6 k...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Ceramic Vase by Claudia Frignani, Wunderkammer Studio
By Claudia Frignani, Wunderkammer Studio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ceramic Vase by Claudia Frignani for Wunderkammer Studio's limited Lefka collection. Claudia Frignani is a Milan-based designer, ceramic artist, and creator known for her unique scu...
Ceramic
$2,043Sale Price / item|25% Off
John Miller Blue Plate Special Fries 2008 Hand Blown Pop Art Glass Sculptures
By John Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Inspired by Americana, Miller's work stands to bring new light and perspective to the often overlooked but ubiquitous cultural artifacts that form the American visual lexicon and lived experience. Maybe as impressive as the work itself, is the magnitude of which his creations come to life. At such an impressive scale, his process is truly spectacle to witness. Pieces from his famed ‘Blue Plate Special...
Blown Glass
Postmodern Eternity Calendar by Mette Kiellerup for Royal Copenhagen, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Perpetual Eternity Calendar by Mette Kiellerup for Royal Copenhagen, Denmark, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. This piece has an attribution mark. A...
Metal
Vegas Crystal T-Light Holder, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Vegas crystal T-light holder, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal. Decorative vase Hand-sculpted in crystal Measures: W 8, H 29, D 8 cm. The Vegas cr...
Crystal
Vintage Adjustable Sculptural Metal Candlesticks, Set of Twelve
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A collection of twelve vintage sculptural metal candlesticks featuring elongated adjustable stems, tapered cone tops, and weighted organic bases. Each stem bends and reshapes by han...
Metal, Pewter
$1,154 / item
Incense Object by Henry D'ath
Located in Geneve, CH
Incense object by Henry D'ath Dimensions:D55 x W20 x H6 cm Materials:Wood, Calligraphy Ink Piece is handmade by artist. Henry d’ath is a new zealand born, hong kong based art...
Wood
$425Sale Price|37% Off
1980s Postmodern Cased Glass Amphora Vase by Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz, Poland
Located in Glasgow, GB
A bold and sculptural cased glass vase designed by Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz and produced by Tarnowiec Glassworks, Poland, during the 1980s. This piece reflects a distinctly postmodern re...
Art Glass
Shafaq Malik Postmodern Memphis Group-Style Glass Sculpture
By Ettore Sottsass, Aldo Londi, Memphis Milano, Michael Graves (b.1934), Memphis Group
Located in Round Top, TX
Studio glass sculpture by Shafaq Malik. It has applied orange and green finials with a floating navy and yellow cane bubble at the bottom. It is in excellent, original condition with...
Art Glass
A Memphis Milano Post-Modern Ceramic Vase By Marco Zanini for Bitossi
By Bitossi, Marco Zanini
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This Marco Zanini vase for Bitossi is a quintessential example of the Memphis Milano style, characterized by its bold colors, geometric shapes, and playful, innovative design. The va...
Ceramic
Large Modernist Raku Fired Abstract Pottery Vase by Tony Evans
By Tony Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Large abstract form raku fired ceramic vase on lucite base by renowned master ceramicist Tony Evans (1942-2009). Evans developed a very distinctive style after studying ancient potte...
Ceramic, Pottery
$3,977 / item
Clay Sink by Studio Loho
Located in Geneve, CH
Clay sink by Studio Loho Dimensions: D 40 x H 15 cm Materials: clay. Available in 3 models: round sink, oval sink and sink on structure. Due to the producti...
Clay
$3,977 / item
Clay Sink by Studio Loho
Located in Geneve, CH
Clay sink by Studio Loho Dimensions: D 40 x H 15 cm Materials: clay5 Available in 3 models: round sink, oval sink and sink on structure. Due to the production process every piece is unique in size and form. Studio LoHo is a Belgian design office located in Bruges, Belgium. Founded in the autumn of 2017 by Karel Loontiens and Jo Hoeven, the studio focused from the beginning on high-end bespoke interior projects which forms an ideal matrix for product - and material design that is both innovative and durable. In current times there’s no more room for influx of disposable products, it is our studio’s goal to strive for design that will last and will be cherished for multiple generations. The introduction of the first collection “clay series” fully articulated the DNA of the newborn Studio and led to their international breakthrough. The appreciation of materials reflects their unique view on interior design with a strong and recognizable signature. Soon after, the collection was expanded on request by other architects and designers with new sinks...
Clay
Art Deco Black Ceramic Vase by Claude Dumas, Remix Edition, Circa 1980
By Claude Dumas
Located in COLMAR, FR
Art Deco black ceramic vase by French designer Claude Dumas – early 2000s Remix Gallery edition, made from the original mould, sourced in France, in very good vintage condition This...
Clay
$3,522 / item
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics Unique piece. Dimensions: D 20 x H 125 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Numerated and signed by the artist. All...
Ceramic
Pr. Art Glass Candlesticks made in Romania by Ion Tamaian c. 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional pair of art glass candlesticks, made by the noted Romanian craftsman, Ion Tamain. Both candlesticks are signed, both are in excellent condition, free of damage or repairs.
Art Glass
Michel Harvey Trompe-l'Oeil Paper Bag Ceramic Vase, 1980s
Located in Montréal, CA
Great — this fills in the picture nicely. The WorthPoint listing is particularly useful: this is a size #1 bag, measuring approximately 5½" high × 2⅞" wide × 1⅞" deep — which matches...
Ceramic
Pol Quadens 16 Stones Sculpture in Polished Stainless Steel, Belgium
Located in Geneve, CH
16 Stones Sculpture by Pol Quadens Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 80 x W 80 x H 450 cm. Materials: Polished stainless steel. The production time for this piece...
Stainless Steel
Drab Hanger in Gold Stainless Steel, Heat Collection, Zieta
By Zieta
Located in Geneve, CH
Drab Hanger in Flamed Gold stainless steel, Heat Collection, Zieta Dimensions: D 5 cm x W 46 cm x H 188 cm Material: Stainless steel. About the heat collection: The heat uses hig...
Stainless Steel
$1,726 / item
Relief Sculpture by Alexandra Madirazza
Located in Geneve, CH
Relief Sculpture by Alexandra Madirazza Dimensions: W 60 x D 3 x H 90 cm (These are approximate measurements) Materials: Concrete Alexandra is an ...
Concrete
Pompitu II Vase (Large), Clear Red and Matte Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Large "Pompitu II" Vase in Soft Resin, designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design Collection. Colour: Clear Red and Matte Red *All the pieces are handmade and therefore uniq...
Resin
1970s Iron Modernist Sculpture
Located in Sarasota, FL
A modernist sculpture in iron. Depicts a round face with simple raised and pierced features, decorated in a vibrant color palette. Artist is unknown.
Iron
$3,616 / item
Prickless Pear Sculpture by ON.ENTROPY
Located in Geneve, CH
Prickless Pear Sculpture by ON.ENTROPY Dimensions: W 47 x D 21 x H 38 cm Materials: Green Marble. on• entropy is a marble atelier established in 2009 in Athens and London with a foc...
Marble
Medusa Vase (Large), Matte White by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
Matte White 'Medusa' Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. Variations in the dimensions...
Resin
$250Sale Price|50% Off
Glass Pendulum Clock Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
By Memphis Milano, Nathalie du Pasquier
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Glass pendulum clock by Sessa. It can be used as both standing on the table and hanging on the wall. Takashi Kato designed a lot of clocks in the 1980s-19...
Glass, Plastic
$89Sale Price|31% Off
Vintage Clear Lucite Fan Shaped Card Holder by Guzzini 1980s Made in Italy
By Guzzini
Located in Amityville, NY
Vintage clear lucite or acrylic post modern fan shaped card holder, sorter or separator made in Italy in the 1980s by Guzzini. Marked "Guzzini Made in Italy" this originally was sold...
Lucite
A Huge POST-MODERN PLANTER or VASE by GUY LEFEVRE for MAISON JANSEN, France 1970
By Guy Lefevre
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant and generous cylindrical planter with a golden border, Art-Deco, Modernist, Shabby-Chic, in mirror polished steel enhanced with a golden square section border, brown plast...
Metal, Brass
$1,854 / item
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics Unique piece. Dimensions: D 20 x H 75 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Numerated and signed by the artist. All ...
Ceramic
$272Sale Price|53% Off
1980s Postmodern Female Face Ceramic Sculpture in the Austin Productions Style
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Large scale, Postmodern / 1980s Art Deco revival Female Head Ceramic Sculpture in the Austin Productions Style. Circa 1980s Features a flatten female head figure molded on a...
Ceramic
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Black Marble Desk Pen Pencil Holder, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
A '90s Postmodern black and brown polished marble stone desk pen pencil holder, circa 1990s. Dimensions: 2.5" square x 4.19" height. Matching...
Stone, Marble