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.
Huge Signed Barbini Asymmetrical Modernist Murano Glass Vase
By Barbini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very large, asymmetrical modernist Murano glass vase. It's reminiscent of the style of the 1980s Memphis Design school. The large scale of this vase simply makes it a comman...
Murano Glass
Omnia Vanitas Vanité 9 Candelabra in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Omnia Vanitas Vanité 9 Candelabra in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: D 10 x W 43 x H 32 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Mater...
Bronze
Post-Modern Terra Cotta Vase by Robert Bentley, American Design, 8.5”
Located in Queens, NY
American Post-War Design terra cotta and black trimmed vase with 4 profiles of faces in relief. (by ROBERT BENTLEY)
Terracotta
Set of 3 Maïa Candleholders in Solid Brass & Aluminum by Studio Marine Breynaert
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Maïa Candleholders in Solid Brass & Aluminum by Studio Marine Breynaert. Dimensions: Ø 10 x H 51.5 cm (Large), Ø 10 x H 36 cm (Medium), Ø 10 x H 18 cm (Small). Materials: So...
Aluminum, Brass
Postmodern Crackled Glaze Studio Pottery Vase with Colorful Design, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Crackled glaze studio pottery vase with artistic design from the 1980s. Signed by artist.
Clay
Omnia Vanitas Vanité 6 Candelabra in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Omnia Vanitas Vanité 6 Candelabra in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 6 x W 16 x H 46 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materi...
Bronze
1961 Danish Holmegaard Blue Glass "Duckling" Vase by Per Lütken
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1961 Holmegaard blue glass "Duckling" vase by Per Lütken, Denmark. Monogram signature, Per Lütken, dated 1961 & Holmegaard signature. Lütken was the ar...
Blown Glass
$37,191Sale Price|20% Off
The great Force of Nature in Elvio Becheroni's Amazonia series
Located in Milano, IT
"The Great Force of Nature" by Elvio Becheroni is a majestic sculpture, part of the series "Amazonia - Disenchanted Forest," embodying the artist's deep respect for nature and, at th...
Wood
Postmodern Ceramic Box by Rita Duvall (1987)
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A beautiful handmade Postmodern ceramic trinket or jewelry box by Rita Duvall, similar in style to the work of Peter Shire and Michael Duvall. Glazed i...
Ceramic
Modder Forever Lost & Found Ceramic Sculpture by Françoise Jeffrey
Located in Geneve, CH
Modder Forever Lost & Found Ceramic Sculpture by Françoise Jeffrey Dimensions: W 21 x 63 cm Materials: earthenware 2023, off white, carrying a thin rough layer of raw clay, coil-buil...
Clay
$530Sale Price|20% Off
Colored Murano Glass Fish Decorative Figure by La Murrina, Italy
By La Murrina
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This fish is made in polychrome Murano glass and features its original label. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be...
Murano Glass
Lino Sabattini Cormorana Silver Plate Sculptural Modernist Vase / Candle Holder
Located in North Miami, FL
A curved silver-plated vase by Lino Sabattini. Stamped "Sabattini Made in Italy" with the logo on the bottom. Lino Sabattini (born in 1925) is an Italian designer best known for his...
Silver Plate
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
$760Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Post-Modern Wood Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
A really cool and unique vintage post-modern wood sculpture, circa 1967. The industrial looking piece is in good vintage condition and measures ...
Wood
Ritratto Green 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
Trípodes Deka Sculptural Object in Ceramic by Julius Nobre
Located in Geneve, CH
Trípodes Deka Sculptural Object in Ceramic by Julius Nobre. Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x H 36 cm. Materials: Ceramic. The series brings together larger-scale sculptures with more arch...
Ceramic
Coralina Abyss Sculptural Vessel in Ceramic by Julius Nobre
Located in Geneve, CH
Coralina Abyss Sculptural Vessel in Ceramic by Julius Nobre. Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x H 30 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Abyss translates the silent gesture of the mushroom coral attach...
Ceramic
Murano Beige Handblown Flower 5.5"
By Murano 5
Located in Pasadena, TX
This flower is handblown. It was crafted in Murano, Italy. It is a beige color with brownish accents on the the petals. Makes for a great gift.
Art Glass
Ettore Sottsass Candelstick / Candle Holder, Silver Plate for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is one icon of Post Modern design by the well known architect Ettore Sottsass.
Silver Plate
Pair of Black & Yellow Glass Handkerchief Vases by Ulrica Hydman-Vallien
By Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, Kosta Boda
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of "handkerchief" style vases by Ulrica Hydman-Vallien for Kosta Boda, Sweden, 1980s. Whimsical graffiti style hand-painted pattern on mouth-blown art glass. Marked UHV at bottom.
Art Glass
1998 Italy Postmodern Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Roberto Vecchione
Located in Brescia, IT
Roberto Vecchione is an Italian artist that explore the world between the empty and full, the yes and no with a conceptual language called "New Baroque". H...
Brass, Iron
Bodil Manz Vase for Bing And Grøndahl. Signed and stamped 6/84.
By Bing & Grøndahl, Bodil Manz
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vase, part of decorative ware the 'Facet' series, porcelain with relief moulded and underglaze painted decoration, Manufactured by Bing & Grøndahl, Denmark, 1982. Number 6 out of 84....
Porcelain
$12,022 / item
Incarnato 1 Sculpture by Camille De Prêtre
Located in Geneve, CH
Incarnato 1 Sculpture by Camille De Prêtre Dimensions: W 24 x D 24 x H 138 cm. Materials: Burned pine. About Camille De Prêtre is a Belgian artist and furniture designer based betw...
Wood
Unique Glass Sculpture by Monica Backström for Kosta Boda Sweden 1990s
By Monica Backström, Kosta Boda
Located in Barcelona, ES
Unique glass sculpture made by Monica Backström for Kosta Boda in the 1990s. Consists of two cylinder shaped glass vessels stacked on each other, both...
Art Glass
Abstract Organic Mod Century Post Modern Handmade Pottery Sculpture Vase 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Unusual organic hand made pottery art objet dart, having a textured surface, with a high glaze finish, of tonal brows. The piece is in excellent original co...
Pottery
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
Ugo La Pietra, "La Bagnante" Sculpture 25/29, Superego Editions, Italy, 1990
By Superego Editions, Ugo La Pietra
Located in Firenze, IT
“Bagnante” postmodern sculpture Ugo La Pietra, Superego editions Italy, 1990 Large ceramic female bust modelled by casting. Polychrome craque...
Ceramic
Emerald Green Murano Glass Vase Archimede Seguso style 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large heavy and thick decorative art glass swung vase in emerald green Murano, Italy, 1960s. Measures: 42 inches tall x 8 inches diameter at the base. Colle...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
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
$850 / set
Vintage Jaru Geometrical Orbs
By Jaru
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Unique geometric orbs by JARU. 2 multifaceted orbs which capture the attention. White glazed ceramic with JARU copyright and date. Larger 8.25 x 7.5 Smaller 5.75 x 5
Ceramic
Alessandro Mendini Murano glass bowl/centerpiece for Venini . Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great post modern bowl in bright red color , by the well known artist / designer Alessandro Mendini .signed Venini 94.
Glass
Very Large Mactan Stone or Fossil Stone Planter, 1980s
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Beautiful and very large vase, fabricated in Italy in the 80's. This very rare vase is made of rough edged brick motif Mactan stone or Fossil Stone. Made with stunning craftsmanshi...
Travertine
Set of 3 Crystal Vases by Angelo Mangiarotti for Cristalleria Colle, 1980s
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Set of 3 soliflower vases designed by Mangiarotti for Colle, a Tuscany glass manufacturer. This set belongs to an extensive collection of vases and tableware produced in the 1980s. ...
Glass
Italian Murano Art Glass Paperweight Lily Flower with Curled Stem Sculpture 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Italian Murano Art Glass Lily Flower with Curled Stem Paperweight. VIntage Murano Italian Art Glass Flower Sculpture Decorative Object, 1980s. Beautiful blown art glass Murano lily...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Canadian Ceramic Bowl by Sung Wook Park for Umbra
By Umbra
Located in San Diego, CA
Canadian Ceramic Bowl by Sung Wook Park for Umbra, a rare piece out of production nice white mate porcelain finish.
Ceramic
Vintage Mid-Century Ruby Red Glass Cigar Ashtray by Viking, USA, 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage mid-century large round glass ruby red cigar ashtray Mid-Century Modern glass ashtray circa 1960's – 1970's USA. Hand-made by Viking Art Glass...
Art Glass
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Pop Art decorative Lucite Owl 3D Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Unique Postmodern 1970s decorative 3D owl, tabletop sculpture in clear Lucite well done piece. Triangle shape.
Lucite
1980 Italy Bronze and Brass 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 Francesco Petrarca story, one the most important Italian poet of the beginning of Huma...
Brass, Bronze
Italy Cast Lost Wax Woman Figurine Bronze Sculpture by Aron Demetz Guardando
By Aron Demetz
Located in Brescia, IT
This intense bronze sculpture was made by the well known Italian artist, Aron Demetz, in 2004, Italy. This is a lost wax bronze hand painted. The title is "Guardando" translated in ...
Bronze
Unique London Plane Y-Bowl by Matt Kavanagh
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique London Plane Y-Bowl by Matt Kavanagh. Signed by Matt Kavanagh. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 32 x D 31 x H 45 cm. Materials: London Plane, scorch & wax. Unique piece, hand...
Hardwood
Emily Brock Postmodern Office Signed 1997 Fused Art Glass Table Sculpture
By Emily Brock
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A fused glass sculpture by Emily Brock presents a finely detailed Postmodern interior vignette rendered entirely in glass. Etched signature and dated 1997 on the base. This work depi...
Art Glass
Op Art Acrylic Bubble Sphere
Located in San Diego, CA
Op Art acrylic bubble sphere, circa 1980s. The sphere is in very good vintage condition and measures 5"D #4075
Acrylic
Fasano Torino Luxury Desk Box in 18kt Yellow Gold with Rare Blue Hawk Eye Quartz
By Francesco Fasano
Located in Miami, FL
Exceptional desk box designed by Fasano. A beautiful and one-of-a-kind piece, created in Torino Italy by the master esteemed jeweler, Genesio Fasano. This rare luxury desk box was carefully crafted in solid yellow gold of 18 karats and is completely embellished with inlaid of rare blue hawk's eye. Weight: 1,534.83 Grams, (983.53 Dwt). Measurements: 175 mm by 175 mm by 37.5 mm (7.10 x 7.10 x 1.5 inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the Italian gold assay mark and signed ".750 *26AL FASANO" Note: This can be used for cigar humidor, letters or just as a decorative desk item...
Multi-gemstone, Gold
Cariátide Small Sculpture in Carrara Marble Stone by NERINEA
Located in VALENCIA, ES
Cariatide is a modular stone sculpture series designed by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos, available in multiple heights, proportions and materials as Jurassic Fossil Top or Marble. Insp...
Carrara Marble
Italy 1980 Riccardo Dalisi Black Painted Metal Sculpture Muccacaffè
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 by the Certificate of the artist and the Editor who made the artworks. The black painted metal sculpture...
Metal
$18,126 / item
It's Easy To Have Wished For More Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
It's Easy To Have Wished For More Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 120 x D 5 x H 120 cm Materials: Green Cantera. Weight: 75 Kg. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans pa...
Stone
Emilio Pucci "Florence" Porcelain Bowl for Rosenthal, Germany, 1969-1972
Located in Berlin, DE
Signed Emilio Pucci “Florence” porcelain XL bowl for Rosenthal, Germany, 1969-1972. This large Rosenthal porcelain bowl features the celebrated Florence décor, a vivid radial composition set against a luminous sky-blue ground. Turquoise, pink, black and white motifs extend from the centre toward the rim, giving the bowl the graphic energy and colour confidence associated with Emilio Pucci’s fashion designs. With its wide 31.5 cm diameter and low 5 cm profile, the piece has strong visual presence without feeling heavy. The glossy blue exterior and deep raised rim frame the interior pattern beautifully, making this Emilio Pucci Rosenthal...
Porcelain
$6,392 / item
Flint X Sculpture by Pol Quadens
Located in Geneve, CH
Flint X Sculpture by Pol Quadens Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 110 cm. Materials: Polished stainless steel. Dimensions may vary. Please contact us. Pol Quadens was born in Br...
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1980s Postmodern Chrome Tripod Bowl in Metal and Plastic
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Chrome Tripod Metal Bowl, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Material: Metal, Plastic Color: Black Styles: Postmodern Item Typ...
Metal
Set of 2 Vintage Postmodern Wooden Candleholders, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Wooden Candleholders, 1960s, Set of 2, in Worn conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Materials: Wood Styles: Postmodern Item Type: Vintage, A...
Wood
Postmodern German 488 Wall Bathroom Vase from Hewi, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern German 488 Wall Bathroom Vase from Hewi, 1980s, in Flawless conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Glass...
Glass, Plastic
Postmodern Swiss Granite Candleholder from Crea, Ticino, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Swiss Granite Candleholder from Crea, Ticino, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials:...
Granite
Vintage Postmodern German Fossilia Vase by Uta Feyl for Rosenthal, 1980s
By Rosenthal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern German Fossilia Vase by Uta Feyl for Rosenthal, 1980s, in Flawless conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: M...
Ceramic
Vintage Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal Styles: Postmodern Period: 1980s Item Type: Vi...
Metal
Postmodern Ceramic Minimalist Vase from Asa Selection, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Ceramic Minimalist Vase from Asa Selection, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: C...
Ceramic
Set of 2 Italian Postmodern Minimalist Vases from Bel Mondo, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Italian Postmodern Minimalist Vases from Bel Mondo, 1980s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Mater...
Ceramic
$1,695Sale Price|26% Off
Postmodern Abstract Welded Steel and Enameled Sculpture, circa 1980s
Located in Peabody, MA
Postmodern welded steel and enameled sculpture in the manner of the Memphis School designs of the 1980s.
Steel
Sam Francis set of 4 limited edition ceramic plates , Museum of Contemporary Art
By Sam Francis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great set of 4 plates from original designs of well known artist Sam Francis , Made after for the Museum of Contemporary Art , Los Angeles .
Ceramic
$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
Brass Sculpture on Marble Base After Rodin's "The Thinker" - SIGNED
Located in North Miami, FL
Signed V. Martin, this wonderful version of Rodin's renowned sculpture, The Thinker, is made of patinated brass and sits atop a black marble base. Pedestal shown is sold separately ...
Marble, Brass