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.
$354Sale Price|25% Off
Postmodern Brown and Orange Glazed Ceramic Vase by Giovanni Bertoncello
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy by Giovanni Bertoncello, 1970s. It is made in brown and orange hand-glazed ceramic. This vase is signed on the bottom. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show s...
Ceramic
$1,415Sale Price|20% Off
Framework Inspired by the Blockcain Packman by Bomberbax
Located in Milano, IT
Painting created by artist BomberBax Inspired by BlockCain depicting the famous and iconic Packman game where he is allegorically painted eating (as in the game) an American dollar...
Canvas, Paint
Stoneware Clay, Body I Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Body I Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 21 x D 14 x H 16 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Unglazed ceramicsulface. Weight: 2.9 kg. Collection: Body ...
Clay, Stoneware, Ceramic
Justin Beal aluminum Cantaloupes abstract sculpture .
By Justin Beal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very interesting sculpture of the imagination of a contemporary great artist Justin Beal. This series of Melons,Cucombers, Cantaloupes is exceptional .
Aluminum
" Omni " Wooden Sculpture Italy 1990
Located in Weesp, NL
Embrace the Bold Elegance of Italian Artistry Introducing "Omni," a striking wooden sculpture crafted in Italy during the 1990s. Painted in a deep, elegant black, this piece stands ...
Wood
$415Sale Price / set|25% Off
Pair of Transparent Murano Glass Flutes with Colored Details, Italy, 1980s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. These flutes are made in very thin Murano glass. They can also be use as flower vases. They are vintage, therefore they might show slight traces of use, but the...
Murano Glass
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
$5,404 / item
Rosalind Porcelain Sculpture by Stacy Solodkin
Located in Geneve, CH
August Porcelain Sculpture by Stacy Solodkin Dimensions: D 30.48 x W 30.48 x H 38.10 cm Materials: porcelain, clay, fiber Based in, produced and shipped from the US. Stacy is an ab...
Other
$16,873 / item
Medium Totem Carbon by Maxence De Bagneux
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Totem Carbon by Maxence De Bagneux Dimensions: D 33 x H 200 cm Materials: Stoneware, burnt laminated wood. Maxence de Bagneux has devoted his free time since childhood to his...
Stoneware, Wood
$5,073 / item
Charlotte Porcelain Sculpture by Stacy Solodkin
Located in Geneve, CH
August Porcelain Sculpture by Stacy Solodkin Dimensions: D 20.32 x W 36.58 x H 21.59 cm Materials: porcelain, clay, fiber Based in, produced and shipped from the US. Stacy is an ab...
Other
Ray Teracotta Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Ray Terracotta Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 8 x W 30 x x H 30 cm Materials: Terracotta, Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and cus...
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
Black ceramic and glass vase Mario Dalla Gassa Nove ceramiche 1980
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Ceramic and black glass vase made by Mario Dalla Gassa for Nove Ceramiche around 1980. The work reflects the material and formal research of the Venetian ceramist, active in enhancin...
Ceramic, Glass
Hagi White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Hagi White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 14 x W 32 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes from ...
Ceramic, Clay
Rib 16X Sturdy Tall Ivory White Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 16X Sturdy Tall Ivory White Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 22 x H 60 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vess...
Other
Rib 16X Sturdy Tall Gray Mint Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 16X Sturdy Tall Gray Mint Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 18 x H 40 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessel...
Other
Pisces White Tall Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Pisces White Tall Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D8 x W 28 x x H 35 cm Materials: Ceramic Also available in other colors and custom sizes from 20cm tall - 58cm...
Ceramic
Rib 12X Sturdy Tall Gray Mint Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Sturdy Tall Gray Mint Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 18 x H 40 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessel...
Other
Rib 12X Sturdy Dark Green Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Sturdy Dark Green Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 18 x H 30 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels bo...
Other
$3,693 / set
Helle Fuchsia Cast Glass Sculpture by Bowen Liu
Located in Geneve, CH
Helle Fuchsia Cast Glass Sculpture by Bowen Liu Dimensions: D 2.25 x W 5 x H 7 cm Materials: Cast Glass Based in, produced and shipped from the US. Bowen Liu founded her award-win...
Other
Obliqua White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Obliqua White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 12 x W 28 x x H 45 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes fr...
Ceramic, Clay
Stabile No. 100, Hand-Blown Glass and Brass Light by Milla Vaahtera
Located in Geneve, CH
Stabile no. 100 by Milla Vaahtera Dimensions: D 21 x W 30 x H 90 cm Materials: Hand-blown glass, handcrafted brass. Milla Vaahtera "My method emerged from a desire to bring more int...
Brass
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Baccarat Crystal Glass Zodiac Dragon
By Baccarat
Located in Mérida, YU
Baccarat Crystal Glass Ornament Zodiac Dragon. 2012. Perfect condition. Marked.
Crystal
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
Pair of Extra Large Cast Aluminum Candlestick Holders
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a pair of extra large postmodern candlestick holders done in cast aluminum. Made in West Germany in 1980s. Very good vintage condition with some signs ...
Aluminum
$260 / set
1980s Memphis Style Brass Candlesticks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A sculptural pair rooted in early 1980s postmodern design. These vintage candlesticks pull from the Memphis Milano playbook, bold geometry, exaggerated scale, and a graphic sense of ...
Brass
$1,297 / item
Pink Vase by Markus Friedrich Staab
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Vase by Markus Friedrich Staab One of a Kind Dimensions: D 18 x H 31 cm. Materials: Wood, paint, brass, paper mache. Indian Vase out of paper mache with brass inlay for your fl...
Brass
$1,153Sale Price|25% Off
Black and Brown Hand-Painted Ceramic Piece by Franco Bucci, Italy
By Franco Bucci, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This model is particularly interesting because it is strongly influenced by Sottsass' style. It is even possible that the design is by Sottsass. We are cautio...
Ceramic
$820Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Ettore Sottsass Model 592 "Fischietto" Vase For Habitat, 2000
By Habitat International, Ettore Sottsass
Located in London, GB
For sale a rare & iconic Post-Modern “FISCHIETTO” ("Whistle" in Italian) vase designed by Ettore Sottsass, produced by Habitat in 2000 and made of earthenware, glazed in light &a...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Postmodern Round Cyan Murano Glass Bottle by Alfredo Barbini, Italy, 1980s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This bottle is designed by Alfredo Barbini and it is made in Murano glass and etched glass. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use...
Murano Glass, Glass
$247 / item
Incense Burner by Saturday Yard Work
Located in Geneve, CH
Incense Burner by Saturday Yard Work Dimensions: W 10 x D 10 x H 2.5 cm Materials: Aluminium. Finish: Polished face / blackened texture. SATURDAY YARD WORK by Nathan Martin is a Ka...
Aluminum
John Glick ceramic /stoneware box / jewelry / table box , signed
By John Glick
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful box / jewelry / table desk box. made for the well known artist / potter , John Glick , for Plum Tree Potters .
Stoneware
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
$6,843 / item
São Paulo 03 Totem by Gabriela Campos
Located in Geneve, CH
São Paulo 03 Totem by Gabriela Campos Dimensions: W 36 x D 36 x H 180 cm. Materials: American Oak, Freijó. ESTÚDIO MAIS ALMA moves toward the authentic and the unique, whether in ...
Oak
David Gilhooly, Title "Burrito Frog " Ceramic/Pottery Sculpture Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice piece of the well known artist David Gilhooly creator of the Funk movement, This is a Burrito frog title work.
Ceramic
Stoneware Clay, Ribbon Vase I by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Ribbon Vase I by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 36 x D 27 x H 15 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Unglazed (notwatertight). Weight: 5,2 kg. Collection: The Wind...
Clay, Stoneware
Rare Orange Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier model "Rotellati", Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This is an extremely rare vase, designed by Ercole barovier for Barovier's company in Murano. It is made in hand-blown glass, with a tile composition that req...
Murano Glass
$575Sale Price|25% Off
Lacquered Black with Colored Details Ceramic Vide-Poche by Ars Deruta, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy in 1970s - 1980s. This decorative plate is made in lacquered and hand-painted ceramic by Ars Deruta that is the artistic part of the historica...
Ceramic
$358Sale Price|43% Off
Massimo Lunardon Green Jellyfish-Tablet, Murano Glas, Medusa, Bowl
Located in Hamburg, DE
Special Jellyfish tray from the company Massimo Lunardon. Massimo Lunardon employs only experienced artisans who handcraft these great Murano glass objects. This clear blown glass se...
Murano Glass
"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
$3,271Sale Price|20% Off
Bomb by Clive Barker 4/8 1998
By Clive Barker
Located in Oxford, GB
Clive Barker, British, b 1940 is a British Pop Artist. The bomb is one of my favourite pieces he has done. Its witty as if taken from a Popeye cartoon yet shiny and beautiful refle...
Aluminum, Brass
$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
Murano Tri-Color Sommerso Art Glass Vase, Italy, 1970s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Murano Tri-Color Sommerso Art Glass Vase, Italy, 1970s Striking Murano art glass vase featuring a dynamic tri-color design in vibrant orange, clear glass with controlled bubbles, an...
Art Glass
Postmodern Sculpture by Tony Emilson, The Old Cyclope, Sweden, 1982
By Tony Emilson
Located in Oslo, NO
Unique sculpture in painted wood by Tony Emilson. Titled "The old cyclope" (Le vieux cyclope "). Monogram signed and dated TE 82 below. Measures: Height 42 cm, 38 x 32 cm.
Wood
Pair of Transparent Crystal Decanter Bottles by Bleikristall, Germany
By Bleikristall
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Germany, in 1970s. These decanters are made in hand-polished crystal. These are vintage pieces, therefore they might show traces of use ( on one cap there's a slight flaw)...
Crystal
Play With Me: Abstract Interactive Ceramic Sculpture by Helena Starcevic
Located in New York, NY
This series was conceived as a way for the Collector to really interact with a work of art. Titled "Play With Me, No Really" it refutes the idea that "Art" must sit alone on a pedes...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$1,946Sale Price|25% Off
Ettore Sottsass Shiva Capsule Limited Edition Blue Vase 158/999
By BD Barcelona Design, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Blue Shiva ceramic vase designed by Ettore Sottsass, circa 1973, edited by BD in Barcelona. This piece has been produced as a limited edition with a total of only 999 units. This is...
Ceramic
$780 / set
Pair Enameled Metal Black Ant Sculptures
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair Enameled Metal Black Ant Sculptures. Measure 12.5" long, 9" wide, 10" tall
Metal
David Erevantzi ( 1940-Armenia ) : "Maternity", Original Sculpture C. 1980-85
By David Erevantzi
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
David Erevantzi (1940-): "Maternity" Original bronze sculpture with a bronze patina representing a mother and her child on a stone base from Yerevan (Armenia) Signed: "David Erevan...
Stone, Bronze
Trinidad Candelabra by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Trinidad Candelabra by Andres Monnier One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 130 cm Materials: White marble from San Luis Potosí, stainless steel. Designer's biography Treko con...
Marble, Stainless Steel
$1,144 / item
Rib 12X Sturdy Red Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Sturdy Red Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 18 x H 30 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels born from...
Other
$1,144 / item
Rib 12X Sturdy Yellow Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Sturdy Yellow Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 18 x H 30 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels born f...
Other
Rib 12X Sturdy Pitch Black Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Sturdy Pitch Black Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 18 x H 30 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels b...
Other
Hermès desk magnifying glass, Paris, France, ca. 1960-1970
By Hermès
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Hermès Paris Desk Magnifying Glass, France, ca. 1960-1970 Impressive large-format magnifying glass made of silver-plated metal, signed Hermès Paris. The handle features a sculpture i...
Metal
Rib 12X Sturdy Gray Mint Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Sturdy Gray Mint Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 18 x H 30 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels bor...
Other
Rib 12X Thin Tall Pale Orange Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Thin Tall Pale Orange Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 12 x H 40 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessel...
Other
Blue Murano Glass Duck by La Murrina with Gold Leaf, Italy, 1990s
By La Murrina
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1990s. This duck is made in Murano glass with gold leaf and murrines. It has its original signature and it is in excellent original condition. Measures: Width 13 cm D...
Gold Leaf
Rib 12X Thin Tall Red Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Thin Tall Red Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 12 x H 40 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels born f...
Other
Rib 12X Thin Pitch Black Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Thin Ivory White 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 bor...
Other
Rib 12X Thin Flare Orange Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Thin Ivory White 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 bor...
Other
Rib 12X Thin Ivory White Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 12X Thin Ivory White 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 bor...
Other