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.
$552Sale Price / set|20% Off
German Brass "Clear Drops" Oil Lamp Candlestick by Freddie Andersen, Set of 3
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original set of 3 Freddie Andersen "Clear Drops" oil lamps made in West Germany. This lamp set features an elegant brass stem, a handblown glass reservoir, and a sleek black resin ba...
Brass
Amphora Maxi Vase in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
Amphora Maxi Vase in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 38 x H 60 cm. Materials: Brushed aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or polished aluminum. Available in two dif...
Aluminum
$1,323 / item
Hand Carved Marble Vessel by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand carved marble vessel by Tom Von Kaenel Materials: Marble Dimensions: W 12 x D 28 x H 26 cm Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzerland in 1961. Already in...
Marble
Sculptural Copper Vase by Bart van Bekhoven, Netherlands, 1980s
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
A striking sculptural vase by Dutch artist Bart van Bekhoven, handcrafted from folded and hammered copper. The dynamic composition combines crisp architectural planes with flowing or...
Stone, Brass, Copper
$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
Contemporary Art Bronze Sculpture Marinaio by Giampaolo Talani
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited Edition of 8 Pieces.
Bronze
$300Sale Price / set|20% Off
Postmodern Solid Polished Rosewood Pair of Candleholders Arch
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare and beautiful solid polished rosewood pair of handcrafted candle holders with 1.5" mouth opening for tea candles or candles with beautiful craft...
Rosewood
Set of 3 Decorative Containers by Gianfranco Frattini for Progetti '1974'
By Gianfranco Frattini, Progetti
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 Bruno Chersicla Black Painted Metal Sculpture Upupa
Located in Brescia, IT
This sculpture is a multiple 1 piece of 50 realized in 1980 by the well known artist Bruno Chersicla. All the pieces are numbered and signed by the artist and completed by the Certif...
Metal
Italy 1980 Post-Modern Abstract Red Laquered Bronze Sculpture Prospero Rasulo
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Prospero Rasulo Title "Fossile " translate "Fossil". It is made in bronze and laquered in red. It is also available in black. Prospe...
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
1980 Italy Post-Modern Bronze Abstract Sculpture Ottorino Tonelli Adamo
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Ottorino Tonelli. Title "Adamo" translated "Adam" Ottorino Tonelli was born in 1948 in Carrara, where h...
Bronze
Post Modern Victor Carranza Minimalist Mikasa Art Pottery Ceramic Cone Vase
By Mikasa
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Beautiful post-modern minimalist style conical vase designed by Mexican designer, Victor Carranza, and manufactured in Japan by Mikasa. This vase has a...
Ceramic
Italy Late 20th Century 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 Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in...
Bronze
1980 Italy Bruno Chersicla Abstract Bronze Sculpture Vite
Located in Brescia, IT
This sculpture is a multiple 1 piece of 500 realized in 1980 by the well known Italian artist Bruno Chersicla. All the pieces are numbered and signed by the artist and completed by t...
Bronze
1980 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Walter Valentini Città del sole
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 Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in...
Bronze
1985 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Annie Lambert Vento Wind
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Annie Lambert, a talented young artist of years 80' in Italy. This is a multiple of a numbe...
Bronze
Forest Green Splash Vase by Mana, Recycled Plastic, Post-Modern
Located in Geneve, CH
Forest Green Splash Vase by Mana Dimensions: D 16 x W 12 x H 18.5 cm. Materials: Recycled pet from post-consumer plastics, mainly discarded bottles/single use food packaging, collect...
Plastic
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
RL 02 Mini Candleholder in Caspal Brushed Brass by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
RL 02 Mini Candleholder in Caspal Brushed Brass by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 8 x H 14,5 cm. Materials: Brushed brass. Available in brushed brass or silver-plated brushed brass. Availabl...
Brass
1980 Italy Post-Modern Abstract Sculpture Alessandro Guerriero Portabuono Qua
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Alessandro Guierriero, it is a multiple of a serie of specimens made in limited edition not numbered. The set is forged in aluminum and...
Aluminum
$300Sale Price|20% Off
1980's, Postmodern Ceramic Box with Lid Signed SB
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful ceramic box with lid circa 1980's great graphics and colors with awesome glaze, no chips or cracks signed at the bottom SB.
Ceramic
Stoneware Clay, Swan Candleholder by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Swan Candleholder by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 24 x D 14 x H 14 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Light glazewash appliedwith an airbrush. Weight: 1,9 kg. C...
Clay, Stoneware
Amphora Mini Vase in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
Amphora Mini Vase in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 40 cm. Materials: Brushed aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or polished aluminum. Available in two dif...
Aluminum
EL 06 Mini Decorative Basket in Metal-Plated Hand-Woven Wicker by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
EL 05 Mini Decorative Basket in Metal-Plated Hand-Woven Wicker by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 15 x H 3 cm. Materials: Metal plate and wicker. Caspal woven wicker products are born from re...
Metal
Italy 1980 Riccardo Dalisi White Metal Painted Sculpture Nuvolella
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
$7,755 / item
Vides Black Cantera Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Vides Black Cantera Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio. Dimensions: W 60 x D 2 x H 40 cm. Materials: Black Quarry. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon reques...
Stone
$318Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Solid Black Lucite Postmodern Table Sculptures
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice design on these pair of solid black Lucite table sculptures, circa 1990s unsigned great Postmodern design. These would look great with any Memp...
Lucite
Postmodern Murano Glass Vase with Light Blue and White Canes, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This vase is made in Murano glass and features light blue and white canes. This decanter is a vintage item, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it...
Murano Glass
Set of Three Mid-Century Modern Art Glass Pieces by Margareta Hennix, Sweden
By Margareta Hennix, Johansfors Glasbruk
Located in Bochum, NRW
Margareta Hennix for Johansfors Glasbruk Set of Three Signed & Numbered Mid-Century Modern Art Glass Pieces by Margareta Hennix for Johansfors Glasbruk . An exceptional trio of scul...
Gold Leaf
Unique Nocturna Sculptural Vessel in Ceramic by Soledad Christie
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Nocturna Sculptural Vessel in Ceramic by Soledad Christie. One Of a Kind. Dimensions: W 12 x D 10 x H 24 cm. Materials: Low-temperature, burnished earthenware ceramic with ope...
Ceramic, Earthenware
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
Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso with White Canes, Italy
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This is an extremely fine vase, designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso's company in Murano. It is made in hand-blown glass with white canes. This is...
Murano Glass
Silver Plated Ice Bucket / Wine Cooler by Ambrogio Pozzi for Padova Argenti
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, circa 1970s. This is a silver plated brass ice bucket or wine cooler by Ambrogio Pozzi for Padova Argenti. It might show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but i...
Silver Plate
Bowl in Aleppo Technique by Milan Vobruba, Gusum, Sweden, 1980
By Gusums Bruk
Located in Bochum, NRW
Bowl in Aleppo technique by Milan Vobruba, Gusum, Sweden, 1980 Colorless glass with irregular fusions. Glossy surface fire polished. Signed engraved under the stand: M. Vobruba 80.
Glass
Steel Easel of Enlightenment Abstract Sculpture by Splady Art Studios
Located in Geneve, CH
Steel Easel of Enlightenment Abstract Sculpture by Splady Art Studios Design by Charles Splady Dimensions: W 46 x D 61 x H 190.5 cm. Materials: Steel. Easel of Enlightenment is a fr...
Steel
Pair of Dolbi Cashier Art Deco Revival Gunmetal Metal Vases, Korea, 1980s
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A striking pair of Art Deco Revival vases by Dolbi Cashier, crafted in cast metal with a highly polished gunmetal finish. The sculptural flask-form silhouettes are adorned with raise...
Metal
RL 02 Mini Candleholder in Silver-Plated Polished Brass by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
RL 02 Mini Candleholder in Silver-Plated Polished Brass by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 8 x H 14,5 cm. Materials: Silver-plated polished brass. Available in brushed brass or silver-plated ...
Silver Plate, Brass
RL 02 Maxi Candleholder in Silver-Plated Polished Brass by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
RL 02 Maxi Candleholder in Silver-Plated Polished Brass by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 8 x H 24,5 cm. Materials: Silver-plated polished brass. Available in brushed brass or silver-plated ...
Brass, Silver Plate
$3,931 / item
Faceted Skyline Black Candleholder by Aina Kari
Located in Geneve, CH
Faceted Skyline Black Candleholder by Aina Kari One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 13 x H 50 cm. Materials: Murano glass. Aina Kari After working for different world-renowned brands in I...
Murano Glass
Verner Panton for Menu, Ten Egg Cups in Different Colours, Made of Rubber
Located in København, Copenhagen
Verner Panton for MENU. Ten egg cups in different colours, made of rubber. Late 1900s. Measures H 5.5 cm. x D 4.5 cm. In perfect condition. Marked.
Rubber
Postmodern Vase by Ettore Sottsass for Marutomi 1997
Located in Kelkheim (Taunus), HE
Object: Vase Manufacturer: Marutomi Designer: Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007) Model: Mirto Date: 1997 Period: Postmodern Material: Plastic Origin: Japan Height: 20.5 cm Diameter: 13 cm C...
Plastic
1980 Italy Post Modern Bronze Sculpture Horse and Rider
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Vito Antonio Mastrorocco, a talented young artist of years 80' in Italy. This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1...
Bronze
$8,184 / item
Concrete and Clay Totem 160 by Frederic Texier
Located in Geneve, CH
Concrete and Clay Totem 160 by Frederic Texier Dimensions: W 40 x D 25 x H 160 cm. Materials: Concrete coated with lime and cement. Color: Cray. Artist Frédéric Texier expresses ...
Concrete, Cement
$3,961Sale Price|27% Off
A Memphis Milano Alcor glass vase designed by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Oxford, GB
A Memphis Milano Alcor glass vase designed by Ettore Sottsass, made by Compagnia Vetraria Muranese, designed 1983, clear, green and opaque white glass swollen panels, applied with bl...
Glass
Italy 1982 Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture Lucky Charm by Concetto Pozzati
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a joyful bronze sculpture; this art work has signed by the well known Italian artist Concetto Pozzati. Title Lucky Charm. This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1.000 p...
Bronze
$4,717 / item
Cornelia Music Stand by Kutarq Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Cornelia Music Stand by Kutarq Studio Materials: Aluminum, metal, nero marquina marble stand. Dimensions: D 32 x W 40 x H 130 cm The CORNELIA MUSIC STAND is a functional sculpture d...
Marble, Other, Metal, Aluminum
$7,076 / item
Totem De Luz Sculpture by Kutarq Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Totem De Luz Sculpture by Kutarq Studio Materials: Onyx diffuser. Dimensions: D 48 x W 45 x H 160 cm Compact version also available. All our lamps can be wired according to each cou...
Onyx, Other
Viewpoint Floor Candleholder in Stainless Steel by Metalmorphosis Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Viewpoint Floor Candleholder in Stainless Steel by Metalmorphosis Studio Dimensions: D 30 x 30 x H 180 cm. Base: 50cm Materials: Stainless Steel A study in spatial perception and ge...
Stainless Steel
$4,324 / item
Iced Skyline White Candleholder by Aina Kari
Located in Geneve, CH
Iced Skyline Candleholder White by Aina Kari One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 13 x H 50 cm. Materials: Murano glass. Aina Kari After working for different world-renowned brands in Ital...
Murano Glass
$524Sale Price|80% Off
Italy 1970 Post Modern Aluminium Abstract Sculptures the Twins and Moon
Located in Brescia, IT
The twins in aluminium are a pair of metaphysical houses, the moon in black plexiglass is free and can be put on the top of one or other roof. This sculpture means the freedom to cr...
Aluminum
Anodised Aluminium Planter / Vessel Multi-Coloured from Cosmos collection
By Tino Seubert
Located in London, GB
Cosmos extends the exploration into manually anodised aluminium pieces. Building on the success of Grow-UP planters for MCQ in 2021, the collection showcases abstract anodising dye p...
Aluminum
A Sculptural Transparent BLOWN GLASS VASE, VENINI, MURANO, ITALY 1980-1990
By Venini
Located in PARIS, FR
An enormous and sculptural Post-Modernist vase, Free Form, in thick blown glass with ovoid bubbles and 2 turquoise lines, Venini, Murano, Italy 1980-1990.
Murano Glass
$857Sale Price|20% Off
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
1998 Italy Postmodern Abstract Bronze Sculpture
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
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
Set of Three Kaleidoscope Vases by Kurt Wallstab, 1980s
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful graduating bud vases tallest being 7.5'' tall by celebrated glass artist, Kurt Wallstab. no chips or cracks to glass. Never used.
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Dorothy Hafner Rare Prototype Box Uniquely Hand Painted
Located in Sharon, CT
Beautiful hand painted ceramic box.
Ceramic
Tecton Vase in Travertine by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980
Located in Geneve, CH
Tecton Vase in Travertine by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980. Dimensions: W 18 x D 18 x H 21 cm. Materials: Travertine. This vase is available in a selection of premium natural sto...
Travertine
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$3,250Sale Price|29% Off
Stanley Landsman "Starry Night" [Infinity Lit Cabinet] Lightbox Sculpture
Located in Astoria, NY
Stanley Landsman (American, 1930-1984) "Starry Night" [Infinity Lit Cabinet] Electrified Light Box Sculpture, composed of fountain pens, light bulbs, and mirrored glass, mounted on e...
Glass, Mirror, Wood