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.
$1,167 / item
Door Handle by Atelier Thomas Serruys
Located in Geneve, CH
Door handle by Atelier Thomas Serruys. Dimensions: D 4 x H 5.3 cm Materials: Brass. Solid brass door handle, hand-turned with square peg. Perfec...
Brass
$40,196 / item
Rainbow Sculpture by Christian Friedl
Located in Geneve, CH
Rainbow Sculpture by Christian Friedl Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 50 x H 82 cm. Materials: Steel, rock crystal. Rainbow tells his story... My rainbo...
Rock Crystal, Steel
Heavy Earthenware Vase in Verdigris w/ 3 Openings
Located in North Miami, FL
This green glazed terra cotta vase with 3 whimsical openings for flowers is super heavy and sculptural. SIGNED
Ceramic, Earthenware
Nancy Dwyer "S" Sculpture or Table
Located in Greensboro, NC
"S" Sculpture or table on casters by noted NYC artist Nancy Dwyer. This piece is unsigned, but was purchased from an estate where Nancy lived at some point in her career. It was found in a barn, along with other signed works by her and a sketchbook of some of her pieces. This could be part of a larger work, but is being sold as-found. Nancy Dwyer is an American contemporary artist who uses language as an image in her large-scale, multimedia works. A key figure in the "Pictures Generation," alongside artists like Cindy Sherman, she co-founded the influential Hallwalls in Buffalo, NY, in 1974. Dwyer's work critiques consumer culture and media using single, loaded words ("ego," "envy," "food") transformed into sculptures and paintings. She uses commercial sign...
Wood
Monumental Afzelia wood sculpture by Begga d’Haese, Belgium, c. 1985
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
This powerful vertical work embodies the sculptural language of Begga d'Haese, whose practice is defined by restrained abstraction, material integrity, and a strong spatial presence....
Stone
$11,246Sale Price|25% Off
1980’s Figural Large Hand Carved Marble Embracing Couple Sculpture & Slate Base
Located in Topeka, KS
Magnificent vintage figural large hand carved marble embracing couple sculpture & slate tile covered plywood pedestal. This fabulous piece is signed but we have been unsuccessful in ...
Marble, Slate
Sometimes, I Have Coffee With My Own Demons Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
Sometimes, I Have Coffee With My Own Demons Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 50 x D 5 x H 50 cm Materials: Volcanic rock. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s int...
Stone
Blue Tea Cups Stack Vase, Italy, 1980s
Located in Firenze, IT
Blue tea cups stack vase Italy 1980s Measures : 31 cm H - 20 cm diam. Conditions: defects & repairs. Check the pictures.
Ceramic
$1,815 / item
#3 Sculpture by Evamarie Pappas
Located in Geneve, CH
#3 Sculpture by Evamarie Pappas Dimensions: D 22.86 x W 17.78 x H 16.51 cm Materials: Stoneware, Underglaze. Non-functional sculpture. For Evamarie Papp...
Stoneware
$3,112 / item
Medusa Black Vase by Casa Alfarera
Located in Geneve, CH
Medusa black vase by Casa Alfarera Dimensions: D 45.7 x H 48.3 cm Materials: Matte black glaze The Medusa Vase is a large flower pot or decorative p...
Glass
Eric Ledoux "Josephine Baker" Hand Painted Ceramic Sculpture
By Eric Ledoux
Located in Mexico City, MX
A hand-painted ceramic sculpture depicting American-born French dancer Josephine Baker holding a peace dove by French sculptor Eric Ledoux. The piece is unsigned. Eric Ledoux was b...
Ceramic
$19,839 / item
Surrounded by Red Vase by Paolo Marcolongo
Located in Geneve, CH
Surrounded by Red Vase by Paolo Marcolongo Dimensions: D 26 x W 16.7 x H 16.2 cm Materials: Murano Glass and Iron. Paolo Marcolongo was born in Padua in 1956, he attended the Art...
Iron
1980s Post Modern Wall Clock by Empire Arts
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A vintage 1980s postmodern wall clock by Empire Art Products. The clock's face has various shades of black, off-white, and silver with geometric sh...
Glass, Wood
$2,286 / item
Red Tetris Vase by Dechem Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Red Tetris vase by Dechem Studio. Dimensions: D 30 x W 23 x H 60 cm. Materials: glass. Available in smoke grey, cobalt blue, red, crystal and alabaster white. Strict geometric ...
Glass
Set of Three Ceramic Vases White and Real Platinum, Glossy Modern Chic Luxury
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Il set composto da tre elementi in ceramica è una collezione di cinque dal nome Space P. I cinque elementi che compongono l'intera collezione vengono di volta in volta declinati su un tema specifico. Space O è dedicata al design iconico degli anni ottanta italiano, Space P è l'eleganza in bianco e platino a terzo fuoco. Space M è stata concepita in collaborazione Laie Museo Picasso Barcellona in occasione della mostra Mirò Picasso.
Ceramic
1980 Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Vanni Viviani Star with Apples
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an engaging and intense artwork signed by the author Vanni Viviani, a well known artist of years 80' in Italy. This artwork was made in 1980 but it can be considered as new ...
Bronze
Set of 6 Hender, Peana and Vano Green Objects by Eter Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 6 Hender, Peana and Vano Green Objects by Eter Design Unique Pieces. Dimensions: Hender Model 2 Large Green Bowl: Ø 30.5 x H 36.9 cm. Hender...
Clay
Mini Mint Blue Wave Form Vase by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Mini Mint Blue Wave Form Vase by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 8.9 x W 8.9 x H 17.8 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Available in Crystal Cream, Mint Blue, Br...
Ceramic
$28,196 / item
Planet 01 Sculpture by Kris Lamba Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Planet 01 Sculpture by Kris Lamba Studio Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 65 cm Materials: Polished bronze. Weight: 25 Kg. Kris Lamba was born in London in 1984. He creates large and sma...
Bronze
Postmodern Memphis Style Vase by Thomas, Rosenthal, Germany, 1980s
A very rare and extraordinary Postmodern Vase by Thomas Porzellan, Atelier Collection, a Division of Rosenthal. Made in Germany in the 1980s this obj...
Porcelain
Green Purple Resin Vase Postmodern Memphis Style by Steve Zoller
By Steve Zoller
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This vase is made of resin and fiberglass by American artist Steve Zoller. He is unique in his use of color, elemental shapes and flamboyant style. In 199...
Resin
Orange Blue Resin Vase Postmodern Memphis Style by Steve Zoller
By Steve Zoller
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This vase is made of resin and fiberglass by American artist Steve Zoller. He is unique in his use of color, elemental shapes and flamboyant style. In 199...
Resin
$111,985
72.5° Arcs x9
By Bernar Venet
Located in Paris, FR
Black patina steel sculpture 70 x 43 x 30 cm Title engraved at base of work Archive number: bv03ss10 To achieve a flawless curve, 72.5° Arcs x9 is based on the fundamental principle...
Steel, Stainless Steel
1980s Post Modern Memphis Style Lacquered Handmade Box by Hollis Fingold, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fantastic postmodern Memphis style handmade, hand-painted wood box with distinctive rounded flat feet and sculpted wavy handle by artist Hollis Fingold. The inside of the box has a...
Wood, Paint, Fabric
Telluride Stracciatella Big Decorative Bowl by Tellurico
Located in Geneve, CH
Telluride Stracciatella Big Decorative Bowl by Tellurico Limited Edition Of 12 + 1 A.P. Pieces. Signed And Numbered. Dimensions: D 42 x W 58 x H 21 cm. Materials: Volcanic porcelain...
Porcelain
$1,296 / item
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise Dimensions: W 17 x D 17 x H 23 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artist s...
Ceramic
$55,757 / item
Blue Moon Wall Art by Christian Friedl
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue Moon Wall Art by Christian Friedl Limited Edition of 3 Dimensions: D 25 x W 140 x H 140 cm. Materials: Oak, concrete. Blue Moon is a rare natural s...
Concrete
$1,231 / item
Unique Ukiyo II Vase by Marthine Spinnangr
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Ukiyo II vase by Marthine Spinnangr One of a Kind Dimensions: D 30 (top) / 14 (bottom) x W 15 x H 45 cm Materials: Stoneware Clay Differe...
Clay, Stoneware
Sera Clamp Candle Lamp in Matte Burnished Iron Polished Brass by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Sera Clamp Candle Lamp in Matte Burnished Iron Polished Brass by Mingardo Dimensions: D27.5 x W22 x H26 cm. Materials: Matte burnished iron structure and lampshade with a RAL 9010 w...
Brass, Iron
Stainless steel sculpture "Death trap" by Deon Rubi. Agentina, 2024.
By Deon Rubi
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Stainless steel sculpture "Death trap" by Deon Rubi. Agentina, 2024. Lucila Garcia de Onrubia (b. Buenos Aires, 1986) has worked under the alias Deon Rubi since 2014. She studied Co...
Stainless Steel
$9,807 / item
Shibuya Wall Sculpture by Daniel Schneiger
Located in Geneve, CH
Shibuya wall sculpture by Daniel Schneiger Dimensions: D 71 x W 137 x H 18 cm Materials: wood, foam, resin and paint Custom sizes available. Custom finishes available. Please cont...
Resin, Foam, Wood
$2,911 / item
Anatolian 3 Vase by Güler Elçi
Located in Geneve, CH
Anatolian 3 Vase by Güler Elçi Dimensions: W 15.2 x D 12.7 x H 24.1 cm. Materials: Stoneware Ceramic. Güler Elçi is a ceramic artist based in Istanbul. In the light of her engineeri...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Large Woven Freeform Sculpture by Klaus Titze, 2 of 2
By Klaus Titze
Located in Toronto, CA
Full of character and a little mischief, these oversized wicker figures by Klaus Titze bring a sense of movement and personality to a space. Handcrafted in the early 2000s, they refl...
Rattan
$521Sale Price|25% Off
Late 20th Century Postmodern Blue Glazed Stoneware Pottery Flattened Vase
Located in Topeka, KS
Fabulous Late 20th Century Modern to Postmodern glazed stoneware pottery flattened vase dark blue with center stripe. Signed but we cannot read signature. Beautiful condition, keepin...
Stoneware
Meritalia Big Surprise 1, Large/ Blue, Green and Clear by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Each vase by Edizioni del Pesce embodies a singular and unrepeatable identity, telling a different story through innovative shapes, intricate details and a varied chromatic range. Th...
Resin
$3,866 / item
TOOOTEM Miroir Totem by STUDIO SOL LECCIA
Located in Geneve, CH
TOOOTEM Miroir Totem by STUDIO SOL LECCIA Dimensions: D 5 x H 205 cm Materials: Mirror, Aluminum and Brass. TOOOTEM's were born from the desire to create nomadic work, both strong ...
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage Sommerso Italian glass centerpiece from the 60s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Italian Sommerso Glass Centerpiece 1960s This exquisite Italian sommerso glass centerpiece is a true work of art that exudes sophistication and refinement. Handcrafted on the...
Art Glass
Contemporary Abstract Bronze Sculpture by Bertrand Créach
Located in London, GB
" Famille I " Bronze sculpture by Bertrand Creach, 2021. Limited edition 1/8, hand-carved and black patina finition. ______ Dimension: H 35 x 15.5 x ...
Bronze
Set of 3 Contemporary F.ACE Golden Finish Aluminium Wall Hooks by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 F.ACE Aluminium Wall Hooks 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 so...
Aluminum
Euphrates Vase, Designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for Memphis Milano
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group
Located in Beirut, LB
The Euphrates vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1983 for Memphis Milano 1981-1988. A classic by Sottsass, the Euphrates porcelain vase is part of three 'rivers' vase...
Porcelain
Italy Post Modern Jiro Sugawara Aluminium Multiple Abstrac Sculpture
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the artist Jiro Sugawara, the title is "Circle" Jiro Sugawara is a post-war artist and he was born in Japon in 1941. He studi...
Aluminum
Murano Artistic Glass Bottle by Vincenzo Nason
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Artistic Murano Glass Bottle by Vincenzo Nason Beautiful Murano glass bottle by artist Vincenso Nason, it has a beautiful design where you can see the brush strokes of color that giv...
Art Glass
$3,630 / item
#2 Sculpture by Evamarie Pappas
Located in Geneve, CH
#2 Sculpture by Evamarie Pappas Dimensions: D 16.51 x W 16.51 x H 50.16 cm Materials: Stoneware. This sculpture is incomplete. it will be fired once again with an underglaze. For E...
Stoneware
$259 / item
Type Spaghetti Meter by Studio Lievito
Located in Geneve, CH
Type Spaghetti meter by Studio Lievito Dimensions: D10 x W10 x H10 cm Materials: Bianco Carrara marble. Weight: 1.8 kg Turning ordinary into extraordi...
Carrara Marble
$1,296 / item
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise Dimensions: W 18 x D 18 x H 19 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artist s...
Ceramic
1980's Postmodern terracotta & Glaze Ceramic Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
A very unusual piece of pottery in terracotta finish with glaze in and out also an inside tube for a flower very rare and great look, circa 1980 stamped at the bottom.
Terracotta
Oxidized bronze Green Blue Metallized Mini Totem by Frederic Texier
Located in Geneve, CH
Oxidized bronze Green Blue Metallized Mini Totem by Frederic Texier Dimensions: W 10 x D 12 x H 43 cm. Materials: Concrete coated with bronze powder and then oxidized. Color: Oxidiz...
Concrete, Bronze
Postmodern Glass Hand Made Zodiac Paperweights by Svoboda Karlov Checoslovakia
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful Zodiac paperweights made by Svoboda Karlov circa the 1980s, with Picis Aries and Tauro Logos, we are selling them separately buyer has the choice to by which one they want...
Blown Glass
Lucido Costello Original Hand Made Iron Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely hand made iron sculpture is part of a set (male and female) - completely original by Lucido Costello, a well renowned heavy iron sculpture artist in Barcelona, Spain. Co...
Metal
$1,131 / item
Wood and Aluminum Vaso Torno by Atelier Andre Ferri
Located in Geneve, CH
Wood and Aluminum Vaso Torno by Atelier Andre Ferri Dimensions: W 25 x D 29.5 x H 32 cm Materials: Wood, Aluminum. ANDRÉ FERRI André Ferri is from Belo Horizonte, born in 1990, g...
Aluminum
$1,296 / item
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise Dimensions: W 19 x D 19 x H 15 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artist s...
Ceramic
$1,296 / item
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise Dimensions: W 22 x D 23 x H 13 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artist s...
Ceramic
$518 / item
Ceramic Cockatoo Parrot Sculpture by Marioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic Cockatoo Parrot Sculpture by Marioni Dimensions: W 16 x D 16 x H 44 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Product code: 02276 Parrot in glazed ceramic. Available in different colors and ...
Ceramic
$2,829 / item
Balloon Object 000 by Louise Roe
Located in Geneve, CH
Balloon Object 000 by Louise Roe Dimensions: Ø 24 x H 32 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. THE ROE STUDIO BALLOON OBJECT 000 A limited and distinctive varia...
Stainless Steel
$450Sale Price|52% Off
Soichiro Sasakura for Sasaki Japanese Postmodern 'San Marino' Art Glass Vase
By Soichiro Sasakura
Located in Astoria, NY
Soichiro Sasakura for Sasaki Japanese postmodern glass vase, deep opaque blue with sheer light blue band at top, marked "Sasaki" at base. 6.5" H x 9" Diameter.
Art Glass
$1,945 / item
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise Dimensions: W 22 x D 22 x H 20 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artist s...
Ceramic
$1,945 / item
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise Dimensions: W 14 x D 12 x H 25 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artist s...
Ceramic
$40,196 / item
Together Sculpture by Christian Friedl
Located in Geneve, CH
Together Sculpture by Christian Friedl Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 80 x W 130 x H 122 cm. Materials: Beech, spruce. Together tell his story... More than 100 years of living in the ...
Beech, Spruce
$2,593 / item
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Made Ceramic Yüklü Collection Vase by İpek Çise Dimensions: W 29 x D 30.5 x H 18 cm Materials: Hand made ceramic. About: Born in 1995 in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, the artist...
Ceramic
Functional Sculpture 'Praying Mantis' by Salvino Marsura, Italy, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Functional sculpture by Italian artist Salvino Marsura, crafted in the 1950s. Hand-forged from steel and finished with vibrant powder pigments, the piece embodies Marsura’s deep resp...
Steel