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.
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
$2,336 / item
Raw Stone XL Vase by Milena Kling
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw Stone XL Vase by Milena Kling Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 26 x H 55 cm. Materials: Mouth-blown crystal glass. Each RAW Vase is one of a kind and personally signed by Milena Kli...
Glass
Set of 2 Gres Ceramic Vase and Bowl by Hiao Chin for Atelier Franco Pozzi, 1970s
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Painted ceramics (vase and centerpiece) by Hiao Chin for Atelier/Gresline Franco Pozzi. Produced between the 70s and the 80s. Very good condition. signatures of the Manufacture und...
Ceramic
$259 / item
Transparet Mana Bag by Mana
Located in Geneve, CH
Transparet Mana Bag by Mana Dimensions: D 26 x W 4.5 x H 32 cm. Materials: Recycled pet from post-consumer plastics, mainly discarded bottles/single use food packaging, collected and...
Plastic
$11,730 / item
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 31 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 31 by Noe Kuremoto Handmade Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 45-55 x W 40-55 x H 40-55 cm (Dimensions are approximate). "I want my pot to...
Stoneware
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 25 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 25 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 32 x W 32 x H 37 cm (Dimensions are approximate). Milk, Clay, and Ashes I’m a middle...
Stoneware
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 27 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 27 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 36 x W 36 x H 44 cm (Dimensions are approximate). Milk, Clay, and Ashes I’m a middle...
Stoneware
$11,730 / item
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 33 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 33 by Noe Kuremoto Handmade Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 45-55 x W 40-55 x H 40-55 cm (Dimensions are approximate). "I want my pot to...
Stoneware
$11,730 / item
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 34 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 34 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 45-55 x W 40-55 x H 40-55 cm (Dimensions are approximate). "I want my pot to remember...
Stoneware
Unique Ocean Flower 006 Porcelain and 18k Gold Luster Sculpture by Mina Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Ocean Flower 006 Porcelain and 18k Gold Luster Sculpture by Mina Ceramics. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 15 x D 32 x H 33 cm. Materials: Porcelain with 18k Gold Luster. About...
Gold
$11,730 / item
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 32 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 32 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 45-55 x W 40-55 x H 40-55 cm (Dimensions are approximate). "I want my pot to remember...
Stoneware
Transparent Murano Glass Vase by Carlo Moretti, Signed, Italy 1990s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1990s. Made in hand-blown Murano glass. It is signed by Carlo Moretti. This vase might show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but it can be considered as in ex...
Murano Glass
$11,730 / item
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 29 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 29 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 45-55 x W 40-55 x H 40-55 cm (Dimensions are approximate). "I want my pot to remember...
Stoneware
$11,730 / item
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 35 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 35 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 45-55 x W 40-55 x H 40-55 cm (Dimensions are approximate) "I want my pot to remember ...
Stoneware
$11,730 / item
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 9 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 9 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 45-55 x W 40-55 x H 40-55 cm (Dimensions are approximate) "I want my pot to remember w...
Stoneware
Jaca Vase No. 17 in Black Organic Textured Ceramic by Hanna Englund
Located in Geneve, CH
Jaca Vase No. 17 in Black Organic Textured Ceramic by Hanna Englund Dimensions: D 27 x W 29 x H 46 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Large vase with an organic textured exterior. This piece ...
Ceramic
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
Postmodern Plaster Face Sculpture on Stand
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Unique postmodern plaster face sculpture with stand. Mayan or Buddha design. Great period piece and colors.
Plaster
Alvino Bagni Large Ceramic Bowl, Italy, 1970s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Large ceramic bowl designed by Alvino Bagni and produced in Italy during the 1970s. Executed in glazed ceramic, the bowl features Bagni’s characteristic graphic decoration-warm terr...
Ceramic
Postmodern Iridescent Black and Azure Cased Glass Vase, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, Murano, 1980s. It is made in quite heavy 3-layered iridescent black and cornflower blue hand-blown cased glass. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show sligh...
Murano Glass
$1,675 / item
Harmfull Ceramics Sculpture by Alina Rotzinger
Located in Geneve, CH
Harmfull ceramics sculpture by Alina Rotzinger Dimensions: H 35 x W 30 x D 20 cm. Materials: high temperature ceramics, oxide pigments and dead flowers. Composed by Alina Rotzin...
Other
Grenat Foncé Vase VII in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Vase VII in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 29 cm. Materials: Clay with deep burgundy glaze. Dimensions may vary. Please...
Clay
Transparent Murano Glass Vase by Moretti and Nason, Labeled, Italy 1990s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1990s. Made in hand-blown Murano glass. It is labeled by Nason & Moretti. This vase might show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but it can be considered as in...
Murano Glass
$15,577 / item
Silvestrin Amphora in Jurassic Fossil Stone by NERINEA
Located in Geneve, CH
Silvestrin Amphora in Jurassic Fossil Stone by NERINEA. Dimensions: W 40 x D 60 x H 118 cm. Materials: Natural Stone (Jurassic Fossil Classic). Designed by architect Claudio Silvestr...
Stone
Set of 3 Unique Vasijas Para Sembrar Agua, Red Vessels by Soledad Christie
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Unique Vasijas Para Sembrar Agua, Red Vessels by Soledad Christie. One Of a Kind. Dimensions: Left: W 7 x D 7 x H 13 cm. Center: W 14 x D 9 x H 19.5 cm. Right: W 20 x D 13 x...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Post Modern Two-Piece Sculpture in Solid Black Marble, USA, c. 1980's
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a fascinating two piece Post Modern sculpture cut from solid black marble and hand-polished to a brilliant shine. Featuring a sphere that rests within the confines of the...
Marble
Glazed Earthenware Abstract Woman by Ernest Treccani, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy in the 70s by Ernesto Treccani. This is an incredible polished earthenware piece that would fit perfectly in a museum. Measures: height: 140 cm width: 41 cm depth: 22 ...
Earthenware
$550Sale Price|35% Off
Tanya Poust Standing Geisha Patinated Bronze, 1964
Located in Astoria, NY
Tanya Poust (American, XX) Standing Geisha Patinated Bronze Sculpture, 1964, signed and dated "Tanya / 1964" near base, atop an octagonal wood plinth. Overall: 21.5" H x 9.5" W x 9....
Bronze
Double Large Photo Frame Plexiglass, Will Plexi Wood
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Will plexi wood is a large double picture frame in wood and clear plexiglass of the collection Art with Heart. It is possible to insert two large photos, o...
Plexiglass, Wood
1970’s turquoise and green Murano Centerpiece Bowl
By Venini
Located in Charleston, SC
Blue speckled with green cased in white with a white base. This works great on the dining table as a centerpiece Kitchen counter, entryway console for your keys. 1980’s, Italy. A 19...
Murano Glass
Corpus Archetypus in Luster Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Corpus Archetypus in Luster Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 30 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Arabian luster glaze press mold, reduction firing. ...
Ceramic
Rib 16X Sturdy Deep Blue Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp
Located in Geneve, CH
Rib 16X Sturdy Deep Blue Cornice Vessel by Lenny Stopp Dimensions: D 25 x H 45 cm Materials: Alpha crystalline gypsum (Hard plaster) Cornice is an evolving collection of vessels bor...
Other
Creature Sculpture in Welded Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor
Located in Geneve, CH
Creature Sculpture in Welded Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor Limited Edition of 3 + 2AP. Dimensions: D 65 x W 65 x H 165 cm. Materials: Mirror-polished stainless ste...
Stainless Steel
$7,481 / item
Amphora Shape Red Vase by Emilie Lemardeley
Located in Geneve, CH
Amphora Shape Red Vase by Emilie Lemardeley Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 42 x H 65 cm Materials: Hand blown glass. DRYADE Collection All in crystal, these large vases are raised and b...
Blown Glass
Peter Shire Large Table Top Sculpture in Red, Yellow, Purple and Black, Signed
By Peter Shire
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Shire Postmodern abstract table sculpture, 1989. Enameled steel and brushed steel. Signed and dated "Peter Shire 1989 15/24" Very good condition. Light wear throughout in the ...
Steel
Nicole & Luiza Toldi, Ceramic "Erosao #5". Unique piece
Located in PARIS, FR
Nicole & Luiza Toldi Ceramic "Erosão #5", 2024 Erosão #5 is a unique porcelain sculpture by Brazilian artists Nicole & Luiza Toldi, created in 2024 as part of their ongoing explorat...
Enamel
Vintage Large Earthenware Vide-Poche / Decorative Plate by Pino Castagna, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This catchall / vide-poche / decorative plate is made in glazed earthenware. It is signed by Pino Castagna. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show sl...
Earthenware
$1,097 / item
Stoneware, Silicone Small Wrinkled by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware, Silicone Small Wrinkled by Daniel Elkayam Dimensions: D 12 x W 12 x H 14 cm Materials: Stoneware, Silicone. Jerusalem-born Art-designer and Photographer based in Tel-Av...
Stoneware, Silicone
Postmodern Faceted Black Ceramic Bud Vase, 1990s
Located in Miami, FL
Faceted ceramic bud vase circa 1990s. Signed.
Ceramic
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
$2,600 / set
Pair Travertine Vessels, 1980
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair travertine vessels, 1980. Excellent condition and very heavy and solid. Measures 12" tall, 13" diameter, opening 6" diameter.
Travertine
Coral Y Atlantis Collection Decorative Object by Angeliki Stamatakou
Located in Geneve, CH
Coral Y Atlantis Collection Decorative object by Angeliki Stamatakou One of a kind, 2022 Dimensions: H13 x W16 cm. Materials: Stoneware, handmade glaze. Color: pink with ivory. ...
Stoneware
Painted Globe with a Rock Crystal and a Base in Gilt Bronze
Located in NICE, FR
Unique and rare painted Globe with mystical graphics in a street art way made by a French artist . The artist has sold some paintings at auction in 2019 for an average price of €600...
Bronze
$436 / item
Glaze Small Vase by Studionudo
Located in Geneve, CH
Glaze Small Vase by Studionudo Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 22 x H 20 cm. Materials: Clay. Different finishes and sizes are available. Prices may vary. Please contact us. Simple and...
Clay
Italian Gilt and Blue Ceramic 1970s-1980s Box with Pois and Strap
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This vintage box is made from hand painted and gilt ceramic with a pois and strap relief decoration. it was designed and manufactured in Italy between the 1970s and the 1980s. The bo...
Ceramic
Polished Cast Brass Mino P Towel Hanger by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Brass Mino P Towel Hanger by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 36 x D 8 x H 5 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum About: Studio ...
Metal
$2,596 / item
Smoker Scent Burner by Vaust
By VAUST
Located in Geneve, CH
Smoker scent burner by Vaust Open Edition Dimensions: D 26 x H 22.5 cm Materials: exposed concrete, aluminium, carved artificial stone Also Availa...
Stone, Concrete, Aluminum
Postmodern Orange Yellow Glazed Ceramic Vase, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This orange yellow vase is made in glazed ceramic. This is a vintage set, therefore they might show slight traces of use, but they can be considered as in excel...
Ceramic
Asmara Lotus Teak Wood Patina Black Sculpture by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Asmara Lotus Teak Wood Patina Black Sculpture by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 64 x W 47 x H 22 CM Materials: Teak wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based des...
Other
Exceptional Sculpture "Monumental Cambiamiento" by Angelo Mangiarotti, 2006
Located in Girona, Spain
Exceptional sculpture by Angelo Mangiarotti, Italy, circa 2006 Unique piece. Provenance : Special order for Mangiarotti editor. Carrara marble. Mangiarotti has worked for Cassina...
Carrara Marble
$7,658 / item
Ritus Tres Candelabra by Andres Monnier.
Located in Geneve, CH
Ritus Tres Candelabra by Andres Monnier. One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 100 x W 160 x H 70 cm Materials: Black marble. Designer's biography Treko concrete is a Mexican studio...
Marble
Ettore Sottsass Y15 Vase in Black Enameled Ceramic Yantra Series Poltronova 70s
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Cascina, Pisa
This ceramic piece is part of the Yantra series by Ettore Sottsass, a collection of thirty-nine forms including containers, ashtrays, vases and bowls, created between 1969 and 1973 a...
Ceramic
Barovier & Toso Vase, Orange, B.A.G. Series, Italy, Late 20th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Sculptural studio vase from the B.A.G. (Barovier Art Glass) series, produced by Barovier & Toso, Murano, Italy, in the late 20th century. Featuring a striking, forward-leaning silhou...
Glass
Luna Oak Tray by Applicata, Post-Modern Design, Oak, Sweden, 2024
Located in Geneve, CH
Luna Oak Tray by Applicata Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 3.7 cm Materials: Oak. Available in oak, smoked oak, and black stained oak finishes. Applicata’s entire collection is based o...
Oak
Three Dimensional "Yom Kippur" Etched Acrylic Block Art by Dekel
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Hand-etched three-dimensional acrylic block art featuring a scene of a Jewish man practicing the ceremony of Kapparah on the holiday of Yom Kippur. The 3...
Acrylic
Gino Cenedese Large Murano Vase, Glass, Scavo Finish, Signed
By Antonio da Ros, Gino Cenedese
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice and large signed Cenedese Murano vase in Scavo finish, also dated 1983. Some of these pieces are attributed to Antonio da Ros or Martinuzzi. This kind of work was normally ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Ettore Sottsass Le Connessioni Vase from the Ruins Series by Bitossi Italy, 1992
Located in Kansas City, MO
Le Connessioni vase from the Ruins series by Ettore and made by Bitossi for Design Gallery Milano, Italy, 1992. Glazed stoneware. Signed to underside 'Ettore Sottsass 1992 3/9 Bitoss...
Stoneware
Kirkja Unique Floor Candelabra in Stainless Steel by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Kirkja Unique Floor Candelabra in Stainless Steel by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 18 x W 20 x H 115 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Available in different finishes and ...
Stainless Steel
$177 / item
Tall Transparent Splash Vase by Mana
Located in Geneve, CH
Tall Transparent Splash Vase by Mana Dimensions: D 16 x W 12 x H 27 cm. Materials: Recycled pet from post-consumer plastics, mainly discarded bottles/single use food packaging, colle...
Plastic
Vasi Unique Sculptural Vase in Carved Marble by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Vasi Unique Sculptural Vase in Carved Marble by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 20 x W 60 x H 10 cm. Materials: Marble. Available in different finishes and material option...
Marble