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.
Val Saint Lambert cut crystal vase from the 1960s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Val Saint Lambert cut crystal vase from the 1960s This Val Saint Lambert Aberdeen crystal vase is a vintage piece from the 1960s that sta...
Crystal
$900Sale Price|40% Off
Clear Crystal Tumb Print Bowl Designed by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Doraville, GA
A beautiful clear crystel tumb print bowl designed by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Company. The sticker is missing, but the bowl was probably manufactured by Archimede Seguso and made ...
Blown Glass
Rock Vase (Large), Black and Matte White by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. Variations in the dimensions, hues and colours’ d...
Resin
Artefacto Chan Maák Cab Decorative Object by Lørdag & Søndag
Located in Geneve, CH
Artefacto Chan Maák Cab Decorative Object by Lørdag & Søndag Dimensions: D 18 x W 50 x H 55 cm. Materials: Wicker. Lørdag & Søndag is a design studio founded in 2011 by Salv...
Wicker
$1,474 / item
Le Tetraodon Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Tetraodon Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 30 x H 30 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas is ...
Sandstone
$3,297 / item
Grain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Grain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a Kind Dimensions: D 37 cm x H 38 cm Material: Ceramic Finishing: Textured, Unglazed Artist stamp on the bottom Laura Pasquino Incorporatin...
Ceramic
Riedel x Mesa Design Large Black Centerpiece Glass Bowl, Post-Modern Italy, 1980
Located in Vienna, AT
A straight and large, 14 inches diameter postmodern centerpiece glass bowl from the 1980s. Crafted from deep black glass, this bowl stands out with its reduced, elegant design, featu...
Art Glass
XL PostModern Memphis Ettore Sottsass Ip Murano Blown Glass Sculpture Vase Italy
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Exceptional, Stunning and Monumental, post modern, Memphis Era, Ettore Sottsass inspired sculptural vase, Circa 1980, Italy Striking, bold, glass sculptural centerpiece in primary ...
Blown Glass
$489Sale Price|20% Off
Memphis Style Ceramic Vase Atzeco by Florio Keramia
Located in Debrecen, HU
Crafted by the esteemed Florio Keramia, this Memphis Style ceramic vase named Atzeco is a true embodiment of postmodern artistry. Its abstract design is complemented by a vibrant yel...
Ceramic
$1,163 / item
Small Selene Box by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Selene Box by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 15 x W 22 x H 4 cm Materials: Leather, wood, horn, brass. Rectangular box in dark horn and wood with lacquered black gloss finish. Lid in ...
Brass
Sergio Bustamante Signed Man At Window Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce vintage ceramic art sculpture by legendary 20th century Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante (b.1949). Fantastical surrealist style hand pa...
Earthenware
Salvador Dalí Leda Armchair Sculpture in Polished Brass, Spain
By Salvador Dalí, BD Barcelona Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Leda armchair designed by Dali manufactured by BD. Structure in polished cast brass varnish. Measures: 47 x 60 x 92 H.cm Year: 1935-1937 Taken from “Femme á la téte rose” 1935 (W...
Brass
1980 Italy Post Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture Archictectures
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Edmondo Cirillo, a talented artist of years 80' in Italy. This is a multiple of a numbe...
Bronze
Black Stoneware Sfondyli Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Stoneware Sfondyli Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 27 x H 23 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: Black, White, Brown, Red, White ...
Stoneware
$623 / item
Deficiency 9 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Deficiency 9 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics Dimensions: W 18 x D 17 x H 26 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Finish: Unglazed. Suitable for dry flowers Esra Misirli Kubilay is a...
Stoneware
Lotuso White Marble Decorative Bowl by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Lotuso White Marble Decorative Bowl by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 31 x W 31 x H 8 cm. Materials: White marble. Different marble and ceramic options available. Custom options available on request. Please contact us. Our mission is to encourage people to make their home the best place to be, to get inspired and to receive friends and family. Designed and manufactured by ourselves, we offer lightings to help people creating distinctive living spaces. Enhancing the authenticity of natural and organic materials using associations and contrasts. Extreme quality behind a facade of ultra-minimalism. We find our materials to the source to ensure we give the best value...
Marble
$230 / item
Ikea Candle Holder
By IKEA
Located in Bern, CH
Set of 3 'Konfetti' Post-Modern candlesticks by Anna Efverlund for IKEA dating from the 1990's. In three varying sizes and colours. Design: Anna Efverlund Produded: IKEA Height: 30cm...
Metal
Jaeger “Rue de la Paix” desk clock, France, ca. 1960
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Jaeger “Rue de la Paix” Desk Clock, France, ca. 1960 Original decorative clock in the shape of a Parisian lantern, made of dark green enameled metal w...
Bronze, Enamel
$18,383 / item
Extra Large High Clay Bathtub by Studio Loho
Located in Geneve, CH
Extra large high clay bathtub by Studio Loho Dimensions: D 90 x W 190 x H 53 cm Materials: clay Other colors and raw or smooth exterior available. Available in 4 sizes: W 160 x H 42(large), W 160 x H 53(large high), W 180 x H 42(x-large), W 190 x H 53(x-large high) The baths are entirely made of clay and are available in a wide range of colours or can be produced bespoke. The exterior of the clay can be raw or smooth according to preference, the interior of the baths is finished with a layer of smooth, silky lime plaster for maximum comfort. Due to the production process every piece is unique in size and form. Studio LoHo is a Belgian design office located in Bruges, Belgium. Founded in the autumn of 2017 by Karel Loontiens and Jo Hoeven, the studio focused from the beginning on high-end bespoke interior projects which forms an ideal matrix for product - and material design that is both innovative and durable. In current times there’s no more room for influx of disposable products, it is our studio’s goal to strive for design that will last and will be cherished for multiple generations. The introduction of the first collection “clay series” fully articulated the DNA of the newborn Studio and led to their international breakthrough. The appreciation of materials reflects their unique view on interior design with a strong and recognizable signature. Soon after, the collection was expanded on request by other architects and designers with new sinks...
Clay
1980s Postmodern Wall Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Wakita, Shohei Mihara
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly elegant and sophisticated 1980s wall clock designed by Shohei Mihara for Wakita. Postmodern, Memphis Group-influenced design at its finest! Black with white, red, green, ...
Glass, Plastic
Set Of 2 Corner Sculptural Vessels by Karin Amdal
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Corner Sculptural Vessels by Karin Amdal One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 12 x W 12 x H 15 cm. Materials: Ceramic/stoneware clay. Pieces are hand-made, one of a kind, and sizes...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Large Glass Postmodern Memphis Milano Wall Clock by Bino, Italy 80s
Located in Lucija, SI
Large Postmodern Memphis Milano wall clock produce by Bino Italy. Made in glass Unique piece
Glass, Plastic
Pedro Friedeberg Zebra Bronze Sculpture
Located in Mexico City, MX
A zebra bronze sculpture by Italian-born Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg. The zebra's series is 6 / 10 and has a dark patina finish. It is signed on the leg. The sculpture is mounted...
Bronze
$191 / item
Aluminium Brute Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Brute Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 3 x D 2 x H 10 cm Materials: Aluminum This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors and sash windows. Each pie...
Aluminum
Rimini Blue Ceramic Pitcher Vase by A. Londi and F. Montelupo for Bitossi
By Flavia Montelupo, Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
This is a Rimini blue vase from the 1970s. Made in Italy. It was designed by Aldo Londi and produced by Flavia Montelupo, also known as Bitossi. Bitos...
Ceramic
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 10 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 10 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: Milk, Clay, and Ashes Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 44 cm I’m a middle-aged woman who had babies late—too late, some...
Stoneware, Clay, Ash
Michael Graves Postmodern Chess and Checkers Set Game Maple Wood Restored 1999
Located in North Miami, FL
This original Postmodern Michael Graves chess set with checkers pieces has been fully restored with the wood which is 2 variants of maple. The wood was redone and new felt was put on the bottom. The resin players are a composition. It has velvet storage compartments inside for the players when you wish to use the checkers game part. Michael Graves was a Memphis Group designer and a member of the New York Five...
Velvet, Wood
$22,160 / item
Écon Mural in Basalt Granite & Steel by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Écon Mural in Basalt Granite & Steel by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 15 x W 180 x H 150 cm. Materials: Steel and basalt granite. Available in different finishes and mat...
Onyx, Other
$778 / item
Mocap 'Discodip' Illusionistic Wall Clock
Located in Maastricht, NL
Mocap 'Discodip' illusionistic wall clock design: JAN PAUL “Time is an illusion” Most wall-clocks have the same basic shape: round. Also the ...
Metal
Alessandro Mandruzzato Artistic Glass Jarron
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Art Glass Vase by Alessandro Mandruzzato This art glass vase, attributed to Alessandro Mandruzzato, features a faceted geometric design with a shape resembling an irregular octahedro...
Art Glass
$923 / item
Fungus Medium Vase by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Fungus Medium Vase by David Valner Dimensions: D 16 x W 17 x H 35 cm. Materials: Glass. Weight: 3,5 kg. Finish: Medium size, mint and grey, and matte surface. “The mystery of myceli...
Glass
$8,394 / item
Handmade Ceramic Alidoro Peach Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Ceramic Alidoro Peach Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 40 x H 45 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Peach, 24 kt gold luster Alidoro’ is a handmade ceramic vase, finished with a...
Ceramic
$935 / item
Vijayam Vase by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Vijayam Vase by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 22.86 x H 34.29 cm Materials: Stoneware Handcrafted with precision by our skilled artisans, the pot's balanced form and subtle texture lend...
Stoneware
Post Modern Snake Skin and Parchment Box by R & Y Augousti Paris
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Open topped box wrapped in parchment and with a lid having an arched top and continuing down the short sides wrapped in snakeskin with conforming bone edges. Marked on the bottom R&Y...
Animal Skin, Wood
Shiro Kuramata flower vase blue acrylic Japanese minimalist style
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Aluminium tube put into acrylic block. It's great work of Japanese minimalist style. Transparent body makes complex light reflections around. ...
Aluminum
1989 Tall Memphis Milano Style Studio Pottery Bud Vase
Located in Miami, FL
1989 Tall Memphis Milano Style Studio Pottery Bud Vase Offered for sale is a tall black bud vase created in the Memphis Milano style. The studio...
Pottery
Neos Lorenz du Pasquier & Sowden Postmodern Clock
By George Sowden, Nathalie du Pasquier
Located in Chicago, IL
A bright, multicolored postmodern wall clock with blue and green hands designed by Nathalie du Pasquier and George Sowden for Neos of Lorenz in the late 1980s. Co-founders of the Mem...
Plastic
$272Sale Price|53% Off
1980s Postmodern Female Face Ceramic Sculpture in the Austin Productions Style
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Large scale, Postmodern / 1980s Art Deco revival Female Head Ceramic Sculpture in the Austin Productions Style. Circa 1980s Features a flatten female head figure molded on a...
Ceramic
$1,942 / item
Perspectiva Space Divider by Colección Estudio
Located in Geneve, CH
Perspectiva space divider by Colección Estudio Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 163 cm Materials: oak wood, grey wool felt Also available in ebonized o...
Felt, Oak
$4,017 / item
Light 33 Porcelain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Light 33 Porcelain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 32 x H 31 cm Material: White porcelain, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Korea...
Porcelain
Acrylic Owl Sculpture by Abraham Palatnik, Brazil, 1970s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Acrylic Owl Sculpture by Abraham Palatnik, Brazil, 1970s Acrylic sculpture by renowned Brazilian artist Abraham Palatnik, a pioneer of the Kinetic Art movement. This iconic owl fig...
Acrylic
1990s Modernist Gilded Bronze and Marble Sculpture by Gaudio
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This stunning vintage sculpture, created in the 1990s, is a beautiful example of abstract expression. The piece is crafted from gilded bronze with a striking green patina on some of ...
Marble, Bronze
An authentic postmodern vase by Lindsey B., 1983
Located in View Park, CA
An elegant postmodern vase featuring a cloaked figure by Lindsey B., signed, 1983. Tones of snow and licorice. 5” W x 3.25” D x 8.75” H
Ceramic
$19,840Sale Price|20% Off
Yoichi Ohira Murano Art Glass Vase Mosaic Murrine Sporgenti Unique L. Serena
By Yoichi Ohira
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A rare and exquisite example of Yoichi Ohira's finest works, an art glass vase handcrafted on the venetian island of murano. Blown glass canes with mirrune and powder inserts, polish...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Sterling silver pair gilded and enamel green guilloche candlesticks marked 925.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful pair of candle holders in sterling silver and gold wash and enamel work.
Sterling Silver
$1,150 / item
Uovo Bowl, Mexican White Onyx
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
This bowl explores balance through weight, surface, and elevation. Carved from solid white onyx, its gently concave form rests on three egg-shaped stone legs, lifting the piece and c...
Onyx, Stone
Rene Magritte ceramic decorative plate , marked edition with original box .
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful decorative plate made by Adage et Flammarion , for the Magritte Collection .edition 330/1000 Box measures 9.5 x 9.5 x 1 high . shows light ware and scratches in cardboard .
Ceramic
Postmodern Murano glass vase by Ottavio Missoni, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
Magnificent multicolored Murano blown glass vase designed by the famous Ottavio Missoni and made in the 1980s, a true masterpiece that embodies the essence of artistic design of the ...
Murano Glass
$5,540 / item
Ceramic Petalouda Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic Petalouda Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 44 x H 32 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Black, blue, light blue, green, white. The “Petalouda” vase is a celebration of extraordin...
Ceramic
Italy Mid Century Modern Small Nickel Silver Basket, Alessi Era
By Alessi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a mid-century modern nickel or silver-plate basket. Stamped MADE IN ITALY. Dimensions: 3.25" H x 8" diameter Please visit take a look at our listings, we ha...
Silver Plate, Nickel
Leaves Pedestal Bowl by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Leaves pedestal bowl by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: tree leaves, brass Dimensions: H 7.5 x D 12 cm Colour: green/khaki Notes: for dry use Since 2015, product...
Brass
$8,394 / item
Handmade Ceramic Alidoro Yellow Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Ceramic Alidoro Yellow Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 40 x H 45 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Yellow, 24 kt gold luster. Alidoro’ is a handmade ceramic vase, finished wit...
Ceramic
$4,484 / item
Tilino Vase by Elke Sada
Located in Geneve, CH
Placida vase by Elke Sada Unique Piece Dimensions: W 22 x D 22 x H 44 cm Materials: red grogged clay, coloured slips, transparent glaze. What is fascin...
Clay
Postmodern Eternity Calendar by Mette Kiellerup for Royal Copenhagen, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Perpetual Eternity Calendar by Mette Kiellerup for Royal Copenhagen, Denmark, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. This piece has an attribution mark. A...
Metal
Postmodern Blue Glass Candleholder, Vintage Design, 1990s, 8.66" Tall
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Blue Glass Candleholder, 1990s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999. Additional information: Materials: Glass Color: Blue Styles: Postmodern Item Type: Vintage...
Glass
Post-Modern wrought iron candlesticks, Sweden, 1980s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Post-Modern wrought iron and oak candle holders, Sweden, 70s. Made of hand-worked wrought iron and chrome-plated, and stained oak wood. Of a certain brutalist style mixed with Memphi...
Chrome, Wrought Iron
Loet Vanderveen Bronze Sculpture of a Gazelle Signed Numbered Limited Ed.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Loet Vanderveen (Dutch, 1921-2015). Artistic African Antelope bronze wildlife animal sculpture. Original Loet Vanderveen bronze Ibex or gazelle sculpture in Charcoal patina finish. L...
Bronze
Oiva Toikka glass bird sculpture for Nuutajarvi Notsjo "Redstart"
By Nuutajärvi Notsjõ, Oiva Toikka
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful glass work bird, by the well known designer Oiva Toikka title Mountain Redstart , Littala label.
Glass
John Hardy sterling silver and coconut wood desk/table pen holder/paperweight .
By John Hardy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful sterling silver and coconut wood paperweight/ pen holder .
Sterling Silver
'Belmont' Ceramic Mug Sculpture by Peter Shire, 2016
By Peter Shire
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Glazed Whiteware ceramic mug sculpture by Peter Shire, 2016. Approx: 8 3/4" high x 13" wide x 23" long (to handle). Peter Shire: Peter Shire is an LA-based artist whose work elu...
Ceramic