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.
1980's Tessellated Stone & Brass Lidded Box by Desia
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Felt-lined lidded box all handcrafted from natural stones Indigenous to the Philippines.
Stone
Postmodern Decorative Center Bowl Signed by Japanese Artist Masuo Ojima. C 1980s
By Masuo Ojima, Barneys New York
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern Ceramic Decorative Center Bowl Signed by Japanese Artist Masuo Ojima. C 1980s Featues a geopmetric pattern design, mottled purple wide rim, and a gold crackle glaze gilt ...
Ceramic
Vintage Postmodern Chrome Table Lighter Kogen Japan, 1970s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Postmodern chrome table lighter Kogen Japan Piezo, 1970s Postmodern vintage chrome table lighter. Removable lighter portion is marked Piezo on top and Kogen on bottom Vintage mid century modern 70s table lighter. Does not work. Great decorative collectible rare vintage table lighter...
Chrome
Vintage Boho Italian Monumental Glazed Ceramic Snail
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Make a bold sculptural statement with this magnificent vintage Italian ceramic snail shell. Rendered on a monumental scale, this piece transforms a simple organic form into a work of...
Ceramic
$1,121 / item
Sculpture FUNGHI 20 by Zanellazine Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculpture FUNGHI 20 by Zanellazine Ceramics Dimensions: W 19 x D 14 x H 23 cm Materials: Red clay, Brown semi-refractorie clay. About: Giovanna Zighetti, ceramist and set designer, ...
Ceramic
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 14 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 14 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 33 x W 61 x H 42 cm I’m a middle-aged woman who had babies late—too late, some might...
Stoneware
$2,915 / item
Ampla 05 Stoneware Clay Vase by SOIO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ampla 05 Stoneware Clay Vase by SOIO Studio Dimensions: Ø 50 x H 20 cm Materials: Stoneware clay, matte glaze. SOIO Studio is a design studio based in Dubai creating sculptural coll...
Clay, Stoneware
Flower Vase (Large), Yellow, Bottle Green and Fuchsia by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
Large "Flower" Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Yellow, Bottle Green and Fuschia *All the pieces are handmade therefore uniq...
Resin
Meritalia Big Surprise 1 / Purple, Pink and Red 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
Postmodern Plaster Nude by David Fisher for Austin Productions, circa 1981
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Sleek, glamorous, and graceful Nude by David Fisher for Austin Productions, 1981. Beautiful detail in this postmodern icon. Stand on black plinth base...
Cast Stone
$2,450Sale Price|30% Off
Massive Post-Modern Stacked Art Glass Menorah by Bill Meek Studio
Located in San Diego, CA
Massive post-modern stacked art glass menorah by Bill Meeks Studio, circa 1995. The piece features stacked pieces of free form art glass to form what looks like an ice sculpture. Ab...
Art Glass
Vintage Crystal Globe on Stand
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage crystal globe on a square stand. Made of clear crystal with contrasting frosted continents. Made in Ireland by Godinger Shannon Crystal, original label attached to the base...
Crystal
A SCULPTURAL BRUTALIST CANDELABRA CANDLE HOLDER, ARTIST PIECE, France 1990
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional sculptural candelabra candle holder, Post-Modernist, Brutalist, Shabby-Chic, plant-inspired composition of folded and welded metal rods mounted on a tripod base, decor...
Metal, Gold Plate
$1,876 / item
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics Unique piece. Dimensions: D 20 x H 75 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Numerated and signed by the artist. All ...
Ceramic
Jaeger-LeCoultre - Mémovox mechanical travel watch from the 1970s
By Jaeger & Co.
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
This watch is a vintage classic from the renowned Jaeger-LeCoultre brand, specifically the Mémovox model, an iconic mechanical travel watch from the 1970s. The watch has a square or ...
Bronze, Enamel
Postmodern Curtis Jere Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Unique Curtis Jere sculpture of a kissing couple. Black steel sculpture with whimsical sleek lines casting great shadows throughout the day. Matte black finish topped of with gold ba...
Metal
Large Vintage Sculptural Postmodern Ikebana Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Lutz, FL
Large vintage Post Modern Sculptural Ikebana vase by Keiko & David Hergesheimer of Catalpa Lane Pottery c.1990’s. Interesting cantilevered shape and lovely gradient glaze In shades o...
Ceramic, Clay, Pottery
$2,726 / item
Frosted Green Frooot Bowl by Maha Alavi Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Frosted Green Frooot Bowl by Maha Alavi Studio Dimensions: D 30 x H 33 cm Materials: Resin. Maha Alavi is a Tokyo-based Canadian industrial designer...
Resin
$306Sale Price / set|35% Off
Candle holder Murano gold glass set , Italy
By Seguso
Located in La xara, VC
Superb set of Candle holder murano in gold finish , this hand made . rare to find two size ! 21 and 23 cm
Murano Glass
$88Sale Price|20% Off
Decorative geode and black glass jewelry box by Don Drumm, late 20th century
By Don Drumm
Located in View Park, CA
A very unique decorative jewelry box hand-crafted of black glass, mirror, iron, and geode by Don Drumm, late 20th century. The geode boasts a bevy of brilliant blues, from cerulean t...
Rock Crystal, Iron
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
$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
$360Sale Price / set|20% Off
Five Piece Art Deco Desk Set by Silver Crest Bronze Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice five piece Art Deco desk set in sterling silver coated bronze by Silver Crest Bronze Co., circa 1930s. The set is in good vintage condi...
Sterling Silver, Bronze
Radical Memphis style table clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white dial on black background. Designer's signature visible on the ...
Metal
A Memphis Milano Post-Modern Ceramic Vase By Marco Zanini for Bitossi
By Marco Zanini, Bitossi
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This Marco Zanini vase for Bitossi is a quintessential example of the Memphis Milano style, characterized by its bold colors, geometric shapes, and playful, innovative design. The va...
Ceramic
Danish Modern Decorative Porcelain Egg 1977
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful decorative porcelain egg by royal copenhagen circa 1977, excellent condition on a brass stand.
Porcelain
Post Modern Art Time Wall Clock designed by Nicolai Canetti, 1984
By Canetti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Nicolai Canetti for Art time post modern wall clock. Black enamel background with reds and whites. Sweep second hand. Great design and hard to find! Working condition! Produced in Ja...
Aluminum
Vintage Murano Sommerso Orb Blue Art Glass Ashtray
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Gorgeous vintage Murano Venetian handblown art glass bowl or ashtray. Italian Murano Sommerso Cenedese orb blue art glass ashtray. Heavyweight glass ashtray in a gorgeous minimal design. A very beautiful and substantial two-tone blue Italian Murano art glass cigarette ashtray...
Blown Glass
$212 / item
Brass Counter Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Counter Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 4 x H 5 cm Materials: Brass Designed for hanging bags and coats under bar counters. Each ...
Brass
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
Salvador Dalí Leda Armchair Sculpture in Polished Brass, Spain
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
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 ...
Brass
Postmodern Murano Glass Amber Bird Figurine Paperweight
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Playful bird figurine or paperweight is made in sommerso technique; amber colored glass gather with swirls of light-colored glass ribbons is cased over with clear glass. Controlled...
Art Glass, Glass, Murano Glass
80s Modern Cream Sphere Vase
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage 80s ceramic vase. High gloss cream glaze in a simple modern sphere shape.
Ceramic
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Decorative Marble Box circa 1980
By Sergio Asti, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Postmodern Decorative Marble Box circa 1980.
Marble
$250Sale Price|50% Off
Glass Pendulum Clock Takashi Kato Postmodern, 1980s Japanese Design
By Memphis Milano, Nathalie du Pasquier
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Glass pendulum clock by Sessa. It can be used as both standing on the table and hanging on the wall. Takashi Kato designed a lot of clocks in the 1980s-19...
Glass, Plastic
Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 2 by George Nelson, 1984
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare postmodern cream, brown, and navy checkerboard table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Very few signs...
Aluminum
$806 / item
Mocap "white/white" Illusionistic Wall Clock
By Jan Paul
Located in Maastricht, NL
“Time is an illusion” Most wall-clocks have the same basic shape: round. Also the same looking time-indication by numbers or stripes. “MOCAP” steps away from the basic. It’s appeara...
Steel
1980s Black Postmodern Wall Clock by Chass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a vibrant 1980s touch of class, this 'Chass' Postmodern Wall Clock features a black case and face, pastel numbers, geometric accents, and an asymmetrical hand arrangement. Remin...
Plastic
Midcentury Postmodern Optical Neon Floor Lamp Sculpture after Rudi Stern
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and impressive 1980s neon sculpture designed by Zimmerman Studios and produced by Archigraphics LA in 1987. Comes complete with pedestal as shown. Signed and numbered.
Glass, Acrylic, Wood
Movement Phase 2 Sculpture in Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay by Catalin Filip
Located in Geneve, CH
Movement Phase 2 Sculpture in Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay by Catalin Filip. Dimensions: W 40 x D 35 x H 27 cm. Materials: Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay, textured natural ceramic finish...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$4,430 / item
Light Rocks Stoneware Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Rocks Stoneware Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 32 x H 30 cm Material: White and beige stoneware, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ...
Stoneware
$188 / 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
$99Sale Price|60% Off
Miniature Murano Glass Vase with Bullicante, Gold Leaf, 1980s, Italy
Located in Glasgow, GB
A miniature Murano glass vase in vivid emerald green, attributed to Archimede Seguso and crafted in Italy circa 1980s. This small Italian art glass vase exemplifies the technical fin...
Gold Leaf
Fiorucci Canister Italy, c. 1980
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
This is a tall metal canister with a matching lid by Fiorucci, made in Italy circa the 1980s. The image is repeated on both sides.
Steel
Contemporary Art Big Black Moon Black Velvet Sofa by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Unique piece hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabrics and velvet embroidery were made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
'Love Knot' Murano Sculpture by Renato Anatrà, Signed, Italy, 1980's
Located in Doylestown, PA
Elegant 'Love Knot' abstract sculpture by Renato Anatrà, signed, Italy. Representing eternal love, this graceful sculpture is beautifully hand crafted of clear...
Murano Glass
Murano Blue and White Handblown Flower
By Murano 5
Located in Pasadena, TX
This flower is handblown. It was crafted in Murano, Italy. It is blue and white with 3 petals. Makes for a great gift.
Art Glass
Nature Leather and Black Steel Maggiz Magazine Rack by Ox Denmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature leather and black steel maggiz magazine rack by Ox Denmarq Dimensions: D 24 x W 47 x H 43 cm Materials: steel, leather Also available: different leather and frame colors av...
Steel
Vintage Danish Art Glass Bowl from Greve Glaskunst, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Danish Art Glass Bowl from Greve Glaskunst, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Glas...
Glass
Post-Modern Bronze Abstract Sculpture by Bertrand Créac'h, Frace
Located in London, GB
« Éclosion » by Bertrand Créac'h Material: Bronze, brown patina Dimensions: H 13 x 20 x 14 cm Year: 2023 While claiming an analogical relationship with nature, Bertrand Créach’s sc...
Bronze
Tennis Racket Desk Paper Clip Marble Malachite Resin Brass, Circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A chic and fun tennis racket and ball desk paper clip with a green marble-malachite-style resin, in the Modern style, circa 1960s, 1970s. Object, a brass tennis racket and ball paper...
Brass
Sunburst Moll 1.0 Sculptural Tray in Hand Molded Resin by Szymon Keller
Located in Geneve, CH
Sunburst Moll 1.0 Sculptural Tray in Hand Molded Resin by Szymon Keller. Dimensions: W 46 x D 36 x H 5 cm. Materials: Hand molded resin. Available colors include Transparent, Sand M...
Resin
Postmodern Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Olympus Table Clock "Tempo 21"
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare "Olympus" table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. The circular red clock face is upheld by a green pyramid base...
Aluminum
$10,518 / item
Regeneration 02 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Regeneration 02 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 12 x H 55 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbue...
Bronze, Other
Pair of Ettore Sottsass Silver Candlesticks for Swid Powell and Reed and Barton
By Reed & Barton, Ettore Sottsass, Swid Powell
Located in Kansas City, MO
Striking pair of silver plated candlesticks designed by Ettore Sottsass and made by Swid Powell in collaboration with Reed and Barton, 1980s.
Silver
$1,168 / item
Incense Object by Henry D'ath
Located in Geneve, CH
Incense object by Henry D'ath Dimensions:D55 x W20 x H6 cm Materials:Wood, Calligraphy Ink Piece is handmade by artist. Henry d’ath is a new zealand born, hong kong based art...
Wood
Le Vase Pique Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Vase Pique Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 22 x H 24 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas is...
Sandstone
Unique Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design “Tutti Frutti” Large Resin Bowl, 1990s
Located in Dronten, NL
Few designers blur the line between art, architecture, and irreverent joy like Gaetano Pesce. This large “Tutti Frutti” bowl—executed in his signature spaghetti technique—is a vibran...
Resin
Monumental Carved Wood Abstract Bird Sculpture, American Studio Craft 1980s
Located in Troy, MI
Large architectural hand carved wooden bird sculpture in solid oak USA circa 1980s Contrasting geometric and organic elements of angular faceted planes and chiseled textural detail...
Wood
$3,565 / item
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics Unique piece. Dimensions: D 20 x H 125 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Numerated and signed by the artist. All...
Ceramic