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.
Large Woven Freeform Sculpture by Klaus Titze, 1 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
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
Set Of 2 Isacco Trays in Dark Horn, Chromed Brass & Amara Ebony Wood by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Isacco Trays in Dark Horn, Chromed Brass & Amara Ebony Wood by Arcahorn Dimensions: Large: D 40 x W 60 x H 8 cm. Small: D 35 x W 50 x H 8 cm. Materials: Horn, ebony wood, an...
Brass, Other
$4,037 / item
MG404 Marble Vase 60 by Malte Gormsen
Located in Geneve, CH
MG404 Marble Vase 60 by Malte Gormsen Dimensions: D 20 x H 60 cm. Materials: Granitello. Available in different stones. Available in 3 different dimensions. Please contact us. Malt...
Marble
$620 / item
Large Lingara Vase by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Lingara Vase by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 16.51 x H 30.48 cm Materials: Stoneware This stunning piece beautifully blends traditional craftsmanship with modern elegance, making...
Stoneware
TOWERX11 Architectural Iron Sculpture in Matte Black by Towerland
Located in Geneve, CH
TOWERX11 Architectural Iron Sculpture in Matte Black by Towerland. Dimensions: W 35 x D 30 x H 53.8 cm Materials: Iron plate with Matte black brocade finish. The TOWERX1 series comp...
Iron
Ted Arnold High Society Solid Fake Gold Cast Fast Food Emporium Fried Egg
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Ted Arnold High Society solid fake gold cast fast food emporium says the original carton box. According to the same box the series contained th...
Metal
Vintage Boho 1980s Quilted Fabric Palm Tree With Parrot
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Transport your interior to a playful, sun-drenched paradise with this spectacular vintage soft sculpture palm tree. A quintessential example of 1980s Postmodern and Pop Art design, t...
Fabric, Cotton, Wood
21st Century by Marta Laudani e Marco Romanelli Steel Sculpture Artisan
By Marta Laudani, Marco Romanelli
Located in Lecce, IT
RE (king), REGINA (queen), FANTE (jack) Indoor-outdoor sculptures, coat hanger-pocket emptiers, realized with steel elements obtained through laser-cutting and welded round steel ...
Steel
$1,802 / item
Emerge Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Emerge Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 22 x H 40 CM Materials: Teak wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and creator. She works cl...
Other
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
Leuca Sculpture in Horn, Lacquered Wood & Stainless Steel by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Leuca Sculpture in Horn, Lacquered Wood & Stainless Steel by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: D 16 x W 16 x H 80/90 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, horn, and lacquered w...
Stainless Steel, Other
$1,486 / item
Agneta Box I by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Agneta Box I by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 13 x H 17 cm Materials: Leather, wood, brass, horn. Round box in Aida pebbled leather, Onyx colour with handmade ivory stitching. Lid in matte...
Brass
$3,896 / item
Table Side Table by Vaust
By VAUST
Located in Geneve, CH
Table side table by Vaust. Open edition. Dimensions: D 26 x H 53 cm. Materials: exposed concrete, aluminium. Also available: Custom material selection can be offered upon request...
Concrete, Aluminum
Terracotta Deficiency 2 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Terracotta Deficiency 2 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics Dimensions: W 21 x D 20 x H 28 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Finish: Unglazed. Suitable for dry flowers Also Available:...
Stoneware
$3,346 / item
MG404 Marble Vase 45 by Malte Gormsen
Located in Geneve, CH
MG404 Marble Vase 45 by Malte Gormsen Dimensions: D 18 x H 45 cm. Materials: Brown Line stone. Available in different stones. Available in 3 different dimensions. Please contact us....
Marble
A Very Unusual Patchwork Collage Ceramic Rhinoceros.
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Very Unusual Patchwork Collage Ceramic Rhinoceros. This charming Rhinoceros is by La Vie Collage is from the Safari Collection it has a patchwork decoration of jungle animals T...
Ceramic
Modder One Step At A Time Ceramic Sculpture by Françoise Jeffrey
Located in Geneve, CH
Modder One Step At A Time Ceramic Sculpture by Françoise Jeffrey Dimensions: W 21 x 68 cm Materials: earthenware, off white, coil- built, unglazed Weight: 9 kg. Follow through, one ...
Clay
Dorotea Picture Frame in Horn, Ebony Veneer & Pebbled Leather by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Dorotea in Picture Frame in Horn, Ebony Veneer & Pebbled Leather by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: D 5 x W 19 x H 24 cm. Materials: Glossy horn, Amara ebony veneer, an...
Other
$1,790 / item
Etna Volcano Vase by Paola Paronetto
Located in Geneve, CH
Etna Volcano Vase by Paola Paronetto Dimensions: D 25 x H 57 cm Materials: Paper clay. High base. Also available in different dimensions. Please contact us. In Paola Paronetto's imagination, the Sicilian volcano takes on infinite poses, as many as the shades of its changing nature, sometimes gentle and silent, sometimes superb and a little imperious. The beautiful thing is that there is always room for a flower, or two, or three... Paola Paronetto Paola Paronetto was drawn to the world of ceramics at a very young age, learning clay working techniques from the hands of master ceramists. Her free and inquisitive soul led her to experiment with different materials and expressive techniques, until her encounter with paper clay. The idea of a material that naturally evades the rules fascinates her. In the early 2000s, in her ceramic workshop in Porcia, where she still lives and works today, the "Cartocci" collection was born. Solid objects, yet as light and thin as paper where her complete creative world lies: the affinity with a technique that requires layering and waiting, the search for forms that allow themselves imperfections, her sense for the solidity of colour. Today her art work in paper clay travels the world, freely intertwining with contemporary art and design. They are exhibited in in select showrooms, galleries and museums (or museum shops) in Italy and abroad. They participate in the most important international design events, flirting effortlessly with other worlds. The Ille Arts gallery in New York and the Contemporary Ceramic Centre in London have dedicated a solo exhibition to Paola Paronetto. ADI Design Musem - Compasso d'Oro in Milan hosted her first anthological exhibition in Italy in 2021. Her work and her world of inspirations are collected in the photographic book 'Paola Paronetto. Metafore', presented at the Triennale Milano...
Paper, Clay
Unique Polished Oak Trough 8.5 cm Depth by Matt Kavanagh
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Polished Oak Trough 8.5 cm Depth by Matt Kavanagh. Signed by Matt Kavanagh. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 25 x D 8.5 x H 7.5 cm. Materials: Oak, scorch & oil, polish wax. ...
Hardwood, Oak
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
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
$2,340Sale Price / set|20% Off
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
$5,148 / item
Sayap Lotus Teak Wood Sculpture by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Sayap Lotus Teak Wood Sculpture by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 62 x W 32 x H 28 CM Materials: Teak wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and crea...
Other
Burned and Black Stained Solid Oak Lahmu Vase by Sizar Alexis
By Sizar Alexis
Located in Geneve, CH
Burned and Black Stained Solid Oak Lahmu Vase by Sizar Alexis Dimensions: W 24 x D 18 x H 35 cm Materials: Burned and Black Stained Solid Oak. About: Sizar Alexis is a Swedish-Iraqi...
Oak
$2,094 / item
Northen Hides Vessel by Ella Bulley
Located in Geneve, CH
Northen Hides Vessel by Ella Bulley One Of A Kind. Dimensions: Ø 14 x H 28 cm. Materials: White stoneware clay. Ella Bulley is a Material Design Studio based in London, creating wor...
Stoneware
Modder Transforming Ceramic Sculpture by Françoise Jeffrey
Located in Geneve, CH
Modder Transforming Ceramic Sculpture by Françoise Jeffrey Dimensions: W 25 x 62 cm Materials: earthenware, year 2024, off white, coil-built, unglazed, green natural stone base made ...
Clay
Set of Two Ceramic Vases by SIC, Italy, 1970s
By Sicart
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1970s ceramic vases by SIC. Bi-colored pieces with typical 1970s shapes.
Ceramic
$2,188 / item
Unique Sculpted Vase by Maria Loram
By Maria Loram
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Sculpted Vase by Maria Loram Dimensions: W 30.5 x D 30.5 x H 19.7 cm Materials: Stoneware with a glazed finish. Colors: Gray. Custom dimensions and glaze finishes are availab...
Stoneware
$4,423 / item
Royal S Vase by Kreoo
Located in Geneve, CH
Royal S Vase by Kreoo Designed by Christophe Pillet Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 29 cm. Materials: Travertino Paglierino. Available in different marble and travertine options. Available in...
Travertine
$4,048 / item
Aegis Vase 350 by Lost Profile Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Aegis Vase 350 by Lost Profile Studio Dimensions: ⌀ 15 x H 35 cm Materials: Brass, White Glass Finishes: Aged Brass (waxed) only Notes: The brass...
Brass
Signal-Medium, On Base Sculpture in Fibre Cement & Plaster by Rachael Heritage
Located in Geneve, CH
Signal-Medium, On Base Sculpture in Fibre Cement & Plaster by Rachael Heritage Unique Piece Dimensions: D 20 x W 22 x H 33 cm. Materials: Fibre-cement and burnished plaster. Shapes ...
Cement, Other
Signal Warm Beige Sculpture in Fibre Cement & Plaster by Rachael Heritage
Located in Geneve, CH
Signal Warm Beige Sculpture in Fibre Cement & Plaster by Rachael Heritage Unique Piece Dimensions: D 22 x W 21 x H 37 cm. Materials: Fibre-cement and burnished plaster. Shapes for S...
Cement, Other
Sideways Hand-Crafted Sculpture in Fibre Cement & Plaster by Rachael Heritage
Located in Geneve, CH
Sideways Hand-Crafted Sculpture in Fibre Cement & Plaster by Rachael Heritage Unique Piece Dimensions: D 25 x W 37 x H 50 cm. Materials: Fibre-cement and burnished plaster. Shapes f...
Cement, Other
Anacleto Spazzapan, Design Object, Italy, 21st Century
Located in Greding, DE
Two-doored design object by Anacleto Spazzapan standing on three ball feet with a concave-convex body and flat back. The monogram AS is also on the back. The object stands between art and function, between object and cabinet. It consists of individual, 5mm thick metal rods, welded together by hand. Anacleto Spazzapan (born 1943) sees himself as a designer in the service of modernity. However, antiques always reveal the value of good craftsmanship, an aspect which the designer wants to preserve through his handmade furniture. "I come from the antiques field...
Metal
Lotuso Black Ceramic Decorative Bowl by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Lotuso Black Ceramic Decorative Bowl by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 31 x W 31 x H 8 cm. Materials: Ceramic. 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...
Ceramic
$2,831 / item
Fall Regular Ashtray by Cal Summers
By Cal Summers
Located in Geneve, CH
Fall Regular Ashtray by Cal Summers Dimension: D 6.8 x W 15 x H 2 cm Materials: Stainless Steel. Cal Summers is a British designer who makes bespoke handmade furniture and contempo...
Stainless Steel
TOWERX17 Architectural Iron Sculpture in Matte Black by Towerland
Located in Geneve, CH
TOWERX17 Architectural Iron Sculpture in Matte Black by Towerland. Dimensions: W 15 x D 15 x H 70.8 cm. Materials: Iron plate with Matte black brocade finish. The TOWERX1 series com...
Iron
TOWERX12 Architectural Iron Sculpture in Matte Black by Towerland
Located in Geneve, CH
TOWERX12 Architectural Iron Sculpture in Matte Black by Towerland. Dimensions: W 24 x D 24 x H 37.3 cm Materials: Iron plate with Matte black brocade finish. The TOWERX1 series comp...
Iron
$669 / item
Terracotta Vase by Marta Bonilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Terracota vase by Marta Bonilla Dimensions: D20 x H33 Materials: Terracotta, clay. Terracota vase: Low temperature hand modeled piece. Enameled inside. Outside it keeps the natu...
Terracotta
$234 / item
Leccese Stone Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Leccese Stone Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio Dimensions: D 23 x H 4.8 cm Materials: Leccese Stone. A number of 31 bowls of identical shape, made in limited edition by fine Italian arti...
Stone
$14,416 / item
Ruin is a Gift! Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
Ruin is a Gift! Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 100 x D 5 x H 77 cm Materials: White Cantera. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans painting, sculpture, ceramics, and te...
Stone
Postmodern Style Pair of Murano Glass Bulls with Checkered Pattern
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Eye-catching pair of bulls in fighting position. They are made of Murano glass and carry a checkered black and white pattern. This pair of bulls has different dimensions: the small ...
Murano Glass
$2,100 / set
Hedwig Bollhagen Biscuit Box Group of Three
Located in Litchfield, CT
By Hedwig Bollhagen, Germany, circa 1960-1970s. These canisters are brilliantly Deco and fabulously Post Modern. Their colorful geometry is perfect fo...
Ceramic
$1,544 / item
Sphere Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Sphere Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 30 x H 25 CM Materials: Teak wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and creator. She works cl...
Other
Vintage Large Murano Italian Glass Vase With White monochromatic Scallop Design
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
Amazing hand blown glass white monochromatic Murano vase or Light globe. The scallop pattern is so pretty and this vase is in excellent shape. Has made in Italy sticker and the only ...
Blown Glass, Art Glass
$1,111 / item
Sculpture FUNGHI 17 by Zanellazine Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculpture FUNGHI 17 by Zanellazine Ceramics Dimensions: W 12 x H 23.5 cm Materials: Red and white clay. About: Giovanna Zighetti, ceramist and set designer, and Lucia Zamberletti, ...
Ceramic
Art Allows Me To Inhabit The World More Comfortably Sculpture by Carri
Located in Geneve, CH
Art Allows Me To Inhabit The World More Comfortably Sculpture by Carri Dimensions: W 40 x D 5 x H 50 cm Materials: Green Cantera. B 1995 Fernanda Carri ́s intimate practice spans p...
Stone
Joy Is Found When Looking Inside Sculpture by Driaan Claassen
Located in Geneve, CH
Joy Is Found When Looking Inside Sculpture by Driaan Claassen Limited Edition Dimensions: D34 x W34 x H34 cm Materials: Wood:Kiaat Weight: 2.5 kg Born in Johannesburg in 1991, sculptor Driaan Claassen first studied 3D animation before apprenticing with Otto du Plessis...
Wood
$2,469 / item
Brick Onyx Wall Lamp by Idaaf Architects
Located in Geneve, CH
Brick Onyx Wall Lamp by Idaaf Architects Dimensions: D 15 x W 30 x H 45 cm. Materials: Onyx and brass. ‘Brick’ is the first attempt by Idaaf Architects...
Onyx, Brass
$514 / item
Rustyvase 1 Stoneware Vase by Odatempo
Located in Geneve, CH
Rustyvase 1 stoneware vase by Odatempo. Dimensions: W 24.5 x D 22.5 x H 0.007 cm Materials: Enameled white stoneware. Audrey Langlet is a Paris-based ceramist. Trained in fashio...
Stoneware
$1,390 / item
BG 436 Handcrafed Sculpture by Bronwen Grieves
Located in Geneve, CH
BG 436 handcrafed sculpture by Bronwen Grieves Dimensions: D40 x W16 x H16 cm Materials: black stoneware white slip. Other models can be done. Fired to 1180 c Bronwen Griev...
Stoneware
$4,633 / item
Dove Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Dove Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a Kind Dimensions: W 46 x D 30 x H 30 cm Material: Ceramic Finishing: Textured, Unglazed Artist stamp on the bottom Laura Pasquino Incorpora...
Ceramic
Beige Stoneware Lagynos Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Stoneware Lagynos Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 19 x H 23 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: Black, Beige, Brown, Red, Terraco...
Stoneware
Javier Cervantes Hand-Painted High Temperature Ceramic Column Sculpture
Located in Mexico City, MX
A tall hand-painted high temperature ceramic column sculpture by Mexican artist Javier Cervantes. The column is formed by 6 sections that get piled together over a steel bar attached...
Steel
$1,404Sale Price|20% Off
Italian 1980s Post Modern Vase in Alabaster
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1980s Post-Modern Vase in Alabaster Attributed to Alessandro Mendini Italy 1980s
Alabaster
$8,495 / item
Aries Hand Carved Marble Sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel
Located in Geneve, CH
Aries hand carved marble sculpture by Tom Von Kaenel. Dimensions: D 47 x W 20 x H 53 cm. Materials: marble. Tom von Kaenel, sculptor and painter, was born in Switzerland in 1961...
Marble
Elan Polished Bronze Candelabras by Pierre Salagnac, France
Located in London, GB
Elan Candelabras by Pierre Salagnac Material: high polished bronze Dimensions: 32 x 27 cm -- H 63 cm Type: limited edition, numbered and signed A pair of sculptural, polished bronze...
Bronze
Ceramic penguin sculpture, Italy 1980
Located in Firenze, IT
Ceramic penguin sculpture Italy 1980 33H x 24 x 17 cm Conditions: perfect conditions
Ceramic