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.
Amalia Schulthess, Stone/ Marble, Small Vase/Vessel/ Pencil Holder, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very elegant stone small vase in two tones by the well known Swiss / American artist Amalia Schulthess. signed Amalia in Bottom.
Stone
Guy Dill Wood Sculpture with Marble Base Signed and Dated
By Guy Dill
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very well known Abstract artist Guy Dill. He works in monumental bronze and marble abstractions.
Wood
Talisman Sculpture #1 in Sandy Stoneware with Bronze Inlays by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Talisman Sculpture #1 in Sandy Stoneware with Bronze Inlays by Margaux Leycuras. One of a Kind, Signed and numbered. Dimensions: D 13 x W 23 x H 37 cm. Material: Sandy stoneware with...
Bronze
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
Unique Sculptural Ceramic Trace by Austin Coudriet
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Sculptural Ceramic Trace by Austin Coudriet. One of a kind. Dimensions: W 46 x D 23 x H 76 cm. Materials: Ceramic (stoneware), glaze. About Austin Coudriet is a ceramic arti...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Old Pink Plastic & Rubber '90s Wrist Watch by a. Mendini for Museo Alchimia
By Studio Alchimia, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Wrist watch designed by Alessadro Mendini for Museo Alchimia, '90s. This manual wind watch was a prototype for the Swatch, a well-known company for whic...
Stainless Steel
Padauk, Bougeoir 9 Candlestick by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Padauk, Bougeoir 9 Candlestick by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 10.5 x H 14 cm. Materials: Padauk. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love for the countryside ...
Wood
Beech, Bougeoir 8 Candlestick by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Beech, Bougeoir 8 Candlestick by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 21 x H 9 cm. Materials: Beech. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love for the countryside — esp...
Wood
Erwin Eisch "Telefon" Glass/Gold Finish Abstract Sculpture, Signed, Dated
By Erwin Eisch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is an edition "Telefon" of the well known, German artist Erwin Eisch, known as the father of the spiritual studio glass movement in Europe. Signed, dated 1997 and number 173/880.
Glass, Art Glass
Beech, Bougeoir 7 Candlestick by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Beech, Bougeoir 7 Candlestick by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 9 x H 14 cm. Materials: Beech. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love for the countryside — esp...
Wood
Beech, Bougeoir 6 Candlestick by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Beech, Bougeoir 6 Candlestick by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 11 x H 15 cm. Materials: Beech. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love for the countryside — es...
Wood
Beech and Cumaru, Bougeoir 5 Candlestick by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Beech and Cumaru, Bougeoir 5 Candlestick by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 37 x H 50 cm. Materials: Beech and Cumaru. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love fo...
Wood
Oak, Bougeoir 4 Candlestick by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak, Bougeoir 4 Candlestick by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 13 x H 20 cm. Materials: Oak. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love for the countryside — especi...
Wood
Beech and Cumaru, Bougeoir 3 Candlestick by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Beech and Cumaru, Bougeoir 3 Candlestick by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 8.5 x H 10 cm. Materials: Beech and Cumaru. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love f...
Wood
Beech and Cumaru, Bougeoir 2 Candlestick by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Beech and Cumaru, Bougeoir 2 Candlestick by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 10 x H 27 cm. Materials: Beech and Cumaru. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love fo...
Wood
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 24 by Noe Kuremoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Jomon Contemporary Fertility Vessel 24 by Noe Kuremoto Materials: White stoneware Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 34 cm I’m a middle-aged woman who had babies late—too late, some might...
Stoneware
$2,068 / item
Scilly Rock Sculpture by Riccardo Monte
Located in Geneve, CH
Scilly Rock Sculpture by Riccardo Monte Dimensions: D 43 x W 43 x H 40 cm. Materials: Cedar. Riccardo Monte is a creative studio based in the Italian Alps. With the vision of creati...
Cedar
Existencia Unique Candelabra & Censer in Gray Quarry Stone by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Existencia Unique Candelabra & Censer in Gray Quarry Stone by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 90 x W 90 x H 60 cm. Materials: Gray quarry stone. Available in different fin...
Stone
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
Leslie Thornton, Large Mixed Media Floor Sculpture, "History of Printing"
Located in Morristown, NJ
Leslie Thornton (British, 1925-2016), "History of Printing", no signature observed, mounted on wood plinth. An arresting and fascinating piece, this tall floor sculpture...
Earthenware
Carolina Herrera solid lucite sculpture/display/advertisement bottle Vasa style
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice display sculpture of the perfume 'Chic" by Carolina Herrera in solid lucite in the shape of a bottle .
Lucite
Eberhard Bank Carving, Sculpture of Two Dolomite Seals, on Black Obsidian Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This an amazing carving by the German certified artist Eberhard Bank. This sculpture is of two seals in white dolomite on snowflake black obsidian , seals are marked with monogram EB...
Stone
Arthur Secunda Acrylic Sculpture Title "Life" Signed, Numbered, 12/20
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful sculpture celebrating " Life" by the well known artist Arthur Second. This piece has a dedication under base as shown .Is signed and numbe...
Acrylic
Postmodern Irregular Shaped Grey Earthenware Vase by Rosenthal, Italy
By Rosenthal
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s This ceramic vase is marked by Rosenthal. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in excellent origin...
Earthenware
$5,171 / item
Coraline Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Coraline Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 42 x W 28 x H 18 CM Materials: Teak wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and creator. She...
Other
Swedish Designer, Large Candelabra, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A large pine candelabra designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Fits 0.80” diameter candles
Pine
Sven Åke Ekberg, Organic Candelabra, Iron, Sweden, 1987
Located in High Point, NC
A black painted organic candelabra designed and produced by Sven Åke Ekberg, Sweden, 1987 Fits 0.80” diameter candles
Iron
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 21 x D 38 x H 35 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Arabian luster glaze press mold, reduction firing. ...
Ceramic
Postmodern Murano Glass Vase with Light Blue and White Canes, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This vase is made in Murano glass and features light blue and white canes. This decanter is a vintage item, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it...
Murano Glass
Swedish Designer, Candlestick, Pine, Brass, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A freeform pine candlestick designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Holds 0.75” candle
Brass
Swedish Designer, Candlesticks, Pine, Brass, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of pine and brass candlesticks designed and produced in Sweden, 1970s. Holds 0.75” candles
Brass
Swedish Designer, Candelabra, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A sizeable pine candelabra designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Fits 0.8” diameter candles
Pine
Black and Yellow Ceramic Vide-Poche or Box attr. to Roberta Di Camerino, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This trinket bowl / vide-poche is made in black and yellow glazed ceramic, a combination of colors that is typical of Roberta Camerino's design. Produced and ...
Ceramic
Italian Decorative White / Ivory Ceramic 1970/80s Vases by La Bottega, Set of 2
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Italian artisanal vases in glazed earthware with a relief decoration. Name of the manufacturer imprinted under the base: "La bottega". Excellent vintage c...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Sven Bohlin, Unique Vase, Stoneware, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown and white sizeable unique stoneware vase designed and produced by Sven Bohlin, Höganäs, Sweden, c. 1960s.
Stoneware
$9,065Sale Price|30% Off
Fasano Torino Luxury Desk Box in 18kt Yellow Gold with Rare Blue Hawk Eye Quartz
By Francesco Fasano
Located in Miami, FL
Exceptional desk box designed by Fasano. A beautiful and one-of-a-kind piece, created in Torino Italy by the master esteemed jeweler, Genesio Fasano. This rare luxury desk box was carefully crafted in solid yellow gold of 18 karats and is completely embellished with inlaid of rare blue hawk's eye. Weight: 1,534.83 Grams, (983.53 Dwt). Measurements: 175 mm by 175 mm by 37.5 mm (7.10 x 7.10 x 1.5 inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the Italian gold assay mark and signed ".750 *26AL FASANO" Note: This can be used for cigar humidor, letters or just as a decorative desk item...
Multi-gemstone, Gold
Ugo La Pietra, "La Bagnante" Sculpture 25/29, Superego Editions, Italy, 1990
By Ugo La Pietra, Superego Editions
Located in Firenze, IT
“Bagnante” postmodern sculpture Ugo La Pietra, Superego editions Italy, 1990 Large ceramic female bust modelled by casting. Polychrome craque...
Ceramic
Curt Addin, Vase, Stoneware, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A semi blue-glazed stoneware vase designed and produced by Curt Addin, Glumslöv, Sweden, 1970s.
Stoneware
Unique Sueño De Los Andes I Sculptural Vessel in Ceramic by Soledad Christie
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Sueño De Los Andes I Sculptural Vessel in Ceramic by Soledad Christie. One Of a Kind. Dimensions: W 13 x D 11 x H 35 cm. Materials: Low-temperature, burnished earthenware cera...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Set of 3 Post Modern Abstract Ceramic Bowl Scultpures by Kaiser Suidan 1990s
Located in Troy, MI
A grouping of three modular ceramic bowl sculptures by Michigan artist Kaiser Suidan 1992 Unique footed bowls in a conjoined puzzle like configuration with various designs and glaze...
Ceramic
$777 / item
Small Artefacto 03 by Federico Stefanovich
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Artefacto 03 by Federico Stefanovich Dimensions: D 10 x W 26 x H 20 cm. Material: Brass. Available in a larger size: D 19 x W 47 x H 36 cm. Federico Stefanovich presents himse...
Brass
Swedish Designer, Vase, Ceramic, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A beige-glazed ceramic vase, designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s.
Ceramic
Set of 2 Unique Sueño De Los Andes II, Sculptural Vessels by Soledad Christie
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Unique Sueño De Los Andes II, Sculptural Vessels by Soledad Christie. One Of a Kind. Dimensions: Left: W 11 x D 8 x H 27 cm. Right: W 24 x D 8 x H 21 cm. Materials: Low-tem...
Ceramic, Earthenware
$344Sale Price|34% Off
German Multicolored Ceramic Vase by Walther Zander
Located in Hamburg, DE
This beautiful multicolored glazed vase is one of Walther Zanders very thin-walled turned bowls with foot. Walther Zander was a ceramist from Hamburg who worked together with his...
Ceramic
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
Brass High Perch Candle Holder by Tête Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass High Perch Candle Holder by Tête Studio Dimensions: W 6.35 x L 6.35 x H 17.78 cm Materials: Polished Brass. THE PERCH HOLDER is inspired by the organic shapes of Noguchi scu...
Brass
Stoneware Clay, Ceramic Tides of Serenity Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Ceramic Tides of Serenity Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 43 x D 20 x H 14 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Unglazed ceramic sulface. Weight: 2,6 kg....
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Kiyomi Iwata (b.1941) 'Gauze Box' Abstract Sculpture C. 1990s
Located in Norwalk, CT
Presenting "Gauze Box," an intriguing and meticulously crafted abstract sculpture by the acclaimed Japanese-American artist Kiyomi Iwata (b. 1941). This piece, created during the 199...
Textile, Silk
$2,715 / item
Frosted Yellow Frooot Bowl by Maha Alavi Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Frosted Yellow Frooot Bowl by Maha Alavi Studio Dimensions: D 30 x H 33 cm Materials: Resin. Maha Alavi is a Tokyo-based Canadian industrial designe...
Resin
Tribeca Crystal Book End, Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Tribeca crystal book end, hand-sculpted contemporary crystal Decorative vase Hand-sculpted in crystal Measures: W 9.5, H 16.8, D 9.5 cm. The re...
Crystal
Set of 3 Unique Vasijas Para Sembrar Agua, Black Vessels by Soledad Christie
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Unique Vasijas Para Sembrar Agua, Black Vessels by Soledad Christie. One Of a Kind. Dimensions: Left: W 16 x D 10 x H 20 cm. Center: W 6.5 x D 7 x H 10 cm. Right: W 19 x D 1...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Set Of 2 Ceboia Floor Candelabras in Carved Black Marble by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Ceboia Floor Candelabras in Carved Black Marble by Andres Monnier Unique Pieces Dimensions: Small: D 30 x W 30 x H 50 cm. Tall: D 30 x W 30 x H 100 cm. Materials: Black marb...
Marble
$2,721 / item
Balance Sculpture I by Sofia Tufvasson
Located in Geneve, CH
Balance sculpture I by Sophie Rogers Dimensions: D 15x W 19 x H 35 Materials: Ceramic, glaze Other glaze colors available. The inspiration co...
Ceramic
Black and Azure Ceramic 1980s Decorative Bottles by L. Boscolo for Forma & Luce
By Luigi Boscolo
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Set of 4 decorative bottles made from blue/violet and black ceramic. Measures: Big bottle: cm 43 H x 21 D Medium bottle: cm 36 H x 18 D Small bottle: cm 20...
Ceramic
Ricardo Santamaria, "Hors Cadre", 1974
Located in Catonvielle, FR
Sculpture titled "Hors cadre" dated 1974 by Ricardo Santamaria (1920-2013). Atypical artist, Ricardo Santamaria is a member of the Zaragoya group (Saragossa 1950). Ricardo Santa...
Wood
Post Modern Black and White Ceramic Vase by Mik Bečka
Located in Weesp, NL
Beautiful black and white post modern signed ceramic vase by Mik Becka. Mik Becka has a series of iconic buildings to his name at the age of 80. H...
Ceramic
Birds of the Pari Daiza Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL
Located in Geneve, CH
Birds of the Pari Daiza Sculptural Object By Caspi Ceramics NL Dimensions: W 25 x D 79 x H 23 cm. Materials: Ceramic, engobe, Arabian luster glaze, press mold, reduction firing. Abo...
Ceramic
$247 / item
Incense Burner by Saturday Yard Work
Located in Geneve, CH
Incense Burner by Saturday Yard Work Dimensions: W 10 x D 10 x H 2.5 cm Materials: Aluminium. Finish: Polished face / blackened texture. SATURDAY YARD WORK by Nathan Martin is a Ka...
Aluminum
$2,316Sale Price|20% Off
1990s Ceramic Vase Deborah Groover Voo Doo Jazz Maximalist Nude Scene Sculpture
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A colorful panel vase with nude scene, very large, tabletop piece by Deborah Groover from the 1990s. Nice shallow depth for placement on a narrow entryway/foyer table. No apparent ha...
Ceramic
$2,585 / item
Bronze The Seer Sculpture by Splady Art Studios
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze The Seer Sculpture by Splady Art Studios Design by Tori Hermes Dimensions: W 7 x D 22 x H 12 cm. Materials: Bronze. ‘The Seer’ captures the essence of the Ibis, revered for i...
Bronze