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.
Post-Modern Figurative Sculpture in Plaster, Bone-White Finish, USA
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
This striking late 20th-century sculpture captures a quiet moment of introspection through a simplified, figurative form. Rendered in a crisp, bone-white finish, the piece features a...
Plaster
Pair of David Tisdale Post Modern Memphis Bowls
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of David Tisdale post modern memphis bowls. Black one has hand inscribed signature.
Aluminum
20th Century Post-Modern Glazed Ceramic Penis/Phallic Sculpture, United Kingdom
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 20th century Post-Modern painted and glazed ceramic penis/phallic sculpture, United Kingdom By: unknown Material: ceramic, paint, enamel, clay ...
Enamel
Handmade Abstract Home Decor Black Ceramic Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Abstract Home Decor Black Ceramic Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: H 25.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Waterproof insert is required when using with water or fres...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay
$739
Nebula Beta
Located in Milano, MI
Serena Confalonieri continues her research in the field of self-production and craftsmanship. The subject, once again, is hand-blown borosilicate glass. After her Calypso floral glasses collection and Arabesque vases...
Blown Glass
$1,450 / item
Supernova IV Silver Smoke L Vase by Eloa
Located in Geneve, CH
Supernova IV silver smoke L vase by Eloa. No UL listed Material: glass Dimensions: D 15 x W 17 x H 41 cm. Also available in different colors and dimensions. Supernova is a collecti...
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
Post-Modern Glass Vase by Roger Selden for Vis-à-vis Collection of Ritzenhoff
By Roger Selden
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Cheerful glass vase designed by Roger Selden for the Vis-à-vis Collection of Ritzenhoff, 1999. This black and white vase from the Vis-à-vis Collection has a stylized cartoon chara...
Glass
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
White Carrara Marble Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
White Carrara Marble Diogenèa Bowl by ZPS Studio Dimensions: D 23 x H 4.8 cm Materials: White Carrara Marble. A number of 31 bowls of identical shape, made in limited edition by fin...
Marble
Vintage Jim Kemp (1955-2013) Ceramic Gradient Glaze Lidded Vessel Jar
Located in Westfield, NJ
Vinage Jim Kemp (1955-2013) ceramic earthenware vessel with a gradient glaze. Surfaces of the lidded vessel is finished by air brushing bright colors of low-fired underglazes directl...
Ceramic
FLOWERS – Contemporary Handcrafted Sculptural Ceramic Vase
Located in Vigevano, IT
Handcrafted and hand-painted in Italy, FLOWERS explores the contrast between life, beauty, and mortality. By blurring the boundaries between functional objects and sculpture, FLOWERS...
Ceramic
$719 / item
Channel Sculptural Vessel by Karin Amdal
Located in Geneve, CH
Chanel Sculptural Vessel by Karin Amdal One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 14 x W 13 x H 15.5 cm. Materials: Ceramic / Grey stoneware clay. Waterproof insert is required when using with w...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
$1,375 / item
Object 2 Atlantis Collection by Angeliki Stamatakou
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 2 Atlantis Collection by Angeliki Stamatakou One of a kind, 2022 Dimensions: H16 x W11 cm. Materials: Stoneware, handmade glaze. Colors: blue, pink, ivory. Waterproof insert ...
Stoneware
Meritalia Papavero Vase / Black and Blue 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
Anodised Aluminium Planter / Vessel Multi-Coloured from Cosmos collection
By Tino Seubert
Located in London, GB
Cosmos extends the exploration into manually anodised aluminium pieces. Building on the success of Grow-UP planters for MCQ in 2021, the collection showcases abstract anodising dye p...
Aluminum
Late 20th Century Dominican Carved Varnished Wooden Hand Sculpture/Cigar Holder
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 20th century dominican hand-carved varnished wooden hand sculpture/cigar holder By: unknown Material: wood Technique: carved, hand-carved, ...
Wood
$1,773Sale Price|65% Off
Abstract lifesize ceramic sculpture by Dieter Eichelmann, Germany 1980s
Located in ECHT, NL
Handcrafted ceramic sculpture. The sculpture is made from several tiles that form a human figure. The tiles are fixed to a wood back. Dieter Eichelmann Born: 1946 in Bardenberg -...
Ceramic, Clay
Uovo Bowl, Hand-Carved White Onyx & Black Marble, Post-Modern, Panorammma
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
Black XIV Décima Cuarta Mobile Sculpture by Joel Escalona
Located in Geneve, CH
Black XIV Décima Cuarta mobile sculpture by Joel Escalona Dimensions: D 120 x H 185 cm Materials: oak wood. Mobile made of natural white oak with burnt finish and stainless stee...
Oak
$625 / set
Metal Geometric Abstract Bookends, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A substantial pair of metal bookends with a geometric abstract design and a copper-rose gold hue, in the Post-Modern Deconstructivist design style. Pair could work well as individual...
Metal
$1,690 / item
Relief Sculpture by Alexandra Madirazza
Located in Geneve, CH
Relief Sculpture by Alexandra Madirazza Dimensions: W 60 x D 3 x H 90 cm (These are approximate measurements) Materials: Concrete Alexandra is an ...
Concrete
1980s Studio Art Pottery Raku Amphora Vase in Iridescent Cobalt Blue
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Sculptural studio art pottery vase featuring a dramatic amphora form with four loop handles and richly textured crossed appliqué decoration. Finished in a striking cobalt blue glaze ...
Pottery
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
$437Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Bonbon Dish, English, Art Glass, Ornamental Bowl, Post Modern, C.1980
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage bonbon dish. An English, art glass ornamental bowl in post-modern taste, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1980. Fascinating, unusual form catches the eye Di...
Art Glass
$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
Antique Asian Vase, Handcrafted Ceramic, Decorative Object, Vintage
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A striking postmodern studio pottery vase featuring a richly textured “fat lava” style glaze ground, overlaid with a dynamic abstract composition in the spirit of the Memphis design ...
Pottery
$1,125 / 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
Onion Fruit Bowl, Designed by Nathalie du Pasquier in 1985 for Memphis Milano
Located in Beirut, LB
ONION fruit bowl, Designed by Nathalie du Pasquier in 1985 for the collection Memphis Milano, in Ceramic. The product is purchased with guarantee stamp. Printed on bottom: Memphis Mi...
Ceramic
$205Sale Price|50% Off
Decorative Rhino Sculpture, Platinum Toned Metallic Finish c 1980s
By Dimitri Omasar
Located in Glasgow, GB
A large rhinoceros sculpture crafted around the late 1980s, in England, This sculptural piece of animalia, showcases a more simplified and stylized form of the rhinoceros, with a s...
Plaster
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
Seguso Black Murano Glass Duck Sculpture with Avventurine, 1970s Italy
By Seguso
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This duck is made in black Murano glass with avventurine, encased in transparent glass, which was hand-modeled. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show ...
Murano Glass
$4,774 / item
Ritus Cuatro Candelabra by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Ritus Cuatro Candelabra by Andres Monnier Unique Piece. Dimensions: W 72 x D 20 x H 40 Materials: White Onyx Treko Concrete is a Mexican studio based in Ensenada, that aims to creat...
Onyx
Postmodern Top Hat Champagne Bottle Cooler from Koziol, Germany, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Top Hat Champagne Bottle Cooler from Koziol, Germany, 1980s
Plastic
Twins C Vase (Large), Matte Pastel Pink and Coral Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
Large 'Twins C' Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Matte Pastel Pink and Coral Red. *All the pieces are hand-made and therefore unique...
Resin
$920 / item
Brass Oil Decanter by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass oil decanter by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 6.3 x W 10 x H 22.2 cm Materials: polished tarnished brass Made of brass and hand tarnished, the...
Brass
Danese Milano Kuno Prey Concrete Clock, 1986
Located in Meer, VAN
Danese Milano Kuno prey concrete clock. Italy, 1986. This is a very rare post-modern concrete clock designed by Kuno Prey for the Milanese company Danese....
Concrete
Biomorphic Malachite Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Biomorphic Malachite sculpture has a polished surface and raw rock bottom. The opaque polished stone features round patterned top and a textured underside. A playful sculpture or pap...
Malachite
Spaghetti Special Vase (Large), Clear Blue and Matte Lime by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
"Spaghetti" Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. colour: Clear Blue and Matte Lime. *All the pieces are handmade therefore unique and th...
Resin
$360Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Crystal Candle Holders by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda Sweden
Located in San Diego, CA
Minimalist pair of crystal candle holders by Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda, circa 1990s. The pair are in great vintage condition with no c...
Crystal
Pink Marble Miniature Cylindrical Carved Trinket Box Handmade Postmodern 1980s
By Maitland Smith, Renoir Designs
Located in Round Top, TX
A diminutive carved pink marble Postmodern cylindrical trinket box. The perfect size for gifting a piece of jewelry or as a gift in itself for a box collector. In excellent condition...
Marble
Chris Heilman Wisteria Vase Artist Studio Art Glass Paperweight Ball Bud
By Chris Heilman
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Deep mesmerizing Art glass layered scene of beautiful flora, believed to be from the 'Wisteria Series' by Chris Heilman, piece is signed and dated. Heavy.
Art Glass
$3,518 / item
Krystal Form Vase by Malwina Konopacka
Located in Geneve, CH
Krystal form vase by Malwina Konopacka 2020 Signature engraved, signed authenticity certificate provided Edition : Kolektiv Cite Radieuse Materials: Blown crystal Dimensions: H ...
Crystal
Postmodern German Yellow Ear Clips, 1980s, Set of 2
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Yellow Ear Clips, 1980s, Set of 2
Plastic
Contemporary Abstract Fragmented Male Torso Resin Sculpture, Vitruvian, TMS 2005
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking contemporary abstract fragmented male torso sculpture from the Vitruvian Collection, dated 2005. This sculptural work presents the human form in a deconstructed and spiral...
Resin
Vintage Postmodern Tessellated Stone Abalone Shell Decorative Box, 1970s
By Karl Springer, Maitland Smith
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A striking vintage postmodern decorative box showcasing the luxurious craftsmanship associated with late 20th century tessellated stone furniture and accessories. Hand clad in richly...
Marble, Brass
$719 / item
Gateway Sculptural Vessel by Karin Amdal
Located in Geneve, CH
Gateway Sculptural Vessel by Karin Amdal One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 13 x W 13 x H 19 cm. Materials: Ceramic/stoneware clay. Waterproof insert is required when using with water or ...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
$200Sale 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
Pair of Green Murano Glass Vases with Black Mottled Decoration, Italy 1980s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a decorative pair of Murano glass vases in deep emerald green with expressive black mottled decoration throughout the body. Each vase has a tall tapered...
Murano Glass
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
$2,376 / item
Cohiki Vessel by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Cohiki Vessel by Studio Cúze Dimensions: D 30 x H 37 cm Materials: Clay, white engobe, craquelé glaze. Each piece is unique. Size, color, and shape may vary. Studio Cúze I am a Ber...
Ceramic
$1,125 / item
Nori Contemporary Screen
Located in Geneve, CH
Nori contemporary screen. Emulating the natural pattern of its namesake––each piece––individually bent by hand is then coated with Salago fiber...
Other
Glass paperweight with Churba vitrofusion technique
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Churba glass paperweight with vitrofusion technique Beautiful paperweight from the 70s made of Churba glass, using the vitrofusion technique, it has a striking design of veins encaps...
Art Glass
Large 1990s Postmodern Handcrafted Ceramic Floor Vase Signed by the Artist.
Located in Miami, FL
Large Postmodern Handcrafted Ceramic Floor Vase Signed by the American Artist Patricia A Beatty. Dated 1993 Features a large-sized urn shaped with an abstract configuration of color...
Ceramic, Paint
Black Art Glass Sphere Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Modern/Postmodern black and neutral flesh-tone art glass sphere decorative object or paperweight with an organic modern design, circa 1970s. This handmade art glass color...
Blown Glass, Art Glass
Stoneware Clay, Ceramic Unbound Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska
Located in Geneve, CH
Stoneware Clay, Ceramic Unbound Sculpture by Aleksandra Krasnopolska Dimensions: W 32 x D 13.8 x H 17.5 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Unglazed ceramic sulface. Weight: 1,9 kg. Al...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Vintage Original Studio Pottery Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This monumental studio pottery sculpture by artist KT Blacklock, dated 1978, is a vibrant and commanding example of late-century Postmodern expressionism. The piece features a dynami...
Pottery
Vintage Sheaffer Fountain Pen and Ballpoint Pen Set in 12K Gold Filled Diamond P
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Sheaffer Fountain Pen and Ballpoint Pen Set in 12K Gold Filled Diamond Pattern, USA, circa 1970 Elegant vintage two-piece writing set by Sheaffer, dating from the late 1960s...
Gold
Gorgeous Desk Set in Maple Burlwood by Michael Elkan
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous desk set in burlwood maple by American craftsman Michael Elkan, circa 1990s. The set is in very good condition and measures 13.5"W x 4.5"D x 4.5"H. Incredible craftsmanship...
Maple
Steven Lundberg Studios Art Glass Perfume Bottle Vintage 1980s Seaweed Sea Floor
By Steven Lundberg
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Beautiful piece of art glass, in bottle and stopper form, signed by Steven Lundberg. Made in the 1980s showing a sea floor scene possibly. Wonderful colors.
Art Glass