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.
Set of 2 Postmodern Italian Metal Candleholders, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Metal Candleholders, 1980s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Wood Color: Black Country of Origi...
Metal
$4,579 / item
Platinum Luster Auri Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Platinum Luster Auri Vase by deBlona Dimensions: D 29 x H 46 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: 24 Kt Gold Luster / Platinum Luster. A sculptural vase crafted from red clay sourced fr...
Ceramic
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
Paper Darkened Brass Bowl I by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper darkened brass bowl I by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 25.4 x W 25.4 x H 12.7 cm Materials: darkened brass Available in tarnished brass and darkened brass. The Paper Series emb...
Brass
Spaghetti Vase (Large), Clear Blue and Matte Lime by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
Clear Blue and Matte Lime 'Spaghetti' Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. Variations...
Resin
Bruce Houston instant Sculptures Collection, Signed Dated, Set of Four
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Just a fine and great collection of sculptures by the well known artist Bruce Houston. All pieces dated , and signed and some dedicated. Can be sold individually by request , the si...
Other
Handcrafted Memphis style desk clock made from copper, Netherlands 1980s
By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass
Located in ECHT, NL
Hand crafted table clock. The housing has been hand made from copper plate and opper wire. The details are painted in primary colors giving it the distinctive Memphis "look" and fee...
Copper
$2,966 / item
Sculptural Vase 3 by Donatas Zukauskas
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural Vase 3 by Donatas Zukauskas Dimensions: Ø 34 x H 121 cm. Materials: Recycled paper, concrete, and glue. All products are handmade and unique, so they may differ slightly ...
Concrete, Other
$143 / item
Brass Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Ribbon Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 2 x D 8 x H 12 cm Materials: Brass The Ribbon Hook is sand cast in solid brass. Ribbon hook has two protruding blocks to allow you to...
Brass
$28,317 / item
Circle Of Love Bronze Sculpture by Gardeco Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Circle Of Love Bronze Sculpture by Gardeco Objects Limited Edition Of 49 Pieces. Designed by Guy Buseyne. Dimensions: D 79 x W 17 x H 86 cm. Base: D 40 x W 17 x H 2 cm. Materials: Br...
Bronze
A monumental bronze female nude sculpture by Somchai, circa 1970
Located in View Park, CA
A monumental nude sculpture of a femme torso in bronze by Hattakitkosol Somchai, signed, circa 1970. A striking rarity of Somchai’s oeuvre, this piece stands at nearly twenty-six inc...
Bronze
Vintage Italian Postmodern Wall Clock from Junghans, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Italian Postmodern Wall Clock from Junghans, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Pla...
Plastic
$5,000 / item
Chessboard Classic Wood Edition by Meubles Thouret
Located in Geneve, CH
Chessboard Classic Wood Edition by Meubles Thouret. Numbered and signed by the artists. Delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity. Dimensions: W 48 x D 48 x H 5 cm. Materials: Rar...
Wood
$64,483 / item
Rosso Francia Tosca Bath by Marmi Serafini
Located in Geneve, CH
Rosso Francia tosca bath by Marmi Serafini Materials: Rosso Francia marble. Dimensions: D 92 x W 170 x H 50 cm Available in other marbles. Also available in shaped version. Tap not i...
Marble
MEMPHIS-style GRACIEUX ACCUEIL Lidded Box (1983) / Nathalie Du Pasquier (France)
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Around the time that MEMPHIS had become a world-wide phenomenon, several Italian manufacturers approached the various MEMPHIS designers to execute similar work but on different produ...
Chrome
$323 / item
Meduse Tagi Bowl by Pia Chevalier
Located in Geneve, CH
Meduse Tagi bowl by Pia Chevalier Each one is unique. Materials: Raw stoneware. Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 10 cm. Also available in white stone, bronze, blue, white glaze. Pia Chev...
Stoneware
Large Post-Modern Raku Pottery Vase by Amadio Smith
By Amadio Smith
Located in San Diego, CA
Large post-modern raku pottery vase by Amadio Smith, circa 1980s. The piece measures 11.75"D x 10"H and is signed and dated on the underside. The vase is in good vintage condition an...
Pottery
$861 / item
Polypore Small Bowl by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Polypore Small Bowl by David Valner Dimensions: D 22 x W 27 x H 13 cm. Materials: Hand-crafted glass. Weight: 2 kg. Finish: Small size, dark green and beige, and matte surface. In t...
Glass
$1,434 / item
Artefacto 03 by Federico Stefanovich
Located in Geneve, CH
Artefacto 03 by Federico Stefanovich Dimensions: D 19 x W 47 x H 36 cm. Material: Brass. Available in a smaller size: D 10 x W 26 x H 20 cm. Federico Stefanovich presents himself as...
Brass
'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
Pompitu II Vase (Large), Clear Red and Matte Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
Large "Pompitu II" Vase in Soft Resin, designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design Collection. Colour: Clear Red and Matte Red *All the pieces are handmade and therefore uniq...
Resin
Salvador Dali Surrealist Fine Gold Leaf Bracelli Lamp Sculpture for BD Barcelona
By Salvador Dalí, BD Furniture
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Braceli lamp designed by Salvador Dali manufactured by BD furniture in Barcelona. Bracelli Panel structure covered with silver plated polyester painting (Fine gold leaf). Lampshade ...
Cotton
Daum France, Cats, Kittens, Playing in Glass/Crystal/Pate De Verre, Signed
By Daum
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Adorable kittens kissing and playing in this beautiful Pate De Verre glass sculpture.
Art Glass
Solingen German Steel Scissors, 1970s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Often called “The City of Blades”, Solingen, in North-Rhine Westphalia, has been a center for the manufacturing of scissors since medieval times. At the end of the 18th century it’s ...
Steel
Nugget Vase (Large), Clear Green and Matte Pink by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, CA
Clear Green and Matte Pink "Nugget" Vase, size Large in soft resin, designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. ...
Resin
Lucite Abstract Art Sculpture 20th Century
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
This is a unique lucite art sculpture with a post-modern design. Three yellow circles are trapped within a 1 1/4” thick transparent lucite mold. Unsigned.
Lucite
Tiered Structure Burnt Iroko Wood Bunker Candleholder by Arno Declercq
Located in Geneve, CH
Bunker candle holder by Arno Declercq Materials: Burned and waxed Oak. Dimensions: W 32 x D 32 x H 50 cm. Arno Declercq Belgian designer and art dealer who makes bespoke objects wi...
Oak
A Memphis Milano Post-Modern Ceramic Vase By Marco Zanini for Bitossi
By Bitossi, Marco Zanini
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
Neos Lorenz du Pasquier & Sowden Postmodern Clock
By Nathalie du Pasquier, George Sowden
Located in Chicago, IL
Neos Lorenz du Pasquier & Sowden Postmodern Clock A blue and purple plastic postmodern wall clock with yellow hands and numbers designed by Nathalie du Pasquier and George Sowden for...
Plastic
$86,285 / item
Marble Screen by Andrea Giomi
Located in Geneve, CH
Marble Screen by Andrea Giomi Dimensions: D 210 x W 100 x H 190 cm Materials: Bardiglio Nuvolato marble, Carrara white marble, Guatemala green marble. Also available in alabaster ver...
Marble
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
Ultramarine Blue, Copper Metallic Luster Kósmos Bowl by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Ultramarine Blue, Copper Metallic Luster Kósmos Bowl by deBlona Dimensions: D 34 x H 43 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Ultramarine blue, copper metallic luster. The ‘Kósmos’ vase ...
Ceramic
American Post-War Design Large Jardiniere, By Gary DiPasquale
Located in Queens, NY
American post-war design large glazed ceramic green textured square tapered jardiniere resting a low square base designed by acclaimed and collectible artist Gary DiPasquale.
Ceramic
$1,399 / item
Le Poisson Globe Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Poisson Globe Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 26 x H 26 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas is passionate a...
Sandstone
$2,104 / item
Drift Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor
Located in Geneve, CH
Drift Teak Wood Vase by Mary Verspoor Dimensions: D 28 x H 22 CM Materials: Teak wood Mary Verspoor, of Indonesian-Dutch descent, is a Bali-based designer and creator. She works clo...
Other
Abstract Pink Alabaster Sculpture by Karen Chera
Located in New York, NY
Abstract Pink Alabaster Sculpture by Karen Chera, signed and dated '88. on its original metal base.
Alabaster
Ceramic Vase by Claudia Frignani, Wunderkammer Studio
By Claudia Frignani, Wunderkammer Studio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ceramic Vase by Claudia Frignani for Wunderkammer Studio's limited Lefka collection. Claudia Frignani is a Milan-based designer, ceramic artist, and creator known for her unique scu...
Ceramic
Postmodern Black Art Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Black Art Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz for Richartz Art Collection, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additi...
Glass
Set of 5 Postmodern Flash One Series Bowl Set by Dorothy Hafner, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern set of bowls from the series flash one by rosenthal after a design by the artist dorothy hafner from 1982. the bowls are in very good condition without defects. Only one b...
Porcelain
$14,791 / item
Otero Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Otero Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: W 100 x D 12 x H 250 cm. Materials: Copper. Weight: 12 Kg. Aura Carpio® (CDMX). Mexican industrial designer graduated and graduated f...
Copper
Miniature Mid-Century Ceramic High Glaze Bottle Neck Vase Studio Pot by Sari
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Fine miniature hand-thrown, high-glaze ceramic pot signed Sari. The piece is in excellent condition, with no chips or repairs. It has a natural firing crack on the bottom.
Ceramic, Pottery
Large Jan Van Der Vaart Porcelain Taurus Vase for Rosenthal Studio Line
By Jan van der Vaart, Rosenthal
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Striking large and colorful porcelain vase designed by influential ceramist Jan Van Der Vaart for Rosenthal and manufactured in Germany. This vase is in the Taurus pattern that has a curved shape with folded sides. The stylized decoration of a calla lily and leaves is by German artist and designer Brigitte Doege. Signed on the side and bottom. From Wikipedia: Johannes Jacobus (Jan) van der Vaart (The Hague, 17 October 1931 – Leiden, 8 November 2000) was an influential Dutch ceramist from the 20th century, known as founder of the abstract-geometric ceramics...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Modern Abstract Ceramic Sculpture by Andree & Michel Hirlet, France
Located in London, GB
Sculpture 'Borne' by Andrée & Michel Hirlet 2000Material: Glazed stoneware Dimensions: H 66 x 55 x 15 cm Year: 2010 Type: Unique Working outside of any wider artistic community or ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Vintage Italian Murano Art Glass Ashtrays Venetian Sculpture of Gondolas
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Murano Blown Glass Gondola Ashtrays. Gorgeous vintage Murano Venetian hand-blown art glass sculpture of gondola boats one red, one green. A very beautiful...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Massimo Iosa Ghini "Twergi" for Alessi Postmodern Wooden Bowl Memphis Style
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Massimo Iosa Ghini Twergi for Alessi Postmodern Wooden Bowl Memphis Style Vintage - decoration - Italy Measures : 14cmx11.5cm H:9cm Material : Wood Wear consistent with age and use.
Wood
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
Postmodern Table desk Clock in Uranium White Milk Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool and unique uranium glass postmodern table desk clock, circa 1980's.
Glass
Joel O'Dorisio for Lost Angel Glass Vase, American Studio Art Glass, 2003
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Fused glass vase features complex multilayered colored glass core in dark Bordeau or burgundy red, toffee brown, cream, and deep cobalt blue colors, encased in clear glass in sommer...
Art Glass, Sommerso
$14,703 / item
Regeneration 03-1 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Regeneration 03-1 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 9 x H 25 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbu...
Bronze, Other
$8,530 / item
Mobile Kinetic Sculpture by Max Lipsey
Located in Geneve, CH
Mobile Kinetic Sculpture by Max Lipsey Dimensions: D 350 x W 350 x H 350 cm. Materials: Steel and lacquer. The mobile is available in different colors and sizes on request. Please c...
Steel
Rare Postmodern Resin Abstract Sculpture Signed With OM Symbol
Located in San Diego, CA
Abstract thick lucite resin sculpture circa 1990's depicting OM yoga symbol, nice colors and very unique also signed in the lower back as shown , has a small hole in the bottom for f...
Resin
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
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
Andy Warhol Diaries, Hard-Cover Library or Coffee Table Book, 1989
By Andy Warhol
Located in New York, NY
'The Andy Warhol Diaries' book is hard-cover, first edition, May 1989. The Andy Warhol Diaries is the dictated memoirs of the American artist, Andy Warhol, posthumously published, May 1989, USA. It was edited by his frequent collaborator and long-time friend, Pat Hackett...
Paper
Steel Iron Altar Abstract Sculpture by Splady Art Studios
Located in Geneve, CH
Steel Iron Altar Abstract Sculpture by Splady Art Studios Design by Charles Splady Dimensions: W 46 x D 38 x H 208 cm. Materials: Steel. Iron Altar is a free-standing abstract sculp...
Steel
Vintage Italian Lobster Pottery Bowl Sculpture, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Italian Lobster Pottery Bowl Sculpture, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Styles: Post-Modern Color: Green Country o...
Ceramic
$2,811 / item
Grain 8 Porcelain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Grain 8 Porcelain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 28 x H 27 cm Material: Unglazed white porcelain. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ancient Kore...
Porcelain
Postmodern Box with Slate Lid, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Box with Slate Lid, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Color: Black Styles: Postmodern Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owne...
Glass
Brass Sculpture on Marble Base After Rodin's "The Thinker" - SIGNED
Located in North Miami, FL
Signed V. Martin, this wonderful version of Rodin's renowned sculpture, The Thinker, is made of patinated brass and sits atop a black marble base. Pedestal shown is sold separately ...
Marble, Brass
$817 / 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