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.
Drab Hanger in Gold Stainless Steel, Heat Collection, Zieta
By Zieta
Located in Geneve, CH
Drab Hanger in Flamed Gold stainless steel, Heat Collection, Zieta Dimensions: D 5 cm x W 46 cm x H 188 cm Material: Stainless steel. About the heat collection: The heat uses hig...
Stainless Steel
IBEX Glass Studio Post-Modern Memphis-Style Art Glass Pedestal Bowl, 1989
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking post-modern art glass bowl by Ibex Studio, executed in a bold Memphis-inspired palette. The wide conical bowl is rendered in translucent turquoise glass, edged with a contrasting magenta rim, and raised on a deep cobalt blue pedestal foot. The saturated color blocking, playful geometry, and sculptural silhouette exemplify the exuberant design language of the 1980s post-modern movement. Hand-blown and signed to the underside, this bowl functions equally well as a centerpiece, console accent, or standalone sculptural object. A strong example of American studio glass that bridges decorative arts and design history. #5147 Details: Maker: Ibex Studio Origin: United States Date: Circa 1989 Material: Hand-blown art glass Color: Turquoise bowl with magenta rim, cobalt blue foot Signature: Etched signature and date to underside Dimensions: 12.5” diameter x 8.25” height Condition: Very good vintage condition with light surface wear to base consistent with age IBEX Glass Studio was founded in 1985 by Dimitri Michaelides, Sam Stang...
Art Glass
Set of 2 Tray and Letter Opener by Steve McGugan for Royal Copenhagen, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Danish Wave Series Desk Tray and Letter Opener by Steve McGugan for Royal Copenhagen, 1980s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. This piece has an at...
Metal
Michael Graves Enameled Rolled Steel Mailbox, Postmodern Design, 1990
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
MICHAEL GRAVES (AMERICAN, 1934-2015), ENAMELED ROLLED STEEL MAILBOX, C.1990, H 14", L 23 3/4":An enameled and rolled steel mailbox. By Michael Graves and the Markuse Corporation. The...
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel
$910 / item
Fungus Medium Vase by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Fungus Medium Vase by David Valner Dimensions: D 16 x W 17 x H 35 cm. Materials: Glass. Weight: 3,5 kg. Finish: Medium size, mint and grey, and matte surface. “The mystery of myceli...
Glass
Postmodern Black Ceramic Ibex Sculpture by Haeger
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Elevate your decor with the Haeger Ibex Ceramic Sculpture. Crafted in deep black ceramic, this piece captures the majesty of the Ibex with a contemporary twist. Haeger's meticulous c...
Ceramic
Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s
Metal
Italian Unique Prototype Vase Veronese in Murano Glass by Cleto Munari, 2002
By Cleto Munari
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Post-modern Unique prototype vase Veronese in Murano glass by Cleto Munari, 2002 Vase mod. Veronese in black Murano glass, unique piece as a prototype of the vase that later...
Murano Glass
Contemporary Art Sofa - Nandì Verà by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 20th century sofa from the De Curtis home in Lugano. Decorations and velvet in Pontoglio silk, exclusive design by the Author. Gold,...
Silk
$614 / item
Deficiency 9 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Deficiency 9 Vase by Rezzo Ceramics Dimensions: W 18 x D 17 x H 26 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Finish: Unglazed. Suitable for dry flowers Esra Misirli Kubilay is a...
Stoneware
$1,918 / item
Perspectiva Space Divider by Colección Estudio
Located in Geneve, CH
Perspectiva space divider by Colección Estudio Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 163 cm Materials: oak wood, grey wool felt Also available in ebonized o...
Felt, Oak
Handcrafted Yellow Beige Art Glass Vase Kosta Boda Style, 1980s
By Kosta Boda
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted rectangular beige art glass flower vase in Kosta Boda style. In the style of Designer Bertil Vallien Art glass vase, circa 1980 for Kosta Boda. ...
Glass, Art Glass
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
$994 / item
Cut Smoked Black Small Vase by Studionudo
Located in Geneve, CH
Cut Smoked Black Small Vase by Studionudo Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 26 x H 24 cm. Materials: Clay. Different finishes and sizes are available. Prices may vary. Please contact us. ...
Clay
1980s Postmodern Wall Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Wakita, Shohei Mihara
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly elegant and sophisticated 1980s wall clock designed by Shohei Mihara for Wakita. Postmodern, Memphis-influenced design at its finest! Black with white, red, green, and ye...
Glass, Plastic
Pompitu II Vase (Large), Clear Red and Matte Red by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. Variations in the dimensions, hues and colours’ d...
Resin
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
1992 Set of 4 Canetti Postmodern Post Modern Memphis Phone Telephone Collection
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Set of 4 Vintage 1992 Post Modern Geometric Layered Foam CanettiTelephones. New old stock in original box. Incredible complete set of FOUR 1992 PostModern Canetti Telephone Collec...
Foam
Corsi Medusa Vase (Large), Matte White by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Large Matte White "Medusa" Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. * All the pieces are hand-made and therefore unique. Variations in the hu...
Resin
Mid 20th Century Pate de Verre Glass Sculpture entitled "Taureau" by Daum
By Daum
Located in London, GB
Emerging from an ethereal dream, this sculpture evokes the raw power and majesty of nature. Cast in pate de verre glass and crafted using a centuries-old technique, this figure offer...
Glass
Large Ceramic and Glass Vial Vase
Located in Fairfield, CA
A large sculptural vintage vase. Features a glass vial in the center of a glossy black ceramic holder. Perfect for displaying floral arrangements or using as a propagation vase.
Ceramic, Glass
$3,663 / item
Prickless Pear Sculpture by ON.ENTROPY
Located in Geneve, CH
Prickless Pear Sculpture by ON.ENTROPY Dimensions: W 47 x D 21 x H 38 cm Materials: Green Marble. on• entropy is a marble atelier established in 2009 in Athens and London with a foc...
Marble
$2,500 / item
Shiro Kuramata Pink Vase
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Small model. Acrylic block which pink is inside and glass tube.
Glass, Acrylic
Val Saint Lambert green carved crystal vase.
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Val Saint Lambert green cut crystal vase. Green cut crystal vase. It features a cylindrical shape that widens slightly toward the top. The design features deep carving that creates a...
Art Glass
1980s Graphic Wall Clock by Studio Nova Japan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A very cool and unique 1980s wall clock by Studio Nova Japan with a cartoonish white border, black face with white grid lines, red numbers and white hands. Will look great in your of...
Metal
$1,950 / 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
$1,843Sale 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
Large Glass Postmodern Memphis Milano Wall Clock by Bino, Italy 80s
Located in Lucija, SI
Large Postmodern Memphis Milano wall clock produce by Bino Italy. Made in glass Unique piece
Glass, Plastic
Set Of 4 Calipso Office Set in Tosca Leather, Wood & Dark Horn by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 4 Calipso Office Set in Tosca Leather, Wood & Dark Horn by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: Desk Blotter: D 50 x W 75 x H 5 cm. A4 Letter Tray: D 25 x W 34 x H 5 ...
Brass, Other
Pair of Post Modern Faux Tusks on Tessellated Marble & Brass Bases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Designer: Marquis Collection Manufacturer: Marquis Collection Materials: Tessellated Marble, Black Marble, Brass Trim Striking and sculptural...
Marble, Brass
Radical Memphis style table lamp clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table lamp clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white lamp-shaped dial on black background. Signature "Missiani...
Metal
Alessandro Mendini x Luigi Ontani 100% Make-Up Limited Lidded Vase, Alessi, 1992
By Alessandro Mendini, Luigi Ontani, Alessi
Located in Vienna, AT
A postmodern limited-edition porcelain vase with lid from the first edition of the “100% Make-Up” series by Alessi Tendentse, Italy, released in 1992. The vase’s shape was designed b...
Porcelain
Postmodern Candelholder Designed by Pucci De Rossi, 2009
Located in Lucija, SI
Postmodern candelholder attributed to Pucci De Rossi
Aluminum
Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda – ‘CanCan’ Art Glass Bowl, Model 59145, Sweden, 1990
Located in Bochum, NRW
A vibrant and collectible art glass bowl from the *“CanCan”* series, designed by esteemed Swedish glass artist **Kjell Engman** for **Kosta Boda** in the early 1990s. This hand-blown...
Glass
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
Vintage "Ocean" Scene Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style of Murano of Italy
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage "Ocean" Scene Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style Murano of Italy, circa 1980s. This piece is heavy, is in good vintage condition with no chips or scratches, and measures ...
Art Glass
$1,115Sale Price / set|20% Off
Dorothy Thorpe. Post-Modern candle holders by Elaine Bscheider, USA, 1970S
By Dorothy Thorpe, Elaine Bscheider
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Pair of Post-Modern candle holders designed by Elaine Bscheider, United States, 1970s, United States. Black methacrylate in the shape of a prezel and chrome-plated golden metal candl...
Steel, Chrome
Salvador Dalí Drawers Lamp by BD Barcelona, Pale Limewood, Spain
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Drawers lamp designed by Dali manufactured by BD. Carved structure in pale varnished limewood. Lampshade in beige linen. Measures: 30 x 30 x 87 H cm Sculpture-lamp drawers A stan...
Wood
Vintage Postmodern Black and White Studio Pottery Vase from EH, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern Black and White Studio Pottery Vase from EH, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Color: Black Styles...
Ceramic
Twins C Vase (Large), Clear Aqua and Lilac by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
"Twins C" Large Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Clear Aqua and Lilac. *All the pieces are hand-made and therefore unique. V...
Resin
Dakota Crystal Candle Holder Handsculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Dakota crystal candle holder T-Light holder Handcrafted decor made from crystal Measures: L 9 x H 16.5 x D 9cm Handsculpted in crystal The Reflections Copenhagen t-light holde...
Crystal
Red Kosta Boda Bowl by Anna Ehrner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very colorful hand crafted blown glass bowl by Anna Ehrner for Kosta Soda. The bowl is small but has a great look and statement. - could be used for multiple purposes, including a...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Curtis Jere Post Modern Table Sculpture of Brass Chrome and Marble c. 1985
By Curtis Jeré, C. Jeré Artisan House
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Curtis Jere table sculpture featuring a chrome ball on a brass ribbon like arm anchored by a strong marble base. This Post Modern Curtis Je...
Marble, Brass, Chrome
Pyramid quartz watch by Seiko, Japan, 1980s
By Seiko
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Pyramid Quartz Clock produced in the 1980s by SEIKO, with its pyramidal shape, so unique, gives the object a futuristic character, but with a deeply retro soul. A timeless piece of d...
Plastic, Laminate
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 “Femme á la téte rose” 1935 (W...
Brass
Dear Morris contemporary floor Clock black 80s Postmodern, Japanese Design
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Contemporary style floor clock designed by Shigeru Uchida in 1989. This clock was designed for Hotel Il Palazzo situated in Fukuoka, Japan. Later, Italian manufacture Acerbis / Morph...
Wood
Post-modern cast aluminium vase by Pascal Mourgue, signed
Located in London, GB
Brutalist cast aluminium vessel by the late French designer Pascal Mourgue (1943–2014). Featuring Mourgue’s signature blend of raw texture, modern geometry, and sculptural presence, ...
Aluminum
Jaeger “Rue de la Paix” desk clock, France, ca. 1960
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Jaeger “Rue de la Paix” Desk Clock, France, ca. 1960 Original decorative clock in the shape of a Parisian lantern, made of dark green enameled metal w...
Bronze, Enamel
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
Bronze Patinated Vide-Poche, Mid Century, France.
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Brussels, BE
Elegant tripode vide-poche Garouste et Bonetti Era, circa 1980, France. Patinated bronze in good original condition. Dimensions: 10 cm H, 10 cm diameter. All purchases are covered by...
Bronze
Scorpion Sculpture, Enrique "Sebastian Carbajal, 1990
By Enrique Sebastian Carbajal
Located in Chicago, IL
Scorpion Sculpture, Enrique "Sebastian Carbajal, 1990's Born Enrique Carbajal Gonzalez, Sebastian adopted his pseudonym after seeing a painting called St. Sebastian by Italian Renais...
Steel
$319 / 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
Alessandro Mandruzzato Artistic Glass Jarron
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Art Glass Vase by Alessandro Mandruzzato This art glass vase, attributed to Alessandro Mandruzzato, features a faceted geometric design with a shape resembling an irregular octahedro...
Art Glass
Spaghetti Vase (Large), Clear Blue and Matte Lime by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
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
$500Sale Price|20% Off
Marble Box with Jewish Star of David Design
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful modern style or Postmodern period marble and brass box with Jewish Star of David design, circa late-20th century, 1980s, 90s. Box, att...
Stone, Marble, Brass
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
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
Large Vintage Postmodern German Floral Floor Vase from Steuler
By Steuler
Located in Hamburg, DE
Large Vintage Postmodern German Floral Floor Vase from Steuler, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Material: ...
Ceramic
XL PostModern Memphis Ettore Sottsass Ip Murano Blown Glass Sculpture Vase Italy
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Exceptional, Stunning and Monumental, post modern, Memphis Era, Ettore Sottsass inspired sculptural vase, Circa 1980, Italy Striking, bold, glass sculptural centerpiece in primary ...
Blown Glass