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.
$395 / item
Post Modern Display Mannequin
Located in Riverdale, NY
Post Modern Display Mannequin from a Japanese store formerly located on Madison Ave, NY. Articulated fiberglass mannequin body has screws at join...
Metal
$540Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Art Glass Vase by Jon Oakes
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous post-modern art glass vase by Jon Oakes, circa 1980s. This vase is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 8.25"D x 8.75...
Art Glass
$3,236 / item
Grain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Grain Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a Kind Dimensions: D 37 cm x H 38 cm Material: Ceramic Finishing: Textured, Unglazed Artist stamp on the bottom Laura Pasquino Incorporatin...
Ceramic
Italy Mid Century Modern Small Nickel Silver Basket, Alessi Era
By Alessi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a mid-century modern nickel or silver-plate basket. Stamped MADE IN ITALY. Dimensions: 3.25" H x 8" diameter Please visit take a look at our listings, we ha...
Silver Plate, Nickel
$3,554 / item
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics
Located in Geneve, CH
Looking for Equilibrium Sculpture by MCB Ceramics Unique piece. Dimensions: D 20 x H 125 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Numerated and signed by the artist. All...
Ceramic
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
Shiro Kuramata flower vase pale pink 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
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Black Marble Desk Pen Pencil Holder, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
A '90s Postmodern black and brown polished marble stone desk pen pencil holder, circa 1990s. Dimensions: 2.5" square x 4.19" height. Matching...
Stone, Marble
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
$1,447 / item
Fermo Doorstop by Rampinelli Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Fermo Doorstop by Rampinelli Edizioni Designed by Martinelli Venezia Dimensions: D 11.5 x W 30 x H 25.5 cm, Materials: Metal. MARTINELLI VENEZIA Fermo is a metal doorstop, character...
Metal
Murano Multicolored Handblown Flower
By Murano 5
Located in Pasadena, TX
This flower is handblown. It was crafted in Murano, Italy. It is multicolored with 3 petals. Makes for a great gift.
Art Glass
$305Sale Price / set|35% Off
Candle holder Murano gold glass set , Italy
By Seguso
Located in La xara, VC
Superb set of Candle holder murano in gold finish , this hand made . rare to find two size ! 21 and 23 cm
Murano Glass
$500Sale Price|20% Off
Swedish Postmodern Centerpiece Bowl by Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, 1990s
By Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, Kosta Boda
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Postmodern Swedish art glass centerpiece bowl by artist and designer Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, circa 1990s, for Kosta Boda, Sweden. Centerpiece ...
Glass
$4,413 / item
Light Rocks Stoneware Sculpture by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Rocks Stoneware Sculpture by Laura Pasquino One of a kind Dimensions: D 32 x H 30 cm Material: White and beige stoneware, glaze. Laura Pasquino Incorporating references from ...
Stoneware
1986 Italy Bronze Sculpture Patrizia Guerresi Melograno Pomegranate
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an engaging bronze sculpture created by the Italian artist Patrizia Guerresi, in 1986. The piece is a multiple of 1000 specimens on a green-painted wooden base. This artwork ...
Bronze
$1,741 / 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
Tall Post-Modern Art Glass Vase by Young & Constantin, Green and Cobalt Organic
By Young & Constantin 1
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking and sculptural hand-blown art glass vase by Young & Constantin, executed in a vivid green body with a contrasting cobalt blue freeform rim. The vase features an elegant, e...
Art Glass
Meritalia Candelabre / Green by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design, Meritalia
Located in Toronto, ON
"The flame: by definition lively, dancing. A free element, which cannot be controlled, but which can be captured to become part of special moments." The unique candelabras by Edizio...
Metal
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
Yaacov Agam — Abstract Kinetic Silkscreen on Glass, Signed and Numbered 25/27
By Yaacov Agam
Located in Weesp, NL
Yaacov Agam — Abstract Kinetic Silkscreen on Glass, Signed and Numbered 25/27 Dimensions: W 33 × H 23 × D 4 cm (W 12.99 × H 9.06 × D 1.57 in) This striking kinetic artwork by Yaaco...
Glass, Wood
A unique ceramic vase by Tony Evans, signed, late 20th century
By Tony Evans
Located in View Park, CA
A absolutely stunning and wildly unique ceramic vase - art piece really - by Tony Evans, signed, late 20th century. Featuring an idiosyncratic lava glaze over scintillating pigments ...
Ceramic
Pr. Art Glass Candlesticks made in Romania by Ion Tamaian c. 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional pair of art glass candlesticks, made by the noted Romanian craftsman, Ion Tamain. Both candlesticks are signed, both are in excellent condition, free of damage or repairs.
Art Glass
$611 / 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
Limited 20th Century Pate de Verre Glass Sculpture "Chevaux d'Amour" by Daum
By Daum
Located in London, GB
This expressive pâte de verre limited edition glass sculpture by Daum, entitled 'Chevaux d’Amour' or 'Love Horses', depicts two horses in dynamic motion, their intertwined forms sugg...
Glass
Dear Morris contemporary floor Clock 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
$1,294 / item
Pink Vase by Markus Friedrich Staab
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Vase by Markus Friedrich Staab One of a Kind Dimensions: D 18 x H 31 cm. Materials: Wood, paint, brass, paper mache. Indian Vase out of paper mache with brass inlay for your fl...
Brass
Postmodern Round Pop Art Desk or Table Clock, Memphis Milano Style, Italy, 1990s
By George Sowden, Memphis Milano, Nathalie du Pasquier
Located in Vienna, AT
An eye-catching post-modern Pop-Art Italian desk or table clock from the early 1990s. Outstanding design, the housing is made of black rubber, it has a clear see-trough clocks face, ...
Plastic, Plexiglass, Rubber
Space Age Kinetic Desk Clock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bringing a touch of Space Age design flair to your space, this mid-century clock features a kinetic sphere design, with the clock's hands rotating within the chrome frame. This cloc...
Metal
Fiorucci Canister Italy, c. 1980
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
This is a tall metal canister with a matching lid by Fiorucci, made in Italy circa the 1980s. The image is repeated on both sides.
Steel
$3,648 / 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
Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal Candleholder, 1980s
Metal
$1,141 / item
Small Selene Box by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Selene Box by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 15 x W 22 x H 4 cm Materials: Leather, wood, horn, brass. Rectangular box in dark horn and wood with lacquered black gloss finish. Lid in ...
Brass
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
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
Ward Bennett for Sasaki Japan - Crystal bowl Sengai's Picture of the Universe
By Ward Bennett
Located in St. Louis, MO
A post-modern Ward Bennett design for Sasaki Japan, clear lead crystal bowl with etched circle-triangle-square pattern, 1/2" thick rim. The circle-triangle-square is Sengai's pictur...
Crystal
A SCULPTURAL BRUTALIST CANDELABRA CANDLE HOLDER Unique ARTIST Piece, France 1990
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional and spectacular candelabra candle holder sculpture, Post-Modernist, Brutalist, Shabby-Chic, plant-inspired composition of folded and welded metal rods mounted on a tri...
Gold Plate, Wrought Iron
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
Meritalia SENZAFINE Square Basket, Large / Yellow by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Tangled polyurethane is used in Edizioni del Pesce to create a series of vases with various shapes: Senzafine by Gaetano Pesce. This intrinsic variety infuses each piece with its own...
Plastic
$376 / item
Pavot Vase I by Pauline Pietri
Located in Geneve, CH
Pavot Vase I by Pauline Pietri Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 25.5 cm. Materials: Paper pulp and bio-based paint. Eco-designed vase based on paper pulp - cardboard, paper, news...
Paper
Unusual Folk Art / Pop Art Pepsi Cola Decorative Brief Case, France, 1990's
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Unusual Pop Art Pepsi Cola Decorative Brief Case Artist Unknown, France, 1990's Exterior is lined with French Pepsi Cola Cans Interior is lined with French Cartoons Very Interestin...
Aluminum
Postmodern Desk Lamp
Located in New York, NY
A Postmodern red and black adjustable desk lamp. Shade and base are a red enameled metal. Neck is adjustable. In fine working order for US electric.
Metal
Abstract Post Modern Ceramic & Glass Wall or Table Sculpture by Kaiser Suidan
Located in Troy, MI
Large abstract mixed media ceramic sculpture by Kaiser Suidan Studio 2001 Post Modern Memphis style design of mixed elements and colorful glazes with a rare incorporation of sculpte...
Metal
Rock Vase (Large), Black and Matte White by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
Large "Rock" 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 a...
Resin
Purple & green Murano Glass Flasks by Venini, 1980s
By Venini, Laura Diaz de Santillana
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Set of 2 small decorative Murano flasks designed by Laura de Santillana and manufactured by Venini in the 1980s. the green flask shows a visible small chip at the neck as stated in p...
Murano Glass
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
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
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
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
$564 / item
Lace Burgundy 50 High Pot by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace Burgundy high 50 pot by Mowee Dimensions: Ø55 x H112 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 9 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (Lacquered...
Stainless Steel, Other
$1,906 / 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
$3,236 / item
Light Fold Vessel by Laura Pasquino
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Fold Vessel by Laura Pasquino One of a Kind Dimensions: D 42 x H 40 cm Material: Ceramic Finishing: Textured, Glazed Inside Artist stamp on the bottom Laura Pasquino Incorpor...
Ceramic
White, Black and Blue Hand-Painted Ceramic Jug / Vase in the Style of Picasso
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in France, 1960s - 1970s. It is made in white hand-painted ceramic with blue and black motifs, that recalls Pablo Picasso's style. It is a vintage item, therefore it might show ...
Ceramic
A Set of 5 Architectural RADICAL & POSTMODERN Metal VASES, by KAPPA, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional and spectacular set of 5 geometric vases, Post-Modern, Radical, 5 different sizes stainless steel rectangular structures, forming together a kind of "Cityscape" set of...
Metal
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
Meritalia Half Ball, Small / Green, Light Blue and Pink 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
1970s Howard Miller vintage modern minimalist wall clock
By Herman Miller, Nathan Horwitt
Located in Phoenix, AZ
1970s Howard Miller wall clock model 622-740. I am assuming that this was designed by Nathan George Horwitt due to it being the same dimensions, materials, build and similar style as...
Aluminum
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
Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe Glass Plate by Rosenthal, Germany
By (after) Andy Warhol, Rosenthal
Located in Bochum, NRW
Andy Warhol × Rosenthal Studio Line — Marilyn Monroe Limited Edition Plate, 1990s Striking limited‑edition Rosenthal Studio Line pla...
Glass
Italy Post-Modern Abstract Big Pewter Sculpture Walter Valentini
Located in Brescia, IT
Walter Valentini was born in 1928 in South Italy. A painter and engraver, he lives and works in Milan. He is Holder of the chair for engraving at the ...
Pewter
$4,401 / item
Tilino Vase by Elke Sada
Located in Geneve, CH
Placida vase by Elke Sada Unique Piece Dimensions: W 22 x D 22 x H 44 cm Materials: red grogged clay, coloured slips, transparent glaze. What is fascin...
Clay