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.
Midcentury Italian Postmodern Wall Clock in Mondrian Complementary Colors
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A beautiful artist made wall clock from the 1990s. Will work well with Sottsass and Memphis Italian post modern design. Signed by artist.
Metal
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
Sample Wall Art Sculptured Tiles by Studio Mano & Mambo Jambo
Located in Geneve, CH
Sample Wall Art Sculptured Tiles by Studio Mano & Mambo Jambo. Dimensions: W 20 x D 2 x H 20 cm. Materials: Santa Fe and reclaimed clay, Mixed glazes. Studio Mano is the work o...
Ceramic
Pair of Gilt Bronze Candleholders by Pierre Casenove for Fondica
Located in North Miami, FL
Extremely heavy gilt bronze, these French candlesticks are highly collectible. These are quite rare and signed.
Bronze
$680Sale Price / set|59% Off
Pair of Red and Black Murano Scavo Glass Bottles, Italy, 1990s
By Cenedese
Located in Glasgow, GB
Pair of Murano glass bottles attributed to Cenedese, crafted in Italy circa 1990. Each piece features a cylindrical body and narrow neck, rendered in vivid red glass with a bold blac...
Murano Glass
Meritalia Big Surprise 2, Small / Light Blue and Green 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
Pair of Natural Steer Horns on Lucite Bases
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A chic pair of steer horns each mounted on Lucite bases. These highly decorative horns add a unique air of sophistication to the décor of any space 6 inches square base, 20.5 inches ...
Horn, Lucite
Midcentury Modern Asymmetrical Wastebasket/Trashcan
By Danese Milano, Heller, Enzo Mari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Postmodern “In Attesa” red plastic wastebasket/trashcan designed by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano/Heller. Circa 1970s production in whimsical diagonal tube design. Normal signs of use....
Plastic
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
Vittorio Mazzuconni Firenze Bowl Silver-Plated Vide Poche Vase Post-Modern
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Vittorio Mazzucconi silverplate modernist bowl (also referred to as a vide poche or vase). Designed and signed by Vitto...
Silver Plate
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
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
$39,847 / item
Rainbow Sculpture by Christian Friedl
Located in Geneve, CH
Rainbow Sculpture by Christian Friedl Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 50 x H 82 cm. Materials: Steel, rock crystal. Rainbow tells his story... My rainbo...
Rock Crystal, Steel
Italian Murano Striking Glass Striped Bowl Signed by Lino Tagliapietra for Veart
Located in San Diego, CA
Majestic candy striped swirl bowl signed and dated , Veart 1989 by Lino Tagliapietra Italian Murano Blown glass, masterpiece very nice and clean condition no chips or cracks large pi...
Blown Glass
Passarinho Sculptural Ceramic Bird Vase by Studio Mano
Located in Geneve, CH
Passarinho Sculptural Ceramic Bird Vase by Studio Mano. Dimensions: W 20 x D 9 x H 17 cm. Materials: Reclaimed clay with butternut scotch glaze. Studio Mano is the work of Bruno Na...
Ceramic
Vintage Flower Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style of Murano of Italy
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Flower Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style Murano of Italy, circa 1980s. This heavy vintage art glass egg paperweight, crafted in the ...
Art Glass
$1,285 / item
L´Étoile De Mer Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
L´Étoile De Mer Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 24 x H 26 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas ...
Sandstone
Large Raku Pottery Cat on Lucite Base by Tony Evans
By Tony Evans
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice large raku pottery sitting cat on lucite base by noted artist Tony Evans, circa 1980s. The piece is signed on the base and extremely well crafted; it has wonderful green ...
Pottery, Lucite
Marble Box Dark Green Jewelry Desk
Located in New York, NY
A round marble box, Postmodern period, circa late-20th century. Marble is a dark moss green with white veining. A great piece to hold items on a desk or jewelry (demonstrated.) Lid i...
Marble
Vasa Velizar Mihich Acrylic Sphere Sculpture, Post-Modern Design, 1989
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Signed and dated spherical acrylic sculpture by Vasa Mihich, circa 1990. The 5 1/2" diameter piece displays evolving optical effects from the blue, green, and orange acrylics when ro...
Acrylic
Vintage Blown Art Glass Paperweight Blue and White Flower
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown blue and white Italian art glass paperweight. Gorgeous vintage studio hand blown crystal art glass paperweight with a cobalt blue base and a white cascading flower or frost. The inside of the paperweight has a large flower and is filled a large controlled bubble in the centre with multiple small controlled bubbles. Vintage Crystal Ball...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Set Of 2 Corner Sculptural Vessels by Karin Amdal
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Corner Sculptural Vessels by Karin Amdal One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 12 x W 12 x H 15 cm. Materials: Ceramic/stoneware clay. Pieces are hand-made, one of a kind, and sizes...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
David Garcia, Postmodern American Studio Art Glass Sculpture, 1991
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage hand-crafted art glass sculpture features triangular form with multiple layers of brightly colored, applied fused glass elements on clear glass base. Predominantly green and...
Glass, Art Glass
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
$2,746 / 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
Contemporary Art Pouf - Saudade by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. Semi-circular pouff designed by Gabriel. Vintage chenille Pontoglio cotton velvets, silk and cotton trimmings, designer decorations
Cotton, Silk
British The Eclectic Copycat Brass Stencil Typeface Tool A from Tom Dixon
Located in Hamburg, DE
British The Eclectic Copycat Brass Stencil Typeface Tool A from Tom Dixon, in Flawless conditions. Designed from 2000 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Mat...
Metal
Postmodern White Glass Vase "Fazzoletto" by Giorgio Berlini, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. It is made in white heat soaked Murano glass. Since the manufacturing process of these vases was manual, each vase is different and one-of-a-kind. It is a vinta...
Murano Glass
Richard Meier for Swid Powell Stainless Steel Bowl/Centerpiece
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful post modern design by the well known architect Richard Meier. Measure: 10 inches.
Stainless Steel
Modern Mirrored Planter Cachepot Jardinière, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A substantial square mirrored planter cachepot jardinière, '70s Modern/Postmodern period, circa 1970s. Entire piece is mirror with a graduated design. A great piece for a plant or fl...
Mirror, Wood
Meritalia Candelabre / Orange by Gaetano Pesce
By Meritalia, Fish Design, Gaetano Pesce
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 Edizion...
Steel
Jeff Koons Cracked Egg box/sculpture aluminum .Red 2008
By Jeff Koons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iconic Cracked Egg in aluminum sculpture / box for the LACMA in 2008 . artist Jeff Koons
Aluminum
$10,411 / item
Regeneration 03-2 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Regeneration 03-2 Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 9 x H 30 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbu...
Bronze, Other
Large Vintage La Murrina Murano Glass Vase and Centrepiece, 1980s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Karl Springer, Venini, Murano Glass Sommerso, La Murrina
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Stunning large set of vintage Italian La Murrina vase and centrepiece dish. Mouth blown milky white Murano art glass with black wave-like swirling edge. Manufacturer’s logo placed a...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano 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
$186 / item
Aluminium Brute Handle by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminium Brute Handle by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 3 x D 2 x H 10 cm Materials: Aluminum This versatile handle can be used for cabinetry, sliding doors and sash windows. Each pie...
Aluminum
Hagi Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips
Located in Geneve, CH
Hagi Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 14 x W 32 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes from ...
Ceramic, Clay
Meritalia Big Surprise 1, Small / Red and Orange 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
$686Sale Price / set|22% Off
Collection 3 Porcelain Decanters LeRoy Neiman Decorative Sports Memorabilia
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful porcelain decorative decanter by Leroy Neiman, Circa 1979. This liquor decanter with its baseball memorabilia, intense colors and clean condition makes a great addition t...
Porcelain
Meritalia Big Surprise 1, Small / Green and Yellow 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
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
$1,217 / item
Recovered Medium Vase by David Valner
Located in Geneve, CH
Recovered Medium Vase by David Valner Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 30 cm. Materials: Glass. Weight: 7 kg. Finish: Medium size, red and clear. “The history of a glass factory and its ...
Glass
Robert Venturi Post Modern Silver Candleholders for Swid Powell
By Swid Powell, Robert Venturi
Located in Chicago, IL
Robert Venturi Post Modern Silver Candleholders for Swid Powell, Both stamped RVenturi MADE IN ITALY SILVER PLATED with copyright mark.
Silver Plate
Massive Organic Form Art Glass Pedestal Bowl by David Thai
Located in San Diego, CA
This striking, large-scale studio art glass bowl is signed by David Thai and showcases his refined command of color, form, and surface texture. Executed in thick, hand-blown glass, t...
Art Glass
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
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
Repoussé Black Lacquer Sheep Sculpture by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sheep sculpture (Male) Black lacquer Antique copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. This techniqu...
Copper
Jeweled Pewter and Enamel "Tree of Life" Menorah in the Style of Jay Strongwater
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous jeweled pewter and enamel "Tree of Life" Menorah in the style of Jay Strongwater (it may actually be a Strongwater piece, but it is not marked), circa 1990s. The menorah is ...
Rock Crystal, Enamel, Pewter
Vintage Murano Decorative Blown Glass Wrapped Blue Hard Candy Paper
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage large Murano decorative blown glass wrapped blue hard candy paperweight. Vintage oversized Murano blue blown glass candy sculpture of candy wr...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
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
Meritalia Big Surprise 1, Large/ Blue, Green and Clear 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
Meritalia Big Surprise 2, Small / Yellow 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
$829 / item
Earth Kaen Palo Santo by Monics+Vieira
Located in Geneve, CH
Earth Kaen Palo Santo by Monics+Vieira Dimensions: Ø 18 x H 4 cm. Materials: Combination of micro-ceramic coating and a Liquid Metal mixture Milan and Dubai based design duo MONICS+...
Metal, Other
Post-Modern Pink Marble Cylindrical Box, Carved, Pakistan, Circa 1980s
By Renoir Designs, Maitland Smith
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
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
Set of 3 Aurora Geode Triptych Wall Art Panels by Sev Art Gallery
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Aurora Geode Triptych Wall Art Panels by Sev Art Gallery. Dimensions: Each panel W 100 x D 4 x H 180 cm. Materials: Natural quartz stone, citrine stone, epoxy resin, canvas...
Stone, Quartz
1980 Italy Post-Modern Cristina Roncati Bronze Abstract Sculpture Donna Velata
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork was created by the Italian artist Cristina Roncati. The title "Donna velata" Veiled woman Cristina Roncati was born in Modena (Italy) wh...
Bronze
Christian Thirion Teapot Sculpture, Studio Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Whimsical blown art glass sculpture in shape of a teapot features Memphis style color palette of bright yellow, red, and blue with black and white accents. Graphic geometric forms o...
Art Glass, Sommerso