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.
Twins C Vase (Large), Clear Aqua and Lilac by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
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
Unique Art Glass Vase by Anna Ehrer for Kosta Boda Sweden 1992 Signed
Located in München, BY
Unique, tall, elegant and highly decorative art glass vase. Designed by Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda Sweden, 1992. Signed at the bottom: Anna Ehrner. 8385.621. Kosta Boda. Unique. 92 ...
Art Glass
Alessandro Mendini & Lapo Binazzi for Alessi, Vase '100% Make Up', Italy 1992
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Alessi, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Malmö, SE
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...
Ceramic
Majestic Controlled Bubble Bullicante Cobalt Blue Art Glass Large Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Majestic Controlled Bubble Bullicante Cobalt Blue Art Glass Large Paperweight, beautiful excellent condition rich color nice and heavy art piece sculpture.
Blown Glass
Vintage Venetian Murano Bright Orange Italian Art Glass Covered Bowl
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage venetian murano bright orange Italian hand blown Art glass covered bowl. Hand blown art glass candy dish shade in orange, red, and clear color....
Art Glass, Blown Glass
$10,429 / item
Astral Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga
Located in Geneve, CH
Astral Bronze Sculpture by Kodai Suga Dimensions: W 50 x D 8 x H 32 cm Materials: Bronze Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbued with dra...
Bronze, Other
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 red lamp-shaped dial on black background. Signature "Missiani" ...
Metal
Vintage Postmodern Abstract Mixed Media Large Scale 3D Collage by Martha Holden
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible Late 20th Century Postmodern Contemporary Abstract signed Mixed Media large scale 3D collage by artist Martha Holden. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vin...
Plexiglass, Paint, Paper
Italian Faux Marble Lacquered Box
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Faux Marble Lacquered Box. Offered is a stunning well executed Italian decorative box with several varieties of specimen marble in a geometric pattern. This box is the perfec...
Wood
$1,077Sale Price|40% Off
Large Murano Oceanos Abstract Multi-Color Art Glass Vase Signed Vetro Artistico
By Murano 5
Located in Montreal, QC
Beautifully designed large Murano Oceanos Vetro Artistico art glass vase with striking colors featuring glowing threads of blue, green, and amber glass, signed and numbered, measurin...
Art Glass
Ceramic vase Memphis by Ettore Sottsass red star-shaped color, Milan, late 1980.
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in Milan, IT
Memphis Milano painted ceramic vase, “HSING”by Ettore Sottsass, red star-shaped color. Alessio Sarri ceramiche. Memphis Group, an Italian design and architecture collective founded b...
Ceramic
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
$5,150Sale Price|20% Off
Radical Memphis style table clock, lacquered metal, 1980s
Located in taranto, IT
Table clock in full Radical Memphis style, produced in the early 1980s, postmodern, made of lacquered metal, with white dial on black background. Designer's signature visible on the ...
Metal
Pair of Post-Modern Italian Carrara Marble Vases
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice pair of post-modern Italian carrara marble vases, circa 1970s. Gorgeous black veins of marble throughout each vase. The pair are in very good vintage condition with no chips o...
Carrara Marble
$889Sale Price|20% Off
Venini Murano Italy Blue Glass Bottle Vase Serie “Velati” 1992
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Amazing and fabulous very rare Italian handmade and blown bottle in light blue color glass with stopper, from the “Velati” series designed and produ...
Glass
Memphis Style Triangular Mixed Wood Trinket Box by Russ Keil
By Russ Keil
Located in San Diego, CA
Memphis style mixed wood triangular trinket box by Russ Keil, circa 1990s. The box measures 4.5"W x 4.5"D x 5.75"H and is made of a padouk and sugar maple hardwood . There is a small...
Maple, Padouk
Rosenthal Signed Faceted Crystal Heart Paperweight in Original Box
By Rosenthal
Located in San Diego, CA
Rosenthal Signed Faceted Crystal Heart Paperweight in Original Box, circa 1980s. A beautifully crafted faceted crystal heart paperweight signed by the renowned German porcelain and g...
Crystal
Orange planter by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Planter designed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, characterized by a vibrant orange finish that emphasizes its totemic and chromatic value. The project reflects Sottsass’s experime...
Wood
Ceramiche Daedalus Vietri Majolica Bud Vase, Italy Postmodern
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Playful bud vase is hand painted with bright and cheerful decor of houses, fruits, and flowers that wraps around the vase and creates a surrealistic landscape. The rim is defined wi...
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Archimede Seguso Style Italian Murano Glass Scalloped Edge Centerpiece Bowl
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Italian Murano glass centerpiece bowl or fruit bowl In the manner Archimede Seguso Italy, Circa Late 20th Century Measures: 14.63"W x 8.5"D x 4.75"H. Very good origina...
Murano Glass
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
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear Red and Matte Aqua by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Large Indian Summer Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Clear Red and Matte Aqua *All the pieces are hand-made and therefore un...
Resin
Vintage Oversized Crystal Pencil Sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oversized pencil sculpture in crystal (ca. 1980s/1990s, USA). Good, vintage condition with a couple of small edge flecks present, as shown. C6 marking present near the eraser. Maker ...
Crystal
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
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Large Postmodern Pottery Vase by Jesper Packness, Memphis-Style, Denmark
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful sculptural post-modern ceramic vase by Jesper Packness, Denmark. A decorative piece with a cobalt blue shiny glaze and stripes in different colors. Signed on its undernea...
Ceramic, Pottery
1980s Postmodern Mantle Clock by Empire Arts
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A vintage 1980s postmodern textured mantle clock by Empire Art Products in various shades of spelled gray. In very good vintage condition and works well. Measures: 9.5" x 5" x 14.5".
Glass, Wood
1980s Black Postmodern Wall Clock by Chass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a vibrant 1980s touch of class, this 'Chass' Postmodern Wall Clock features a black case and face, pastel numbers, geometric accents, and an asymmetrical hand arrangement. Remin...
Plastic
$4,892 / 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
Monumental Carved Wood Abstract Bird Sculpture, American Studio Craft 1980s
Located in Troy, MI
Large architectural hand carved wooden bird sculpture in solid oak USA circa 1980s Contrasting geometric and organic elements of angular faceted planes and chiseled textural detail...
Wood
$1,467 / item
BG 442 Handcrafed Sculpture by Bronwen Grieves
Located in Geneve, CH
BG 442 handcrafed sculpture by Bronwen Grieves Dimensions: D 40 x W 22 x H 19 cm Materials: black stoneware white slip. Other models can be done. Fired to 1180 c Bronwen Gri...
Stoneware
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
Postmodern Curtis Jere Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Unique Curtis Jere sculpture of a kissing couple. Black steel sculpture with whimsical sleek lines casting great shadows throughout the day. Matte black finish topped of with gold ba...
Metal
Post-Modern Double Letter Tray
Located in San Diego, CA
Post-modern polished chrome double letter tray, circa 1980s. The tray is in good vintage condition in heavy duty black plastic Made in The USA.
Plastic
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
Meritalia Candelabre / Yellow by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia, Fish Design
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...
Steel
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
Murano Orange Handblown Flower
By Murano 5
Located in Pasadena, TX
This flower is handblown. It was crafted in Murano, Italy. It is an orange swirl with 3 petals. Makes for a great gift.
Art Glass
$88Sale Price|20% Off
Decorative geode and black glass jewelry box by Don Drumm, late 20th century
By Don Drumm
Located in View Park, CA
A very unique decorative jewelry box hand-crafted of black glass, mirror, iron, and geode by Don Drumm, late 20th century. The geode boasts a bevy of brilliant blues, from cerulean t...
Rock Crystal, Iron
High-Quality Postmodern Pink Sommerso Murano Glass Swan by Elio Raffaeli, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This is a high-quality handmade Sommerso glass decorative item. It might show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but it can be considered as in excellent ...
Sommerso
$1,987Sale Price / set|50% Off
Set of 3 Swarovski crystal Douglass Cloutier Starfish
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful set of artist made starfish decorated with polished shells and encrusted Swarovski crystals by Douglas Cloutier. Original label.
Crystal
$3,605 / item
Untitled No. 47 Vase by Marea Hildebrand
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled No. 47 Vase by Marea Hildebrand Handmade Dimensions: D 38 x W 38 x H 32 cm Materials: Stoneware with slip. Marea Hildebrand (b. 1989) is a Zurich-based ceramic artist with...
Stoneware
Handmade Coiled Ceramic Vase I by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Coiled Ceramic Vase I by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Available on request Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded by artis...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
$585 / item
Incense Column by Nick Sugihara
Located in Geneve, CH
Incense Column by Nick Sugihara Dimensions: D 12.7 x W 12.7 x H 43.18 cm. Materials: VG Douglas Fir. Sugihara Fine Furniture is a small furniture and interior studio based in San D...
Fir
$312Sale Price|20% Off
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
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
Massive Post-Modern Italian Marble Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
Massive post-modern Italian black marble vase, circa 1980s. The vase has a black background with tan, white and grey veining throughout. The vase is in very good vintage condition w...
Marble
Extra Large Vintage Pink Ceramic Vase, Post-Modern Design, 1980s
Located in Fairfield, CA
An extra large vintage 80s modern ceramic vase. Nice tapered oval shape with an embossed design on each side. Glossy pink glaze. A sculptural postmodern acc...
Ceramic
Vintage Alessi Big Ovo Glass Biscuit Jar Designed by Joanna Lyle Italy
By Alessi
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Alessi Big Ovo Glass Biscuit Jar Designed by Joanna Lyle. Large Post Modern Big Ovo Jar designed by Joanna Lyle and manufactured by Alessi in It...
Glass, Plastic
$456Sale Price|35% Off
Murano Sommerso Glass Vase by Alessandro Mandruzzato, Italy, 1970s
By Alessandro Mandruzzato, G. Campanella & Co.
Located in Valencia, VC
A stunning Murano glass vase by Mandruzzato. Hand-produced in Venice circa the 1970s. Measurements: Height: 22.50cm (8.85 in.) Width: 13cm (5.10 in.) Depth:: 6cm (2.35 in) This va...
Art Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass
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
$11,435 / item
Large Estero Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Estero Wall Sculpture by Aura Carpio Dimensions: W 60 x D 6 x H 100 cm. Materials: Copper, Marble. This piece can be produced in customized sizes and finishes upon request. Pl...
Marble, Copper
Nugget Vase Extra Colour (XL), Clear Aqua, Matte Ochre, Matte Fuschia
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Extra Large "Nugget" Vase in soft resin, designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Clear Aqua, Matte Ochre, Matte Fuschia *All the pieces are hand-made ...
Resin
$220Sale Price / item|20% Off
Post Modern Candle Holders Signed By Tony Evans
By Tony Evans
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Post Modern candle holders signed on the underside By Tony Evans.
Brass
Teal Polished Hand-Blown Murano Glass Vase by Vetrarti, Italy
By Vetrarti
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1990s. It is made in hand-blown Murano glass, which is signed on the bottom. In order to get this result, two different processes are needed: the first, to model the ...
Murano Glass
Vivika and Otto Heino pottery/ceramic "weed" vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful weed vase by the well known couple, Vivika and Otto Heino.
Pottery
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
Mirror Glass Tile Mosaic Paster Vase
Located in New York, NY
A relatively large-scale plaster‑body mirror and glass tile mosaic vase, circa early-21st century. Vase is plaster construction with hand-applied clear/transparent (showing up white ...
Glass, Mirror, Plaster
Bitossi Ceramiche Hand-Torn Clay Vase, Tall by Formafantasma
By Bitossi, Formafantasma
Located in Toronto, ON
Designed by Formafantasma for Bitossi’s “Clay” collection, this hand-turned white fire-clay vase is engraved and torn by hand at the rim, giving its vertical form a raw, broken crown...
Ceramic
$204Sale Price / set|20% Off
Post Modern Italian Column Green Marble Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of postmodern marble bookends from Italy. These sizeable pieces of marble are captivating as they are commanding. The veining that develops on the green marble with gr...
Marble