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.
Carlo Moretti Murano Satinato Yellow and Blue Glass Pencil-Neck Vase, Italy
Located in San Diego, CA
Striking vintage Italian Murano glass vase by Carlo Moretti, circa 1970s. Hand-blown in vivid citron-yellow glass with Moretti's characteristic acid-etched Satinato finish, the vase ...
Blown Glass
Medusa Vase (Large), Matte Cherry by Gaetano Pesce, Corsi
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, ON
Large 'Medusa' Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Matte Cherry *All the pieces are hand-made and therefore unique. Variations ...
Resin
Black Ceramic Perpetual Face Vase in the Style of Piero Fornasetti by TMS 2005
By Piero Fornasetti, TMS
Located in Troy, MI
Multi face ceramic vase in black by TMS Inc Vitruvian Collection 2005 Perpetual face design in the style of Piero Fornasetti Signed and dated to lower edge 8 inch diameter 9.5 inc...
Ceramic
$640Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Italian Opaline Murano Art Glass Chalice, Abstract Decoration, 1980s
Located in Valencia, VC
Postmodern Italian Opaline Murano Art Glass Chalice, Abstract Polychrome Decoration, 1980s Strikingly beautiful in the hand, this sculptural Italian art glass vessel is an elegant e...
Opal
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
Vintage Classic "MoMA" Glass Ribbon Tall Vase by Peter Hewitt, 1996
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Glass Ribbon Vase by Peter Hewitt, 1996 A "Museum of Modern Art" Design Store Classic " A ribbon of anodized aluminum metal is securely sandwiched between 3/8" plate glass walls to ...
Aluminum
Large Vintage Italian La Musa Pottery Vase Signed Cheerful 1980's Colorful 15"
By La Musa
Located in Wilton, CT
Vintage La Musa pottery large vase glazed in a grid pattern of vibrant rainbow colors. Super bright and cheerful. Hand turned and hand painted. Circa 1...
Pottery
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear Turquoise and Silver 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 Turquoise and Silver. * All the pieces are hand-made and theref...
Resin
Shiro Kuramata flower vase violet 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
Crystalline Glaze Ceramic Vase, Red and Beige, American Art Studio Pottery
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The monumental studio pottery ceramic vase is decorated with crystalline glaze in striking, dark red and beige palette. The vase was hand thrown on a wheel; beige color crystals on ombre colored base, shifting from purplish tones on top to deep, dark red on the bottom, were grown in a kiln during a very long, controlled firing. Each crystalline piece is unique due to the nature of the glaze. The vase was allowed to develop an abundance of distinct, graphic crystals, creating a free-flowing abstract pattern and adding rich texture to the minimally shaped piece. The vase was made by Wizards of Clay...
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Fused Glass Footed Vase, Hand Blown Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Sculptural vintage vase is decorated with free-flowing fused red and yellow glass designs on mottled pink glass background; colored glass encases clear glass core, with clear glass ...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
$446Sale Price|35% Off
Murano Sommerso Glass Vase by Alessandro Mandruzzato, Italy, 1970s
By G. Campanella & Co., Alessandro Mandruzzato
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
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear Orange and Pastel Pink 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 Orange and Matte Pastel Pink. *All the pieces are hand-made and...
Resin
Meritalia Tall Vase / Blue and Red 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
Post-Modern Italian Marble Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
Small post-modern Italian marble vase, circa 1980s. The vase is primarily a dark green in color, but has black and grey veining throughout. The vase is in very good vintage condition...
Marble
Nugget Vase (Large), Clear Green and Matte Pink by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
Large "Nugget" Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Colour: Clear Bottle Green and Matte Pink. *All the pieces are handmade and therefor...
Resin
A SCULPTURAL BLOWN GLASS VASE, by DAVIDE SALVADORE, MURANO, Italy 2000.
Located in PARIS, FR
An enormous sculptural Post-Modernist Blown Glass Vase, from the serie "Porphyre", by Contemporary Murano Glass Artist Davide Salvadore. This is a museum piece of Contemporary Art in...
Murano Glass
$2,107Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Murano glass vase by Ottavio Missoni, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
Magnificent multicolored Murano blown glass vase designed by the famous Ottavio Missoni and made in the 1980s, a true masterpiece that embodies the essence of artistic design of the ...
Murano Glass
$97Sale Price|60% Off
Miniature Murano Glass Vase with Bullicante, Gold Leaf, 1980s, Italy
Located in Glasgow, GB
A miniature Murano glass vase in vivid emerald green, attributed to Archimede Seguso and crafted in Italy circa 1980s. This small Italian art glass vase exemplifies the technical fin...
Gold Leaf
$324Sale Price|20% Off
Turquoise Glass Amphora Vase by Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz, Poland, 1980s
Located in Glasgow, GB
This turquoise cased glass amphora vase by Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz for Tarnowiec Glassworks was produced in Poland in the early 1980s and reflects a modern interpretation of classical v...
Art Glass
Alessandro Diaz de Santillana Murano glass vase , signed 91 " Scozzesi"
By Alessandro Diaz de Santillana, Venini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice Scozzesi work in this Venini murano glass designed by the well know artist Alessandro Diaz de Santillana.
Murano Glass
Vintage Frosted Flower Glass Block Vase, Post-Modern Design, 1980s
Located in Fairfield, CA
A unique vintage vase made from a glass block. A rounded rectangular opening has been cut into the top for use as a vase. Nice heavy weight, would work well doubling as a bookend. Ha...
Glass
Michel Harvey Trompe-l'Oeil Paper Bag Ceramic Vase, 1980s
Located in Montréal, CA
Great — this fills in the picture nicely. The WorthPoint listing is particularly useful: this is a size #1 bag, measuring approximately 5½" high × 2⅞" wide × 1⅞" deep — which matches...
Ceramic
Amphora Mini Vase in Polished Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
Amphora Mini Vase in Polished Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 20 x H 40 cm. Materials: Aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or polished aluminum. Available in two different ...
Aluminum
Organic Sculptural Modern Minimalist Black Ceramic Medium Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Organic Sculptural Modern Minimalist Black Ceramic Medium Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 30.4 x H 15.2 cm Materials: Ceramic, stoneware Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$520Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Postmodern Italian Marble Vases
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous pair of postmodern Italian marble vases, circa 1970s. Striking tan, brown, white and cream fleck throughout each vase. The pair are in ve...
Marble
Pair of Large Porcelain Vases by Björn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Germany, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Pair of Large Porcelain Vases by Björn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Germany, 1970s A stylish pair of different, full decorated large porcelain vases, designed by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosent...
Porcelain
Spaghetti Special Vase (Large), Clear Blue and Matte Lime by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, ON
"Spaghetti" Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. colour: Clear Blue and Matte Lime. *All the pieces are handmade therefore unique and th...
Resin
Joel O'Dorisio for Lost Angel Glass Bud Vase, American Studio Art Glass, 2005
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Fused glass vase features complex multilayered colored glass core in dark Bordeau or burgundy red, cream, and sapphire blue colors, encased in clear glass in sommerso technique. Com...
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
$300Sale Price|25% Off
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
Handmade Nordic Home Decor Textured Ceramic Small Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Nordic Home Decor Textured Ceramic Small Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 25.4 H 10.1 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio fo...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Vintage Postmodern Pottery Container with Spiral Handle, Circa 1980
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage postmodern studio pottery container. Features a design of black, tan, and beige glazes around the sides. Nice round shape with a spiral formed as the handle. Signed "B" on ...
Pottery
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
Murano glass vase, Anthropomorphic (face) vase
Located in London, GB
A whimsical and stylized art glass vase in the shape of an expressive human face. The body is characterized by a vibrant, mottled pattern in shades of teal, deep blue, and black, ach...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$1,800Sale Price|28% Off
Desk Component
By Erik Johnson, Argosy Designs
Located in Treadwell, NY
DESK COMPONENT (MONOLITH) APD00070 Hot rolled steel plate, bronze and mirror-polished brass 9.75” L 4.5” W 5.25” H 16.5lbs 1 of 1
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Vintage Black, Red and Yellow Encased Hand-Blown Murano Glass Flower Vase, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. It is made in encased and hand-blown Murano glass. With its original label. This vase is vintage, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be c...
Murano Glass
Shiva Penis Vase, Ceramic Decorative Object, Unique Design, Sottsass Design
By Ettore Sottsass, BD Barcelona Design
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Ettore Sottsass Shiva Ceramic Flower Vase. Original design dates to the early 70's. This one is probably 10-15 years old?!
Ceramic
Tokuda Yasokichi III spherical almost shape large vase , signed , No Box
By Yasokichi Tokuda III
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is an amazing vase by the Master ceramist Yasokichi from the lineage of potters National Treasure from centuries in Japan. This is a large amazing signed in bottom vase, No Box ...
Porcelain
White Art Glass Vase with Abstract Design Postmodern
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, tall and substantial abstract clear and white opaline art glass vase with a slight iridescence, Postmodern design, circa late-20th century. Center 'ball' area has an abstract design of clear and twisted white art glass. Very good condition as shown in images and video. No chips noted. Dimensions: 4.25" diameter x 15" height. For black and white handkerchief...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Monumental Gail Markiewicz Hand Built Sculptural Ceramic Vessel, Signed
By Markiewicz
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A monumental hand-built ceramic vessel by noted American ceramic artist Gail Markiewicz. Constructed from individually textured and impressed clay sections joined together in the art...
Ceramic, Pottery
Michel Harvey Pink Trompe-l’Oeil Ceramic Tank Top Vase Sculpture, Canada, 1980s
By Michel Harvey
Located in Toronto, CA
Playful, sculptural, and exceptionally rare, this trompe-l’œil ceramic vase by Canadian artist Michel Harvey reimagines a classic sleeveless tank top in a soft pink glaze—an uncommon...
Ceramic, Clay
$1,007 / item
Unfolding Vase by Moldra
Located in Geneve, CH
Unfolding Vase by Moldra Dimensions: D 35 x H 22 cm Materials: Stoneware Moldra is a ceramic studio devoted to sculptural vases and objects. Rooted in the ancestral hand-building te...
Stoneware
$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
Pair of Scavo Murano-Style Glass Vessels Bud Vases Pink Verdigris Metal Handles
By Cenedese Scavo, Cenedese, Gino Cenedese
Located in Round Top, TX
A set of two glass bud vases with verdigris metal caps. These 1980s pieces are designed to be displayed as a set; they differ in form, yet are topped with the same geometrically plea...
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
Toots Zinsky Chiacchiera Venini Vase Incamiciato Glass, Italy, 1990
By Venini, Toots Zynsky
Located in Vienna, AT
Toots Zinsky Chiacchiera Venini vase, Italy, 1990. Incamiciato glass with applied threading Incised signature to underside: Zinsky x Venini 90. Signed wit...
Glass
Large Vintage Post Modern Sculptural Spiral Ikebana Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Lutz, FL
Large vintage Post Modern Sculptural Spiral Shaped Ikebana vase by Keiko & David Hergesheimer of Catalpa Lane Pottery c.1990’s. Interesting spiral shape with textured gradient gl...
Clay, Pottery
$336Sale Price|30% Off
AMANO - Vintage Ceramic Vase - Rich Red Glaze - Germany - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
AMANO - Vintage ceramic vase - rich red glaze - bullet shape - signed on the base - impressed model number '629-18' - Germany - late 20th century. Excellent vintage condition - no l...
Ceramic
Organic Sculptural Modern Minimalist Black Ceramic Small Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Organic Sculptural Modern Minimalist Black Ceramic Small Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 12.7 x H 25.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, stoneware Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Set Of 3 "Mr Vénérable Is Dressed" Vases in Oak Wood by Yann Marot
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 3 "Mr Vénérable Is Dressed" Vases in Oak Wood by Yann Marot Dimensions: 1: D 28 x W 28 x H 15 cm 2: D 26 x W 26 x H 17 cm 3: D 31 x W 30 x H 19 cm Materials: Oak Born in Ma...
Wood, Oak
Handblown Murano Glass Vase in Female Torso Form, White & Brown, 1980s
Located in Toronto, CA
A sculptural handblown glass vase in the form of a female torso, crafted in Murano, Italy, circa 1980s. The piece features an elegant marbled pattern in crisp white with flowing dark...
Murano Glass
Unique Raw Clay Ceramic Vase by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Raw Clay Ceramic Vase by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: H 30.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded by artist Aslı Özen. What b...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Small Breakout Vase in Gypsum & Fiberglass by Brent Warr Studios
By Brent Warr
Located in Bainbridge, GA
The Small Breakout Vase by Brent Warr is a sculptural statement piece that embraces organic form and material experimentation. Hand-shaped from a proprietary blend of gypsum, pulp, a...
Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass, Plaster, Paint
Ettore Sottsass Y29 Vase in Black Enameled Ceramic Yantra Series Poltronova 70s
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Cascina, Pisa
This ceramic piece is part of the Yantra series by Ettore Sottsass, a collection of thirty-nine forms including containers, ashtrays, vases and bowls, created between 1969 and 1973 a...
Ceramic
Post-Modern Glass Vase by Massimo Giacon for Vis-à-vis Collection of Ritzenhoff
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Cheerful glass vase designed by Massimo Giacon for the Vis-à-vis Collection of Ritzenhoff, 1999. The stubble rowdy face looks at us in a somewhat challenging but also friendly man...
Glass
"Toute Petite Étrangeté" Cocoon Vase by Philippe Starck for Daum, France, 1980s
By Daum, Philippe Starck
Located in Lille, FR
"Toute petite étrangeté" cocoon vase by Philippe Starck for Daum, France, 1980s. Signed.
Crystal
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Italian Marble Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
Small post-modern Italian marble vase, circa 1970s. The vase is primarily a dark tan in color, but has cream, black and grey veining throughout. T...
Marble
Vintage German Postmodern Alta Mira Series Ceramic Vase by Gilbert Portanier
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage German Postmodern Alta Mira Series Ceramic Vase by Gilbert Portanier for Rosenthal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. ...
Ceramic
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
Le Petit Poisson Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Petit Poisson Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 18 x H 14 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas...
Sandstone