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.
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
A Rare 1980s Minimalist Silver Plated Round Design Vase by Lino Sabattini
By Sabattini Argenteria, Lino Sabattini
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This post-modern vase designed by Lino Sabattini exemplifies the clean, sleek aesthetic typical of Sabattini's work and the minimalist movement of the era. This vase features a perfe...
Silver Plate
Art Deco Black Ceramic Vase by Claude Dumas, Remix Edition, Circa 1980
By Claude Dumas
Located in COLMAR, FR
Art Deco black ceramic vase by French designer Claude Dumas – early 2000s Remix Gallery edition, made from the original mould, sourced in France, in very good vintage condition This...
Clay
Massive Tessellated Stone Floor Vase in the Style of Marquis of Beverly Hills
By Marquis Collection of Beverly Hills 1
Located in San Diego, CA
Massive Tessellated Stone Floor Vase in the Style of Marquis of Beverly Hills, circa 1980s. This impressive, tessellated stone floor vase, in the style of Marquis of Beverly Hills an...
Stone
$140Sale Price|20% Off
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
Ettore Sottsass Model 585 Oxblood Red Ceramic Vase, Il Sestante, Italy, 1961
Located in Dronten, NL
An exceptional example of Ettore Sottsass’ early ceramic production, this striking vase—model 585—was designed in 1960 and realized circa 1961 by the Società Ceramica Toscana di Figl...
Ceramic
Murano Glass "Lisboa" Vase
Located in NICE, FR
This Murano glass vase is a refined expression of light, color, and exceptional craftsmanship. Its sculptural surface is articulated with vibrant, jewel-like glass spheres that creat...
Gold
Ceramic Vase by Claudia Frignani, Wunderkammer Studio
By Wunderkammer Studio, Claudia Frignani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ceramic Vase by Claudia Frignani for Wunderkammer Studio's limited Lefka collection. Claudia Frignani is a Milan-based designer, ceramic artist, and creator known for her unique scu...
Ceramic
$1,304 / 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
$115Sale Price|55% Off
Mdina Glass Bud Vase, Pink Mottled Glass, Handcrafted in Malta, 1980s
By Mdina
Located in Glasgow, GB
A tall stemmed bud vase, handcrafted in the late 1980s by Mdina Glass, Malta. Crafted from pink opaque glass perfectly mottled and encased in a sheath of crystal clear glass. The...
Art Glass
Dolium Vase in Stoneware, Slip & Oxydes by Robin Kerr
Located in Geneve, CH
Dolium Vase in Stoneware, Slip & Oxydes by Robin Kerr Unique Piece Dimensions: D 51 x W 51 x H 92 cm. Materials: Stoneware, slip, and oxydes. Robin Kerr is a Swiss ceramic artist li...
Other
Alessandro Mendini & Lapo Binazzi for Alessi, Vase '100% Make Up', Italy 1992
By Alessi, Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini, Memphis Milano
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
1980's Postmodern Geometric Bud Vase in Stainless Steel
By Paul Evans
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice geometric design brushed stainless mix with polished stainless bud vase, circa 1980's , nice clean lines for mid-century, Danish Modern Decor.
Stainless Steel
$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
$320Sale Price|20% Off
Large Red Millefiori & Murine Vase, Murano Glass In Style of Dino Martens 1980s
By Dino Martens
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Murano glass vase was made in flask shape with graphic abstract patterns on both back and front sizes of the vase. The solid red glass gather was decorated with fused multic...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine, Glass
Fast Vase by Cédric Ragot for Rosenthal, Gilt Porcelain, Circa 2000
Located in San Francisco, US
Cédric Ragot was an iconic designer that is only gaining more recognition with each passing year. “Fast,” created for Rosenthal, exemplifies his genius—a dynamic explosion frozen in ...
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
Gaetano Pesce Half Ball Vase with Big Surprise Base, Meritalia, 2010
Located in Las Vegas, NV
1st edition Gaetano Pesce half ball vase for Meritalia with the big surprise base. Fantastic and rare example of Pesce’s exquisite ability with resin. The wo...
Resin, Plastic
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
Polychrome Ceramic Vase by Carlo Zauli, 1960s
By Carlo Zauli
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Single flower vase in polychrome ceramic, signed on the bottom. Carlo Zauli (Faenza, 19 August 1926 - Faenza, 14 January 2002).
Ceramic
$1,043 / item
Gaya Vase by Moldra
Located in Geneve, CH
Gaya Vase by Moldra Dimensions: D 38 x H 28 cm Materials: Stoneware Moldra is a ceramic studio devoted to sculptural vases and objects. Rooted in the ancestral hand-building techniq...
Stoneware
Versace & Archimede Seguso Murano Blown Glass Footed Vase
By Archimede Seguso, Gianni Versace
Located in Downingtown, PA
Couture Glass: Gianni Versace by Archimede Seguso Murano Vase, circa 1990 A superb example of late-20th-century design collaboration, this Murano blown glass footed vase embodies th...
Blown Glass
$331Sale Price|20% 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
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
Alessandro Mendini x Luigi Ontani 100% Make-Up Limited Lidded Vase, Alessi, 1992
By Alessi, Alessandro Mendini, Luigi Ontani
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
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
Ritratto Blue Wall Hanging Flower Vase Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Alessandro Mendini, Marutomi
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"Ritratto" flower vase for the wall designed by Alessandro Mendini for Marutomi. Designed in the late 90s and start production in 2000. No longer production. New old stock in box. W...
Plastic
Prophetia Vase in Wheel-Thrown Glazed Stoneware by Robin Kerr
Located in Geneve, CH
Prophetia Vase in Wheel-Thrown Glazed Stoneware by Robin Kerr Unique Piece Dimensions: D 25 x W 25 x H 52 cm. Materials: Stoneware. Robin Kerr is a Swiss ceramic artist living and w...
Stoneware
Le Vase Pique Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Vase Pique Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 22 x H 24 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas is...
Sandstone
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
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear and Matte White by Gaetano Pesce
By Gaetano Pesce, Corsi Design Factory
Located in Toronto, CA
Size Large Clear and Matte White 'Indian Summer' Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. *All the pieces are handmade and therefore unique. ...
Resin
$1,458 / item
La Sirene Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas
Located in Geneve, CH
La Sirene Beige Sandstone Vase by Lou Thomas Dimensions: ⌀ 38 x H 26 cm Materials: Beige sandstone "Drawing on her extensive travels to Japan, Mexico, and Morocco, Lou Thomas is pas...
Sandstone
Postmodern Black Art Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Black Art Glass Vase by Hans Jürgen Richartz for Richartz Art Collection, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additi...
Glass
Memphis Style Ceramic Vase "Ilios" by Florio Keramia 1990s
Located in Debrecen, HU
This beautiful Florio Keramia ceramic vase features an abstract pattern and a glossy finish. The Ilios model is a handmade, postmodern style piece measuring 19 cm long, 24 cm wide an...
Ceramic
$424Sale Price|37% Off
1980s Postmodern Cased Glass Amphora Vase by Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz, Poland
Located in Glasgow, GB
A bold and sculptural cased glass vase designed by Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz and produced by Tarnowiec Glassworks, Poland, during the 1980s. This piece reflects a distinctly postmodern re...
Art Glass
Val Saint Lambert Cut Glass Vase in Ruby Red
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Val Saint Lambert Cut Glass Vase in Ruby Red Val Saint Lambert cut glass vase in a ruby red hue. It features oval panels carved with detailed floral motifs, alternating with areas ...
Art Glass
Meritalia Flower Vase / Orange 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
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
$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
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
Black Stoneware Sfondyli Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Stoneware Sfondyli Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 27 x H 23 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes: Black, White, Brown, Red, White ...
Stoneware
Indian Summer Vase (Large), Clear Pink and Matte Lime by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
Indian Summer Vase, size Large, 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
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
$3,261 / 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
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
$483Sale Price|20% Off
Memphis Style Ceramic Vase Atzeco by Florio Keramia
Located in Debrecen, HU
Crafted by the esteemed Florio Keramia, this Memphis Style ceramic vase named Atzeco is a true embodiment of postmodern artistry. Its abstract design is complemented by a vibrant yel...
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
Medusa Vase (Large), Matte White by Gaetano Pesce
By Corsi Design Factory, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Toronto, CA
Matte White 'Medusa' 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...
Resin
$1,007 / item
Black Stoneware Chytra Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Stoneware Chytra Vase by Elena Vasilantonaki Unique Dimensions: ⌀ 27 x H 18 cm (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Stoneware Available finishes:...
Stoneware
$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
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
Postmodern Memphis Style Glazed Ceramic Vase by Jonathan Adler
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful ceramic 2 tone vase in postmodern design , by Jonathan Adler no chips or cracks.
Ceramic
$996 / 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
$6,107 / item
Scents of Spring Heritage Vase by deBlona
Located in Geneve, CH
Scents of Spring Heritage Vase by deBlona Dimensions: W 38 x D 25 x H 63 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Colors: Deruta blue, copper green, yellow, orange, vanadium, purple, carmine red. T...
Ceramic
$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
$588Sale Price / set|28% Off
Two Gold Blue Post-Modern Vases by Allan Hytholm, Denmark 1980s
Located in Hannover, DE
Exceptional, postmodern in an excellent color combination, gorgeous turquoise blue and gold characterize this wonderful pair of vases. The slightly larger vase has a height of 29cm a...
Ceramic, Pottery
$741Sale Price|50% Off
Post-Modern Murano Art Glass Vase by Cose Belle, Italy, 1980s Design
By Cose Belle Cose Rare
Located in Valencia, VC
Post-Modern Murano Art Glass Vase, Italy, circa 1980s A strong example of Post-Modern Murano glass from the 1980s, defined by scale, weight, and assertive use of color. The vase fea...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass
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
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