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.
$1,300 / item
Stained Glass Butterfly by Ed Gilly
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Stained glass butterfly by Ed Gilly. Gilly owned Gilly Glass in the village back in the late 1979 - 1980. It was open for a short time and we visited the shop. Butterfly measures ...
Stained Glass
Defne Koz Drinking Glass for hwc Egizia by Sottsass Associati, Italy
By Sottsass Associati, Defne Koz, Egizia
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Defne Koz Drinking Glass for hwc Egizia by Sottsass Associati, Italy, 1990's. Four drinking glasses available. The listed price is for one drinking glass.
Glass
Venini for Disaronno Amber and White Fused Glass Ice Bucket, Murano Italy
By Venini
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Modernist vintage ice bucket has abstract geometric decor of fused white glass on transparent amber colored glass with controlled bubbles effect. The piece has two small rounded han...
Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
Venini for Disaronno Blue and White Fused Glass Ice Bucket, Murano Italy
By Venini
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Modernist vintage ice bucket has abstract geometric decor of fused white glass on transparent blue colored glass with controlled bubbles effect. The piece has two small rounded hand...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Glass
$104Sale Price|46% Off
Postmodern Cosmo Martini Cocktail Set of 2
Located in Toronto, ON
Super cool postmodern cocktail Glasses that can be used for martinis, cosmos, and other cocktails. This Memphis style glasses feature a rounded cylindrical base with a wide open tria...
Glass
Purple & green Murano Glass Flasks by Venini, 1980s
By Laura Diaz de Santillana, Venini
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
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
Vintage Tim Lazer Oxblood Red Vase, American Studio Art Glass, 1971
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage fused and cased glass vase features complex, multilayered composition of colored fused glass, metallic pigments, and gold foil on deep, jewel-toned, oxblood burgundy red gla...
Gold
Venini for Disaronno Amber and White Fused Glass Ice Bucket, Murano Italy
By Venini
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Modernist vintage ice bucket has abstract geometric decor of fused white glass on transparent amber colored glass with controlled bubbles effect. The piece has two small rounded han...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Glass
$2,514Sale Price / set|20% Off
Barcelona Olympic Games hand-blown glasses by Gordiola, Spain, 1992
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Hand-blown whiskey glasses from the Barcelona Olympic Games produced and manufactured by the glass artisans of Gordiola, 1992, set of 8. Made entirely by hand in transparent glass, w...
Glass, Murano Glass
Transparent Heavy Crystal Trinket Bowl - Ashtray with Shells by Jolanda Prinsen
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. It is made in quite heavy 4-layered iridescent cornflower blue and white hand-blown glass. This trinket bowl / ashtray looks like a fossil. It is polished insi...
Crystal
Anne Nilsson, set of 6 schnapps glasses Clown for Orrefors
By Anne Nilsson
Located in Klintehamn, SE
Anne Nilsson’s popular pattern Clown was introduced in 1992. Here a set of 6 schnapps glasses with different patterns. The pattern was discontinued in 1999.
Glass
$257 / set
Set of 8 Drinking Glasses, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Set of 8 Drinking Glasses - Ice cream cup in postmodern Memphis Style - 80s 8 Italian vintage glasses made of press glass with a beautiful structure. The glasses can act as wine, wa...
Glass
Astimelusa Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Astimelusa by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano vetri collection in 1986.
Murano Glass
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
Black Art Glass Sphere Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Modern/Postmodern black and neutral flesh-tone art glass sphere decorative object or paperweight with an organic modern design, circa 1970s. This handmade art glass color...
Blown Glass, Art Glass
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 Pair of Teal, Red and Gold Liqueur Glasses by Salviati, Murano, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. The drinking glasses are made in hand-blown Murano glass. They are vintage, therefore they might show slight traces of use, but they can be considered as in e...
Murano Glass
Designer Postmodern Signed White Art Glass Pitcher Carafe Glass Set, circa 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful designer/artist signed white art glass pitcher carafe and glass set, circa 1980s. Pitcher carafe is white art glass with a royal blue ...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
$1,080Sale Price / set|40% Off
6 Marc Newson 4 1/2 Inch Tall Highball Glasses for Iittala
By Marc Newson
Located in Doraville, GA
Six highball glasses designed by Marc Newson for iittala in 1998 and made in Finland. The glasses are rare and have been out of production for awhile now. Statement from the Marc New...
Glass
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
Postmodern Brown Murano Glass Fish Decorative Figure by Vincenzo Nason, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Vincenzo Nason & C. Murano, Italy, 1970s. This fish is made in Murano glass. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in exce...
Murano Glass
Hand-Crafted Murano Glass Frog Bowl Sculpture from Italy, 1980s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Vintage Murano Glass Decorative Objects A playful and highly sculptural Murano art glass frog bowl crafted in vibrant orange, cobalt blue, amber, and frosted white glass. Pr...
Murano Glass
Vintage Set of Six Colored Hand Blown Murano Glass Flutes, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. These flutes are made in very thin Murano glass. They can also be use as flower vases. They are vintage, therefore they might show slight traces of use, but the...
Murano Glass
RIGEL Glass Vase by Marco Zanini, Hand-Blown Murano Glass, Memphis 1982
By Marco Zanini
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
The Rigel by Marco Zanini is built from contrast: weight and light, clarity and excess. Blown in Murano glass, its stacked form feels composed rather than decorative, as if the objec...
Murano Glass
Pair of Murano Glass Mushroom Table Lamps, Italy, Circa 1970
Located in CH
Pair of Murano Glass Mushroom Table Lamps Italy, circa 1970 A stylish pair of Murano glass table lamps in the mushroom form, dating t...
Blown Glass
Richard Marquis Latticino Glass Cone Vase, by Noble Effort, Marked 1986
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very delicate glass kept for many years untouched and mint.
Art Glass
Pair of Cyan Murano Cased Glass Vases by Carlo Moretti, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. Made in cased Murano glass. The smaller vase is labelled (as shown in the video), while the other had it but lost it due to cleaning. We've had an identical vas...
Murano Glass
Fit Blown Glass Carafe with Glass by J. Hill's Standard
Located in Geneve, CH
Fit Blown Glass Carafe with Glass by J. Hill's Standard Dimensions: Ø 9 x 12 cm Materials: Blown Borosilicate Capacity: Carafe 400ml, Glass 200ml. Carafe + Glass in mouth blown bor...
Other
Black and Red Blown Murano Glass Fish Decorative Figure, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Murano, Italy, 1980s. This fish is made in hand-blown sommerso Murano glass with murrains. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be conside...
Murano Glass
Green, Blue, Bronze and Clear Murano Glass Vase by Irene Paolo, Italy 1990s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1990s. This tulip vase is made with three-colored Murano hand-blown glass canes. It can also be used as a candleholder. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might sho...
Murano Glass
Archimede Seguso Style Murano Glass, Carnival Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Just a beautiful vase in the Carnival style colors murano glass vase.
Murano Glass
Tumbler Hand Drawn Glass by J. Hill's Standard
Located in Geneve, CH
Tumbler Hand Drawn Glass by J. Hill's Standard Dimensions: D 20 x H 20 cm. Materials: Glass Available in both polished and unpolished finishes, please contact us. The series Hand D...
Other
Venini Murano double ring glass bowl. Label signed
By Venini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful murano glass bowl, is in double ring center, signed Venini , Italia and also label .
Murano Glass
Postmodern Bubble Martini Liquor Cocktail Set of 4
Located in Toronto, ON
Super cool postmodern cocktail small glasses. This Memphis style glasses feature a rounded cylindrical base with a wide open triangular top in the similar shape as martini glass tops...
Glass
$210Sale Price / set|20% Off
Unused Coffee for Two Set by Danish / Swiss Kitchenware Specialist Bodum
By Bodum
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This refined yet striking coffee set was made for two. It is complete and still new as it has never been used. It consists of a French press, two coffee glasses, two espresso glasses...
Glass, Plexiglass, Cork
Set Of 4 Raw Forrest Glassware by Milena Kling
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 4 Raw Forrest Glassware by Milena Kling Unique Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 8 x H 9 cm. Materials: Mouth-blown crystal glass. Available individually and in sets of four glasses. Di...
Glass
Vintage Millennium Year 2000 Cocktail Glasses- a Pair
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Toast to the turn of the millennium with this exceptional pair of vintage Millennium Year 2000 cocktail glasses. Each glass boasts a unique sculpted stem with a prominent "2000" desi...
Glass
$759
Nebula Gamma
Located in Milano, MI
Serena Confalonieri continues her research in the field of self-production and craftsmanship. The subject, once again, is hand-blown borosilicate glass. After her Calypso floral glasses collection and Arabesque vases...
Blown Glass
$9,254 / item
Hopstep Cast Glass Jug by J. Hill's Standard
Located in Geneve, CH
Hopstep Cast Glass Glass Jug by J. Hill's Standard Dimensions: D 17,1 x W 7,4 x H 12,7 cm. Materials: Cast Glass Available in these materials: Blown Glass / Porcelain / Cast Glass ...
Other
$9,300Sale Price|25% Off
Peter Shire x Vistosi Murano Postmodern Bone Sculpture with Cobalt Blue Base
By Peter Shire, Vistosi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Exceptional upright murano art glass sculpture by Peter Shire in collaboration with Vistosi Murano. Signed at bottom. Most likely one of kind. Upright bone floats above a cobalt blue...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
Postmodern Drinking Glass by Hans Jürgen Richartz, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Drinking Glass by Hans Jürgen Richartz for Richartz Art Collection, 1980s, in Flawless conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attri...
Glass
Set Of 4 Raw Sunrise Glassware by Milena Kling
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 4 Raw Sunrise Glassware by Milena Kling Unique Pieces. Dimensions: Ø 8 x H 9 cm. Materials: Mouth-blown crystal glass. Available individually and in sets of four glasses. Di...
Glass
$315 / item
Wander Tumbler Glass by Milena Kling
Located in Geneve, CH
Wander Tumbler Glass by Milena Kling Unique Piece. Dimensions: Ø 8,5 x H 12-13 cm. Materials: Mouth-blown crystal glass. Individual glassware edition in crystal glass. Each WANDER ...
Glass
$2,056 / set
Set Of 4 Grappa Glasses by J. Hill's Standard
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 4 Grappa Glasses by J. Hill's Standard Dimensions: W 4 x H 8.1 cm. Materials: Glass Available designs: Bog / Furrow / Dew Each glass comes with both the polished and unpolish...
Glass
$373 / set
Calypso Champagne Set
Located in Milano, MI
Calypso collection investigates new ways of conviviality: fed by imaginary worlds, this tableware pieces make possible to dream of exotic and uncontaminated landscapes. Calypso synth...
Glass
Postmodern Bubble Martini Liquor Cocktail Set of 4
Located in Toronto, ON
Super cool postmodern cocktail small glasses. This Memphis style glasses feature a rounded cylindrical base with a wide open triangular top in the similar shape as martini glass tops...
Glass
$759
Nebula Beta
Located in Milano, MI
Serena Confalonieri continues her research in the field of self-production and craftsmanship. The subject, once again, is hand-blown borosilicate glass. After her Calypso floral glasses collection and Arabesque vases...
Blown Glass
$1,635 / item
Bel Ava Washbasin by Studio Nosqua
Located in Geneve, CH
Bel Ava Washbasin by Studio Nosqua Dimensions: D 52 x W 52 x H 93 cm Material: Glass. Basin drain not included. Between desertic expanses and frozen mountains, Bela Ava offers you ...
Glass
$585Sale Price / set|40% Off
Champagne Flutes Glasses, Postmodern 1990s
By Kosta Boda
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful set of four (4) art glass Champagne flutes glasses, Postmodern, circa 1990s, Europe. In the style of Kosta Boda, Sweden. Colors ...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Transparent Heavy Crystal Trinket Bowl - Ashtray with Shells by Jolanda Prinsen
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. It is made in quite heavy 4-layered iridescent cornflower blue and white hand-blown glass. This trinket bowl / ashtray looks like a fossil. It is polished insi...
Crystal
Postmodern Metal and Art Glass Goblet by Hans Jürgen Richartz, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Metal and Art Glass Goblet by Hans Jürgen Richartz for Richartz Art Collection, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. ...
Metal
Lilac and Black Iridescent Murano Glass Vase by Sergio Costantini, Italy 1990s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy by Sergio Costantini, 1990s This vase is made is etched hand-blown Murano glass with a light pulegoso effect. It also features a transparent and black iridescent lattic...
Murano Glass
Richard Marquis Latticino Glass Cone Vase /Sculpture, by Noble Effort, 1985
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful glass latticing and murrains glass cone vase by the well known glass blower Richard Marquis.
Glass
Set of 8 Retro Drinking Glasses Postmodern Memphis Style, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
8 Retro Drinking Glasses – Ice Cream Cups, Postmodern Memphis Style – 80s Italian Vintage Glassware – Black Clear Glass, Vintage Gift This original drawing by Paul Wilhelm Jacobs fr...
Glass
$4,160Sale Price|20% Off
Murano Blue Art Glass Vase in the Manner of Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini
Located in Miami, FL
A fine hand-crafted Murano art glass vase, signed Marcello Furlou. This high quality Murano art glass vase is hand blown. It is designed in the manner of some Paolo Venini vases, m...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Postmodern Blue and Yellow Art Glass Bowl, 1995
Located in New York, NY
A royal or cobalt blue and yellow art glass bowl, 1995. Great as a stand-alone piece or hold candy or other on a desk, credenza, cocktail table, bookshelf, etc. Marked and dated on underside as shown in last image. Very good condition as shown in images. No chips noted. Dimensions: 5.32" Diameter x 3.25" Height For blue lapis box...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Large Old Rose Glass Vase "Cartoccio" in the style of Fontana Arte, 1980s, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
The design is of the 30s, but this vase is made in the 1980s. This handmade vase is in the style of Fontana Arte. It is made in old rose and has a very nice ‘Cartoccio’ (paper bag) s...
Murano Glass
Malide Vase by Ettore Sottsass, Hand-Blown Murano Glass, Memphis 1986, Italy
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Ettore Sottsass, 1982 Decorative Murano glass vase handmade with traditional free-blowing and mould-blowing techniques.
Murano Glass