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.
$910Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 6 Postmodern Flash One Series Coffee Service Plates, Cups, Saucers, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Flash One Series Coffee Service Plates, Cups, Saucers by Dorothy Hafner for Rosenthal, 1980s, Set of 6, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an at...
Porcelain
Set of 3 Postmodern Octagon Tea Glasses, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Set of 3 Postmodern Octagon Tea Glasses, 1980s
Glass, Plastic
Post Modern Memphis Design Rare Tea Kettle by Rolf Sinnemark for Rorstrand
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare and beautiful ceramic teapot, circa 1980s, Made in Sweden designed by Rolf Sinnemark for Rorstrand highly collectible in great condition no chips or cracks, incredible geometric...
Porcelain
80s Post Modern Memphis Design Handmade Marilee Hall Abstract Art Teapot Signed
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Spectacular, Post Modern, Memphis Design, One of a Kind, Handmade, tossed pottery and painted yellow tea pot, with a crackle finish, I adorned with both incised and applied colorful...
Metal
$1,150 / set
Tea Set 'Fantasia' by Matteo Thun, 1980
By Matteo Thun, Arzbeg Porcelain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning Memphis-style Seven-piece porcelain tea set 'Fantasia' with 'Carre Noir' decor by Matteo Thun for Arzberg Porzellan, Germany. The set contains a tea pot with lid, two cups w...
Porcelain
$156Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Rare Tea Kettle Designed by Michael Graves
Located in San Diego, CA
A Classic postmodern Memphis era design teapot designed by Michael Graves, circa the 1980s, a rare design not many were produced it's in good condition except for a ding on the botto...
Stainless Steel
Tea Service "Flash On" by Dorothy Hafner, Rosenthal Studio-Line Germany, 1980s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Tea Service "Flash On" by Dorothy Hafner, Rosenthal Studio-Line Germany, 1980s. 40 pieces of fantastic coffee/tea service. The iconic Post-Moden, Memphis pattern...
Ceramic
Gianni Versace for Rosenthal, Five Large "Ivy Leaves" Teacups with Saucers
Located in København, Copenhagen
Gianni versace for Rosenthal. Five large "Ivy Leaves" teacups with saucers, late 20th century. In perfect condition. The cup measures: 10.5 x 6 cm. The saucer measures: 16.5 cm. ...
Porcelain
Set of 2 Japanese Postmodern Stainless Steel Kettle
Located in Hamburg, DE
Japanese Postmodern Stainless Steel Kettle, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 Additional information: Materials: Metal, Pla...
Metal
Lindt-Stymeist Postmodern Colorways Tea Kettle, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern tea kettle from the 1980s by Lindt-Stymeist in baby blue, yellow and pink.
Porcelain
Set of 2 German Postmodern Teapot or Coffeepot with Cup by Seltmann Weiden
Located in Hamburg, DE
German Postmodern VIP Collection Teapot or Coffeepot with Cup by Seltmann Weiden, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additi...
Ceramic
Hot Bertaa Postmodern Water Kettle by Philippe Starck for ALESSI
Located in Linkebeek, BE
"Hot Bertaa" Water Kettle by Philippe Starck for ALESSI Philippe Stark - 1990s - Italian - Alessi Measures : 32cmx17cm H:25cm Materials: Brushed Aluminium - Thermo Plastic Wear con...
Aluminum
Italian Postmodern Kettle by Richard Sapper for Alessi, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Italian Postmodern Kettle by Richard Sapper for Alessi, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution markIt is completely authentic Additional infor...
Metal
Set of 2 German Postmodern Fantasia Series Teapot or Coffeepot with Cup, 1980s
By Matteo Thun
Located in Hamburg, DE
German Postmodern Fantasia Series Teapot or Coffeepot with Cup by Matteo Thun for Arzberg, 1980s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attributi...
Ceramic
1980s Vintage Arcoroc Black Glass Domed Cake Plate and Five Cups and Saucers
By Arcoroc
Located in San Gabriel, CA
This is a beautiful set of 5 black glass tea cups, saucers, and a cake plate with glass dome cover from the renowned French manufacturer Arcoroc. Part of the much loved Octime range ...
Glass
Michael Graves Postmodern Tea Kettle by Alessi Italy Production First Years 1985
Located in Biella, IT
Michael Graves Postmodern tea kettle by Alessi Italy production years 1985 the first matte platinum grey enamel body, black knob, orange whistle bird a...
Metal
Philippe Starck Hot Bertaa Kettle for Alessi Postmodern Rare Mirror Polished
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
Starck was born on 18 January 1949 in Paris. He is the son of André Starck, who was an aeronautics engineer. He says that his father often inspired him because he was an engineer, wh...
Aluminum
1987 Big Dripper Ceramic Coffee Set Michael Graves for Swid Powell
By Michael Graves (b.1934), Swid Powell
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1987 Postmodern Big Dripper Coffee Set by Michael Graves for Swid Powell High gloss white glaze large pot, filter holder, and lid with gold decoration and brick red base. Large Coffe...
Ceramic
1990s Memphis Milano Style Black and White Coffee Set by Taruschio
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This Memphis Milano-style Italian ceramic coffee set characterized by its bold, geometric design and avant-garde aesthetic. The coffee set features conical cups with triangular bases...
Ceramic
Limited Edition Memphis Post-Modern Porcelain Teapot and Cups by J. Mihalik Art4
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare and beautiful limited edition Memphis style post-modern porcelain teapot and and six cups by Juraj Mihalik for Art4 Ceramics of Slovakia, circa 1980s. The set in very good cond...
Porcelain
Kazuko Matthews Stoneware Post Modern California Studio Zig Zag Teapot with Lid
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Flattened stoneware Post Modernist vase by California studio artist Kazuko Matthews. Teapot measures 16.5" by 9.5" by 3" and is signed Kazuko Matthews on the bottom. In very good vin...
Stoneware
Vintage Chinese Tibetan Silver Overlay Porcelain Body Teapot With Foo Dog Finial
By Alessi, Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in San Diego, CA
A vintage Chinese / Tibetan silver overlay porcelain body teapot with foo dog finial, circa the 1970s. The pot is in very good vintage conditi...
Sterling Silver
Classic Teapot Designed by Michael Graves for Alessi Stamped & Dated Postmodern
By Michael Graves (b.1934), Alessi
Located in San Diego, CA
A Classic iconic teapot designed by Michael Graves for Alessi, made in Italy in nice original condition. Stamped Alessi very light use.
Stainless Steel
1980s Memphis Milano White and Red Ceramic Italian Tea Set by MAS
By MAS Italia
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An amazing Memphis Milano tea set manufactured in Italy by Mas Italia. the red and white ceramic it's in perfect condition, the set has not been probably never used. The tea set by M...
Ceramic
Ceramic Tea Set by Mas for Memphis Milano, 1980s, Set of 7
Located in Catania, CT
Very good Vintage condition with normal trace of age and use for this white, red and black ceramic tea set with the original tray. Signed by MAS ...
Metal
Richard Ginori Italian Porcelain Coffee Tea Cup Brown & Gold 1 of 16 Available
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Richard Ginori coffee or tea cup and saucer porcelain set "Contessa" Pattern, Italy. 16 cups set available, each sold separately, 1 cup and one saucer se...
Porcelain
Danish tea set Cohr, Denmark
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Cohr Danish Tea Set, Denmark Elegant silver-plated tea set featuring a modern Scandinavian design, consisting of an oval tray, coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl, and creamer. The pieces...
Metal
Postmodern Pelicano Espresso Maker Designed by Michael Graves for Alessi
By Michael Graves (b.1934), Alessi
Located in San Diego, CA
Postmodern Pelicano espresso coffee maker designed by Michael Graves for Alessi circa 1980s, made in Italy in nice original condition.
Stainless Steel
Postmodern Rare Tea Kettle Designed by Michael Graves
Located in San Diego, CA
A Classic postmodern Memphis era design teapot designed by Michael Graves, circa the 1980s, a rare design not many were produced it's in good condition. A cool whistle that works whe...
Stainless Steel
$565Sale Price|20% Off
Memphis Naj Oleari Ceramic Tea Set by Massimo Iosa Ghini New Old Stock 1980s
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Experience the iconic style of the 80s design movement with this rare and amazing tea or coffee set designed by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Memphis Naj Oleari in the 1980s. This beautiful...
Ceramic
“Struttin Down 5th Avenue” Ceramic Tea Set
Located in Houston, TX
“Struttin Down 5th Avenue" Signed three piece tea set with lidded teapot & sugar and open creamer. This is the large set, the teapot being 11-1/4" high, in Lambert's signature black...
Ceramic
1990s Club '88 Postmodern Tea Service for Feltman Langer
Located in San Gabriel, CA
Teapot: 9.5" wide x 4.75" deep x 6.5" high Creamer: 5" wide x 3.5" deep x 2" high Mugs: 6" high x 5" wide 1990s rare collection of Peter Langer's teapot, creamer, and two mugs from his namesake pottery line, Feltman Langer...
Ceramic
Vintage Postmodern Studio Pottery Teapot
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Discover a unique piece of ceramic art with this vintage postmodern studio pottery teapot. Hand-crafted with an expressive form, it features a delightful tonal diamond pattern in ear...
Pottery
Memphis Postmodern Porcelain Teapot and Cups by Fitz & Floyd, 1985
Located in San Diego, CA
**Rare and Beautiful Porcelain Teapot and Coffee Cup Set by Fitz & Floyd** This exquisite porcelain set, designed by the renowned Fitz & Floyd, is a quintessential example of Memphi...
Porcelain
Memphis Postmodern Porcelain Teapot by The Toscany Collection Japan
By Kato Kogei
Located in San Diego, CA
A rare and beautiful porcelain teapot designed by The Toscany Collection Japan circa 1980s, Memphis style design in excellent condition never ...
Porcelain
Set of 2 Vintage Postmodern German Fantasia Series Teapot and Cup, 1980s
By Matteo Thun
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Postmodern German Fantasia Series Teapot and Cup by Matteo Thun for Arzberg, 1980s, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mar...
Porcelain
Matteo Thun for Arzberg Tea-for-One Set, 1980
By Matteo Thun, Arzberg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic Memphis post-modern stack tea-for-one set from the "Fantasia" line by Arzberg, designed by Matteo Thun, a contemporary of Ettore Sottsass, loop handles, tripod cup feet, st...
Porcelain
Farberware Model 763 18-8 Stainless Steel Teapot Kettle Wood Handle 1 1/2 Quart
By Farberware
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a Farberware Model 763 18-8 Stainless Steel Teapot Kettle Wood Handle 1 1/2 Quart. Made in Korea. Post modern - Mid ce...
Stainless Steel
Ceramic Set Form 3000 'Sicilia' by Arzberg, 1970
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning 11-piece porcelain tea/coffee set 'Sicilia' form 3000 ceramic set by Hans Theo Baumann for Arzberg Porzellan, Germany. The set contains a tea/coffee pot with lid, a small ca...
Porcelain
Vintage German Ceramic Coffee Pot from Könitz
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage German Ceramic Coffee Pot from Könitz, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Color: B...
Ceramic
Vintage Tea Pot by M. Iosa Ghini For Naj Oleari – Wiggly Turquoise & Yellow, 80s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage Tea Pot by M. Iosa Ghini for Naj Oleari – Wiggly Turquoise & Yellow, 80s This vintage teapot, designed by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Naj Oleari in the 1980s, is a playful an...
Ceramic
Postmodern Italian Stainless Steel and Bakelit Bombe Teapot Coffeepot Kettle
By Carlo Alessi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Stainless Steel and Bakelit Bombe Teapot Coffeepot Kettle by Carlo Alessi for Alessi, in Flawless conditions. Designed 1950 to 1959 This piece has an attribution m...
Bakelite
Postmodern Ceramic Tea or Coffee Pot from Pagnossin, Italy, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Ceramic Tea or Coffee Pot from Pagnossin, Italy, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materia...
Ceramic
Postmodern German Flying Objects Series Sauciere for Arzberg, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern German Flying Objects Series Sauciere by David Palterer and Sieger Design for Arzberg, 1990s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an attribution ...
Ceramic
1980 Jiří Dudycha Porcelan Postmodern Design Tea Set
By Jiří Dudycha
Located in Brescia, IT
Jiří Dudycha Rep. Ceck, 1980 Teapot, Milk jug, Sugar Pot Porcelain with gold details Perfect Condictio H teapot: 29 cm H sugarpot: 14 cm H milk jug: 14.5 cm
Porcelain
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Barbara Brenner Postmodern Art Mug #3 for Rosenthal
Located in Miami, FL
Organic postmodern porcelain art coffee or tea mug with saucer by Barbara Brenner for Rosenthal. This piece is the third produced (Künsterlertasse Nr. 3) by ...
Porcelain
Lutz Rabold 'City Scape' Tea Set for Arzberg, 1980
By Lutz Rabold, Arzberg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful Memphis-style tea set 'City-Scape' by Lutz Rabold for Arzberg Porcelain, Germany including one tea pot and lid (9.5in x 7.5in x 5.5in), one creamer (3.5in x 4.25in x 3.0in)...
Porcelain
$750Sale Price / set|25% Off
9-Piece White Ceramic Breakfast Set by Franco Bucci for Laboratorio Pesaro
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. This set was designed byFranco Bucci for Laboratorio Pesare. It's made in enameled white ceramic. It is in perfect original condition and every piece is marked...
Ceramic
"Il Litro" Ceramic Black Teapot by Nicolaï Carels for The Meccano Company, 1997
By Meccano
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsomely constructed, black ceramic teapot with grey rubber handle and stopper by renowned and award winning designer Nicolaï Carels. Wonderful example of innovative Dutch design w...
Ceramic, Rubber
1990s Postmodern Teapot Mikasa Millennium Helena Uglow
By Mikasa
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1990s Postmodern Teapot Mikasa Millennium Helena Uglow Japan 4.75 h x 8.75 w x 7.13 diameter Original vintage condition missing lid top Refer to images
Ceramic, Pottery
Pair of Mugs K. Fujumori for Kato Kogei Japan Twilight Post-Modern Memphis 1980s
By Fujimori
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Pair of mugs in Twilight pattern were designed by Kaneaki Fujimori for Kato Kogei Japan in 1980s. The mugs are decorated with colorful designs in black, olive, and orange that are c...
Ceramic
Post Modern Marco Zanini / Peter Shire Insp Abstract Art Pottery Teapot Spain
By Ettore Sottsass, Peter Shire, Marco Zannini
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Rare, Vintage, 1980s, Whimsical, Handmade and Painted, Signed and Numbered, Jorge Benlloch, Post Modern Tea Pot Sculpture. Made in Spain. This piece is very similar to the fantas...
Ceramic, Paint
$512Sale Price / set|56% Off
Set of Six Postmodern Vermilion Cups, Sugar Bowl and Plate by Parravicini, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. They are made in lacquered ceramic and feature their original label "Parravicini ceramiche". It is a vintage set, but it can be considered as in excellent origi...
Ceramic
Ettore Sottsass Cardamon Teapot from the Indian Memory Series. Signed
By Alessio Sarri Ceramiche, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare Cardamon Teapot from the Indian Memory Series designed by Ettore Sottsass. Glazed Earthenware. Excellent condition. Stamped signature and manufacturer's mark to underside ‘E...
Earthenware
$577Sale Price|30% Off
Rare Memphis Porcelain Rolf Sinnemark Rörstrand 'Atlantis' series Teapot 1984
By rorstrand studio, Rolf Sinnemark
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Rare Memphis style 'Atlantis' series porcelain Teapot with printed geometric decoration in black, grey and white, designed by Rolf Sinnemark ca. 1984, made by Rörstrand, Stockholm. ...
Porcelain
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Whimsical Ceramic Teapot Postmodern Design by Walchtersbach, Germany
Located in San Diego, CA
Whimsical ceramic teapot by Walchtersbach circa 1970s, made in West Germany great Postmodern design beautiful colors.
Ceramic
$485Sale Price|25% Off
Vintage Geometrical Blue Glazed Vase by Pietro Arosio for Parravicini, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. It is made in blue glazed ceramic by Pietro Arosio for Parravicini. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be conside...
Ceramic
$415Sale Price / set|25% Off
Set of Four Ceramic Coffee Cups by Baldelli with Milk Jug and Sugar Bowl, Italy
By Baldelli
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This set was designed in a futurist style and is in hand-glazed ceramic. They are vintage therefore they might show slight traces of use, but they can be consid...
Ceramic
1970s German Floral Coffee Service by Thomas Rosenthal in Porcelain
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
This 1970s German porcelain coffee service was produced by Thomas Rosenthal, a manufacturer recognised for its contribution to post-war...
Porcelain
$842Sale Price / set|25% Off
Set of Eleven Porcelain and Pure Gold Coffee Cups by Hutschenreuther, Germany
By MAS Italia
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Germany, 1960s. This set features 11 coffee cups and 11 plates. The coffee cups are made in fine and light porcelain, which is decorated with pure gold. They are made by Hut...
Gold