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.
$920Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Murano Vistosi Glass Wall Sconce Designed by Mauro Olivieri
By Mauro Olivieri, Vistosi
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of halogen mouth-blown tapered glasses with a metal frame wall sconces designed by Mauro Olivieri for Murano Vistosi, excellent condition no chips or cracks on the glass.
Glass
E63 Robot Desk Lamp by Umberto Rivafor Bieffeplast, Italian Design 1960s
Located in London, London
The E63 “Robot” desk lamp by Umberto Riva, deigned in 1963 and produced by Bieffeplast, is an iconic example of Italian postmodern lighting design. Characterised by its distinctly a...
Plastic
Ingo Maurer, Glatzkopf Table Lamp, Design M, Set of 2, Germany, 1981
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Krefeld, DE
Ingo Maurer, Glatzkopf Table Lamp, Design M, Germany, 1981, Set of 2 Rare early “Glatzkopf” table lamps designed by Ingo Maurer in 1981 and produced by Design M, Munich. This set of ...
Steel
Italian Post Modern Uplight Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamp att. to Fontana Arte
By Richard Meier, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Sophisticated Post Modern Italian design halogen uplight, torchiere, floor lamp, attributed to Fontana Arte. The lamp features a thick etched glass vertical panel, which supports a b...
Metal
$412Sale Price|62% Off
1980 Italy Post-Modern Black Metal and Satin Glass Wall Light
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an engaging wall light in satin glass that has the base in aluminum lacquered in polished black color. The two satin sheet glass are put as lampsh...
Aluminum
Beautiful 1970s Limburg glass ceiling lamp in octagon shape
Located in München, BY
Beautiful original 1970s glass ceiling lamp in an octagonal shape. The shade has a light gold tint and small air bubbles. Manufactured by Limburg. Very high-quality workmanship. Made...
Brass
Robert Sonneman "Echoes of Vienna" Floor Lamp for Kovacs, 1987
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
***only 1 lamp available *** Robert Sonneman "Echoes of Vienna" floor lamps for Kovacs, 1987. Dimmable, warm halogen light and iconic memphis-adjacent postmodern style. Aluminum be...
Metal, Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel
Vintage French Postmodern Pendant Lamp from Pylones, Paris, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage French Postmodern Pendant Lamp from Pylones, Paris, 1990s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an attribution mark, Up to 250V (Europe/UK Standard)....
Plastic
$583Sale Price / set|16% Off
Table lamp Glass murano pair by Zonca , Italie 1980s
By Zonca
Located in La xara, VC
Large pair bicolor of Post-Modern table lamp by Zonca. The design of this lamp is a typical example of the post-modern style of the 80s. The fan-shaped Murano glass takes up the past...
Murano Glass
Ecorce Wall Light in Ceramic and Copper by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Ecorce Wall Light in Ceramic and Copper by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 32.5 x D 15 x H 17 cm. Materials: Handmade ceramic structure detailed with a premium copper finish. All our ...
Copper
Ron Arad Aerial Light for One Off, UK 1982
Located in Chicago, IL
Ron Arad Aerial Light for One Off, UK (1982) Rare, robotic lamp designed by Ron Arad, adjustable via a wireless controller. The controller features a printed manufacturer’s mark: "On...
Aluminum, Steel, Wire
A POP POST-MODERN Lucite TABLE LAMP by MARIE-CLAUDE DE FOUQUIERES France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
DESCRIPTION: An exceptional and sculptural monolythic table lamp or night light, Post-Modernist, Pop, Space-Age, in a block of massive yellow amber fractal resin, illuminated transpa...
Lucite, Plexiglass
$3,450 / item
Kinetic Ingo Maurer 'Ilo Ilu' Light Sculpture
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ingo Maurer for Ingo Maurer GmbH, kinetic light sculpture model 'Ilo Ilu', steel, wood, plastic, metal, glass, Germany, 1986. This eccentric light sculpture named ‘Ilo Ilu’ is desig...
Metal, Steel
$1,129Sale Price / set|20% Off
F. Fabbian murano glass Post-Modern sconces, Italy, 1970s
By F. Fabbian
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Pair of Italian Murano glass wall lamps (1 of 5 pairs available) by F. Fabbian, 70s. Gold chromed steel metal base and hand-blown and hand-crafted murano glass diffuser. This diffuse...
Steel, Chrome
Paper Milk Medium Pendant Light in Ash Wood & Industrial Rice Paper by KIMU
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper Milk Medium Pendant Light in Ash Wood & Industrial Rice Paper by KIMU Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 55 x H 39 cm. Materials: Ash wood and rice paper. Available in different sizes. Prices may vary. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired for the USA for instance. Please contact us. “In Taiwanese life, the most overlooked thing is the lamp... it's hard to find old Taiwanese lamps...
Ash, Paper
$840Sale Price|20% Off
Robert Sonnomen for George Kovacs, White Enamel Post Modern Halogen Floor lamp.
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Chicago, IL
Robert Sonneman for Kovacs Lighting Torchiere floor lamp. White enamel over metal, halogen lighting element with glass cover. Rectangular shaped ste...
Metal, Enamel
Postmodern German Model Minispot Table Lamp from Osram, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern table or wall lamp from Osram. A functional design with postmodern details. The cubic base primarily consists of the cladding of the transformer. On the outside it is dec...
Metal
Kazuhide Takahama Totem Floor Lamp, Sirrah Italy 1981
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Rare Kazuhide Takahama “Totem” floor lamp is one of his most sculptural and architectural lighting designs, designed in the late 70s for Sirrah...
Cement, Metal, Brass
Artemide Wall Lights Steve Lombardi Filicudara Sconces, 1980
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair (2) aluminum post modern wall lamps by Steve Lombardi for Artemide, circa 1980 Italy Original, marked pair of post-modern sconces, 100W each, Edis...
Aluminum
Tukiainen Aimo Ossi Kalevi Table Lamp Copper Finland 1970 Post Modern Brutalist
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A freeform copper table lamp designed by Tukiainen Aimo Ossi Kalevi and produced by Oy Moonlight, Finland, 1970s. Bulb Specifications: E-27 Bulb Number of Sockets: 1 All lighting w...
Metal, Copper
$139Sale Price / set|78% Off
Spanish White Pair of Table Lamps by Fase, Model "Bambina", 1980s
By Fase
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Iconic piece of Spanish design by Fase from 1980s. Model "Bambina", also is called as Bambino. This pair of table lamps also have the possibility of hanging on the wall as wall scon...
Plastic
Post Modern Adjustable Angle Poise Floor Lamp
By IKEA
Located in New York, NY
Interesting Post Modern age poise floor lamp, having an adjustable arm and pivoting head. The lamp is in very good, clean, working condition, it accepts a standard size halogen bulb....
Metal
Large Brass Table Lamp Signed G. Autier France, 1970s
By G. Autier
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Exceptional 1970s handcrafted design table lamp base by G. Autier, France. High quality geometrical brass sculpture. Incised signature G Autier Measures: Brass body height 11.4" in...
Brass
Bo Paulsson, Wall Lights, Moulded Pine-Veneer, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of moulded pine-veneer wall lights, designed and produced by Bo Paulsson, Sweden, c. 1970s. Overall Dimensions: 9" H x 6" W x 5" D Bulb Specifications: E-14 Bulb Number of So...
Pine
Set of 4 Minimalist Postmodern Typ V607 Wall Lamps from Ikea, 1980s
By IKEA
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern metal wall lamps from Ikea. A minimalist design in terms of shape and color. The body of the light consists of a sheet of metal folded into a funnel shape. The fold cre...
Metal
Vintage Italian Postmodern Glass Wall Lamp Sconce from Lucente, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant glass wall lamp from Italian manufacturer LUCENTE. This piece has an attribution mark, It is completely authentic for any authenticity issues arising from misattribution, Up ...
Metal
E.T.A Floor Lamp by Guglielmo Berchicci for Kundalini
By Kundalini, Guglielmo Berchicci
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
A striking and instantly recognisable Italian floor lamp, the E.T.A designed by Guglielmo Berchicci for Kundalini is one of the most iconic lighting pieces of the late twentieth cent...
Fiberglass
Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide Table Lamp 'Sintesi' in Red
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, table lamp, model 'Sintesi', first edition, Cornalux bulb included, coated iron, coated metal, aluminum, rubber, plastic, Italy, 1976 The founder of A...
Metal, Iron
Vintage Brass Saturn Table Lamp, Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, 1980
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in San Carlos, CA
Vintage Brass "Saturn" Table Lamp by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, United States, circa 1980 A definitive example of American postmodern lighting design. Robert Sonneman's "Sat...
Brass
Lorenzo Burchiellaro Large Sculptural Lamp in Metal
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lorenzo Burchiellaro, table or floor lamp, aluminium, Italy, 1970s Sculptural and large lamp by Lorenzo Burchiellaro. Four triangular, bent aluminum sheets form a dynamic body to th...
Aluminum
Ferrerol Babin Polyshape Red Aluminium Floor Lamp by Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ferrerol Babin Polyshape Red Aluminium Floor Lamp by Cassina SCULPTED GEOMETRIES The first project by Ferréol Babin for Cassina and the second chapter of the Patronage project, Pol...
Aluminum
Ico Parisi Iride Floor Aluminium Lamp Lower Version by Cassina
By Ico Parisi
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ico Parisi Iride Floor Aluminium Lamp by Cassina Ico Parisi’s fascination with the integration of design, art and architecture led to the creation of a floor lamp in the 1970s re-ed...
Aluminum
Neri & Hu 3T09 Bronze Structure and Ivory Fabric 3 Modules Lamp for Cassina
Swedish Designer, Sconces, Brass, Rattan, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass and rattan sconces/ wall lights designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1960s. Sold with Lampshades. Dimensions stated are of S...
Brass
Wireless Moon Small Table Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Wireless Moon Small Table Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: ⌀ 18 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt...
Alabaster, Copper
A Long POSTMODERN WALL APPLIQUE SCONCE in GINO SARFATTI Style, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
A large wall light or wall light bar type artist's dressing room or bathroom, Minimalist, Pop, Modernist, Space-Age, long rectangular base in chrome metal with rounded edges, with 5 ...
Metal
Sputnik Chandelier with in Glass and Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sputnik chandelier, brass, opaline glass, Europe, 1970s. This Sputnik chandelier features six exquisite glass globes. The fixture is an elegant and striking design with six gracefu...
Brass
$5,402 / item
Marina Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Marina Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: ⌀ 46 x H 26 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt Bla...
Alabaster, Copper
Italian Postmodern Icaro Sconce by Carlo Forcolini for Artemide, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant wall lamps from the italian manufacturer artemide based on a design by carlo forcolini from the 80s. the artemide icaro is a design classic of ...
Metal
Neri & Hu 3T09 Bronze Structure and Ivory Fabric 2 Modules Wall Lamp for Cassina
$2,882 / item
Mesia Ceramic Table Lamp by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Mesia Ceramic Table Lamp by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 38 cm Materials: Ceramics, Glass Available colors: Amber / Green All our lamps can be wired according to each cou...
Ceramic, Glass
Austrian Postmodern Pair of "Cocoon" Chandeliers by EGLO Leuchten, 1990s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty Pair of Austrian "Cocoon" Chandeliers. These Chandeliers were designed during the 1990s in Austria by Eglo Leuchten. Original “Eglo” label still shows on the structure. These...
Metal
A Large POST-MODERN MODERNIST TABLE LAMP by PHILIPPE BARBIER, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
A very large and elegant table lamp, Post-Modernist, large cubic base in thick nickel-plated bronze plates, topped by a thin cylindrical axis and a beautiful circular lampshade, by P...
Bronze, Nickel
Jade Wall Light in Glazed Ceramic by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Jade Wall Light in Glazed Ceramic by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 25 x D 17 x H 24 cm. Materials: High-quality handmade ceramic structure. All our lamps can be wired according to e...
Ceramic
Vintage TPB Table Lamp in Black Model 3014, Italy, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage TPB table lamp in black - Model 3014 - Postmodern Memphis Design - Italy 1980s Discover our modern desk lamp made of black steel and plastic, which was manufactured by TPB i...
Steel
Italian Postmodern Tizio Table Lamp by Richard Sapper for Artemide, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
The design classic from the Italian manufacturer Artemide according to a design by Richard Sapper from the 1970s. The Tizio convinces with its clear design language. A minimalist de...
Metal
Beautiful 1970s Limburg glass ceiling lamp in octagon shape
Located in München, BY
Beautiful original 1970s glass ceiling lamp in an octagonal shape. The shade has small air bubbles. Manufactured by Limburg. Very high-quality workmanship. Made in Germany. Mounts d...
Brass
Swedish Designer, Table Lamp, Stone, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A stone table lamp designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 6.25” H x 4.35” W x 3.25” W Dimensions of Shade (inches): 7” Top Diameter x 10” Bottom Dia...
Stone
Postmodern Articulated Pair of Gold Wall Sconces by Estiluz, Barcelona, 1980s
By Estiluz Lighting, Estiluz, Leonardo Marelli
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Cool Articulated and Dimmable Postmodern Pair of Gold Wall Sconces by Leonardo Marelli for Estiluz. Model: A-1060 Gold. These fixtures were designed and manufactured in Barcelona (Sp...
Metal
Post Modern Murano Chandelier in the style of Ponti for Venini
Located in New York, NY
Brightly colored art glass chandelier made in Murano, Italy, in the style of Gio Ponti, for Venini, circa 1980/90's. The chandelier features eight arms, in polychrome saturated col...
Art Glass
Hala Zeist Halogen Arch Floor lamp 1980s Holland
By Hala Zeist
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Hala Zeist Arch Floor lamp . Halogen 12 volt 50 watt signed , Post Modern in style . Polish Aluminum . good condition . comes with a good working dimmer .
Aluminum
An Important ART-DECO NEOCLASSICAL TABLE LAMP by PHILIPPE BARBIER, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An important elegant table lamp, Post-Modernist, NeoClassical, Shabby-Chic, a black lacquered metal cubic base and a wide spherical body with a final cylindrical lampshade, by Philip...
Metal
Post Modern Brushed Metal Dual Light Table Lamp by Michael Graves
Located in San Diego, CA
Post Modern Brushed Metal Dual Table Lamp by Michael Graves, circa 1990s. Add a bold Postmodern touch with this Brushed Metal Dual Table Lamp by Michael Graves. This lamp is in good ...
Metal
Austrian Postmodern Set of Three "Cocoon" Chandeliers by EGLO Leuchten, 1990s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique and beauty Set of Three Austrian "Cocoon" Chandeliers. These Chandeliers were designed during the 1990s in Austria by Eglo Leuchten. Original “Eglo” label still shows on the s...
Metal
Neri & Hu 3T09 Bronze Structure and Ivory Fabric Floor Lamp for Cassina
$2,150 / item
Ceiba Lamp
Located in Mérida, MX
This lamp reads as a small ceramic totem that lives somewhere between the domestic object and sculpture. Its compact, archetypal conical silhouette can evoke a popular mexican tree k...
Clay, Resin
$1,409Sale Price|28% Off
Fontana Arte amber , white Italian table lamp “3064”, Daniela Puppa, glass steel
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing and beautiful table lamp, model 3064, designed by Daniela Puppa for Fontana Arte. Daniela Puppa reduces the piece to its basic forms, two inverted trapezoids make up the nec...
Steel, Iron
1980s Post-Modern White Metal Cone Pendant Light, Matégot Style
By Mathieu Matégot, Memphis Group
Located in Copenhagen, DK
French vintage perforated metal wide cone pendant from the 1980s. Post-modern atomic age piece in the style of Mathieu Matégot and the Memphis group. Crisp white shade with bright re...
Metal
Postmodern Vintage Black Floor Lamp by Carlo Forcolini 1989 for Artemide Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
A Postmodern vintage black floor lamp, which was designed by Carlo Forcolini 1989 for Artemide, Italy. It is labeled underneath the base: Art...
Metal
Tom Dixon iconic stackable floor lamp-stool 'Jack' 1994 - DESIGN AWARD WINNER
By Tom Dixon
Located in The Hague, NL
The Jack Lamp, designed by Tom Dixon in 1994, is an iconic and playful design object that combines art, functionality, and innovation. This striking lamp, also known as the "sitting,...
Acrylic