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.
Churros Model 3 Pendant Light in Painted Wood, Metal & Vegetable Leather by KIMU
Located in Geneve, CH
Churros Model 3 Pendant Light in Painted Wood, Metal & Vegetable Leather by KIMU Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 107 cm. Materials: Painted wood, powder-coated metal, and veget...
Metal
Contemporary Sculpted Brass & Glass Pendant, Tango Two Globe by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary Sculpted Brass & Glass Pendant, Tango Two Globe by Paul Matter Tango is born from playful experimentation with vintage lighting components. Burnt, aged brass and etched...
Brass
$1,002 / item
Peony L Wall Sconce by Yalanzhi Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Peony L Wall Sconce by Yalanzhi Objects Dimensions: D 55 x W 55 x H 20 cm. Materials: Cellulose. Cellulose is a recycled material that was once forest. A high-quality, durable fin...
Other
$1,876 / item
Le Perle Medium Pendant Lamp by Euroluce Lampadari
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Perle Big Pendant Lamp by Euroluce Lampadari Dimensions: D 18 x W 100 x H 28 cm. Materials: Metal and glass. Available in different colors and sizes. Prices may vary. All our lam...
Metal
$2,004 / item
Ballons Floor Lamp, 21611, by Stillux Illuminazione
Located in Geneve, CH
Ballons Floor Lamp, 21611, by Stillux Illuminazione Dimensions: D 24 x H 172 cm. Materials: Glass, metal. Available in gold leaf, silver leaf, velvet black, or mat silver. Please co...
Metal
$3,100 / item
Big Aurum Gold Glass Sconces, Alex de Witte
Located in Geneve, CH
Big Aurum gold glass sconces, Alex de Witte Unique Dimensions: D 30 x H 40 cm. Materials: Mouth bown glass. It can be purchased as an ensemble or individual, in different dimensions and colors. Aurum shows how Alex de Wite is able to convey movement within a frozen form. As glass is liquid and filled with air while producing, he has captured different shapes in the production process by withdrawing air when solidifying the glass. An extremely difficult process. These very moments of defying craftsmanship result in the elegant shapes of Aurum. Aurum comes in a gold as well as in a translucent version. The Aurum gold is defined both as wall lamp as well as pendant. Alex de Witte is fascinated by the universal value of beauty and how to influence that. “It is fascinating to me how people have an overall communal perception of beauty. Like scientific studies...
Blown Glass
$2,004 / item
Waterfall WATAPMH3 Pendant Lamp by Mazzega 1946
Located in Geneve, CH
Waterfall WATAPMH3 Pendant Lamp by Mazzega 1946 Dimensions: W 33 x D 17 x H 85 cm. Materials: Frame: Grey. Diffuser: Trasparent Crystal. Weight: 14 Kg. The roots of Mazzega1946 are...
Glass
$2,342 / item
Gamma L5 Nickel Pendant by Sylvain Willenz
Located in Geneve, CH
Gamma L5 Nickel pendant by Sylvain Willenz Dimensions: D25 x W5 X H42.3 cm Materials: Solid brass, White Polycarbonate diffuser. Metal cable and transparent electric cable. Others...
Metal, Brass
Richard Sapper for Artemide Tizio task lamp
Located in Ferndale, MI
Fully extende straight up the lamp is 44.5" tall . Early example with Max 55 W 12 volt stamped into reflector . Retains original string tag . Introduced in 1972, now considered a cl...
Steel
$1,387 / item
Brass Pirouette V2 Wall Light by Emilie Cathelineau
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Pirouette V2 Wall Light by Emilie Cathelineau Dimensions: D 9 x W 11 X H 16.2 cm Materials: Solid brass, Finishes: Satin brass. Pirouette is a unique little wall lamp, both d...
Brass
$3,205 / item
21.5 Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
21.5 Pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D 15.2 x H 300 cm Materials: brushed nickel, round canopy. Weight:3 kg Also available in different dimensions. All our lamps can be wired acc...
Nickel
$2,354 / item
F170 Table Lamp by Disderot
Located in Geneve, CH
F170 Table Lamp by Disderot Limited Edition. Designed by Étienne Fermigier. Dimensions: Ø 39,8 x H 34,5 cm. Materials: Metal and plexiglas. Delivered with authentication certificat...
Metal
Flat Circle Triangle Brass Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Flat Circle Triangle Brass Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 20 x W 30 x H 43.3 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, white acrylic panels. Available in white, black, nickel, or ...
Brass
$18,182 / item
21.21 Porcelain Chandelier Lamp by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
21.21 Porcelain chandelier lamp by Bocci Dimensions: D 28.4 x W 85 x H 300 cm Materials: Porcelain, borosilicate glass, braided metal coaxial cable, electrical components, brushed...
Steel, Nickel
Set Of 12 Tubular Bells Pendant Lamps by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 12 Tubular Bells Pendant Lamps by United Alabaster Dimensions: 12x ⌀ 7,8 x H 39 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin...
Alabaster, Copper
Beran Brushed Brass Large Drop 3 Chandelier by Bert Frank
Located in Geneve, CH
Beran Brushed Brass Large Drop 3 Chandelier by Bert Frank Dimensions: Ø 36 x H 100 cm. Materials: Brass and alabaster. Available in two different sizes. Available in different fini...
Alabaster, Brass
Set Of 3 Tubular Bells Pendant Lamps by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 3 Tubular Bells Pendant Lamps by United Alabaster Dimensions: 3x ⌀ 7,8 x H 39 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin G...
Alabaster, Copper
$2,133 / item
Triangle Box Pendant Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Triangle Box Pendant Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 10 x W 15 x H 57.6 cm. Materials: Black powder-coated metal, white acrylic panels. Available in...
Metal
Patrone Surface Ceiling Light by Thorup Copenhagen
Located in Geneve, CH
Patrone Surface Ceiling Light by Thorup Copenhagen Dimensions: D 6 x H 12 cm. Materials: Brass. Available in other colors. Please contact us. Thorup Copenhagen is an independent Da...
Brass
$2,680 / item
Balancing Variations Pendant Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Balancing Variations Pendant Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 16 x W 105 x H 78 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, white glass. Available in different cones and globes variations. A...
Brass
$3,846 / item
Inside Out Triangles Pendant Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Inside Out Triangles Pendant Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 12 x W 12 x H 167.5 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, white acrylic. Available in...
Brass
$1,270 / item
Rhythm Brass Dome Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Rhythm Brass Dome Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 33 x W 27 x H 58.5 cm. Materials: Brass. Different finishes available: raw brass, aged brass, burnt brass and brushed bras...
Brass
$11,539 / item
Magika Small Lamp by Kreoo
Located in Geneve, CH
Magika Small Lamp by Kreoo Designed by Enzo Berti Dimensions: Ø 36 x H 44 cm. Base: Ø 12 cm. Materials: Onice Bianco and Pelugoso glass. Available in different marble, onyx, and gl...
Onyx
Collection Imperial Chandelier, Metal and Crystal, NCA 148/1 by JAGO
Located in Geneve, CH
Collection Imperial Chandelier, Metal and Crystal, NCA 148/1 by JAGO Dimensions: D 10 x H 65 cm. Materials: Metal, Crystal. Available coverings: Gold, Chrome, Bronze. Wall Lamp with...
Crystal, Metal
Maniko Fluta 20 White Alabaster Pendant Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Maniko Fluta 20 White Alabaster Pendant Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 8 x W 8 x H 33 cm. Materials: Alabaster, brass and silicone. Different sizes available. Custom options available on request. Please contact us. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired for the USA for instance. Our mission is to encourage people to make their home the best place to be, to get inspired and to receive friends and family. Designed and manufactured by ourselves, we offer lightings to help people creating distinctive living spaces. Enhancing the authenticity of natural and organic materials using associations and contrasts. Extreme quality behind a facade of ultra-minimalism. We find our materials to the source to ensure we give the best value...
Alabaster, Brass
$1,794 / item
28 Surface Light by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
28 surface light by Bocci Dimensions: D 5.5 x H 5.5 cm Materials: paintable mounting plate rated for wall and ceiling use Weight: 1 kg Also available in different colours. All o...
Nickel
Mini Oxblood Wave Form Table Lamp by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Mini Oxblood Wave Form Table Lamp by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 14 x W 14 x H 30.5 cm. Materials: Ceramic, brass. Available in Oxblood, Green, and Alabaster colors. Our Wave F...
Brass
$1,620 / item
Tuile Wall Light by Bosc Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Tuile Wall Light by Bosc Design Dimensions: W 15 x D 6 x H 26 cm Materials: Brass finish, marine varnish. It all started years ago. They were about to complete an architectural pr...
Brass
Italian Pair of "Tesi" White Wall Sconces by Roberto Fiorato for Prisma, 1980s
By Prisma
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty Postmodern Italian Pair of White Wall Sconces by Roberto Fiorato. These fixtures were designed and manufactured during the 1980s in Italy for Prisma, model "Tesi". The name o...
Brass
$2,284 / item
Twist Etiola Floor Lamp by LAFABLIGHT
Located in Geneve, CH
Twist Etiola Floor Lamp by LAFABLIGHT Dimensions: D 80 x H 175 cm Materials: Wooden structure woven with ecru cotton, cable with wall plug. LAFABLIGHT was born from a meeting betwee...
Cotton, Wood
Medium Line, 4 Globes and 2 Discs, Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Line, 4 Globes and 2 Discs, Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 23 x W 94 x H 12.8 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, white glass. All our lamps can be wired according to...
Brass
$8,077 / item
Glaïeul Large Pendant Light by Jennifer Midoz
By Mydriaz
Located in Geneve, CH
Glaïeul large pendant light by Mydriaz. Dimensions: D 26 x H 100 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, pale gold finish, biscuit ceramic. Adjustable me...
Brass
$874 / item
Link Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Link Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 11.5 x W 11.5 x H 30.5 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Different finishes available: raw b...
Brass
Pfaffikon Sculptural Marble and Brass Wall Lamp by Jan Garncarek
Located in Geneve, CH
Pfaffikon Sculptural Marble and Brass Wall Lamp by Jan Garncarek Dimensions: D 12 x W 25 x H 46 cm Material: Brass, glass, Carrara marble. Information: weight: 7 kg / 33 lb voltage:...
Marble, Brass
Murano Glass Mushroom Table Lamp by Vetri D‘Arte, Italy, 1970s
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Beautiful Italian table lamp by Vetri d‘Arte Murano. It has an extraordinary mushroom shape. Very good vintage condition. The lights requires one E27 light bulb. Works with both 2...
Murano Glass
$2,972 / item
Stone Janus Table Lamp by Danny Kaplan Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Stone Janus Table Lamp by Danny Kaplan Studio Dimensions: ⌀ 51 x H 59 cm Materials: Glazed Ceramic, Unfinished Brass, Linen This item is handmade, and may...
Brass
Yellow Lampe Gras N° 210 Wall Lamp by Bernard-Albin Gras
Located in Geneve, CH
Yellow Lampe Gras N° 210 wall lamp by Bernard-Albin Gras Dimensions: D 39 x W 14 x H 78 cm Materials: Steel Also available: different colors and other shade available. All our ...
Steel
Italian Postmodern Havana Outdoor Pendant Lamp by Jozeph Forakis, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant Havana outdoor pendant lamp from the Italian manufacturer Foscarini based on a design by Jozeph Forakis from the early 90s. The Havana is now a design classic and is particu...
Metal
BLT_CAP Small Ultra Blue Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
BLT_CAP Small Ultra Blue Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 12 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel and textile. Available in different color options. The rod length is 250...
Steel
Small Misalliance Ex Ultramarine Suspended Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Misalliance Ex Ultramarine suspended light by Lexavala Dimensions: D 16 x W 70 x H 8 cm Materials: powder coated shade with details made of brass or stainless steel. There...
Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel
$400Sale Price|20% Off
Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide Italian Green "Sintesi" Model Table Lamp 1970s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design adjustable table lamp Sintesi model designed by Ernesto Gismondi and produced by Artemide with painted metal frame, Italy production 1970s Designer a...
Metal
$2,133 / item
Black Profiles Desk Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Profiles Desk Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 16 x H 40.5 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Available in other colors. Please contact us. All our lamps can be wired ac...
Metal
$641 / item
Brass Top Charcoal Table Lamp by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Top Charcoal Table Lamp by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D24 x W31 x H41 cm Material: Lacquered steel, Brass Weight: 1 kg Also available in different colours. Please contact us. A table lamp with unique, solid brass details, created in the 1950s by the Danish designer, Svend Aage Holm-Sørensen, who is internationally acclaimed for his lamps. The Brass Top table...
Brass, Steel
$9,126 / item
Tubes Floor Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Tubes Floor Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 28 x W 30 x H 143.5 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal, white acrylic. Available in aluminum, brass,...
Metal
$2,762 / item
Flirt Life FLISOV08 Chandelier by Mazzega 1946
Located in Geneve, CH
Flirt Life FLISOV08 Chandelier by Mazzega 1946 Dimensions: D 100 x H 150 cm. Materials: Frame: Polished Chrome. Diffuser: Trasparent Crystal. Weight: 12 Kg. The roots of Mazzega19...
Chrome
Contemporary Burnt Brass Wall Sconce, Plus Three Large Lamp by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary Burnt Brass Wall Sconce, Plus Three Large Lamp by Paul Matter PLUS Series is a new range of appliqués by Paul Matter that feature a simple shape in singular and repetit...
Brass
B-Lux Olympia floor lamp by Jorge Pensi for B.Lux, 1980s
By B. Lux, Jorge Pensi
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stunning Elegant up-lighter floor lamp made by B.Lux designed by Jorge Pensi from the 80s. Boat shaped designed lamp head made of heavy cast aluminum. The surface is polished. A hal...
Aluminum
$5,093 / item
Chrome A23 Floor Lamp by Disderot
Located in Geneve, CH
Chrome A23 Floor Lamp by Disderot Limited Edition. Designed by Alain Richard Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 150 cm. Materials: Lacquered metal and chrome. Delivered with authentication certi...
Metal, Chrome
Medium Line, 6 Globes, Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Line, 6 Globes, Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 25 x W 143 x H 28.8 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, white glass. All our lamps can be wired according to each count...
Brass
$1,410 / item
Alba Double Wall Light XL by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Alba Double Wall Light XL by Contain Dimensions: D 22 x W 60 x H 11.5 cm Materials: brass, 3D printed PLA structure and optical lens. Also available in different finishes and d...
Brass, Other
Churros Model 3 Pendant Light in Painted Wood, Metal & Vegetable Leather by KIMU
Located in Geneve, CH
Churros Model 3 Pendant Light in Painted Wood, Metal & Vegetable Leather by KIMU Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 107 cm. Materials: Painted wood, powder-coated metal, and veget...
Metal
Lines and Triangles Brass Pendant Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Lines and Triangles Brass Pendant Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 142.5 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, white acrylic panels. Available in white, black, or brass. ...
Brass
$2,028 / item
2059 Golden Brass Wall Lamp by Disderot
Located in Geneve, CH
2059 Golden Brass Wall Lamp by Disderot Limited Edition. Designed by Pierre Disderot. Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 12 cm. Materials: Golden brass. Delivered with authentication certificat...
Brass
$1,107 / item
White Copa Table Lamp by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
White Copa Table Lamp by Wentz Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 45 cm Materials: Aluminum. WEIGHT: 2,1kg / 4,6 lbs Colors: Black, White, Sand, Leaf Green. LIGHT SOURCE: 150lm. 2700K. 90...
Aluminum
Stellar Wall One Smoky Grey Acetato Black by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Stellar wall one smoky grey Acetato black by Pulpo Dimensions: D21 x W18 x H18 cm Materials: handblown glass, colored, powder coated steel. Also available in different finishes....
Stainless Steel
$2,307 / item
Equilibri Table Lamp by Andreu Carulla Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Equilibri Table Lamp by Andreu Carulla Studio Dimensions: W 55 x D 20 x H 30 cm. Diameter 15 cm. Materials: Glass. Aluminium. With materiality, craftsmanship and sustainability as...
Aluminum
$5,175 / item
Temper L Floor Lamp by Max Lipsey
Located in Geneve, CH
Temper L Floor Lamp by Max Lipsey Dimensions: D 85 x W 90 x H 164 cm. Materials: Steel. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired fo...
Steel
Small In The Tube Gold Wall Lamp by Dominique Perrault & Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost
By Dominique Perrault & Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost
Located in Geneve, CH
Small in the tube wall lamp by Dominique Perrault & Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost Dimensions: D 14 x H 37 cm Materials: Borosilicat Glass Available in different sizes. All our lamps c...
Glass
$2,750 / item
Anthracite Rhodes Table Lamp by Danny Kaplan Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Anthracite Rhodes Table Lamp by Danny Kaplan Studio Dimensions: ⌀ 51 x H 69 cm Materials: Glazed Ceramic, Unfinished Brass, Linen This item is handmade, and may exhibit variability ...
Brass
$1,223 / item
Temper S Pendant Lamp by Max Lipsey
Located in Geneve, CH
Temper S Pendant Lamp by Max Lipsey Dimensions: D 30 x W 23 x H 23 cm. Materials: Steel. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired fo...
Steel