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.
$2,761 / 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
$1,228 / 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
$1,123 / item
The Sisters Mist Medium Pendant Lamp by Mammalampa
Located in Geneve, CH
The Sisters Mist Medium Pendant Lamp by Mammalampa Unique Piece. Designed by Ieva Kalēja. Dimensions: Ø 43 x H 200 cm. Materials: Painted canvas. Available in different sizes and co...
Canvas
$16,313 / item
Selenite Rectangular Pendant Lamp by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Selenite rectangular pendant lamp By Aver Dimensions: D 50 x W 100 x H 25 cm Materials: Selenite, metal. Also available: silver leaf, antique si...
Stone, Crystal, Metal
$33,469 / item
Elle Et Lui Sculpture by Kreoo
Located in Geneve, CH
Elle Et Lui Sculpture by Kreoo Designed by Enrico Gobbi Dimensions: D 39,5 x W 25 x H 40 cm. Materials: Bianco Carrara marble. Available in different marble options. Please contact...
Marble
$33,469 / item
Il Guerriero Sculpture by Kreoo
Located in Geneve, CH
Il Guerriero Sculpture by Kreoo Designed by Enrico Gobbi Dimensions: D 19 x W 24 x H 28 cm. Materials: Bianco Carrara marble. Available in different marble options. Please contact ...
Marble
$2,598 / item
Titan Lamp by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Titan lamp by Elyse Graham Dimensions: D31 x H49 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin, Cotton rag Paper, brass, Nickel. HARDWARE: POLISHED NICKEL-PLATED BRASS UNO...
Brass, Nickel
$6,951 / set
Tango III, Sculpted Pendant by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Geneve, CH
Tango III, sculpted pendant by Paul Matter Blackened brass with aged brass details. Shade in blackened brass (also available in aged brass) exterior and aged interiors. Dimension...
Brass
$6,951 / item
Mini Surculus Table Lamp by Studio Palatin
Located in Geneve, CH
Mini Surculus table lamp by Studio Palatin. Wireless. Dimensions: H 30 x D 15 cm. Materials: Bronze, Japanese hosho paper. The Surculus Midi und Mini are the smaller brother an...
Bronze
Sconce 2 Rotating Arms 1 Straight 1 Curved by Serge Mouille
Located in Geneve, CH
Sconce 2 rotating arms 1 straight 1 curved by Serge Mouille Dimensions: D175 x H70 cm Materials: Brass, Steel, Aluminum One of a King. Numbered. Also available in different color. A...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Modern Handcrafted Brushed Copper Oyster Wall Mounted Lamp With Rod by Carla Baz
By Carla Baz
Located in Geneve, CH
Modern Handcrafted Brushed Copper Oyster Wall Mounted Lamp With Rod by Carla Baz Dimensions: D 9 x W 30 x H 78 cm. Materials: Brushed copper. Weight: 2 kg. Available in Brushed Bras...
Copper
$3,253 / item
HU01O Pendant Lamp L by Taiwan Lantern
Located in Geneve, CH
HU01O Pendant Lamp L by Taiwan Lantern Dimensions: D 49 x W 49 x H 35 cm. Material: Walnut & bamboo frame, Hand-colored fabrics, Metal pipes, Leather lace, Handmade porcelain ceiling...
Metal
Namibia Leather Cone Small Lamp by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Namibia Leather Cone Small Lamp by Cuero Design Dimensions: Ø 25 x H 17 cm. Materials: Leather, metal, and cord. Finish: Oak leather, black metal, and black cord. Available in diffe...
Metal
$819 / item
White Tombo Table Lamp by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
White Tombo Table Lamp by Wentz Dimensions: D 20 x W 20 x H 20 cm Materials: Aluminum/Stainless Steel/Brass, Blown Glass WEIGHT: 0,8kg / 1,8 lbs Colors:...
Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel
Ecru Ceramic Arko Table Lamp with Light Brown Lampshade by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Ecru Ceramic Arko Table Lamp with Light Brown Lampshade by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 67 cm. Materials: Cotton lampshade and ceramic. Also available in different marbles a...
Ceramic, Cotton
$280 / item
Small White Cap Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
Small White Cap Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 12 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel. Available in different color options. The rod length is 200 cm. Please contact u...
Steel
$2,808 / item
Refuge #14 Stoneware Lamp by Elisa Uberti
Located in Geneve, CH
Refuge #14 stoneware lamp by Elisa Uberti Limited Edition of 4 numbered pieces. Dimensions: H 50 cm. Materials: white stoneware. This product is handmade, dimensions may vary. ...
Stoneware
$2,960 / item
Roots Of Home Small Table Lamp by Ruda Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Roots Of Home Small Table Lamp by Ruda Studio Dimensions: W 45 x H 45 cm. Materials: wood base, straw inlay, metal lampshade, homespun canvas and straw. ...
Metal
IP Link 410 Polished Brass Wall Light by Emilie Cathelineau
Located in Geneve, CH
IP Link 410 Polished brass wall light by Emilie Cathelineau Dimensions: D4.5 x W5 X H41 cm Materials: Solid brass, Polished Brass, LED, Polycarbonate. Others finishes and dimensio...
Brass
$760 / item
Clear Butterfly Wall Sconce by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Clear Butterfly Wall Sconce by Dainte Dimensions: D 13.5 x W 28.5 x H 28 cm. Materials: Glass and brass. The Butterfly wall sconce features an elegant...
Brass
$6,752 / item
Chrome A24-1500 Wall Lamp by Disderot
Located in Geneve, CH
Chrome A24-1500 Wall Lamp by Disderot Limited Edition. Designed by Alain Richard Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 150 cm. Materials: Lacquered metal and chrome. Delivered with authentication c...
Metal, Chrome
$280 / item
Small Grey Cap Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Grey Cap Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 12 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel. Available in different color options. The rod length is 200 cm. Please contact us...
Steel
$3,335 / item
Pasteur Lamp in Tourmaline by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Pasteur lamp in Tourmaline by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 38 x H 61 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin, Cotton rag Paper, brass, Nickel. Hardware: polished nickel-plated brass uno threade...
Brass, Nickel
$234 / item
Top Top 125 Coral Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
Top Top 125 Coral Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: D 9,5 x W 7,2 x H 27,3 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel. Available in different color options. The PVC cord length is 200 cm...
Steel
$1,088 / item
Tubus 30 Wall Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Tubus 30 wall light by Contain Dimensions: D 3.2 x W 30 x H 7.5cm Materials: brass and 3D printed PLA structure. Available in different finishes. All our lamps can be wired ac...
Brass, Other
$5,196 / item
Planetoide Erosi Brilliant Ruby Pendant by Eloa
Located in Geneve, CH
Planetoide Erosi Brilliant Ruby pendant by ELOA No UL listed Material: glass, steel, silver, LED Bulb Dimensions: D30 x W30 x H250 cm Also available in different colours and dimensi...
Steel
Large Misalliance Ex Jet Black Wall Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Misalliance Ex jet black wall light by Lexavala Dimensions: D 16 x W 130 x H 8 cm Materials: powder coated shade with details made of brass or stainless steel. There are t...
Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel
$292 / item
Radius Forest Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
Radius Forest Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: Ø 10,4 x H 16 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel and oiled solid ash. Available in different color options. The PVC cord length is...
Steel
Luxury Brushed Stainless Steel Wall & Ceiling Mounted Lamp Oyster by Carla Baz
By Carla Baz
Located in Geneve, CH
Luxury Brushed Stainless Steel Wall & Ceiling Mounted Lamp Oyster by Carla Baz Dimensions: D 15 x W 40 x H 40 cm. Materials: Brushed stainless steel. Weight: 3,5 kg. Available in ve...
Stainless Steel
$280 / item
Small Almond Cap Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Almond Cap Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: Ø 16 x H 12 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel. Available in different color options. The rod length is 200 cm. Please contact ...
Steel
$4,283 / item
Bone #18 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Bone #18 wall light by Margaux Leycuras. One of a Kind, Signed and numbered. Dimensions: Ø56 cm. Material: Ceramic, sand stoneware tops with a porcelain engobe finish. The piece ...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Stoneware
$1,563Sale Price|20% Off
Sculpural and unique abstract gilded table lamp by Bondia, Spain, 1990s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Stunning gilded table lamp by the well-known Valencian ceramicist brand Bondia. Designed and manufactured in the 90s, this sculptural piece is made of plaster and finished in gold le...
Metal, Chrome, Gold Leaf
$4,283 / item
Bone #17 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Bone #17 wall light by Margaux Leycuras One of a Kind, Signed and numbered Dimensions: Ø58, H54 cm Material: Ceramic, sand stoneware tops with a porcelain engobe finish. The pie...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Stoneware
A Pair of Post-Modern WALL APPLIQUES SCONCES by LUCID, France 1990
By Lucid
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant and simple, post-modern and minimalist pair of warm wall lights, Post-Modernist, Minimalist, Constructivist, Nineties, composed of 2 curved light wood shutters diffusing t...
Metal
Lightsome Warm White Wall Lamp by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Lightsome Warm White Wall Lamp by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D25 x W33 x H22 cm Material: Lacquered steel, Solid brass Weight: 0.6 kg Also available i...
Brass, Steel
Postmodern Italian Palio Table Lamp by Perry King S. Miranda for Arteluce 1980s
By Perry King and Santiago Miranda, Arteluce
Located in Hamburg, DE
A rare table lamp by the Italian manufacturer Arteluce. A design in a postmodern style. Delicate brackets support a finely crafted metal reflector shade with a chrome-colored top. T...
Metal
$339 / item
SO6 Black Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
SO6 Black Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: Ø 5,4 x H 70,2 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel and oiled solid ash. Available in different color options. The PVC cord length is 20...
Steel
$2,106 / item
Alouette 2 Birds I Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Alouette 2 Birds I Ceiling Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 10 x W 24 x H 60 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Available in black, white, or color versions. Also available wit...
Metal
$32,159 / item
21.37 Cluster Porcelain Chandelier Lamp by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
21.37 Cluster Porcelain Chandelier lamp by Bocci Dimensions: D 60 x H 300 cm Materials: Porcelain, borosilicate glass, braided metal coaxial cable, electrical components, brushed ...
Steel, Nickel
Medium Misalliance Ral Jet Black Wall Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Misalliance ral jet black wall light by Lexavala Dimensions: D 16 x W 100 x H 8 cm Materials: powder coated aluminium. There are two lenghts of socket covers, extending o...
Aluminum
Pendolo Duoblo Black Marble Floor Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Pendolo Duoblo Black Marble Floor Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 60 x W 60 x H 176 cm. Materials: Brass, cotton and black marble. Also available in different marble and alaba...
Marble, Brass
$4,610 / item
Atmos Stella Wall Light by Emilie Cathelineau
Located in Geneve, CH
Atmos Stella wall light by Emilie Cathelineau Dimensions: D 80 cm Materials: Solid brass, Polycarbonate diffuser. Others finishes and dimensions are available. All our lamps ca...
Brass
$4,095 / item
87.3 Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
87.3 Pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D15.2 x H300 cm Materials: brushed nickel round canopy Weight: 4.1 kg Also available in different dimensions. All our lamps can be wired acco...
Other, Nickel
$11,644 / item
Natural Stone Circular Chandelier by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Stone Circular Chandelier by Aver Dimensions: D 108 x H 75 cm Materials: Natural rocks, high-quality cut crystals, jewelry chains, hand-blo...
Stone, Crystal
$7,723 / set
Set of 2 Black Bloop Sconces by Nick Pourfard
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Black Bloop sconces by Nick Pourfard Dimensions: D 15.5 x W 25.5 x H 25.5 cm (each) Materials: metal, glass. Dimensions may vary. Different finishes available. All ou...
Metal
Large Misalliance Ex Pure White Suspended Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Misalliance Ex pure white suspended light by Lexavala Dimensions: D 16 x W 130 x H 8 cm Materials: powder coated shade with details made of brass or stainless steel. There...
Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel
$22,597 / item
21.26 Porcelain Chandelier Lamp by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
21.26 Porcelain chandelier lamp by Bocci Dimensions: D 33.5 x W 100 x H 300 cm Materials: Porcelain, borosilicate glass, braided metal coaxial cable, electrical components, brushe...
Steel, Nickel
$3,769 / item
Rhythm 2 Glass Globe Pendant Lamp by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Rhythm 2 Glass Globe Pendant Lamp by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 86.5 x W 86.5 x H 114 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Different finishes available: raw bra...
Brass
$4,411 / item
10576 Table Lamp by Disderot
Located in Geneve, CH
10576 Table Lamp by Disderot Limited Edition. Designed by Michel Mortier Dimensions: Ø 35,3 x H 35,3 cm. Materials: Lacquered aluminum and opaline. Delivered with authentication ce...
Aluminum
Set of 4 Postmodern Italian Model 2899 Ceiling Lamps from Reggiani, 1990s
By Reggiani
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant spotlight from the Italian manufacturer Reggiani. The luminaires impress with their simple shape and the high material quality. The spotlight ends on the front with wide ref...
Metal
$3,733 / item
Vertical Globe Floor Light by Atelier Areti
Located in Geneve, CH
Vertical Globe Floor Light by Atelier Areti Dimensions: D 27 x W 27 x H 183 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal, glass. Available in black, white, or brass versions. All our lamps c...
Metal
$2,059 / item
Bavovna S Sculptural Panel Lamp by Yalanzhi Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Bavovna S Sculptural Panel Lamp by Yalanzhi Objects Dimensions: D 20 x W 90 x H 90 cm. Materials: Cellulose. Cellulose is a recycled material that was once forest. A high-quality,...
Other
Pendant light Model 1863 by Gae Aulenti and Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce
Located in Athens, Attiki
In good working order and in good vintage condition, a beautiful and unique minimalist and innovative pendant lamp made of polycarbonate with a metal counterweight to adjust this lam...
Metal
$5,535 / item
Mini Green Wave Form Table Lamp by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Mini Green 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 For...
Brass
$4,283 / item
Silk #18 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Silk #18 wall light by Margaux Leycuras One of a Kind. Signed and numbered. Dimensions: Ø 51 x H 56 cm. Material: Ceramic, sandy stoneware platters with a porcelain slip finish. ...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$3,382 / item
Ash #11 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash #11 wall light by Margaux Leycuras One of a Kind, Signed and numbered Dimensions: Ø44 x H48 cm. Material: Ceramic, black stoneware with burnished gold glaze. The piece is sig...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$3,253 / item
Gold Brass Azores Wall Lamp by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Brass Azores Wall Lamp by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 20 x W 30 x H 80 cm. Materials: Polished brass with gold bath finish. 2 kg. Born in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the a...
Brass
$795Sale Price|20% Off
Skipper and Pollux. Post-Modern Murano glass table lamp, Italy, 1980s
By Bruno Gecchelin, Skipper and Pollux
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Memphis and Post-Modern style Murano glass Italian table lamp by Skipper and Pollux, 1980s. Formed by a black lacquered metal structure and a white murano glass upper diffuser. In th...
Metal, Steel
$1,802 / item
84 Table Lamp by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
84 Table lamp by Bocci Dimensions: D7.5 x H7.5 cm Materials: mounting plate rated for wall and ceiling use Weight: 2 kg Also available in different dimens...
Other
$4,915 / item
10527 Floor Lamp by Disderot
Located in Geneve, CH
10527 Floor Lamp by Disderot Limited Edition. Designed by Michel Mortier Dimensions: Ø 39,7 x H 160 cm. Materials: Lacquered aluminum and opaline. Delivered with authentication cer...
Aluminum