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.
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
$7,725 / 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
$32,165 / 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
$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
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
$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
$11,646 / 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
$4,611 / 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
Postmodern Pair of "Fina" Wood Table Lamps by Blauet, Barcelona, 1990s
By Blauet
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique and pretty Postmodern Spanish "Fina" Pair of Beech Wood Table Lamps by Blauet. Model: B-1485 Natural. These Table Lamps were designed by Josep Llusca for Blauet, S.A. they wer...
Beech, Textile
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
$22,602 / 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
$4,096 / 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
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
Lucite Cobra Desk Lamp, 1980's
Located in Lisboa, PT
This table lamp was designed and made in Italy during the 1980s. It features a curved Lucite arm and black metal shade and base. Furthermore the desk lamp features a two step switch...
Metal
Sculptural Pink Plaster Floor Lamp Faux Pencil Reed
Located in Delray Beach, FL
For your consideration is a plaster floor lamp with a pale pink finish made to look like pencil reed. Would make a great colorful addition to any room. Would look great in a mid cent...
Plaster
$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
$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
$4,284 / 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
$4,412 / 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
Postmodern "Bonsai" Wood Table Lamp by Josep Llusca for Blauet, Barcelona, 1990s
By Josep Llusca, Blauet
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique and pretty Postmodern Spanish "Gran Bonsai" Beech Wood Table Lamp by Blauet. Model: B1458-15 Natural / Chrome. This Table Lamp was designed by Josep Llusca for Blauet, S.A. Th...
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
$2,060 / 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
$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
$5,536 / 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
Unique Cascade Satin Brass Contemporary Light Pendant by Morghen Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Cascade of Light pendant by Morghen Studio Dimensions: D 200 x W 200 x H 900 cm Materials: Brass, Fabric flexible light. Light source: 10/6/3x 5000 mm Fabric Flexible Light - 500/300/150w - 3000k. Driver: MW 500/320/200-24 (AC110-240V/DC24) remotely mounted. Canopy: Satin brass, D 200 mm x H 40 mm. Cable grippers: Satin brass. Cables: Nylon or stainless steel D 1 mm. Cables length: 3000-5000 mm. This chandelier debuted in the exhibition titled “Desacralized”, organized by Galerie Philia for Milan Design Week 2023. “In such a unique and fascinating context as the deconsecrated church of San Vittore and the 40 martyrs, we decided to create the installation 'Cascades of Light'. The theme of Desacralisation thus refers to our time of liquefaction of typically twentieth-century solid bodies, for the benefit of a container/content and form/function relationship that is always different and evolving. We have therefore liquefied the icon of the historical Chandelier...
Brass
$3,254 / 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
No.23 Blue Charme Fringes Dip dyed Contemporary Art Sconce Lamp, Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue Charme sconce lamp, Sander Bottinga Dimensions: 50 x W 38 x D 27 cm. Hand-sculpted in brass, leather, wood and dip dyed colored Fringes in viscose. The movable arms makes i...
Brass
Set of 2 Square in Circle Ceiling Lights by Square in Circle
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Square in Circle Ceiling Lights by Square in Circle Dimensions: D 43 x W 43 x H 16 cm Materials:Brushed brass/dark bronze/ white frosted glas...
Brass, Bronze
$1,802 / item
38 Table Lamp by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
38 Table lamp by Bocci Dimensions: D 20 x H 21.5 cm. Materials: diameter white polyurethane canopy. Weight: 2.5 kg Also available in different dimensions and models. All our lamps ...
Other
$4,916 / 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
Large Misalliance Ral Pure White Wall Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Large misalliance ral pure white wall light by lexavala Dimensions: D 16 x W 130 x H 8 cm Materials: powder coated aluminium. There are two lenghts of socket covers, extending o...
Aluminum
$6,285 / item
Paper Table Lamp by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper table lamp by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 50.8 x W 20.3 x H 63.5 cm Materials: darkened brass, plastic. Available in polished tarnished brass and darkened brass. All our...
Brass
$5,643 / set
Set of 2 Sconces Conche by Serge Mouille
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 sconces conche by Serge Mouille Dimensions: D40 x W21 x H20 cm Materials: brass, steel, aluminium One of a King. Numbered. Also available in different color. All our...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Sculptural Large Lamp by Philippe Barbier for Maison Barbier, 1970s
By Maison Barbier, Philippe Barbier
Located in Brussels, BE
Large lamp in travertine and metal by Philippe Barbier for Maison Barbier in the 1970s. It's one big piece, the lamp is fixed to a pedestal in travertine. The diameter of the shade ...
Stone, Metal
Oat Ceramic Arko Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Oat Ceramic Arko Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 67 cm. Materials: Cotton lampshade and ceramic. Also available in different marble...
Ceramic, Cotton
$7,924 / item
Column Lamp Signal Small by Serge Mouille
Located in Geneve, CH
Column lamp signal small by Serge Mouille Dimensions: D 16 x H 108 cm Materials: Aluminum One of a King. Numbered. Also available in different color and dimensions. All our la...
Aluminum
$3,476 / item
76.3 Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
76.3 pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D 15.2 x H 300 cm Materials: brushed nickel round canopy Weight: 2 kg Also available in different dimensions. All our lamps can be wired acco...
Other, Nickel
$12,493 / item
Column Lamp Large Totem by Serge Mouille
Located in Geneve, CH
Column lamp large totem by Serge Mouille Dimensions: D16 x H173 cm Materials: Steel, Glass One of a King. Numbered. Also available in different colour and dimensions. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired for the USA for instance. Reissue of an iconic model from 1962, the Totem Serge Mouille...
Steel
$10,967 / item
Quartz Pendant Light VI by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Quartz Pendant Light VI by Aver Dimensions: W 105 x D 95 x H 60 cm Materials: Natural rocks, high-quality cut crystals, jewelry chains, hand blown...
Stone, Crystal, Other
$1,264 / item
Carreaux de cuves Wall Light by Bosc Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Carreaux de cuves Wall Light by Bosc Design Dimensions: W 11 x D 6 x H 22 cm Materials: Structure in varnished oak. It all started years ago. They were about to complete an archit...
Oak
$2,060 / item
Bengra FL4S Lamp by Jeroen De Ruddere
Located in Geneve, CH
Bengra FL4S lamp by Jeroen De Ruddere Dimensions: D 25 x H 80 cm Cord Lenght: 175 cm Dimmable: Yes Materials: Oak Brutal nature and textile. All pie...
Textile, Oak
$983 / item
A Brass Dome Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
A Brass Dome Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 15.5 x W 22 x H 48.5 cm. Materials: Brass. Different finishes available: raw brass, aged brass...
Brass
$2,188 / item
Sunset Wall Light by Amber Dewaele
Located in Geneve, CH
Sunset Wall Light by Amber Dewaele Dimensions: D 62 x W 32 x H 34 cm. Materials: Acrylic and polished stainless steel. Sunset Wall Light The sunset...
Stainless Steel
$7,725 / item
Circular Chandelier by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Circular Chandelier by Dainte Dimensions: Ø 122 x H 150 cm. Materials: Glass and brass. Dimensions may vary. Please contact us. A extraordinary mega circular chandelir featuring ...
Brass
$9,317 / item
Pendulum Floor Light by CTO Lighting
By CTO Lighting
Located in Geneve, CH
Pendulum floor light by CTO Lighting Materials: satin brass with smoked glass shade. Also available in bronze with smoked glass shade. Dimensions: W 32 x D 15.5 x H 117 cm All ...
Brass
$1,088 / item
Tobacco Alabaster Pura Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Tobacco Alabaster Pura Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 58 cm. Materials: Brass, cotton and tobacco alabaster. Also available in different marble, wood and alabast...
Alabaster, Brass
$2,485 / item
Mantis BS2 Wall Lamp by Bernard Schottlander
Located in Geneve, CH
Mantis BS2 wall lamp by Bernard Schottlander Dimensions: D 153 x W 47 x H 45 cm Materials: Steel, aluminium. All our lamps can be wired according to e...
Aluminum, Steel
Stem Glass Globe Small Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Stem Glass Globe Small Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 15.5 x W 15.5 x H 18 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Different finishes available: raw brass, aged brass, burnt brass...
Brass
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Solid Birch Wood & Aluminum Sculptural Table/ Desk Lamp
Located in San Diego, CA
Very rare solid birch with aluminum accents tall desk table lamp. doesn't include lampshade its 24" to the top of the socket great condition and working.
Aluminum
$8,111 / item
76.7 Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
76.7 pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D 20.3 x H 300 cm Materials: brushed nickel round canopy Weight: 4.8 kg Also available in different dimensions. All our lamps can be wired acco...
Other, Nickel
$9,563 / item
21.11 Porcelain Chandelier Lamp by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
21.11 Porcelain Chandelier lamp by Bocci Dimensions: Square Canopy: D 50.8 x W 50.8 x H 300 cm Rectangular Canopy: D 28.4 x W 85 x H 300cm Materials: Porcelain, borosilicate g...
Steel, Nickel
Postmodern Italian Le Stelle 1560 Ceiling or Wall Lamp Paolo Piva Arteluce 1980s
By Paolo Piva, Arteluce
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Italian Model Le Stelle 1560 Ceiling or Wall Lamps by Paolo Piva for Arteluce, 1980s Italian wall and ceiling lights by Arteluce, designed by Paolo Piva in the 1980s. A ...
Metal
Postmodern Swiss Model Lucifer Table Lamp by Hannes Wettstein for Belux, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare table or wall lamp from the Swiss manufacturer Belux based on a design by Hannes Wettstein from the early 1990s. Have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalog...
Metal
$9,808 / item
Standing Lamp 3 Rotating Arms by Serge Mouille
Located in Geneve, CH
Standing lamp 3 rotating arms by Serge Mouille Dimensions: D135 x W145 x H210 cm Materials: Brass, steel, aluminium One of a King, Numbered. Also available in different colour. ...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
No. 30 Purple Beige Multi Geometric Rectangle Table Lamp by Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
No. 30 table lamp by Sander Bottinga. Object size 3. Dimensions: H 60-75 x W 37 x D 26 cm. Materials: brass, wood, leather, viscose fringes Variations ava...
Brass
$41,354 / item
87.26 Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
87.26 Pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D60 x W60 x H300 cm Materials: white powder coated rectangular canopy Weight: 50.5 kg Also available in different dimensions. All our lamps ...
Other
$18,025 / item
Pingala Pendant in Marble and Neon Glass by Farrah Sit
By Farrah Sit
Located in Geneve, CH
Pingala Pendant in Marble and Neon Glass by Farrah Sit. Dimensions: W 91.4 x D 10.2 x H 139.7 cm. Materials: Marble, Hand-blown Neon Glass, and Brass. All our lamps can be wired acc...
Marble, Brass
$3,019 / item
Wood Luminária Equilibrista by Atelier Andre Ferri
Located in Geneve, CH
Wood Luminária Equilibrista by Atelier Andre Ferri Dimensions: D 5 x H 89 cm. Materials: Wood. ANDRÉ FERRI André Ferri is from Belo Horizonte, born in 1990, graduated in Archite...
Wood
Coloured Small Big Bubble Pendant Light by Alex de Witte
Located in Geneve, CH
Coloured small big bubble pendant light by Alex de Witte Signed Each pendant is unique Dimensions: D 21 x H 60 cm Material: Mouth Blown Glass Exact precise dimensions are not guara...
Blown Glass
$7,081 / item
Single Pendant Lamp Baile by Cultivado Em Casa
Located in Geneve, CH
Single pendant lamp Baile by Cultivado Em Casa Dimensions: D 163 x H 137 cm Materials: Metallized Wire, Acrylic, Glass, Fiberglass, Aluminum, Plywood. Also available in different ...
Aluminum, Wire