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.
Rare Jo-Jo n°2072 Pendant Lamp by Gino Sarfatti, Italy, 1953
Located in Montréal, CA
A rare five-disc variation of the iconic “Jo-Jo” pendant lamp designed by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Crafted from lacquered aluminum and methacrylate (lucite), the fixture is compos...
Aluminum
Roberto Gabetti & Aimaro Isola Floor Lamp 'Bul-Bo'
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roberto Gabetti and Aimaro Isola for Ar.Bo, floor lamp 'Bul-Bo', leather, metal, rubber, Italy, 1970s Gabetti & Isola accomplished a very unique design with the 'Bul-Bo' for Ar....
Chrome
Bernhard Dessecker, Swingading Floor Lamp, Ingo Maurer / Design M, Germany, 1993
By Susanne and Bernhard Dessecker, Ingo Maurer
Located in Krefeld, DE
Bernhard Dessecker Swingading floor lamp, designed 1993, produced by Ingo Maurer / Design M, Munich. Metal, plastic, and glass. The upper section of the flexible stem can be fixed in...
Metal
Post Modern Memphis Alsy Style Squiggle Form Black Metal Table Lamp c. 1980/90s
Located in New York, NY
Wiggly, and squiggly Post Modern, Memphis school table lamp made in the USA, attributed to Alsy, circa 1980/90's, unsigned. The lamp is in very good, original, clean and working cond...
Metal
Michel Aroutcheff, postmodern red Pencil table lamp, Ed. Vilac France 1980s
By Pierre Sala
Located in Firenze, IT
Postmodern red Crayon table lamp designed by Michel Aroutcheff Ed. Vilac France 1980s Neon light. Lacquered wood 51 cm H - 9 cm diam. Conditions: excellent, no defects
Wood
Mario Tsai, Aluminium Champagne Painted Tsai Table Lamp by Cassina
By Ico Parisi
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Mario Tsai, Aluminium Champagne Painted Tsai Table Lamp by Cassina UNIT OF LIGHT A collection of modular metal lamps in which the base unit alludes to the shape of a brick. A simpl...
Aluminum
Grip Floor Lamp Designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos 1984
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Post-modern Grip floor lamp, designed by Achille Castiglioni, in 1985. manufactured by Flos, Italy. Painted Steel & Aluminum, Plastic. With makers bedge. The lamp creates a s...
Steel
Mid-size Postmodern Murano Glass Pendant Light by La Murrina
By La Murrina
Located in Chicago, IL
Elevate your space with this exquisite Murano glass pendant light by La Murrina. This chandelier features three tiers of Cristallo glass shells, each showcasing amber and white centr...
Brass
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
$76,810 / item
Endless Summer Wall Sconce by Katrien Van Der Schueren
Located in Geneve, CH
Endless Summer Wall Light by Katrien Van Der Schueren Dimensions: W 238.76 x D 22.86 x H 101.6 cm Materials: Sculpted in concrete and plaster, with a liquid bronze finish with LEDs ...
Concrete, Other
Italian Post Modern Amber Gold Silver Murano Glass Round Graphic Chandelier
By Cosulich Interiors & Antiques
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A bespoke innovative striking Italian light fixture, entirely hand made, a unique Modernist avant-garde design, with fine craftsmanship and rich materials. One hammered Murano glass ...
Brass, Silver Leaf
Salvador Dalí Drawers Lamp by BD Barcelona, Pale Limewood, Spain
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Drawers lamp designed by Dali manufactured by BD. Carved structure in pale varnished limewood. Lampshade in beige linen. Measures: 30 x 30 x 87 H cm Sculpture-lamp drawers A stan...
Wood
Medium Embrace Wall Sconce by Katrien Van Der Schueren
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Embrace Wall Sconce by Katrien Van Der Schueren Dimensions: W 12.7 x D 12.7 x H 60.96 cm Materials: Sculpted in concrete and plaster with LEDs Based in, produced and shipped ...
Concrete, Other
Sculptural Light No. 132, Handblown Glass and Brass, by Milla Vaahtera
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural light no. 132 by Milla Vaahtera Dimensions: D 44 x W 95 x H 70 cm Materials: Handblown glass, handcrafted brass. Sculptural Lights are handmade light fixtures that functi...
Brass
$44,338 / item
Untitled II Sculptural Floor Lamp by Aeny Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled II Sculptural Floor Lamp by Aeny Studio. Signed and dated by Nayara Nascimento. Dimensions: W 45 x D 63 x H 195 cm. Materials: Recycled steel, cellulose-mineral bronze compo...
Steel, Other
Dramatic Over Scale Post Modern Plaster Floor Lamp c 1980's
Located in New York, NY
Dramatic oversize ceramic floor lamp of bulbous form with contrasting dark toned, textured glaze at the upper section, which appears to drip down onto the smooth creme colored bottom...
Plaster
Stilnovo UFO pendant, Stilnovo, 1980
By Stilnovo
Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, FR
UFO suspension of a big milky opalescent globe made by the Italian brand Stilnovo in the 1980's. Light pendant for ceiling.
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Milk Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
$4,900
Black Ceiba Lamp
Located in Mérida, MX
The Ceiba lamp is a clay lamp handmade by artisans from Yucatan and designed by Chuch Estudio. The large scale clay as an ancestral tradition allowed the pr...
Clay
$6,943 / item
Flow Sculptural Pendant Lamp by Giulio D'Amore
Located in Geneve, CH
Flow Sculptural Pendant Lamp by Giulio D'Amore Dimensions: D 38 x W 142 x H 45.72 cm. Available in these materials and finishes: - Ash, Jet black - Ash, White - Ash, Midnight Sky -...
Ash, Walnut
Vintage Moon Lamp by Kare Design done in Verner Panton Style, Spain 1980s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a Postmodern lamp, called Moon Lamp, manufactured by Kare Design. The lamp was designed after Verner Panton's Moon Pendant li...
Steel
$889Sale Price / set|45% Off
Postmodern Pair of "Delta" Table Lamps by Mario Bertorelle for JM RDM, 1980s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique Italian pair of table lamps by Mario Bertorelle, from 1980s. These pieces were made during the 1980s in Massanzago by JM RMD. These table lamps are named Delta. Delta is the ...
Plastic
Post modern adjustable lamp by Herda, Netherlands 1980s
By Herda, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in ECHT, NL
Post modern design desk lamp. Made by Dutch company Herda in the 1980s. Made from wood and metal. I has a halogen bulb that is dimmable by a turn knob on the base. The lamp in full ...
Metal
$2,838 / item
Baume #3 White Stoneware Lamp by Elisa Uberti
Located in Geneve, CH
Baume #3 White Stoneware Lamp by Elisa Uberti Limited Edition Of 2 Pieces + 1 AP Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 50/55 cm. Materials: White stoneware. The diameter of this piece is approximate...
Stoneware
Small Embrace Wall Sconce by Katrien Van Der Schueren
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Embrace Wall Sconce by Katrien Van Der Schueren Dimensions: W 30.48 x D 30.48 x H 10.16 cm Materials: Sculpted in concrete and plaster with LEDs Based in, produced and shipped...
Concrete, Other
Axel Chay Phallus Table Lamp Blue Lacquered Steel Glass Postmodern
Located in Lisboa, PT
The Phallus table lamp by French designer Axel Chay is a sculptural and collectible design object that operates at the intersection of postmodern design, surrealist influence, and co...
Brass, Steel
Folia Cast Bronze and Brass Floor Lamp by Federico Stefanovich
Located in Geneve, CH
Folia Cast Bronze and Brass Floor Lamp by Federico Stefanovich. Dimensions: W 54 x D 45 x H 128 cm. Material: Cast Bronze, Brass. All our lamps can be wired according to each countr...
Brass, Bronze
Post modern murano glass floor lamp by Veart, 1990s
By VeArt
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage 'Line' floor lamp designed by Jeannot Cerutti for Veart. The lamp has a metal tripod base and a murano glass conical lamp shade. Good condition, tested and ready for use. ...
Chrome
Pair of Floor Lamps/Torchieres by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, USA 1987
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Illuminate your space with this stunning pair of Floor Lamps/Torchieres by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, crafted in the USA in 1987. These sleek and modern lamps feature a strik...
Steel, Stainless Steel
$3,912 / item
Vardo Table Lamp in Aluminum by Animate Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Vardo Table Lamp in Aluminum by Animate Objects. Dimensions: W 18 x D 18 x H 40 cm. Materials: Aluminum, Transparent Powder Coating, Beige Powder Coating. All our lamps can be wired...
Aluminum
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
Rare Gaetano Pesce Resin Lamp
Located in Austin, TX
Rare post modern resin lamp by collectible artist Gaetano Pesce from his Olo series. "Olo" translates to "feeling" in English. Transformer and bulb...
Resin
Post Modern Cadmo Floor Lamp by Karim Rashid for Artemide c 2000/2010
By Artemide, Karim Rashid
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Postmodern floor lamp designed by noted architect Karim Rashid for Artemide, circa 2000/2020. This lamp features a bulb at the top. and one within the vertical standard ( h...
Steel
$1,422 / item
Gemelle #1 Recycled Clay Lamp by Elisa Uberti
Located in Geneve, CH
Gemelle #1 Recycled Clay Lamp by Elisa Uberti Unique Piece Dimensions: D 15 x W 34 x H 51 cm. Materials: Clay. This product is handmade; dimensions may vary. Please contact us. Aft...
Clay
Lipparini “Lola” Flush Mount Light, Italian Postmodern Glass & Iron
By Lipparini
Located in Antwerp, BE
A sculptural Italian postmodern flush mount by Lipparini, dating from the 1990s, combining softly textured Murano-style glass with elegant dark metal scrollwork. This listing is for...
Iron
$480 / item
Isaac Maxwell Metal Wall Light Fixtures
Located in San Antonio, TX
Beautiful architectural metal wall fixture designed by Isaac Maxwell Metal features a plated copper star pattern with punched holes that cast softly diff...
Copper
Vintage Postmodern Balart Ceiling Lamp by Jorge Pensi for B.Lux, 1980s
By Jorge Pensi
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant ceiling light from the Spanish manufacturer B.Lux after a design by Jorge Pensi from the late 1980s. A postmodern design. This lamp convinces with its elegant design languag...
Metal
80s Pop Art Desk Lamp in the Postmodern Memphis Style
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
80s Pop Art desk lamp in the postmodern Memphis Style 80s 90s Postmodern desk lamp that can be extended to different heights. In the base there is a screw...
Metal
Lovoa Trichilioides Tree African Walnut Torva Table Lamp by Hodan Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Lovoa Trichilioides Tree African Walnut Torva Table Lamp by Hodan Design Dimensions: W 60 x D 20 x H 10 cm Materials: Lovoa Trichilioides Tree African Walnut. Finish color: Charred b...
Walnut
Light Object 017 Pendant with 1 Light Tube in Brass by Naama Hofman
By Naama Hofman
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Object 017 Pendant with 1 Light Tube in Brass by Naama Hofman. Dimensions: D 3 x H 90 cm. Materials: Brass, Acrylic tube. Light: flexible LED strip light, 16W, 24V. All our la...
Brass
One of the Ten Glass Aluminium Triangle Shaped Wall Lights, Artemide, 1984
By Artemide
Located in Rijssen, NL
One of the 10 glass and metal sconces named Icaro designed by Carlo Forcolini 1984 executed by Artemide, Italy. Great Italian design, made of clear cut-glass and perforated aluminium...
Aluminum
$1,019 / item
MMM Leaf Wall Sconce by MM Lampadari
Located in Geneve, CH
MMM Leaf Wall Sconce by MM Lampadari Dimensions: D 26 x W 12 x H 14 cm. Materials: Glass and metal. Different metal finishes are available. All our lamps can be wired according to e...
Metal
Large Guillerme et Chambron Double Wall Light Sconce
Located in Trensacq, FR
Guillerme & Chambron Double Wall Sconce – Blonde Oak, France, Circa 1970s A beautifully crafted double wall light sconce designed by the renowned French duo Jacques Chambron and...
Metal, Brass
Aphrodite Wall Lamp by André Cazenave, France, 1970
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Rare “Aphrodite” wall lamp by André Cazenave for Atelier A, designed and produced in France circa 1970. Crafted in fiberglass coated with marble powder, the piece presents a striking...
Fiberglass
Model Area 50 Suspension Ceiling Light by M.Bellini for Artemide, 1970s, Italy
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Model Area 50 Suspension Ceiling Light by Mario Bellini for Artemide, 1970s, Italy Elegant design pendant lamp Lampshade is in good condition and very clean. This lamp works with E...
Plastic, Parchment Paper
Postmodern Pear Floor Lamp, Green Plastic, Vintage Design, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern floor lamp in pear shape. A special object and rare eye-catcher. This lamp shows the shape of a pear. Particularly the almost faithful replica in shape and color, up to d...
Plastic
$566Sale Price / set|60% Off
Postmodern Italian Murano Glass Wall Sconces, 1980s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Postmodern and beautiful set of two Murano glass Wall Sconces. These fixtures are made in Italy. Each Wall Sconce is equipped with one light halongen bulb. A professional electricia...
Metal
$2,276 / item
Marquise Opus Pendant Lamp by MM Lampadari
Located in Geneve, CH
Marquise Opus Pendant Lamp by MM Lampadari Dimensions: Ø 45 x H 40 cm. Materials: Glass and metal. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will ...
Metal
Medium Gold Plated Dome Pendant Lamp by Rock & Soar, Post-Modern UK
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Dome Pendant Lamp by Rock and Soar Dimensions: W 200 D 150 x H 85 cm Materials: Gold Plated, SS. 80 x Clear Texture Glass, 40 x Smoke Metallic Glass, 40 Botanical Etchings, 5...
Gold Plate
Pair of Rare Postmodern Floor Lamps by Ligne Roset Extensia Fluo Torchiere
By Ligne Roset
Located in San Diego, CA
These pair of rare floor torchiere lamps have a fluorescent tube and halogen light, ribbed perspex on reverse, brushed aluminum sides, and perforated front with a movable halogen top shade with dimmer switch, we have rewired the pair of lamps, a classic 1980...
Aluminum
Post-Modern Octaëder Floor Lamp or Light Object by Marcel Simons, 1993
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magical and rare Post-Modern Octaëder floor lamp or light object. Design by Marcel Simons. Striking Dutch design from the 1990s Made out of glass plates and yellow plastic pyramid in...
Glass
Postmodern Articulated Pair of Gold Wall Sconces by Estiluz, Barcelona, 1980s
By Estiluz Lighting, Leonardo Marelli, Estiluz
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
$1,304 / item
Twist Etiola Pendant Lamp by LAFABLIGHT
Located in Geneve, CH
Twist Etiola Pendant Lamp by LAFABLIGHT Dimensions: D 80 x H 30 cm Materials: Wooden structure woven with ecru cotton, textile cable with metal/wood rosette. LAFABLIGHT was born fro...
Metal
Italian Large Pair of Murano Glass Wall Sconces by Barbini Alfredo, 1980s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Marvelous and unique Pair of Italian Colorful Murano glass Wall Sconces from 1980s. These fixtures were designed and munufactured during the 1980s in Italy by Alfredo Barbini. “Barb...
Metal
Rare Postmodern Helix Glass Table Lamp in the Manner of Karl Springer
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful rare and elegant glass staircase , helix table lamp in green glass with lucite base and chrome fittings in perfect working condition. no chips or cracks.
Chrome
$2,371Sale Price|20% Off
Carlo Nason Postmodern Italian Murano Glass Chandelier for Mazzega, 1970s
By AVMazzega, Carlo Nason
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Beautiful Murano glass chandelier, made by Carlo Nason for Mazzega in the 70s, the chandelier is composed of sixteen cylindrical cannuoli and a blown glass disc, the structure is in ...
Steel
$1,493 / item
Twist Echino Chandelier by LAFABLIGHT
Located in Geneve, CH
Twist Echino Chandelier by LAFABLIGHT Dimensions: D 87 x H 125 cm Materials: Wooden structure woven with ecru cotton, textile cable with metal/wood rosette. LAFABLIGHT was born from...
Metal
Gino Vistosi for Vistosi Chandelier in Chrome and Murano Glass
By Vistosi, Gino Vistosi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gino Vistosi for Vistosi, chandelier, chrome, murano glass, Italy, 1970s. Wonderfull chandelier designed by Gino Vistosi and manufactured by the family company Vistosi, which has a long history of manufacturing murano glass items. This flamboyant pendant features 32 large glass disks...
Chrome
Dick Degerfeldt, Table Lamps, Pine, Spalting, Sweden, 1984
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of sizeable pine and spalting table lamps designed and produced by Dick Degerfeldt, Sweden, dated 1984. Overall Dimensions (inches): 11.75” H x 11.25” W x 7” D Stated dimensi...
Pine
1980s American Modernist Designer Postmodern Metal and Acrylic Floor Lamp
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Wonderful postmodern floor lamp featuring organic movement with industrial materials. Nice vintage floor lamp in metal and acrylic. Floor switch Dimensions include shades. Shades ar...
Iron
$721 / item
Small I Sonora Rattan Table Lamp by NASSI
Located in Geneve, CH
Small I Sonora Rattan Table Lamp by NASSI Dimensions: W 27 x D 27 x H 34 cm. Materials: Lampshade: coated iron, Natural rattan, cotton trimmings Base: wood-fired clay with beeswax f...
Clay, Cotton, Rattan