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.
$14,136 / item
Signe Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Signe Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 11 x W 185 x H 21 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, M...
Alabaster, Copper
Modernist Dome Top Table Lamp by Paul Mayen for Habitat
By Habitat International, Paul Mayen
Located in New York, NY
Classic Mod design table lamp designed by Paul Mayer for Habitat. The lamp features a black dome shade with a chrome base. The lamp accepts two standard siz...
Steel, Chrome
$1,217Sale Price|20% Off
R. Beretta & A. Macchi Cassia Italian Stilnovo Parchment Table Lampshade 1980s
By Antonio Pio Macchi Cassia, Roberto Beretta, Stilnovo
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian table lamp model “Paralume” designed by Roberto Beretta and Antonio Macchi Cassia and produced by Stilnovo with black painted metal frame, height-adjustable parchment paper l...
Metal
Pipe Dream Table Lamp, Multicolor sculptural postmodern functional art, light
By Luft Tanaka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rough and tumble yet inherently sculptural, the Pipe Dream Series reveals the raw beauty of industrial materials. Composed of aluminum pipes and fittings, each piece exposes its stru...
Aluminum
$48,400Sale Price|20% Off
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
Geometric Flush Mount Lights by Philips in Metal & Opaline Glass, 1960
By Philips
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful burnt orange and white flush mount lights by Philips, in enameled metal and opaline glass light covers, porcelain sockets, 4 available, wired for US standards, one E27 sock...
Metal
Sculptural Light No. 130, Handblown Glass and Brass, by Milla Vaahtera
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural light no. 130 by Milla Vaahtera Dimensions: D 55 x W 95 x H 75 cm Materials: Handblown glass, handcrafted brass. Sculptural Lights are handmade light fixtures that functi...
Brass
$12,264 / item
Signature Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Signature Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 185 x W 11 x H 21 (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, ...
Alabaster, Copper
Ron Rezek Verdigris Table Lamp, 1980's
By Ron Rezek
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A verdigris copper table lamp by designer Ron Rezek. Made in the 1980's. The piece is in all original vintage condition with light wear around the base of the lamp and varying degr...
Brass, Copper
Mt Elbert Elk & Mule Deer Series Antler Chandelier by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Mt Elbert Elk & Mule Deer Series Antler Chandelier by The Peak Antler Dimensions: D 182.88 x H 182.88 cm Materials: naturally shed antlers Based in, produced and shipped from the US...
Antler
$1,680Sale Price / item|40% Off
Martinelli Luce Vera sculptural lighting Postmodern Style
By Martinelli Luce, Paolo Orlandini, Ingo Maurer
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Sculptural hanging light designed by Paolo Orlandini in 1980. Produced by Martinelli Luce. As changing position of the supporting ring and main rod, Position of the shade is change...
Steel
1 of the 3 Pairs Postmodern Filicudara Sconces by S. Lombardi for Artemide, 1980
By Artemide
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 5 impressive pairs of Postmodern style wall sconces designed by Steve Lombardi for Artemide Italy. Model Filicudara designed in the 1980s. A wonderful shape. Real statement ...
Aluminum
Anthracite Grey Nur Ceiling Lamp by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Ernesto Gismondi (1931-2020), the founder of Artemide, the Nur has the geometric lines of a perfect parabola, provides indirect diffused light, and casts a subtle halo on...
Metal
Postmodern Light Lite Ceiling Lamp by Philippe Starck for Flos, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Light Lite Ceiling Lamp by Philippe Starck for Flos, 1990s - Design classics from Flos, by the designer Philippe Starck from the early 90s - The lamp is made entirely fro...
Plastic
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
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
Francesco Buzzi Ceriani 'Cuffia' Table Lamp in Black Metal
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Francesco Buzzi Ceriani 'Cuffia' table lamp, aluminum, steel, chrome, Italy, design 1960s The Cuffia table lamp, designed by Francesco Buzzi Ceriani in 1960s Italy, is a refined exa...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Ico Parisi Palpebra Aluminium Table Lamp by Cassina
By Ico Parisi
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ico Parisi Palpebra Matt Black Table Lamp by Cassina The creative flair of Ico Parisi in a playful invention of mimicry. This artistic lamp is engineered to open and close, mimicki...
Aluminum
Light Object 018 Pendant with 1 Light Tube in Brass by Naama Hofman
By Naama Hofman
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Object 018 Pendant with 1 Light Tube in Brass by Naama Hofman. Dimensions: W 81 x D 4 x H 68 cm. Materials: Brass, Acrylic tube. Light: flexible LED strip light, 16W, 24V. All...
Brass
Italian Modern Murano Glass Lamp
By Leucos, Carlo Nason, Angelo Mangiarotti, Roberto Pamio, Mazzega
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Murano Glass Lamp. Offered is a stunning Murano glass sphere form table lamp on a chrome base. This Italian table lamp, in the man...
Chrome
Skymning (Twilight) Lamp by Ehlén Johansson, 1990s
By IKEA
Located in Hanover, MA
Skymning (Twilight) lamp by Ehlén Johansson, 1990s for Ikea, Sweden. Chrome, brass, and opaline glass shade. Single Edison screw socket takes a 60 watt lightbulb.
Chrome, Brass
"Mezzo Oracolo" table lamp by Gae Aulenti for Artemide, Italy, 1969
By Artemide, Gae Aulenti
Located in Argelato, BO
1.252 The renowned "Mezza Oracolo" was designed by the brilliant Italian architect and designer Gae Aulenti. The upper part is dominated by a majestic spherical diffuser in white op...
Metal, Brass
$650 / item
Roger Tallon for Erco 'Spot' Wall Lights
By Erco, Roger Tallon
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roger Tallon for Erco, 'Spot' wall lights, iron, lacquered metal, metal, plastic, France, 1970s. These wall lamps are icons made by Erco and designed by the French designer Roger Ta...
Metal
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
$75,821 / 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
Vintage Organic Modern Ceramic Table Lamp, USA, c1980s
Located in Oakland, CA
Gorgeous matte white organic modern vintage ceramic table lamp c1980s by unknown Bay Area artist. From the estate of ceramist, Pat Hill. Signed on bottom. **measurements are withou...
Ceramic
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
Post-Modern Table Lamps by Gae Aulenti, Chrome & Acrylic, Italy, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of 1970s Italian "Quadrifoglio" Table Lamps by Gae Aulenti for Harvey Guzzini Exude classic Italian Space Age sophistication with this stunning, rare pair of "Quadrifoglio" (Fou...
Chrome
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
Postmodern German Lumibär Bear Floor Lamp by Klein & Leidig for Flötotto, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
The Lumibär is a design classic from Flötotto. THE glowing bear. Here in a very rare reclining version. Not just for the children's room. The design is so simple that it also fits w...
Plastic
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
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
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
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
up-lighter Floor lamp Tronconi - design Barbieri & Marianelli - model 'Frack'
Located in Den Haag, NL
Vintage 1980s floor lamp designed by the Italian company Tronconi, designed by Barbieri and Marianelli, model 'Frack' Stylish and sleek design, design from 1984. The lamp consists o...
Metal
Alessandro Mendini Artemide Sidecar Table Lamp Murano Glass Postmodern
By Alessandro Mendini, Artemide, VeArt
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alessandro Mendini for Artemide Sidecar table lamp Postmodern Murano glass, 1980s. Exceedingly rare Memphis era design, signed. Gorgeous blush pink, t...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
A Sculptural POST-MODERN LUCITE TABLE LAMP by ALESSIO TASCA, FUSINA, Italy 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional and sculptural table lamp in prism, Post-Modernist, Seventies, Kinetic, Pop, body in a rectangular block of solid plexiglass with curved cut sides, forming a kind of p...
Lucite, Plexiglass
Postmodern Steel and Blue Glass Torchiere Floor Lamp, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern 1980s torchiere floor lamp with black steel base, gray steel support and blue glass side diffusers. The in-line foot control allows for dimm...
Steel
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
Rare Arteluce Acrylic Glass Chandelier, Italy, 1970s
By Arteluce
Located in Hagenbach, DE
This extraordinary chandelier by the renowned Italian lighting manufacturer Arteluce is a true collector’s piece and a striking example of 1970s Space Age design. With its sculptural...
Metal
Swedish Designer, Wall Light, Pine, Velvet, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine and brown velvet wall light designed and produced in Sweden, 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 15” H x 9” W x 12” D Backplate Dimensions (inches): 6.06" H x 6.06" W x 1.75...
Velvet, Pine
Tina Leung Postmodern Pendant Lamp, Translucent Plastic, 1990s Design
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pendant lamp designed by Tina Leung, 1990s. The sculptural shade is composed of translucent plastic tubing arranged in a dense, organic formation. The layered construction creates d...
Plastic
Neri & Hu 3T09 Bronze Structure and Ivory Fabric 3 Modules Lamp for Cassina
$1,427 / item
Lasca Wall Lamp by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Lasca Wall Lamp by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 26 x D 18 x H 37 cm Materials: Cristallo quartzite and cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum Also availabl...
Quartz, Metal
Post Modern Pendulum Torchiere Floor Lamp By Ron Rezek
By Ron Rezek
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
This Post Modern Pendulum Torchiere Floor Lamp by Ron Rezek is a striking example of late 20th-century design that balances sculptural form with functional lighting. Executed in a sl...
Metal
Emily V10 Vertical Chandelier in Steel with Dark Bronze Finish by MOSS Objects
By Moss Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Emily V10 Vertical Chandelier in Steel with Dark Bronze Finish by MOSS Objects. Dimensions: W 160 x D 160 x H 365 cm. Materials: Steel, White Oak, Dark Bronze Finish. This listing f...
Steel
$1,568 / item
Frame Miroir Small Wall Lamp by Violaine d'Harcourt
Located in Geneve, CH
Frame Miroir Small Wall Lamp by Violaine d'Harcourt Dimensions: D 11 x W 24 x H 35 cm. Materials: Lacquered steel and paper. Wall light in lacquered steel, made in Portugal, bulb in...
Steel
Post Modern Cadmo Floor Lamp by Karim Rashid for Artemide c 2000/2010
By Karim Rashid, Artemide
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
Johanna Grawunder Memphis Large Yellow Black Light Wall Lamps (4), Italy 1989
By Memphis Group, Johanna Grawunder
Located in Vienna, AT
Four early Johanna Grawunder lighting panels or sconces for Memphis, Italy, 1989. Dimensions per piece: 43.3"x29.5"x2". Sold and priced individually. New York based designer/archi...
Metal
Large Unique Postmodern Table Lamp in Brushed Steel 1970s
Located in Meer, VAN
Large Unique Postmodern Table Lamp in Brushed Steel 1970s A truly remarkable one-off postmodern table lamp in brushed steel. The Netherlands, late 1970s. This sculptural table lamp...
Steel
Memphis Milano Treetops Lamp by Ettore Sottsass
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Toronto, ON
Treetops by Ettore Sottsass is not just a lamp but a truly dynamic, slender and colourful presence, capable of infusing, with its lively allure, joy and lightheartedness to any envir...
Metal, Iron
$5,665 / item
Halo 62 Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Halo 49 Pendant Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 62 x H 7 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt Bla...
Alabaster, Copper
Italian Postmodern Aton Barra Wall Lamp by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare wall lamp from the italian manufacturer artemide after a design by ernesto gismondi from the 80s. a technical design made of aluminum and black plastic. The lamp can be mounted...
Metal
Sculptural Light No. 133, Handblown Glass and Brass, by Milla Vaahtera
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural light no. 133 by Milla Vaahtera Dimensions: D 60 x W 90 x H 90 cm Materials: Handblown glass, handcrafted brass. Sculptural Lights are handmade light fixtures that functi...
Brass
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
Vintage Postmodern Italian Zelig Table Lamp by Walter Monici for Lumina, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
The table lamp version of the culinary of the Italian manufacturer Lumina after a design by Walter Monici from 1990. The elegance of the culinary is based on the game of asymmetry a...
Metal
Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide First Edition 'Sintesi' Red Clamp Light
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, multi-way clamp lamp, model 'Sintesi Faretto Morsetto', first edition, coated iron, coated steel, aluminum, rubber, plastic, Italy, design 1976 The fo...
Metal, Iron
$912 / 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
1960s Pop Art Oversized Light Bulb Pendant Light
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Cathedral City, CA
1960s Pop Art Oversized Light Bulb Pendant Light Unique pendant lamp in the form of an oversized light bulb made of blown glass and metal cap with a red en...
Metal
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