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.
Brass Framework Glass Branch Chain Pendant Light BCAA X by Christopher Boots
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Framework Glass Branch Chain Pendant Light BCAA X by Christopher Boots Dimensions: 133.5 x 37 x 66.3 cm Materials: Brass and Glass Available in different sizes, configurations...
Bronze
$8,120 / 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
$9,574 / 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
$9,820 / 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
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
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
XXL 70s Pop Art floor lamp with a dark brown wicker frame and a plexiglass shade
Located in München, DE
Stunning XXL 1970s Pop Art "Tulip" floor lamp. Metal frame with a burgundy-red wicker/woven covering. Most likely of Italian manufacture. Beautiful minimalist design featuring a larg...
Wicker, Plexiglass
$41,401 / 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
Emily Group of Nine Chandelier in Steel with Dark Bronze Finish by MOSS Objects
By Moss Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Emily Group of Nine Chandelier in Steel with Dark Bronze Finish by MOSS Objects. Dimensions: W 155 x D 278 x H 40 cm. Materials: Steel, White Oak, Dark Bronze Finish. This listing f...
Steel
$4,101 / item
57.3 Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
57.3 Pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D15.2 x H300 cm Materials: white round canopy. Weight: 5 kg Also available in different dimensions and colours. All our lamps can be wired ac...
Other
$7,089 / 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
$4,874 / item
Quartz Wall Sconce III by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Quartz wall sconce III by Aver Dimensions: W 21 x D 26 x H 75 cm Materials: Natural rocks, high-quality cut crystals, jewelry chains, hand-blown glass, other. Also Available: Matte Black, Rustic Silver, Oxidized Graphite, and Rustic Bronze. A series of lamps molded...
Stone, Crystal, Other
Fratelli Martini Halogen Floor Lamp, Black Metal with Red Rim, 1980s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful Martini Black Metal Floor lamp . comes with Red rim details . Halogen ,comes with a good working Dimmer . Remarkable good condi...
Metal
Arborescence XS Satin Brass Floor Lamp by Hervé Langlais
Located in Geneve, CH
Arborescence XS Satin brass floor lamp by Hervé Langlais Dimensions: D33 X H125 cm Materials: Solid Brass, Lampshade Drop Paper® M1, Black textile cable (2m). Others finishes and ...
Brass
Ensemble of Three U2 Sculptural Brass Suspension Pendant Lights by Jan Garncarek
Located in Geneve, CH
Ensemble of Three U2 Sculptural Brass Suspension Pendant Lights by Jan Garncarek Dimensions: 56 x 10 x 10 cm Material: Brass Handcrafted by Jan Garncarek. Signed Also available in ...
Brass
Santiago Roqueta Table Lamp for Santa & Cole, Spain, 1987
By Santa & Cole
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Elegant table lamp designed in 1987 by Santiago Roqueta (Barcelona, 1944–2005) for Santa & Cole, combining wood, metal and a textile lampshade. The design reflects Roqueta’s refined...
Metal
$2,753 / item
Érèbe Table Lamp by Studio Nosqua
Located in Geneve, CH
Érèbe Table Lamp by Studio Nosqua Dimensions: D 16 x W 16 x H 32 cm Material: Glass, Steel, LEDs All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be ...
Steel
$2,114 / item
Aaro Ceiling Lamp by Simon Schmitz
Located in Geneve, CH
Aaro ceiling lamp by Simon Schmitz Dimensions: D 16 x W 16 x H 148 cm Materials: Aluminum, Steel All our lamps can be wired according to each country. ...
Aluminum, Steel
Mano Small Wall Lamp Mounted Downlighter by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Mano Small Wall Lamp mounted- Downlighter by Umberto Bellardi Ricci. Dimensions: W61 x D7.6 x H17.8 cm. Materials: Brasse, Aluminium Wall Fixing, Led strip in Aluminium Casing, 24V...
Aluminum, Brass
$3,480 / 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
$4,511 / item
Small the Giraffe Lamp by Kilzi
Located in Geneve, CH
Small the Giraffe lamp by Kilzi Dimensions: D 55 x W 55 x H 185 cm. Materials: Polished stainless steel. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired for the USA for instance. These polished stainless steel tubular lamps are going to be most likely the tallest object in their room. They also display a vigilant attitude combined with the elegance giraffes and other savanna animals display. This lamp is intended to be presented in two positions, “standing” and “grassing”. Materials may vary. Please contact us. Jorge Suárez-Kilzi was born in Venezuela to immigrant parents of Spanish and Syrian descent. His collection of works is signed under his mother’s last name, Kilzi, which is also often used to describe a person who works with plaster and chalk-unconsciously leading Jorge down a path he was destined for. The name has a link to a hard childhood in movement, to an immigrant background, to Latin American and its vernacular arts, to a sense of movement and evolution. As a grown man, the sensibilities of his childhood took him all the way to Japan, where worked as an architect in the offices of Sejima+Nishizawa Associated Architects/ SANAA and Junya Ishigami. Swiss architecture, which seemed in contrast, firm and steady, called upon him on a different basis, a return to order but also a reconnection to nature. A recent trip to Mexico and the mesoamericas, felt to Jorge as forgiveness to his early history and aesthetics. Driven by years of immersion in exotic culture and architectural experience, in 2018, he made the decision to become a freelance architect and artist, going from fields of architectural visualisations to ceramics and furniture, giving special attention to drawings and decorative motives. Every piece is expressed in simple forms and delicate emotions, where fluid silhouettes accompany each other like a soul in companionship. Jorge’s recent creation is titled “Mush” Lamps...
Stainless Steel
$7,945 / item
Nuvol Chandelier 5 Lamps by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Nuvol chandelier 5 lamps by Contain Dimensions: D 90 x W 20 x H 120 cm Materials: Brass structure and matte or glossy glass. Available in different fin...
Brass
Oda in Between Moonlight White White Floor Lamp by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Oda in between moonlight white white floor lamp by Pulpo Dimensions: D45 x H111.2 cm Materials: handblown glass coloured and steel. Also available in different finishes. A s...
Steel
$3,070 / item
Link Pendant by Emilie Cathelineau
Located in Geneve, CH
Link pendant by Emilie Cathelineau Dimensions: D 59 x W 5.5 x H 100 cm Materials: Solid brass, Satin Polycarbonate diffuser, Black textile cable (2m) Others finishes and dimension...
Brass
$2,578 / item
Gaia Green Sconce by Emilie Lemardeley
Located in Geneve, CH
Gaia green sconce by Emilie Lemardeley Dimensions: D38x H19 cm Materials: brass and hand blown glass, Led 12v / 5W Weight: 2 kg Available in different...
Brass
$1,324 / item
Ip Calee V1 Satin Polished Brass Wall Light by POOL
Located in Geneve, CH
IP Calee V1 satin and polished brass wall light by POOL Dimensions: D45 x W4.4 X H13 cm Materials: solid brass, satin and polished brass Others finishes and dimensions available. ...
Brass
Gilt wrought iron by Robert Thibier
Located in PARIS, FR
Very nice gilt wrought iron floor lamp stamped R.THIBIER. Excellent condition.
Wrought Iron
Mácula Flame and Smoke Blown Glass Bronze Table Lamp by Isabel Moncada
Located in Geneve, CH
Mácula Flame and Smoke Blown Glass Bronze Table Lamp by Isabel Moncada Dimensions: D 28 x W 46 x H 53.5 cm. Materials: Cast bronze body, turned brass base, colored blown glass globes...
Brass, Bronze
$9,503 / item
Quartz Pendant Light II by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Quartz pendant light II by Aver Dimensions: W 184 x D 35 x H 30 cm Materials: Natural rocks, high-quality cut crystals, jewelry chains, hand blown...
Stone, Crystal
$1,476 / item
Alba Pendant XL Cable by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Alba pendant XL cable by Contain Dimensions: D 22 x W 22 x H 100 cm (custom leght) Materials: Brass, 3D printed PLA structure and optical lens. Also av...
Brass, Other
$2,683 / item
Beran Satin Nickel Large Wall Light by Bert Frank
Located in Geneve, CH
Beran Satin Nickel Large Wall Light by Bert Frank Dimensions: D 6,5 x W 36 x H 36 cm. Materials: Satin nickel and alabaster. Available in two different sizes. Available in different...
Alabaster, Nickel
$7,886 / set
Set of Big Bubble Pendant Light by Alex de Witte
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of big bubble pendant light by Alex de Witte. Signed Each pendant is unique Dimensions: 1 large D 35 x H 95 cm 1 medium D 28 x H 80 cm 1 small D 21 x H 60 cm Materials: mouth b...
Blown Glass
No.25 B Green - Beige Multi Geometric Square Pendant Lamp by Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
No. 25 pendant lamp by Sander Bottinga Objet Size 3 Dimensions: H 46 -80 x W 31 x D 31 cm Materials: brass, wood, leather, Viscose fringes Variations available. Handmade in br...
Brass
Vintage Italian Postmodern Model Gradi Brevettato Soffitto Ceiling Lamp, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant ceiling or wall light from Cini & Nils from the Gradi series. The glass cylinder on the light head can be rotated manually. It has different pages a...
Metal
$1,804 / item
Rectangular Ceramic Lamp by Project 213A
Located in Geneve, CH
Rectangular Ceramic Lamp by Project 213A Dimensions: W 48 x D 21 x H 66 cm Materials: Ceramic, Wool, Nylon The artisanal ceramic lights h...
Ceramic, Wool, Nylon
$3,128 / item
Molecule 5 Wall Sconce by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
Molecule 5 Wall Sconce by Schwung. Dimensions: W 58.4 x D 22.4 x H 58.4 cm. Materials: Brass, Glass. Also Available: Black Gunmetal. Light Source LED B...
Brass
$1,863 / item
Halo Table Lamp by Camila Apaez
Located in Geneve, CH
Halo Table Lamp by Camila Apaez Unique Materials: Stoneware Dimensions: W 15 x D 22 x H 34 cm Ila Ceramica emerged from a process of inner inquiry where ceramics became a space for ...
Stoneware
$2,320 / item
Tango Sconce by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Geneve, CH
Tango sconce by Paul Matter Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 73 cm Materials: Brass. Available in different finishes. Tango is born from playful experimentation with vintage lightin...
Brass
$3,867 / item
Cactus Small Floor Lamp Grey Brass by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Cactus small floor lamp grey brass by Pulpo. Dimensions: D20 cm x H63 cm. Materials: Borosilicate glass,steel, brass, aluminium Also available in di...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
$8,662 / set
Set of 3 Pendant Lights 020 by Jesper Eriksson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 pendant lights 020 by Jesper Eriksson Dimensions: D20 x H40 cm Materials: Anthracite coal, opal glass Weight: 5 kg All our lamps can b...
Other
Postmodernist Black Lacquered Mask Sconce by Potentiel Paris, France 1980s
By Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Martin Szekely, Philippe Starck, Gilles Derain
Located in Lille, FR
Postmodernist Black Lacquered Masq Sconce by Potentiel Paris, France 1980s
Steel
Italian Lucite Acrylic Modern Table Lamp with New Haptic Lampshade, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian Lucite Acrylic Modern Table Lamp with New Haptic Lampshade, 1970s A sculptural table lamp in the postmodernist style of the 1970s, Made in Italy. The lamp features a body ma...
Chrome
$1,394 / item
Alentejo Brass Table Lamp by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Alentejo Brass Table Lamp by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 44 x W 44 x H 62 cm. Materials: Satin, patinated brass. 2 kg. Available in other metals. Alentejo table lamp...
Brass
$3,222 / item
Barracuda Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi
Located in Geneve, CH
Barracuda Desk Lamp by Lucio Rossi Dimensions: D 20 x W 65 x H 45 cm Material: Aluminum, Stainless steel. Weight: 2,35kg The Barracuda is a desk lamp designed for large tables, with an adjustable head that rotates 360° and tilts. The collectible line is made of unique, short and limited runs of hand made in Italy pieces that have a strong, distinctive aesthetic with sculptural value based on our research into bio-mimicking and bio design. Lucio Rossi Design...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
$3,325 / item
28.3 Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
28.3 Pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D15.2 x H300 cm Materials: white round canopy Weight: 4.25 kg Also available in different dimensions. All our lamps can be wired according to e...
Nickel
Set of Two 'Filicudara' Sconces by Steve Lombardi für Artemide Italy 1980s
Located in München, BY
Set of two amazing Post-Modern sconces or candle holders 'Filicudara'. Designed by Steven Lombardi for Artemide, Italy, 1980s. Makers mark on each sconce. Each of the sconces will b...
Aluminum
Contemporary Polished Brass Wall Sconce, Plus Two Large Lamp by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary Polished Brass Wall Sconce, Plus Two Large Lamp by Paul Matter PLUS Series is a new range of appliqués by Paul Matter that fea...
Brass
$4,136 / item
Oda in Between Smoky Grey Black Floor Lamp by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Oda in between smoky grey black floor lamp by Pulpo Dimensions: D 45 x H 111.2 cm Materials: hand blown glass coloured and steel. Also available in different finishes. A slen...
Steel
$5,437 / item
Paper Wall Lamp by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Paper wall lamp by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 40 x W 15 x H 66 cm Materials: darkened brass, plastic. Available in polished tarnished brass and da...
Brass
Vintage Postmodern Italian Model Bella di Notte Pendant Lamp by Franco, 1970s
By iGuzzini
Located in Hamburg, DE
Impressive pendant light by the Italian manufacturer iGuzzini based on a design by Franco Bresciani. The flat lampshade has a very large diameter of 66 cm and is made of translucent...
Metal
$4,183 / item
with Wall Lamp by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
With wall lamp by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 5 x W 17.7 x H 15 cm Materials: brass All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired for the USA for instance. Curious bright yet small, the LED wall sconce...
Brass
Fly Burnt Brass and Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Fly Burnt Brass and Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 20.5 x W 30.5 x H 33 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Different finishes available: raw brass, aged brass, bu...
Brass
$761 / item
Green Butterfly Wall Sconce by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Green 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 elegan...
Brass
1970s Arcangelo Metropolitano Floor Lamp by Ugo La Pietra
Located in Paris, FR
Ugo La Pietra (né en 1938). Lampadaire Arcangelo Metropolitano Métal et méthacrylate peint Signé ‘Ugo La Pietra’ sur la base Lumen Center Prod. Date de création : 1977 Measures...
Steel
Modern Brushed Stainless Steel Oyster Wall Mounted Lamp With Rod by Carla Baz
By Carla Baz
Located in Geneve, CH
Modern Brushed Stainless Steel Oyster Wall Mounted Lamp With Rod by Carla Baz Dimensions: D 9 x W 30 x H 78 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Weight: 2 kg. Available in Brushed Brass,...
Stainless Steel
$1,546 / item
Mooda Maple Sconce 6 by INDO-
Located in Geneve, CH
Mooda Maple sconce 6 by INDO- Dimensions: Ø 30.5 x 12.7 cm Materials: Bleached maple, Mugla White Stone All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it w...
Mirror, Maple
$30,421 / item
Canal Chandelier by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Canal chandelier by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 116.8 x W 10 x H 114 cm. Materials: darkened brass. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it ...
Brass
$7,370 / set
Set of 2 Digit Desk and Floor Lamp by Studio Pin
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 digit desk and floor lamp by Studio Pin Dimensions: desk: D 85 x W 21 x H 76 cm floor: D 180 x W 37 x H 190 mm Materials: Solid oak. Weight: 6 kg / 46kg content: LED...
Oak
$1,371 / item
87.1 Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
87.1 Pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D 11.6 x H 300 cm Materials: brushed nickel round canopy Weight: 1.4 kg Also available in different dimensions. All our lamps can be wired ac...
Other, Nickel
No. 27 Green-Blue Beige Multi Geometric Square Wall Lamp by Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
No. 28 wall lamp by Sander Bottinga Dimensions: H 46 - 70 x W 31 x D 22 - 30 cm Materials: Brass, Wood, Leather, Viscose Fringes Variations available. Handmade in brass, wood, ...
Brass