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.
'Ecate' Table Lamp by Toni Coredro for Artemide
By Toni Cordero, Artemide
Located in Dallas, TX
A vintage 1990s ‘Ecate’ table lamp designed by Toni Cordero for Artemide, reflecting the era’s bold approach to form and material. Defined by its sculptural form, the piece is finish...
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Chocolate Brown Medium Sonora Linen Table Lamp by NASSI
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate Brown Medium Sonora Linen Table Lamp by NASSI Dimensions: W 35 x D 35 x H 58 cm. Materials: Lampshade: coated iron, warm white Cotton Lining. Base: wood-fired clay with be...
Clay, Cotton
No. 20 Set of 3 Circle Blue Green Grey Wall Sconces by Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
Circle blue grey, wall sconce ensemble, Sander Bottinga Handmade in brass, leather, wood and linen. A dimmer is inlaid with leather. Also possible without a dimmer Dimensions: H 3...
Brass
$1,250Sale Price|30% Off
Aha Table Lamp by Demeter, France, c.1980
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT This rare 1980s French postmodern "Aha" table lamp, designed by Olivier Verlet for Demeter, features an ingenious articulated body crafted from a heavy-duty aluminum folding d...
Aluminum, Brass
'Ecate' Table Lamp by Toni Cordero for Artemide, Italy
By Artemide, Toni Cordero
Located in Argelato, BO
'Ecate' table lamp by Toni Cordero for Artemide. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1990. A stone-like, cast-bronze base and conical stem with both brass and steel chain-mai...
Brass, Steel
$1,406 / item
Charlie CHATAMBG Table Lamp by Mazzega 1946
Located in Geneve, CH
Charlie CHATAMBG Table Lamp by Mazzega 1946 Dimensions: W 28 x D 28 x H 50 cm. Materials: Polished Chrome. Diffuser: White. Weight: 012 Kg. The roots of Mazzega1946 are in Murano,...
Chrome
Bernhard Dessecker, Swingading Floor Lamp, Ingo Maurer / Design M, Germany, 1993
By Ingo Maurer, Susanne and Bernhard Dessecker
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
A MINIMAL RADICAL "Privat" FLOOR LAMP by FRANZ WEST, META-MEMPHIS, Italy 1990
By Franz West
Located in PARIS, FR
A spectacular and iconique floor lamp in steel; Modern, Bauhaus, Constructivist, Forme-Libre; called "Privat lamp", by the Austrian artist Franz West (1947-2012), ed. Memphis, Italy ...
Steel
$6,500 / set
Golden Murano Glass Floral Flush Lamps 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful set of two hand blown flower shaped Murano gold infused glass flush ceiling lamps circa 1980 with golden hardware. Rewired . 3 sockets each.
Gold
Double Bronze Sconce by Solis Betancourt for Holly Hunt
By HOLLY HUNT, José Solís Betancourt 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the exquisite "Double Bronze" Sconce by Solis Betancourt for Holly Hunt, a sophisticated addition to elevate your interior décor. Crafted ...
Bronze
$4,288 / item
Silk #17 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Silk #17 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
Beautiful 1970s Limburg glass ceiling lamp in octagon shape
Located in München, BY
Beautiful original 1970s glass ceiling lamp in an octagonal shape. The shade has small air bubbles. Manufactured by Limburg. Very high-quality workmanship. Made in Germany. Mounts d...
Brass
Large triangular 80s ceiling light made of Murano glass by LaMurrina Italy
By La Murrina
Located in München, BY
Beautiful Italian ceiling light from the 1970s. Manufactured by La Murrina. Made in Italy. Stunning postmodern design in the shape of a triangular pyramid. Crafted from solid Murano...
Metal, Chrome
A Pair Of Travertine and Brass Floor Lamps By Michael Taylor
Located in London, GB
A Pair of floor lamps from the post modern era by American designer Michael Taylor, with travertine bases supporting a tapering stem with travertine sphere decorated with brass accen...
Travertine, Brass, Iron
Italian Postmodern Aggregato Pendant Lamp by Enzo Mari & Giancarlo Fassina 1970s
By Artemide
Located in Hamburg, DE
Train pendant lamp from the aggregato series from the italian manufacturer artemide according to a design by enzo mari and giancarlo fassina from the 197...
Metal
1970s Chandelier in Silver-Colored Metal & Blown Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Chandelier, lacquered metal, blown glass, Europe, 1970s This remarkable chandelier, hailing from Europe, commands attention with its impressive size of 115 cm (45.27 inches). Design...
Metal
$2,261 / item
L04 Lamp by Sophie Vaidie
Located in Geneve, CH
L04 Lamp by Sophie Vaidie One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 24 x W 35 x H 60 cm. Materials: Beige brutal stoneware with fine chamotte and white linen fabric....
Porcelain, Stoneware, Linen
'Tobruk' table lamp by Matteo Thun & Andrea Lera for Bieffeplast - 1980s
By Bieffeplast, Matteo Thun, Andrea Lera
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Memphis - Italian Design - 1980s Masures : 24x24cm H:16,5cm Designer and Year: Designed in 1984-1985 by Matteo Thun, founding member of the famous Memphis group. Series: It is part ...
Metal
Havano White Alabaster Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Havano White Alabaster Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 13 x W 25 x H 25 cm. Materials: Alabaster. Custom options available on...
Alabaster
Terre Tobacco Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Terre Tobacco Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions Unique Piece. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 30 x H 22 cm. Base: H 30 cm. Materials: Jute and ceramic. Weight: 2,4 kg. All our lamps can ...
Ceramic, Jute
$1,218Sale Price|20% Off
Golden limited edition. Table lamp by Jorge Pensi for B-Lux, Spain, 1980s
By Jorge Pensi
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Post-Modern and Hollywood Regency style table lamp designed by Jorge Pensi for the Spanish brand B-Lux, 1980s. Made of polished injected aluminum, and chrome plated in gold. The shad...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass, Chrome
Unique Luminaries N12 Sculptural Table Lamp by Maria Loram
By Maria Loram
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Luminaries N12 Sculptural Table Lamp by Maria Loram Dimensions: W 15.2 x D 15.2 x H 38 cm Materials: Ceramics, paper, and lamp parts. Colors: Black/Brown. Custom dimensions a...
Ceramic, Paper
Sputnik Chandelier with in Glass and Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sputnik chandelier, brass, opaline glass, Europe, 1970s. This Sputnik chandelier features six exquisite glass globes. The fixture is an elegant and striking design with six gracefu...
Brass
Set of 2 Complementary Pêle-mêle Table Lamps by Daniel Schneiger
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Complementary Pêle-Mêle Table Lamps by Daniel Schneiger One of a Kind. Shade not included. Dimensions: D 15,3 x W 23 x H 45,8 cm (each). Materials: Cast from gypsum plaster....
Plaster
$3,480 / item
Plat Pendant 40/42 by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Plat pendant 40/42 by Contain Dimensions: D 42 x H 100 cm (custom length). Materials: Brass structure, opal glass and blown glass from local production. Available in different fin...
Brass
Postmodern Italian Aggregato Braccio Wall Lamp by Enzo Mari & Giancarlo, 1970s
By Enzo Mari, Giancarlo Fassina
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare wall or ceiling light from the Aggregato series by the Italian manufacturer Artemide based on a design by Enzo Mari and Giancarlo Fassina from the 70s. The widely projecti...
Metal
Michelle Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Michelle Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions Unique Piece. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 40 x H 20 cm. Base: H 30 cm. Materials: Jute and ceramic. Weight: 4,7 kg. Elect...
Ceramic, Jute
Set Of 2 Nueé Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamps by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Nueé Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamps by Grès Éditions Unique Pieces. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 30 x H 40 cm. Base: H 46 cm. Materials: Ecru cotton and ceramic. Weight: ...
Ceramic, Cotton
$1,581 / item
Artefacto LS 16 Floor Lamp by Lørdag & Søndag
Located in Geneve, CH
Artefacto LS 16 Floor Lamp by Lørdag & Søndag Dimensions: D 46 x W 46 x H 130 cm. Materials: Wicker. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it ...
Wicker
$17,858 / item
Georgina Magnolia Sconces by 7Gods Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Georgina Magnolia Sconces by 7Gods Studio Dimensions: D 25 x W 35 x H 120 cm Materials: Branch: Carbon fibre, Flower: Hand beaten brass Weight: from 2-7 kg About: Taking the enduri...
Carbon Fiber
$1,699 / item
Slim WS 96 Wall Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Slim WS 96 Wall Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 6 x H 96 cm Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Black Nickel Finish) Also Available: Satin Gold and Nickel finishes All our lamps ca...
Alabaster, Copper
$6,497 / item
Luigi Floor Lamp by Edoardo Lietti Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Luigi Floor Lamp by Edoardo Lietti Studio Color: Wood Bicolor, dark brown & bright brown Dimensions: 46 x 40 x H200 cm Weight: 20 kg Natural pigme...
Stainless Steel
Pair Of Post-Modern Wall Lights By Holtkoetter Germany 1980's Brass Articulating
By Holtkoetter
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of vintage wall lamps (sconces) by Holtkoetter, Germany, ca' 1980's. High quality, brass construction. Each one with articulating arm. Takes 100 watt bulb, dimmer switch. Fully extended sconces...
Brass
Delphe White Cream Matt Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Delphe White Cream Matt Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions Unique Piece. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 32 x H 26 cm. Base: H 35 cm. Materials: Ecru cotton and ceramic. Weight: 2,8 kg. D...
Ceramic, Cotton
$1,195 / item
Three Edges Wall Light by Square in Circle
Located in Geneve, CH
Three Edges Wall Light by Square in Circle Dimensions: D19 x W50 x H8 cm Materials: Brushed brass/ brushed grey metal/ white opaque diffuser Other finishes available. This sleek and modern picture light...
Metal, Brass
Early Edition Mario Botta Black&White 'Fidia' Wall Applique Artemide Italy, 1986
By Artemide, Mario Botta
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
The simple geometry found in Mario Botta’s buildings is also reflected in this lamp — Fidia, designed by Botta for Artemide in 1986 as a wall lamp features a clear, reduced geometr...
Metal, Aluminum
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
$10,077 / item
Super Loft Pendant by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Super Loft Pendant by United Alabaster ByBlasco Dimensions: W 210 x D 15 x 10 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish...
Alabaster, Copper
$4,335 / item
Sculptural Light No. 67 by Milla Vaahtera
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural light no. 67 by Milla Vaahtera. Dimensions: W 85 x L 40 x H 60 cm. Materials: glass, brass. In 2020 Milla Vaahtera started a series of unique sculptural lights made o...
Brass
$1,007 / item
28sp Wall Lamp by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
28sp wall lamp by Bocci Dimensions: Diameter 16.5 x H 11.5 cm Materials: blown glass, electrical components, metal mounting plate Lamping: : 1.5w LED or 20w xenon. Non-dimmable. ...
Metal, Steel, Nickel
A RADICAL POST-MODERN Neon TABLE or DESK LAMP by GERALD ABRAMOVITZ, England 1970
By Gerald Abramovitz, Best & Lloyd
Located in PARIS, FR
A rare table lamp, Post-Modernist, Memphis, Kinetic, Radical Design, Minimalist, rectangular base with aluminum cover housing a transformer, vertical axis and adjustable aluminum arm...
Metal
$1,570 / 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
"La Falene" Table Lamp ITALY 1980s
Located in Forest, BE
Designed by Piero de Martini for Arteluce the “Le Falene” lamp consists of a white and diffusible drape on top of a red lacquered structure. The design of this piece is delicate and ...
Metal
Tolomeo Table Lamp Michele De Lucchi Giancarlo Fassina Artemide Italy PostModern
By Artemide, Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Tolomeo Table Lamp, an iconic piece of Italian lighting design. It was designed in 1987 (some sources cite 1989) by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina ...
Aluminum
$474Sale Price / set|50% 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
Large Misalliance Ex Antique Pink Suspended Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Misalliance Ex antique pink 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. The...
Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel
$4,335 / item
Giotto Large Hanging Lamp by Roberto Paoli
Located in Geneve, CH
Giotto Large Hanging Lamp by Roberto Paoli Dimensions: Ø 140 x H 7 cm. Materials: Metal and polyethylene. This product is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Available in three di...
Metal, Other
AVMazzega style. Palm Beach Regency Murano glass pendant lamp, Italy, 1970s
By La Murrina, Novaresi, AVMazzega, Barovier&Toso, Carl Fagerlund
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Palm Beach Regency style Murano glass pendant lamp in the style of Angelo Vittorio Mazzega, Italy, 1970s. Composed of two translucent handmade, blown and molded glass diffusers with ...
Metal, Chrome
$1,347 / item
Alba Monocle Exterior Wall Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Alba Monocle Exterior Wall Light by Contain Dimensions: D 8 x W 8 x H 10 cm. Materials: Brass, 3D printed PLA structure and optical lens. Available in d...
Brass, Other
Vintage set of three sconces by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide. Italy 1980s
Located in Catania, CT
Very good vintage condition with normal trace of age and use for this set of three dimmable wall lamps designed by Ernesto Gismondi and produced in Italy by Artemide during the 80s. ...
Metal, Chrome
Ingo Maurer Bibibibi Table Lamp, Signed, Germany, 1980s
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Designed in 1982 by German designer Ingo Maurer, the Bibibibi table lamp is an iconic creation of 1980s postmodern design that integrates ready-made industrial elements with refined ...
Metal
$1,195 / item
Mini Quartz Drop Lamp by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Mini Quartz Drop Lamp by Aver Dimensions: D 8 x H 16 cm Materials: White quartz, ceramic, metal. A series of lamps molded in a lively, imperfect, and organic ceramic texture, in con...
Quartz, Metal
$2,800Sale Price / set|39% Off
Pair of Fratelli Martini Bronze Floral Italian 1980s Wall Lamps (5)
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of polished bronze floral wall lamps with overlapping petals. Thick heavy bronze over 10 pounds each. Newly rewired. Made by Italia...
Bronze
"Terminus" Floor Lamp by Martine Bedin, Memphis Design, 1981
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
You will NEVER find a Pop Art Lamp more anthropomorphic than this one!!!! TERMINUS, designed by Martine Bedin for Memphis Milano, is a floor lamp made with a fire-painted metal stru...
Metal
Scandinavian Danish Postmodern Red Pendant Lights by NordLux, Pair
By Nordlux
Located in New York, NY
A pair/set of two (2) Danish Postmodern pendant lights in red gloss enamel by NordLux, circa late-20th century, Denmark. Each are marked "Made in Den...
Enamel
Lune Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Lune Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions Unique Piece. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 16 x H 23 cm. Base: H 20 cm. Materials: Ecru cotton and ceramic. Weight: 1,2 kg. El...
Ceramic, Cotton
$3,691 / item
Fleur Edera 8 Chandelier by MM Lampadari
Located in Geneve, CH
Fleur Edera 8 Chandelier by MM Lampadari Dimensions: Ø 75 x H 70 cm. Materials: Satin borosilicate glass and metal. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to ...
Metal
"Rhino" Lamp by Christian Dufay for Abode, France 1994
Located in Hellouw, NL
The Rhino lamp by Christian Dufay for Abode stands as a striking exploration of form and material. This sculptural piece captures attention with its fluid curves and structural balance, offering an interplay between light and shadow that transforms any space. Design Drawing from both mid-century and contemporary influences, the lamp merges organic inspiration with minimalist design. Dufay’s creation recalls the ethereal quality of Isamu Noguchi’s lanterns...
Fabric
Post Modern Murano Chandelier in the style of Ponti for Venini
Located in New York, NY
Brightly colored art glass chandelier made in Murano, Italy, in the style of Gio Ponti, for Venini, circa 1980/90's. The chandelier features eight arms, in polychrome saturated col...
Art Glass
Ostro Ecru Ceramic Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Ostro Ecru Ceramic Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 17 x W 31 x H 31 cm. Materials: Ceramic and glass. Available in different ceramic and marbl...
Marble