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.
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
Rare Post Modern Mesh Flowers Design Single Sconce, 1980s, Belgium
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Rare Post Modern Mesh Flowers Design Single Sconce, 1980s, Belgium Very elegant and Minimalist wall lamp. Lamp is in very good condition. These lamps works with Halogen light bulb...
Metal
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
Mia Wall Light in Ceramic with Glossy Lacquered Finish by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Mia Wall Light in Ceramic with Glossy Lacquered Finish by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 16 x D 11.5 x H 30 cm. Materials: Handmade ceramic structure finished in high-quality colored ...
Ceramic, Lacquer
Mid Century Floor Lamp Fackla, Ikea, Uplighter, Sweden, 1980s
By IKEA
Located in Praha, CZ
- very nice style of lighting.
Plastic
Postmodern White Metal Set of Eight Flush Mounts by Blauet, Barcelona, 1980s
By Blauet
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Pretty Postmodern Spanish Set of Eight white metal Flush Mounts or Wall Sconces by Blauet. Model: Birimbao-2. These fixtures were designed and manufactured in Barcelona (Spain) by Bl...
Metal
Italian Postmodern Wall Light, 1970s
Located in Milan, IT
Monumental Italian Postmodern wall light. Carries 3 light bulbs.
Metal
$3,284 / item
Big Aurum Blue Glass Sconces by Alex de Witte
Located in Geneve, CH
Big Aurum blue glass sconces by Alex de Witte Dimensions: D 30 x H 40 cm Materials: Mouth blown glass It can be purchased as an ensemble or individual...
Blown Glass
$975Sale Price|51% Off
Vintage 1980s Post Modern Brass Flush Mount Light with 4 Zig Zag Cascade Arms
Located in Amityville, NY
Vintage 1980s post modern brass flush mount with 4 articulating eyeball style lights. Each orb light extends down on a zig-zagging down stem. 3 cascade from the main round mounting ...
Brass
No. 31 G Natural Linen Uni Dark Beige Contemporary Pendant Lamp Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
No. 31 G Dark Beige Pendant Lamp Sander Bottinga Dimensions: D 44 x W 68 x H 50 cm. Materials: Brass, leather, wood, and dip-dyed colored viscose. Handmade in brass, leather, wood,...
Brass, Other
Postmodern Vintage Black Floor Lamp by Carlo Forcolini 1989 for Artemide Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
A Postmodern vintage black floor lamp, which was designed by Carlo Forcolini 1989 for Artemide, Italy. It is labeled underneath the base: Art...
Metal
Pilolo Tobacco Alabaster Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Pilolo Tobacco Alabaster Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 11 x W 22 x H 42 cm. Materials: Alabaster. Available in different brass and alabaster options and finishes. Cus...
Alabaster
$6,816 / item
Roller Floor Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Roller Floor Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: ⌀ 35 x H 115 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt Blac...
Alabaster, Copper
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
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
Small Rio Travertine Table Lamp by Harshita Jhamtani Designs
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Rio Travertine Table Lamp by Harshita Jhamtani Designs Dimensions: D 15.2 x H 17.8 cm Materials: Travertine. Available in Green Forest marble, Sandstone, Travertine, or White ...
Travertine
$2,071Sale Price|20% Off
Caviar and Champaign bubbled Murano globe glass wall light, La Murrina, 1960's
By La Murrina
Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, FR
This Murano Glass globe is attributed to La Murrina. The story of the company La Murrina dates back to the 1960s in Murano where there was a small furnace managed by a group of glass...
Brass
$5,507 / item
Horizon #5 Stoneware Lamp by Elisa Uberti
Located in Geneve, CH
Horizon #5 stoneware lamp by Elisa Uberti Unique Limited series of 8 numbered copies + 1 AP Dimensions: D 40 x W 20 x H 65 cm Materials: white Stoneware This product is handmade...
Stoneware
$1,189 / item
Anaka Table Lamp by Saadia Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Anaka Table Lamp by Saadia Design Dimensions: D 28 x W 28 x H 46 cm. Materials: Wood, linen, and rope. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it wi...
Linen, Rope, Wood
$1,377 / item
Ne600 Mat Lamp by MLK Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Ne600 Mat Lamp by MLK Furniture Dimensions: D 20 x W 20 x H 63 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, acrylic. Available in mat, or mat and mirror. Also available in brass, copper, or stai...
Stainless Steel
Midcentury Postmodern Optical Neon Floor Lamp Sculpture after Rudi Stern
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and impressive 1980s neon sculpture designed by Zimmerman Studios and produced by Archigraphics LA in 1987. Comes complete with pedestal as shown. Signed and numbered.
Glass, Acrylic, Wood
$847 / set
White Brut Body Sconces by Di Fretto
Located in Geneve, CH
White Brut Body Sconces by Di Fretto Dimensions: W 26 x D 10 x H 27 cm Materials: White Faience The Body appliques are the 2 sides of the sculpture of a w...
Faience
Contemporary Aged Brass Chandelier, Tryst Six by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary Polished Brass Chandelier, Tryst Six by Paul Matter Tryst chandelier explores the relationship between interlocked forms in perfect unio...
Brass
Post Modern Halogen floor lamp Switzerland 1980s
By Lumess
Located in Den Haag, NL
A minimal and Post Modern floor lamp, Bauhaus, Constructivist, square black lacquered metal base with ''Switzerland" label, vertical axis of square section, adjustable halogen spot...
Metal
Italian Postmodern Tizio Table Lamp by Richard Sapper for Artemide, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
The design classic from the Italian manufacturer Artemide according to a design by Richard Sapper from the 1970s. The Tizio convinces with its clear design language. A minimalist de...
Metal
$14,303 / item
XXL Chandelier by Olivia Cognet
Located in Geneve, CH
XXL Chandelier by Olivia Cognet Dimensions: L 100 cm x W 75 cm x H 32 cm Materials: Ceramic. Non electrified. Weight: 46 kg. Each of Olivia’s handmade creations is a unique work of ...
Ceramic
Small Misalliance Ral Ultramarine Suspended Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Misalliance ral ultramarine suspended light by lexavala. Dimensions: D 16 x W 70 x H 8 cm Materials: powder coated aluminium. There are two lenghts of socket covers, exten...
Aluminum
$1,153 / item
Pearl Plus Brillance Wall Light by Lisa Allegra
Located in Geneve, CH
Pearl plus brillance wall light by Lisa Allegra Dimensions: W 22.5 x D 24 x H 17 cm. Materials: Clay. Available in different finishes: pearl, dusty pink, and blackened gold. All our...
Clay
$4,836 / item
Conca Pendant Lamp by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Conca Pendant Lamp by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 150 x D 12 x H 119 cm, H: Custom made. Materials: Polished Cast Brass. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass Weight: 3 kg. Also available in...
Metal
$13,373 / item
MMM Leaf 12 Pendant Lamp by MM Lampadari
Located in Geneve, CH
MMM Leaf 12 Pendant Lamp by MM Lampadari Dimensions: Ø 150 x H 104/179 cm. Materials: Glass and metal. Different metal finishes are available. All our lamps can be wired according t...
Metal
Hala Zeist Halogen Table Lamp Post Modern 1980s Holland
By Hala Zeist
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice futuristic Post Modern Table lamp . Good quality lamp . Halogen ,comes with a good working dimmer .
Metal
Decorative Southern Cross Brass Glass Pendant Light CRUX by Christopher Boots
Located in Geneve, CH
Decorative Southern Cross Brass Glass Pendant Light CRUX by Christopher Boots Dimensions: 199 x 117.5 x 67.5 cm Materials: Brass and Glass Available in different sizes, configuratio...
Bronze
Ennio Lucini for Harvey Guzzini Dh 'Cespuglio' Table Lamp
By Harvey Guzzini, Ennio Lucini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ennio Lucini for Harvey Guzzini DH (Design House), 'Cespuglio' table lamp, aluminum, acrylic, Italy, 1968 This provocative 'Cespuglio' table lamp (1968) is designed by Ennio Lucini ...
Aluminum
$988 / item
Mod Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Mod Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 14 x W 18 x H 38 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Different finishes available: raw br...
Brass
Small Misalliance Ral Antique Pink Wall Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Misalliance Ral Antique pink wall light by Lexavala Dimensions: D 16 x W 70 x H 8 cm Materials: powder coated aluminium. There are two lengh...
Aluminum
$1,706 / 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
Miro 1980s Post Modern Table Lamp by Murano Due
Located in New York, NY
Murano Due is a lighting company renowned for combining the ancient glassmaking traditions of Murano, Italy with modern technological innovations to create high quality, handcrafted ...
Metal
$25,640 / item
Trina Chandelier by Valentina Giovando
Located in Geneve, CH
Trina Chandelier by Valentina Giovando Dimensions: D 60 x H 120 cm. Materials: Iron, Glass, Sequins, Fabric. Valentina Giovando, Lives and works in Sarzana, in Liguria, and for ove...
Iron
LOP Big Rectangle Red by BằNG - Unboring Object
Located in Geneve, CH
LOP Big Rectangle Red by BằNG - Unboring Object Dimensions: W 24 x D 25.5 x H 60 cm. Materials: acrylic, stainless steel, matte opal glass. Light bulb included and replaceable: E14...
Stainless Steel
$494 / item
Nuvol Simple Wall Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Nuvol simple wall light by Contain. Dimensions: D 10 x H 11 cm Materials: brass structure and opal glass. Available in different finishes. All our lamps can be wired according to ...
Brass
Bloom Clay Table Lamp by Harshita Jhamtani Designs
Located in Geneve, CH
Bloom Clay Table Lamp by Harshita Jhamtani Designs Dimensions: D 16.5 x H 17.8 cm Materials: Stoneware clay. Available in Egg White, Blush Pink, and Charcoal Black. Please contact u...
Clay, Stoneware
Postmodern T+L Royal Series Typ L 133 Glas Wall Lamp from Keuco, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern glass wall light from the t+l royal bathroom cabinet series by keuco. the striking shape of the lamp is particularly eye-catching. A halved cone standing on top. The lamp...
Metal
$1,683 / item
Quartz and Bronze Wall Light I by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Quartz and Bronze Wall Light I by Aver Dimensions: W 18 x D 16 x H 27 cm Materials: Natural rocks, high-quality cut crystals, jewelry chains, hand blown glass, other. Also Available:...
Stone, Crystal, Other
Unique Prickly Pear Velvet 2 Opalines Wall Light by Mickael Koska
Located in Geneve, CH
UniquePrickly Pear Velvet 2 Opalines Wall Light by Mickael Koska Dimensions: Ø 24 cm x H 40 cm. Materials: Opaline glass, velvet finish, ceramic, and textile cord. All our lamps can...
Ceramic, Cord, Opaline Glass
$294 / item
Spotty Black Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
Spotty Black Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: D 5,4 x W 11,5 x H 39,5 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel. Available in different color options. The PVC cord length is 200 cm. Pl...
Steel
$2,636 / item
Chestnut Cicero 26 Table Lamp by Danny Kaplan Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Chestnut Cicero 26 Table Lamp by Danny Kaplan Studio Dimensions: ⌀ 41 x H 66 cm Materials: Glazed Ceramic, Unfinished Brass, Linen This item is handmade, and may exhibit variability...
Brass
"Coral" Floor Lamp by Bohuslav Horak for Anthologie Quartett, 1980s
By Bohuslav Horák, Anthologie Quartett 1
Located in Hellouw, NL
Sometimes, design escapes classification. This 1988 “Coral” floor lamp by Bohuslav Horák for Anthologie Quartett sits confidently in that space—somewhere between sculpture and object...
Metal
$7,587 / item
Galbajo GALSOV12 Pendant Lamp by Mazzega 1946
Located in Geneve, CH
Galbajo GALSOV12 Pendant Lamp by Mazzega 1946 Dimensions: Diam 104 x H 51 cm. Materials: Frame: Polished Chrome. Diffuser: Trasparent Alexandrite. Weight: 12 Kg. The roots of Mazze...
Rock Crystal, Chrome
Postmodern Articulated Pair of Gold Wall Sconces by Estiluz, Barcelona, 1980s
By Estiluz, Leonardo Marelli, Estiluz Lighting
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
$1,682 / item
Quartz Wall Sconce I by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Quartz wall sconce I by Aver Dimensions: W 4 x D 17 x H 35 cm Materials: Natural rocks, high-quality cut crystals, jewelry chains, hand-blown glass, other. Also Available: Matte Blac...
Stone, Crystal, Other
Candelera 04 Blued Steel Hanging Lamp by Federico Stefanovich
Located in Geneve, CH
Candelera 04 Blued Steel Hanging Lamp by Federico Stefanovich Dimensions: D 120 x H 240 cm Material: Steel. Polypropylene light diffusers. Dimmable LED st...
Steel
No. 17 Set of 10 Circle blue/green/grey Pendant Lamps by Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
No. 17 pendant lamp by Sander Bottinga Dimensions: H100 (custom size) x W122 x D48 cm Materials: brass, leather, wood, hand printed and painted linen. Composition made out of 10 p...
Brass
Bendable Post Modern Tube Desk Task Lamp in the Style of Anders Pehrson, 1980's
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Post Modern tubular task desk lamp in the style of Swedish designer Anders Pehrson. This highly functional linear table lamp features a sleek tubular shade that is bendable to direct the light beam as desired. This black high gloss lamp...
Plastic
Michel Aroutcheff, postmodern blue Pencil table lamp, Ed. Vilac France 1980s
Located in Firenze, IT
Postmodern blue 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
Vintage Italian Postmodern Glass Floor Lamp from Lucente, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant glass floor lamp by the Italian manufacturer Lucente. The striking glass diffuser is overlaid in matt blue and sits at the end of a slender shaft. The upper part of the shaf...
Metal
$4,307 / item
Silk #14 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Silk #14 wall light by Margaux Leycuras. One of a Kind, Signed and numbered. Dimensions: Ø55, H46 cm. Material: Ceramic, sandy stoneware platters with a porcelain slip finish. Th...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Stoneware
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 a light gold tint and small air bubbles. Manufactured by Limburg. Very high-quality workmanship. Made...
Brass
$5,754 / item
Rio Floor Lamp by Harshita Jhamtani Designs
Located in Geneve, CH
Rio Floor Lamp by Harshita Jhamtani Designs Dimensions: D 53.3 x H 172.7 cm Materials: Claypaste, metal. Available in Egg White, Blush Pink, Charcoal Black, or Nude. Please contact ...
Metal
First edition of Febo, Leucos, Roberto Pamio and Renato Toso, 1962
By Roberto Pamio & Renato Toso, Leucos
Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, FR
First edition of the Wall light Febo by Leucos and designed by Renato Toso and Roberto Pamio circa 1965. Very rare as few were made. The shade simply pose on the brass arm. The gla...
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