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.
Ostro Green Ceramic Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Ostro Green 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 marble options and finishes. C...
Ceramic, Glass
Postmodern Floor Lamp by Aqua Creations
Located in London, GB
An unusual and rare sculptural postmodern floor lamp by Aqua Creations, c. 1990’s. Organic form covered throughout in hand worked Indian pleated silk. Wonderfully delicate with a s...
Silk
$641 / item
14.1 Single Pendant by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
14.1 Single pendant by Bocci Dimensions: D 11.6 x H 300 cm Materials: brushed nickel Weight: 2 kg Adjustable lengths, Other materials and dimensions can be ordered. All our la...
Nickel
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
$12,308 / item
Mano Standing Lamp by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Mano standing lamp by Umberto Bellardi Ricci. Dimensions: D 18" x W 12" x H 73 in. Materials: Brass, Aluminium base, Led strip. All our lamps can b...
Aluminum, Brass
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
$1,083 / item
White Alabaster Pura Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
White Alabaster Pura Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 58 cm. Materials: Brass, cotton and white alabaster. Also available in different marble, wood and alabaster o...
Alabaster, Brass
Postmodern IKEA Table Lamp, Metal & Plastic, Memphis Style, 1980s
By IKEA
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern table lamp from Ikea from the 1980s. Made in Italy. Colored table lamp in Memphis style, made in Italy. Its postmodern design and color scheme are striking. Graphic eleme...
Metal
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
Maratus 12 Blue Smoke Glass and Polished Bronze Hanging Lamp by Isabel Moncada
Located in Geneve, CH
Maratus 12 Blue Smoke Glass and Polished Bronze Hanging Lamp by Isabel Moncada Dimensions: Ø 110 x H 155 cm. Materials: Cast bronze, blown glass and turned brass. Maratus gets its n...
Brass, Bronze
$1,107 / item
Alba Simple Wall Alabaster Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Alba Simple Wall Alabaster Light by Contain Dimensions: D 15 x H 9.5 cm. Materials: alabaster structure and optical lens. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If so...
Alabaster
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
$1,981 / item
Stainless Steel Floor Lamp 1 by Georgiev Kiril
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless Steel Floor Lamp 1 by Georgiev Kiril Dimensions: W 35 x H 140 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it w...
Stainless Steel
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
Large Round Schonbek Plaza Sparkling Crystal Pendant 7 tier Chandelier
By Schonbek
Located in New York City, NY
The dazzling Plaza pendant crystal chandelier designed by Schonbek exudes elegance as it is adorned with highly shimmering square and rectangular crystal gems. The fixture's sleek g...
Crystal
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
1970s Wall Lights in Silver-Colored Metal & Blown Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wall lights, coated brass, coated aluminum, blown glass, Europe, 1970s Elegant-designed wall lights from Europe, dating back to the 1970s. Its clean and understated structure exudes...
Aluminum, Brass
$2,878 / item
Mesia Ceramic Table Lamp by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Mesia Ceramic Table Lamp by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 38 cm Materials: Ceramics, Glass Available colors: Amber / Green All our lamps can be wired according to each cou...
Ceramic, Glass
$979 / 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
Beige Ceramic Josef Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Ceramic Josef Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 41.5 cm. Materials: Brass, cotton and ceramic. Also available in different marble, wood and alabaster options ...
Brass
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
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
NUA Floor Lamp in Japanese Paper and Stainless Steel by CHRISTOPHE PERICHON
Located in Geneve, CH
NUA Floor Lamp in Japanese Paper and Stainless Steel by CHRISTOPHE PERICHON. Dimensions: W 320 x D 220 x H 150 cm. Materials: Japanese paper and mirror-polished stainless steel. Man...
Stainless Steel
Italian Postmodern Model Pao T2 Table Lamp by Matteo Thun for Arteluce, 1990s
By Arteluce
Located in Hamburg, DE
The large T2 table lamp version from the Pao lamp series by Matteo Thun. The Pao lamps captivate with their characteristic diffuser made of frosted glass. However, it is rather the ...
Glass, Wood
Superb Quality Holtkotter Floor lamp . 1980s Germany
By Holtkoetter
Located in Den Haag, NL
Top of the line ,this Holtkotter Floor lamp . Beautiful frosted Glass boat shaped shade . Halogen 2x 250 watt ,comes with a good working dimmer in the middle of the lamp .Nice Two t...
Aluminum
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
Polifemo Floor Lamp by Carlo Forcolini for Artemide, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
During the 1980s, Artemide produced an Italian postmodern floor lamp crafted by the renowned designer Carlo Forcolino. This lamp features...
Metal
$4,800 / set
Post-Modern Memphis-Style Floorlamps, 1980s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dynamic pair of 1980s sculptural Memphis-style floor lamps. Both with a black enameled L-shaped body with a wooden base. Each lamp has its own unique abstract linear elements that attach from the lamps' base to the head, both in different colors of blue and red and feature a yellow ring attached to the stem and head. Very similar to the designs of Ettore Sottsass and Gianfranco Frattini. Beautiful abstract pieces that will enrich a contemporary interior, and stand out in a living room, study, or bedroom, infusing a colourful flair. Very rare pieces...
Metal
Contemporary Textured Brass Chandelier, Tryst Three by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary Textured Brass Chandelier, Tryst Three by Paul Matter Tryst chandelier explores the relationship between interlocked forms in perfect union a...
Brass
$7,512 / 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 Zen Table Lamp by Sergio & Oscar Devesa for Metalarte, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
A rare table light from the Spanish manufacturer Metalarte after a design by Sergio & Oscar Devesa from the 80s. The shape of this design is based on the properties and possibilitie...
Metal
Large Brass & Stainless Steel Dome Pendant Lamp by Rock & Soar, 120 cm
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Dome Pendant Lamp by Rock and Soar Dimensions: D 120 x H 500 cm Materials: Brass, Stainless Steel, Anodised Brass Colour. 100 Wings, 8 Halo Lights. About: Founded by creative...
Brass, Stainless Steel
'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
$4,266 / item
Silk #19 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Silk #19 wall light by Margaux Leycuras One of a Kind. Signed and numbered. Dimensions: Ø 54 x H 58 cm Material: Ceramic, sandy stoneware platters with a porcelain slip finish. T...
Ceramic, Porcelain
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
XXL POP Art Desk Lamp In The Postmodern Memphis Style of Haba 80s, 90s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
XXL POP Art desk lamp in the postmodern Memphis style of Haba 80s, 90s Very nice and rare postmodern desk lamp from Haba from the 80s, 90s. The flexible lamp can serve both as a des...
Wood
$1,095 / item
Green Marble Pura Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Marble Pura Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 58 cm. Materials: Brass, cotton and green marble. Also available in different marble, wood and alabaster options...
Marble, Brass
One for the Recession Wall Lamp by Ingo Maurer, 1985
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Weesp, NL
Rare Ingo Maurer 1985 wall lamp one for the Recession in great vintage condition as can be seen in the images. This beautiful heart will be shipp...
Metal
$559 / item
Lune Raw Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Lune Raw 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. Electrical syste...
Ceramic, Cotton
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
$25,386 / 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
Beautiful 1970s Limburg Smoked Glass Ceiling Lamp in Octagonal Shape
Located in München, BY
Beautiful original 1970s smoked glass ceiling lamp in an octagonal shape. The shade has a light brown tint. Manufactured by Limburg. Very high-quality workmanship. Made in Germany. ...
Brass
Italian Postmodern Iridescent Murano Glass Cone Table Lamp, 1980s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty Murano glass Cone shape Table Lamp. This fixture was made and manufactured during the 1980s in Italy. This Table Lamp is equipped with one light socket (E27). A professional e...
Metal
$195Sale Price|40% Off
Vintage Red Pencil Table Lamp Pop Art Style, 1980s
By Lightolier
Located in Amityville, NY
Vintage Red Pencil Table Lamp Pop Art Style, 1980s. This table lamp, in the form of an oversized pencil, is representative of the 1980s trend of making large versions of everyday obj...
Wood
Achille Castiglioni Teli Kd51/R light Flos - Italy 1970s
Located in London, GB
Light is tempered and diffused by these rare pendants, an elegant contrast of primary modernist shapes and textured fabric. Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) and his brother Pier Giaco...
Steel
$1,363 / 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
$3,251 / 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
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
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
$1,142 / 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
Postmodern Aluminium Sconce "Cyrano" by Bernard Dequet for Lucien Gau, 1990s.
By Philippe Starck, Maison Lucien Gau
Located in Lille, FR
Postmodern Aluminium Sconce "Cyrano" by Bernard Dequet for Lucien Gau, 1990s.
Aluminum
$5,454 / 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
$839 / 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
Ico Parisi Iride Floor Aluminium Lamp Lower Version by Cassina
By Ico Parisi
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ico Parisi Iride Floor Aluminium Lamp by Cassina Ico Parisi’s fascination with the integration of design, art and architecture led to the creation of a floor lamp in the 1970s re-ed...
Aluminum
Mid Century Floor Lamp Fackla, Ikea, Uplighter, Sweden, 1980s
By IKEA
Located in Praha, CZ
- very nice style of lighting.
Plastic
Exclusive Gold Ceramic Pendant Lamp by Licht+Wohnen, Karlsruhe, 1970s, Germany
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Exclusive gold ceramic pendant lamp by Licht+Wohnen, Karlsruhe, 1970s, Germany. Lampshade is in very good vintage condition. This lamp works with E27 light bulb. Wired and su...
Ceramic
$1,666 / 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
Swedish Designer, Sconces, Brass, Rattan, Sweden, c. 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass and rattan sconces designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Sold with Lampshade. Dimensions stated are of Wall Light with S...
Brass
Pair of Pearl Necklace Pendant Lights, Ludovic Clément D’armont
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of pearl necklace pendant lights - Ludovic Clément d’Armont Every creation of Ludovic Clément d’Armont can be made to order in any requested dimensions. Please contact us for c...
Brass
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