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.
Ettore Sottsass Memphis Milano Diva Vintage Wall Mirror, Italy, 1984
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group, Memphis Milano
Located in Vienna, AT
A post-modern wall-mounted mirror, Model „Diva" designed in 1984 by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano, Italy. This mirror is a vintage original from the 1980s, made from wood and mi...
Glass, Mirror, Laminate, Wood
Floral Layered Mirror by David Marshall
Located in Denton, TX
Floral Red Daffodil layered mirror by David Marshall. This could make a great bathroom vanity mirror or for above a dresser.
Mirror
Memphis Style Postmodern Mirror, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mirror is maximalist heaven. Handmade in the late 20th century and influenced by the Memphis Design style, it features bold colors and silhouettes, With wavy edges and pointed c...
Mirror, Wood
Postmodern Square Beige Wall Mirror with a Beveled Glass, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, November 5th 1974. This mirror features a beige beveled mirror frame. The back is stamped with the date of manufacture. It might show slight traces of use since it's ...
Mirror
Distorting Square Wall Mirror in Polished Stainless Steel by Julien Vidame
Located in Geneve, CH
Distorting Square Wall Mirror in Polished Stainless Steel by Julien Vidame. Dimensions: W 94 x D 3 x H 94 cm. Materials: Mirror polished stainless steel. Inspired by a serendipitous encounter in a vintage café in the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, Julien Vidame reinvented the deforming mirror using noble materials. Unlike mass-produced plastic versions, each piece is a unique, patented work crafted from thick, mirror-polished stainless steel that reflects with clarity while offering fluid, ever-changing undulations. The result is a 'living' reflection that shifts dynamically with the observer's movement, creating a constant dialogue between the object and the space. Julien Vidame's career as a designer began with a childhood passion for sketching that evolved into a professional vocation. After gaining experience in London’s design scene, he returned to Brittany to establish Vidame Édition and develop his signature prototypes. His early success was defined by the "Vague" range, which showcased his technical ingenuity through the creation of a custom folding machine and secured the Prix Découverte at Maison & Objet in 2009. The designer achieved ultimate international acclaim in 2022 through high-profile collaborations and awards. His "Coquillage" shelf received the prestigious FD100 prize at the Elysée Palace, honoring it as one of the top projects promoting French creation globally. This period of success was further highlighted by his work for Gucci’s Milan Fashion Week show, where he provided 260 of his patented distorting mirrors...
Stainless Steel
Asymmetric Wall Mirror with several different layers created by David Marshall
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Asymmetric Wall Mirror with several different layers created by David Marshall. David Marshall has been designing and manufacturing furniture accessories since 1972, specializing in ...
Mirror
Ebru Two-Tone Stone Wall Mirror, Onyx & Marble, Post-Modern Design
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Ebru Mirror is a sculptural design that blends modern curves with classic elegance, offering a timeless presence in any space. Its distinctive two-tone stonework creates a sense ...
Onyx, Marble, Travertine
$1,600 / set
1970s Modern Console Vanity with Mirror
Located in Forney, TX
A vintage Post-Modernist hall console / vanity dressing table and mirror, circa 1970s, having a curved woven cane and brass framed flat mirror plate, abov...
Brass
Ultrafragola Mirror, Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova, 1970
By Ettore Sottsass, Poltronova
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Ultrafragola light mirror was designed by Ettore Sottsass, with its sinuous silhouette, evocative of a wavy feminine hair, belongs to the series of Mobili Grigi, a complete bedro...
Mirror, Plastic
Maitland Smith Post Modern Octagonal Emerald Green Tessellated Marble Mirror
By Karl Springer, Maitland Smith
Located in Chicago, IL
Maitland Smith Post Modern / Art Deco style Octagonal Emerald Green Tessellated Marble Wall Mirror with brass inlay.
Stone, Brass
$3,528 / item
Bare Green Wall Mirror by OOM Contemporary Glass
Located in Geneve, CH
Bare Green Wall Mirror by OOM Contemporary Glass Dimensions: Ø 95 cm. Materials: Silver nitrate on 5 mm green curved glass. Discover the Dome Collection, where glass artistry meets ...
Other
$4,244 / item
Gaelle Mirror by Philippe Colette
Located in Geneve, CH
Gaelle mirror by Philippe Colette Dimensions: D 60 x H 90 cm Materials: mineral lime plaster. With or without indirect lighting. All shapes and sizes can...
Plaster
$1,497 / item
Diamond Large Mirror Emerald
Located in Geneve, CH
Diamond large mirror emerald Dimensions: W 72 x D 6.2 x H 100 cm Material: 4 mm faceted mirror on black painted MDF Weight: 12.8 kg The Diamond large mirror illustrates a perfect combination of function and art. This unique mirror is inspired by the dazzling Art Deco era with its striking diamond shaped wedges, and yet it still manages to invoke a classic feel when placed in the right setting. Reflections Copenhagen, a collection of handmade decorative mirrors and Crystal pieces, finely balanced to challenge the traditional styles and shapes of todays’ homes by adding new dimensions and possibilities to interior decorating. Julie Hugau and Andrea Larsson, inspired by the graphic expression of Art Deco, the vast contrasts of the 1980s and the opportunity to explore the delicate materials that the mirrors are made of, combined their visions and the start of Reflections was a fact. The collection sums up their perspectives of how to provide new expressions through strength and form, the mirrors are designed with a strong visual structure to create a contrast of light and reflections through non-traditional mirror images. A concept built on Julie’s flair for design and production, Andrea’s eye for interior and colors together with their shared vision of creating a product that unites art and decor. Remember, everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you made. If you want a different result, make a different choice Welcome to the world of Reflections. The beauty of craftmanship All Reflections...
Mirror
1970s Champagne Gold Italian "Unghia" 'Nail' / Lipstick Floor Mirror by Benetto
By Roger Lecal, Rodolfo Bonetto
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Discover this striking 1970s "Unghia" (nail) or lipstick floor mirror in a luscious champagne gold, designed by Rodolfo Benetto for Benetto Italia. Rem...
Mirror, Paint
$13,862 / item
Slit Mirror by Phillip Jividen
Located in Geneve, CH
Slit mirror by Phillip Jividen Limited Edition of 25 Dimensions: W 71 x D 3 x H 94 cm Materials: Brass Also available in H 112. Please contact us. Tak...
Brass
Postmodern Danish Round Wall Mirror
Located in New York, NY
A chic Post-Modern Scandinavian Danish off-white cream and black round wall mirror, circa late-20th century, Denmark. Mirror's frame is an off-...
Mirror, Plastic
$724 / item
Venezia Laguna Mirror by Morici
Located in Geneve, CH
Venezia Laguna Mirror by Morici Dimensions: W 57 x H 81 cm Materials: Wood, inlay veneer. Finish : Gloss brushed polyester. About: Driven by a passion for craftsmanship, Luciano Mor...
Wood
$3,923 / item
Sammukhin Wall Mirror by Studio Indigene
Located in Geneve, CH
Sammukhin Wall Mirror by Studio Indigene Dimensions: D 17.78 x W 91.44 x H 152.4 cm Materials: Reclaimed Teak Wood, Brass. Colors Brown; Natural Wooden Finish Sammukhin / समुखन्, s...
Brass
Leaf Bronze Maxi Sculptural Standing Mirror by GTG Design Couture
Located in Geneve, CH
Leaf Bronze Maxi Sculptural Standing Mirror by GTG Design Couture Special Edition of 7 Pieces + 1 AP Dimensions: D 20 x W 145 x H 250 cm. Materials: Mirror, clear float glass, stain...
Stainless Steel
$6,931 / item
Green Aura Wall Mirror by OOM Contemporary Glass
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Aura Wall Mirror by OOM Contemporary Glass Dimensions: Ø 104 cm. Materials: Copper luster and ceramic enamels on green glass, mixed techniques. Discover the Dome Collection, w...
Copper, Enamel
An Elegant POST-MODERN MODERNIST Rectangular Bronze WALL MIRROR, France 1990
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant rectangular wall mirror, Art-Deco, Post-Modernist, Bauhaus, Constructivist, with an offset rectangular frame in American box style in bronze inlaid wood with a gunmetal pa...
Brass, Bronze
$9,016 / item
Drop of Silver on Copper V Mirror by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Drop of Silver on Copper V Mirror by Homa Dimensions: W 49 x D 5 x H 49 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Silver Mirror. Copper Frame. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based in Istan...
Glass
$9,016 / item
Drop of Silver on Copper III Mirror by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Drop of Silver on Copper III Mirror by Homa Dimensions: W 49 x D 5 x H 49 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Silver Mirror. Copper Frame. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based in Ist...
Glass
Beautiful People II Mirror in Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Beautiful People II Mirror in Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: D 18 x W 55 x H 85 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated c...
Bronze
Post-Modern Italian Wall Mirror in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mirror, walnut, Italy, 1980s This Italian wall mirror from the 1980s is defined by its sleek design. The tall, narrow format emphasizes verticality, while the solid walnut frame add...
Mirror, Walnut
Postmodern Hollywood Regency Wall Mirror, Glass & Metal, Vintage 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
A mirror of imposing size and heavy quality. A metal plate serves as a support. The mirror surface is bordered and widens upwards. On the sides there are black moldings. Above and be...
Metal
Perfumer Extra Large Wall Mirror With Hand-Molded Bronze Frame by Vogel Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Perfumer Extra Large Wall Mirror With Hand-Molded Bronze Frame by Vogel Studio Dimensions: Ø 71 x H 107 cm. Materials: Cast bronze and mirror. Available in three different sizes. Pr...
Bronze
Decorative Op Art Post Modern Wall Mirror by Hal Bienenfeld c 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional decorative, Post Modern, Op Art style wall mirror by noted glass/mirror artist Hal Bienenfeld, circa 1970's. The mirror features a silvered mirror ground, with tinted bow...
Mirror
bieffeplast Double Mirror / articulating swivel arm 1980s Italy/ Rodney Kinsman
By Bieffeplast, Rodney Kinsman
Located in Buffalo, NY
This Modernist Double Mirror by Rodney Kinsman for Bieffeplast is a beautiful vintage piece from Italy in the 1980s . It’s a Two-piece swivel double mirror on iron frame which can be...
Metal, Steel
$8,631 / item
Lunar X-Large Hand-Sculpted Mirror, Laurene Guarneri
Located in Geneve, CH
Lunar X-large hand-sculpted mirror, Laurene Guarneri Limited edition. Handmade. Materials: Sky blue colored mirror, dark blue colored mirror, da...
Glass, Mirror
$1,735 / item
Eye of the Tiger Mirror
Located in Geneve, CH
Eye of the tiger mirror. Dimensions: W 132.2 x D 3.5 x H 79.6 cm Material: 4 mm faceted mirror on black painted MDF Weight: 10 kg. The Reflections Copenhagen Eye of the Tiger mirror illustrates the magnificence of light as it bounces back and meets the eye. Take a deep breath and enjoy the magic of Reflections Copenhagen mirror artworks...
Mirror
Vintage Carved Wood Lotus Blossom Beveled Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage Carved Wood Lotus Blossom Beveled Mirror. Offered is a stunning Post-Modern carved wood mirror in the shape of lotus blossoms surrouning a round beveled central mirrored pane...
Mirror, Wood
$1,473 / item
Medium Onde Mirror by Studio Kallang
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Onde Mirror by Studio Kallang Dimensions: W 80 x D 5 x H 60 cm Materials: Solid Sungkai. STUDIO KALLANG IS A SINGAPORE AND SEATTLE BASED PROJECT FOCUSING ON OBJECTS DESIGNED...
Wood
$2,865 / item
Domina II 90 Wall Mirror by Atlas Project
Located in Geneve, CH
Domina II 90 Wall Mirror by Atlas Project Dimensions: D 4/6 x Ø 90 cm. Materials: Leather, brushed brass, mirror, and wood. Available in different finishes and sizes. Please contac...
Marble
$1,200 / item
Mirrò Mirror by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Mirrò mirror by Mingardo Dimensions: D 26 x W 6 x H 32 cm Materials: Iron and natural brass, mirror Weight: 4 kg Also available in different finishes. Mirrò is a small des...
Brass, Iron
Pair of Late 20th Century Large Postmodern Beveled Mirrored Bifold Screens
Located in Elkton, MD
A pair of large contemporary mirrored bifold screens featuring three beveled mirror panels on each side, folding in half for versatile placement. Dimens...
Metal
Full Length Mirror in Powder Coated Steel and Glass by Laylo Studio
By Laylo Studio
Located in Chicago, IL
A glossy, powder-coated steel frame with glass mirror and hardwood ply backer board. Handmade in Chicago to exacting specifications. Let us know your ideal size and finish and ...
Brass, Bronze, Steel, Stainless Steel
Dark Blue Eclipse X-Large Hand-Sculpted Mirror, Laurene Guarneri
Located in Geneve, CH
Dark blue Eclipse X-large hand-sculpted mirror, Laurene Guarneri Limited edition. Handmade. Materials: Dark blue mirror, white glass, sky blue mirr...
Glass, Mirror
$1,200 / item
Puddle Small Wall Mirror by Studionudo
Located in Geneve, CH
Puddle Small Wall Mirror by Studionudo Dimensions: Ø 45 cm. Materials: Mirror. Different materials and sizes are available. Dimensions may vary. Please contact us. Studionudo was b...
Mirror
$2,591 / item
Domina I 80 Wall Mirror by Atlas Project
Located in Geneve, CH
Domina I 80 Wall Mirror by Atlas Project Dimensions: D 4/6 x Ø 80 cm. Materials: Calacatta Gold marble, brushed brass, mirror, and wood. Available in different finishes and sizes. ...
Marble, Brass
Pelle mirror by Danilo Vale – size M – with a leather upholstered frame
Located in Brasilia, Distrito Federal
Pelle Mirror The Pelle Mirror is born from the intention to give new meaning to leather remnants from our furniture production, applied to its upholstered frame. By reusing this nob...
Leather, Mirror, Foam
Round Black Metal + Brass Wall Mirror, 1980s
Located in Chicago, IL
A vintage round wall mirror featuring a minimalistic black metal frame. Patinated brass notches secure the frame to the glass, giving this piece an elegant floating effect. 1980s. C...
Metal
Post Modern Screen Printed mirror with a Pair of Black Panthers, Art Deco Style
Located in Roma, IT
We offer for sale a stunning serigraph mirror made in Italy around the 1980s. Like many pieces produced during the postmodern movement, its design recalls and reinterprets Art Deco. In this case, the decorative motif of black panthers, characterized by a minimalist and elegant style, is typical of the 1930s. Their silhouette gives an organic shape to the mirror, which is frameless. This mirror, in my opinion, can dialogue with a wide range of interior design styles because, like an art installation, it doesn't have to "match" anything but speaks its own language. This mirror, in my mind, blends together various cultural influences: the seductive black panthers of the bronze sculptures of the 1930s, in technique and result, and the iconic mirror by Man Ray, an exponent of Dadaism and Surrealism, still produced today by Cassina. But, for its minimalism and the immediacy of its graphics, it's also reminiscent of the crazy graphics on the '80s skateboard decks designed by Jim Phillips...
Mirror
Pelle mirror by Danilo Vale – size S – with a leather upholstered frame
Located in Brasilia, Distrito Federal
Pelle Mirror The Pelle Mirror is born from the intention to give new meaning to leather remnants from our furniture production, applied to its upholstered frame. By reusing this nob...
Leather, Mirror
Post Modern Full-Length Wall Mirror in Gold Wood and Metal, 1980s Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful Full-length wall mirror with wooden and metal profiles. The upper and lower profile has two semi-ovals in wood with gilded golden finish. On the sides it has two thin meta...
Wood
$8,925Sale Price|30% Off
Brueton Post Modern "Fist" Mirror/Torchère Designed by Stanley Jay Friedman
By Brueton, Stanley Jay Friedman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This Brueton Large Post Modern "Fist" Mirror, designed by Stanley Jay Friedman, is a striking addition to any space. Its bold brass and stainless steel designed round mirror is flank...
Stainless Steel
$1,045 / item
Unique Handmade Grisaille Alice Mirror
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique handmade grisaille Alice mirror. Available colors: Gold on clear mirror, grey on clear mirror, black mirror Materials: Glass and steel ...
Glass
A HUGE SPECTACULAR SHABBY-CHIC Wall MIRROR by JEAN-CLAUDE MAHEY, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An exceptional and spectacular octogonal mirror, Post-Modernist, Shabby-Chic, thick lacquered wood with patinated bronze edges, around a wide mirror area, signed on the lower part by Jean Claude Mahey, France 1970. The wide and angular frame features a beautiful black and celadon green zebra lacquer area, with creamy beige lacquered areas, and patinated bronze edges. This is a rare example of Jean-Claude Mahey's dimension in french design. Un exceptionnel et opulent miroir mural...
Talosel
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Mod Op Art Plywood, Glass and Fiberglass Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Black and silver circles and dots alternate with mirror to form a checkerboard mirror surface. Very decorative modernist item, works well with Clas...
Mirror, Fiberglass, Plywood
Specchio di Proust Mirror, by Alessandro Mendini for Glas Italia
Located in Stamford, CT
A wismical multi colored mirror designed by Alessandro Mendini and produced by Glas Italia.
Glass
Set Of 2 Unique L Door Handles Casted In Oilsanded Bronze by Vogel Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Unique L Door Handles Casted In Oilsanded Bronze by Vogel Studio One Of A Kind Dimensions: Ø 4 x H 12,7 cm. Materials: Cast bronze. Dimensions may vary. Please contact us. ...
Bronze
Contemporary Seeing Glass Big Round Wall Mirror 1000, Multi-Color
By Brit van Nerven, Sabine Marcelis
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Seeing glass is a collaborative project by Rotterdam-based designers Sabine Marcelis and Brit van Nerven, both graduates of the Design Academy in Eindhoven. Invisible metal mounting system. More color options available Custom sizes available Sizes: Big round 770, 770 x770 x38cm Big round 1000, 1000 x 100 x 38mm Big round 1220, 1220 x 1220 x 38mm Big round 1300, 1300 x 1300...
Foil
Beautiful People I Mirror in Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Beautiful People I Mirror in Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: D 18 x W 103 x H 130 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated ...
Bronze
Serigraphy on Rectangular Mirror with a Photo by David Hamilton, 1970s-1980s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
1970s - 1980s. This is a rare and particular mirror with a serigraphy of a photo taken by David Hamilton. It features an aluminum frame. It is a vin...
Aluminum
Beautiful People IV Mirror in Stainless Steel by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Beautiful People IV Mirror in Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: D 9 x W 55 x H 85 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated ca...
Bronze, Stainless Steel
Route Mirror 01.01 in Cast Aluminium and Mirror Glass by Sofia Karnukaeva
Located in Geneve, CH
Route Mirror 01.01 in Cast Aluminium and Mirror Glass by Sofia Karnukaeva. Dimensions: W 42 x D 14 x H 72 cm. Materials: Cast aluminium and mirror glass with a natural aluminium fini...
Aluminum
Man Ray, Mirror Les Grand Trans-Parents, Simon Gavina (First Edition)
By Gavina, Man Ray, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Argelato, BO
Man Ray, Mirror Les Grand Trans-Parents, Simon Gavina (First Edition), Italy, 1970s An enigmatic play on words for a mirror that has now become a tr...
Glass, Wood
$2,781 / item
Dark Grey Dune 1200 Round Mirror by Disain1971
Located in Geneve, CH
Dark Grey Dune 1200 Round Mirror by Disain1971 Dimensions: D 120 x H 2.5 cm Materials: dark grey, mirror / grigio scuro, specchio. Weight: 13 kg. Code: DS1043 Round frameless mir...
Mirror
$1,936 / item
Diamond XL Mirror Silver
Located in Geneve, CH
Diamond XL mirror silver. Dimensions: W 82 x D 6.7 x H 140 cm Material: 4 mm faceted mirror on black painted MDF Weight: 17.4 kg The diamond XL ...
Mirror
Mid-Century Post Modern Large Wall Mirror or Console Table Shelf by Jay Spectre
By Jay Spectre
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large, rare and impressive wall mirror designed by Jay Spectre in the 1980's. It consists of a faux marble finish on wood with a very large round mirror. Frame could easily be pain...
Mirror, Wood