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.
$4,662 / item
Cordiale Large Malva Green Mirror by Roberto Paoli
Located in Geneve, CH
Cordiale Large Malva Green Mirror by Roberto Paoli Dimensions: D 5 x W 121 x H 201 cm. Materials: Polyethylene and mirror. Weight: 39 kg. Available in different color options. Price...
Other
20x28" Le Stud Mirror in Gypsum & Fiberglass by Brent Warr Studios
By Brent Warr
Located in Bainbridge, GA
Introducing the Le Stud Mirror, a bold, architectural wall mirror that celebrates texture, form, and irreverent style. This sculptural piece redefines the traditional mirror with i...
Glass, Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass, Plaster, Hardwood, Paint
$533 / item
Large Chic Mirror by Morica Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Chic Mirror by Morica Design Dimensions: D 2.2 x W 82 x H 100 cm. Materials: Mirror, brass. Round mirrors in silver mirror finish, with metal detail in brushed brass finish. T...
Metal
$2,785Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary Unique 'Al Fresco' Mirror by Superpoly
By Superpoly
Located in Copenhagen, DK
During their residency at the Palazzo Monti, French design duo Superpoly were inspired by the large Italian family-style dinners they had with the fellow artists and designers, which paved the way to the creation of this mirror, encircled with the reminiscence of those evenings: a reaching hand, part of a shellfish and a lemon slice.
Cotton, Mirror
Lapis 14 Sculptural Smoke Mirror with Handblown Glass by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Lapis 14 Sculptural Smoke Mirror with Handblown Glass by Homa Dimensions: W 32 x D 17 x H 34 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Smoke Mirror. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based in ...
Glass, Mirror
Perfumer XXL Wall Mirror With Hand-Molded Bronze Frame by Vogel Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Perfumer XXL Wall Mirror With Hand-Molded Bronze Frame by Vogel Studio Dimensions: Ø 82 x H 123,5 cm. Materials: Cast bronze and mirror. Available in three different sizes. Prices a...
Bronze
$6,060 / item
Wood Espelho Vela by Atelier Andre Ferri
Located in Geneve, CH
Wood Espelho Vela by Atelier Andre Ferri Dimensions: W 68 x D 25 x H 188 cm Materials: Wood. ANDRÉ FERRI André Ferri is from Belo Horizonte, born in 1990, graduated in Architectu...
Wood
$6,382 / item
Dome Mirror by John Vieweg
Located in Geneve, CH
Dome mirror by John Vieweg Dimensions: D 107 x W 107 x H 30.5 cm. Materials: routed plywood. RELIEF refers to both a formal and psychological condition. Historically, reliefs have been made by carving away at natural materials. Thehighkey puts a contemporary spin on this technique by cutting into common industrial products such as plywood and foam. By softening the square edges of these items, their human qualities are revealed. The Glove Couch...
Plywood
$10,978 / item
Abyss Blue IV Mirror by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Abyss Blue IV Mirror by Homa Dimensions: D 97 x H 7 cm Materials: Convex Oxidized Mirror. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based in Istanbul. The atelier’s trademark processes...
Mirror
Baltic Iris Mirror by Tom Palmer, Glass & Resin, Post-Modern UK
Located in Geneve, CH
Baltic Iris mirror by Tom Palmer Dimensions: D 140 x H 5 cm Mterials: Glass, Resin Also available: other sizes and variations available. The I...
Glass, Resin
Elegant Solid Marble Stone & Brass Frame Wall Mounted Mirror Peafowl, Carla Baz
By Carla Baz
Located in Geneve, CH
Elegant Solid Marble Stone & Brass Frame Wall Mounted Mirror Peafowl, Carla Baz Dimensions: D 7,5 X W 150 X H 275 cm. Materials: Entirely handcrafted in solid Guatemala Verde mar...
Marble, Brass
$1,172 / 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
Lapis 9 Sculptural Silver Mirror with Handblown Glass by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Lapis 9 Sculptural Silver Mirror with Handblown Glass by Homa Dimensions: W 25 x D 13 x H 48 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Silver Mirror. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based in...
Glass, Mirror
Splendo White Sandblasted Larch Frame And Gold Leaf Floor Mirror by Casa Casati
Located in Geneve, CH
Splendo White Sandblasted Larch Frame And Gold Leaf Floor Mirror by Casa Casati Dimensions: D 12 x W 150 x H 216 cm. Materials: Larch wood, MDF, gold leaf, veneer, and glass mirror...
Other, Gold Leaf
$2,611 / item
Giotto 110 Malva Green Wall Mirror by Roberto Paoli
Located in Geneve, CH
Giotto 110 Malva Green Wall Mirror by Roberto Paoli Dimensions: D 8 x W 110 x H 110 cm. Materials: Polyethylene and mirror. Weight: 18 kg. Available in different color options. Pric...
Other
$2,850
Greek Key Chrome Mirror
By Romeo Rega, Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen
Located in Houston, TX
Greek Key Chrome Mirror. Offered is a great Post-Modern rectangular chorme mirror with a Greek key perimeter. This stunning versatile chrome mirror, possibly Italian, can be used in ...
Chrome
Karl Springer Patinated Embossed Leather Mirror, C. 1980s
Located in Westport, CT
An exceptional vintage mirror designed by Karl Springer in the 1980s, showcasing the luxurious materials and refined craftsmanship that defined his work. The substantial frame is ful...
Leather, Mirror
$4,317 / item
Jura Mirror by Ah Um Design Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Jura Mirror by Ah Um Design Studio Handmade Dimensions: D 5 x W 91.4 x H 185.4 cm. Materials: Mahogany wood, glass. Available in other finish options. Please contact us. A bold and...
Mahogany, Glass
$2,540 / item
Domina II 80 Wall Mirror by Atlas Project
Located in Geneve, CH
Domina II 80 Wall Mirror by Atlas Project Dimensions: D 4/6 x Ø 80 cm. Materials: Leather, brushed brass, mirror, and wood. Available in different finishes and sizes. Please contac...
Marble
$4,335 / item
Mirooo Limited Edition Mirror by Moure Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Mirooo Limited Edition mirror by Moure Studio Limited Edition of 8. Dimensions: D 60 x W 57 x H 57 cm Materials: Ornate bronze and brass glass and pati...
Brass, Bronze, Other
Winter Four Seasons Decorative Full Length Mirror by PANOPTIKUM COLLECTIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Winter Four Seasons Decorative Full Length Mirror by PANOPTIKUM COLLECTIONS Limited Edition Dimensions: D 10,8 x W 90 x H 210 cm. Materia...
Iron
Organic Shape Mirror with Grey Stone Base in Center by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Narciso Uno Mirror by Andres Monnier Dimensions: W 35 x D 60 x H 180 cm Materials: Eran grey mirror- glass, black marble Piece inspired by the myth of Narciso, of Greek mythology. The shape of the...
Stone
“Rondò” Classic Round Mirror in Matte Brass-Plated Stainless Steel, by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
“Rondò” Classic Round Mirror in Matte Brass-Plated Stainless Steel, by Mingardo Dimensions: D100 x H 100 cm Materials: Matt brass plated stainles...
Brass, Stainless Steel
$5,721 / item
MG402 Small Vanity Mirror by Malte Gormsen
Located in Geneve, CH
MG401 Small Vanity Mirror by Malte Gormsen Dimensions: D 8.5 x W 71.3 x H 83.7 cm. Materials: Browned brass. Available in 124cm high version. Please contact us. Malte Gormsen Møbel...
Brass
A Luxurious SHABBY-CHIC Brass WALL MIRROR, WILLY RIZZO Style, France 1970
By Willy Rizzo
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant small square wall mirror of excellent quality, Post-Modernist, Memphis, Shabby-Chic, with a square section frame in gold and brown metal, varnished, to be attributed, Fran...
Brass
Dark Blue Eclipse Large Hand-Sculpted Mirror, Laurene Guarneri
Located in Geneve, CH
Dark Blue Eclipse large hand-sculpted mirror, Laurene Guarneri Limited edition. Handmade. Materials: Sky blue colored mirror, dark blue colored ...
Glass, Mirror
$1,740 / item
Pixel Flame Red Wall Mirror by Studio Tonino
Located in Geneve, CH
Pixel Flame Red Wall Mirror by Studio Tonino Dimensions: D 11 x W 80 x H 80 cm. Materials: Polyethylene and mirror. Weight: 12 kg. Available in differ...
Other
$6,638 / item
White Star Wall Mirror by OOM Contemporary Glass
Located in Geneve, CH
White Star Wall Mirror by OOM Contemporary Glass Dimensions: Ø 104 cm. Materials: Copper luster and ceramic enamels on ultra-white glass, mixed techniques. Discover the Dome Collect...
Copper, Enamel
Lapis 12 Sculptural Silver Mirror with Handblown Glass by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Lapis 12 Sculptural Silver Mirror with Handblown Glass by Homa Dimensions: W 32 x D 12 x H 32 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Silver Mirror. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based i...
Glass, Mirror
$1,172 / item
Round 60 Onde Mirror by Studio Kallang
Located in Geneve, CH
Round 60 Onde Mirror by Studio Kallang Dimensions: W 5 x D 60 cm Materials: Solid Teak. STUDIO KALLANG IS A SINGAPORE AND SEATTLE BASED PROJECT FOCUSING ...
Teak
Flow Line I Contemporary Sculptural Silver and White Mirror by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Flow Line I Contemporary Sculptural Silver and White Mirror by Homa Dimensions: W 48 x D 38 x H 16 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Silver Mirror. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier ba...
Glass, Mirror
$11,105 / item
Pink Mirror With Green Decor by Emilie Lemardeley
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Mirror With Green Decor by Emilie Lemardeley Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 15 x W 60 x H 70 cm Materials: Glass and mirror. Designed as jewellery for the interior, the Lemardeley...
Glass, Mirror
Atlas Itinera Insula IV 90 Wall Mirror by Atlas Project
Located in Geneve, CH
Atlas Itinera Insula IV 90 Wall Mirror by Atlas Project Dimensions: D 3/5 x Ø 90 cm. Materials: Black powder painted iron, steel corten, black leather, mirror, and wood. Available ...
Steel
Aegean Iris Mirror by Tom Palmer - Post-Modern Glass and Resin Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Aegean Iris mirror by Tom Palmer Dimensions: D 140 x H 5 cm Mterials: Glass, Resin Also Available: Other sizes and variations available. The Iris mir...
Glass, Resin
Vintage PostModern Cerused Bow Tie Mirrors - Set of 2
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic set of two vintage PostModern mirrors. A chic bow tie shape with a gorgeous black cerused finish. Perfect together or apart. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Mirror, Wood
$8,935 / item
Small Drip Mirror 02 by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Drip Mirror 02 by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 5 x W 45.7 x H 30.5 cm. Materials: Cast bronze. Available in polished brass or polished nickel finishes. The Drip Mirrors de...
Bronze
$5,814 / item
Raw Mirror by Atelier V&F
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw Mirror by Atelier V&F Limited Edition Of 8+2AP Pieces. Dimensions: D 16 x W 180 x H 50.5 cm. Materials: Goatskin offcuts and mirror. Inspired by the earth goddess Gaia,「Revelati...
Goatskin, Mirror
Selfportrait, Make-Up Mirror, I.Innocenti & G.Laboratore
Located in Geneve, CH
The appeal of the silk road the route which connected the east to the west, reaching as far as Venice is brought back to life by this object inspired by Chinese fans, where the mirro...
Mirror
Light Gold Mirror With Light Blue Decor by Emilie Lemardeley
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Gold Mirror With Light Blue Decor by Emilie Lemardeley Dimensions: D 15 x W 45 x H 63 cm Materials: Glass and mirror. Designed as jewelle...
Glass, Mirror
$4,560 / item
Scena Rotonda Murano Mirror by Nikolai Kotlarczyk
Located in Geneve, CH
Scena Rotonda Murano mirror by Nikolai Kotlarczyk Dimensions: D 1 x W 30 x H 45 cm Materials: silvered carved glass, golden carved polished steel. Nembro marble base. Also avail...
Marble
Large Scena Rotonda Murano Mirror by Nikolai Kotlarczyk
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Scena Rotonda Murano mirror by Nikolai Kotlarczyk Dimensions: Wall Version: D 3 x W 60 x H 90 cm Table Version: D 3 x W 60 x H 90 cm Materials: Silvered carved glass, wo...
Marble
Large Scena Olympic Murano Mirror by Nikolai Kotlarczyk
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Scena Olympic Murano Mirror by Nikolai Kotlarczyk. Dimensions: D 3 x W 60 x H 90 cm. Materials: silvered carved glass, golden carved polished steel. Nembro marble (base) Al...
Glass, Mirror, Wood
$731 / item
Afrodita Mirror by Cuit Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Afrodita Mirror by Cuit Studio One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 12 x W 41 x H 34 cm. Materials: Textured natural finish stoneware and mirror. Sculptural table mirror...
Stoneware, Mirror
$1,123 / item
Small Prix Hand-Sculpted Mirror by Laurene Guarneri
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Prix hand-sculpted mirror by Laurene Guarneri Limited edition Handmade Materials: mirror Sizes: ø 17 x 70 cm (Could be made to order in other dimensions) Hang hook suppli...
Mirror
$2,239 / item
Orizzonte 55120 Silver Oval Mirror by Disain1971
Located in Geneve, CH
Orizzonte 55120 Silver Oval Mirror by Disain1971 Dimensions: W 120 x D 55 x H 2.5 cm Materials: silver, mirror / argento, specchio. Weight: 5 kg. Code: DS1016 Oval mirror with pos...
Silver
1980 Paolo Portoghesi Postmodern Italian Design Black White Wood Wall Mirror
Located in Brescia, IT
Paolo Portoghesi Wall Mirror 1988 Black and White Laquered Wood Frame Limited edition for an Italian magazine. Mirror in perfect condiction. "Paolo Portoghesi" impressed on the ba...
Wood
Vintage Contemporary Tessellated Bone Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional vintage Contemporary wall mirror. Chic tessellated bone in a stunning Postmodern design. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Bone, Mirror
Morphed Mega Wall Mirror in Aluminum, Ash & Mirrored Glass by Medium Small
Located in Geneve, CH
Morphed Mega Wall Mirror in Aluminum, Ash & Mirrored Glass by Medium Small Dimensions: D 7 x W 61 x H 61 cm. Materials: Aluminum, ash, and mirrored glass. Morphed is a visualization...
Aluminum
Roma Contemporary Signed Ceramic Mirror by Renzo Maar
Located in Geneve, CH
Roma Contemporary Signed Ceramic Mirror by Renzo Maar Handmade Dimensions: D 24 x W 24 x H 7 cm (dimensions are approximate) Materials: Ceramic, white stoneware, colors, mirror. Cus...
Ceramic
Coexist Standing Mirror in Marble & Brushed Brass by Slash Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Coexist Standing Mirror in Marble & Brushed Brass by Slash Objects Dimensions: D 35,5 x W 66 x H 183 cm. Materials: Polished marble, Brushed Brass. Slash Objects is an award-winnin...
Marble, Brass
$7,920Sale Price|31% Off
Postmodern Rare Standing Mirror in the Style of Gaetano Pesce, Italy, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
A striking postmodern standing mirror, attributed to Gaetano Pesce, crafted for the iconic Annabella luxury shop in Pavia, Italy, during the 1970s. Its sculptural form is bathed in a...
Mirror, Resin
Hipsteria Gold Maxi Modular Wall Mirror by GTG Design Couture
Located in Geneve, CH
Hipsteria Gold Maxi Modular Wall Mirror by GTG Design Couture Dimensions: D 4 x W 147 x H 231 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, mirror, and Poplar plywood. Available in three differe...
Stainless Steel
Bespoke Contemporary Italian Memphis Design Gold Turquoise Murano Glass Mirror
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Contemporary custom-made modern mirror, entirely hand-made in Italy, of organic stylized kite shape, that can be displayed horizontally or vertically. Of unique Memphis-inspired desi...
Brass, Silver Leaf
Maitland Smith Tessellated Horn Mirror With Console, Circa 1980s
Located in Peabody, MA
A tessellated horn tortoise shell wall mirror by Maitland Smith, circa 1980s. Beveled mirror glass; inlaid brass accent, and beveled framework. Paired with a sculptural postmodern, a...
Horn, Mirror, Wood, Lacquer
Barone Wall Mirror with Gold-Plated Wooden Frame by Barberini & Gunnell
Located in Geneve, CH
Barone Wall Mirror with Gold-Plated Wooden Frame by Barberini & Gunnell Limited Edition of 15 + 2 AP + 1 p. Dimensions: W 45 x H 75 cm. Materials: Mirror, gold-plated wood, and MDF....
Gold Plate, Other
$371 / item
Snail Shelf by Morica Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Snail Shelf by Morica Design Dimensions: D 24 x W 68 x H 28 cm Materials: Champagne metal. Available in Champagne or Dark Burnished metal finish. Please contact us. Shelf in calend...
Metal
Vintage Postmodern Textured Coca-Cola "After the Theatre" Advertising Pub Mirror
Located in Beirut, LB
A charming and highly nostalgic piece of vintage Americana wall decor, this advertising bar mirror replicates Coca-Cola's celebrated turn-of-the-century marketing graphic, "After the...
Mirror, Wood
Italian 1970's Italian metal mirror Wave model Lorenzo Burchiellaro 1970's
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Large undulating mirror designed and made in the 1970s by Lorenzo Burchiellaro. The work was made from two sheets of solid aluminum skillfully bent and machined on the surface to pr...
Sheet Metal
Post Modern Lily Flowers Wall Mirror by Richard Sandoval for Windsor Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Designer: Richard Sandoval Manufacturer: Windsor Art This striking Post Modern wall mirror by Richard Sandoval for Windsor Art captures the bol...
Brass
Aurea G Wall Mirror in Stainless Steel by Jonathan Amar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Aurea G Wall Mirror in Stainless Steel by Jonathan Amar Studio Dimensions: W 81 x H 121 cm Materials: Stainless steel, handmade fused glass Weight: 26 kg Stainless steel frame with ...
Brass