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.
$1,860 / item
Barbera 'Bronze' Makeup Mirror, Cast Solid Bronze
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Designed by Daniel Barbera, the 'Bronze' make-up mirror is made from a sandcast solid bronze form that is hand finished to a smooth mirror polish, with the option of a satin or black...
Metal, Aluminum, Bronze
Karl Springer Brass and Nickel Vanity Mirror
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Karl Springer brass and Nickel Vanity mirror.
Brass, Nickel
$571Sale Price|45% Off
Postmodern Round Anodized Brass Vanity Mirror Attr. to Sergio Mazza, Italy
By Sergio Mazza
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. It features an anodized brass and varnished metal frame. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in ...
Brass, Metal
Vintage Shagreen Table Mirror from London
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stand-alone tabletop mirror is framed in authentic Shagreen. The symmetrical blue/brown Shagreen sections stand out against the creamy finish of the framework. A crown cornice g...
Shagreen
$1,113 / item
Ossimoro Mirror by Rampinelli Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Ossimoro Mirror by Rampinelli Edizioni Designed by Filippo Protasoni Dimensions: D 7 x W 15 x H 30 cm. Materials: Steel. FILIPPO PROTASONI This tabletop mirror arises from the desir...
Steel
Veletta Two-Sided Magnifying Make-Up Mirror in Brass, Horn & Wood by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Veletta Two-Sided Magnifying Make-Up Mirror in Brass, Horn & Wood by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 13 x W 21 x H 35 cm. Materials: Horn, mirror, brass, and lacquered wood. Available in thr...
Brass, Other
$1,183 / 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
Sfera mirror by Piero Gilardi for Gufram
By Gufram Furniture, Piero Gilardi
Located in Ravenna, IT
Round mirror designed by Piero Gilardi for Gufram in 1972. It has an internal rocker mechanism that enables it to always return to its original position if bumped. Made of polyuretha...
Foam
$1,781 / item
Ilario Mirror by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Ilario mirror by Mingardo Dimensions: D 47 x W 18.5 x H 47 cm. Materials: iron and natural brass, mirror. Weight: 7 kg Also available in different finishes. The name of the...
Brass, Iron
Amorph Globe I Sculptural Silver Mirror with Handblown Glass by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Amorph Globe I Sculptural Silver Mirror with Handblown Glass by Homa Dimensions: D 40 x H 35 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Silver Mirror. Silver Mirror Block. HOMA is a contemporary de...
Glass, Mirror
$1,418 / set
Set of 3 Astra Table Mirrors by Clemence Birot
Located in Geneve, CH
A set of 3 astra table mirrors by Clemence Birot Dimensions: Ø 34 x 50 cm; Ø 30 x 33 cm; Ø 24 x 20 cm. Materials: mirror, glass, cork. Clemenc...
Glass, Mirror, Cork
$550 / item
Astra Table Mirror-34 by Clemence Birot
Located in Geneve, CH
Astra Table Mirror-34 by Clemence Birot Dimensions: Mirror Ø 34 x 50 cm Materials: mirror, glass, cork. Available in shiny and sandblasted versi...
Glass, Mirror, Cork
$696 / item
Burnt Mirror with Cuts by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Burnt mirror with cuts by Daniel Elkayam One of a Kind Dimensions: D 10 x W 27 x H 42 cm Materials: Burnt beech wood Jerusalem-born Art-designer and Photographer based in Te...
Wood
Charles Hollis Jones Vanity Mirror in Brushed Brass and Lucite
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage table or vanity mirror in Lucite and polished brass by Charles Hollis Jones designed and manufactured in the late 1970s. The simple lines and rimless mirror add min...
Brass
Shohei Mihara for Super Present Japan Postmodern Tilting Vanity Desk Mirror
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Very rare postmodern vanity mirror designed by Shohei Mihara for Super Present Japan.
Metal
Armida Two-Sided Magnifying Make-Up Mirror in Brass, Horn & Ebony by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Armida Two-Sided Magnifying Make-Up Mirror in Brass, Horn & Ebony by Arcahorn Designed by Filippo Dini Dimensions: D 14 x W 20 x H 44 cm. Materials: Horn, mirror, brass, and ebony. ...
Other, Brass
“Yukka” vanity mirror by Anna Anselmi for Bieffeplast, Italy, 1980
By Anna Anselmi
Located in Weesp, NL
“Yukka” Vanity Mirror by Anna Anselmi for Bieffeplast, Italy, 1980 A striking example of Italian postmodern design, this illuminated “Yukka” vanity mirror was created by Anna Anselm...
Metal, Chrome
Polished Cast Aluminum Pilarium Mirror by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Cast Aluminum Pilarium Mirror by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 39 x D 13 x H 50 cm Materials: Cast Metal ang Glass. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum. Abo...
Metal
$550 / item
Small Onde Mirror by Studio Kallang
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Onde Mirror by Studio Kallang Dimensions: W 40 x D 5 x H 40 cm Materials: Solid Sungkai. STUDIO KALLANG IS A SINGAPORE AND SEATTLE BASED PROJECT FO...
Wood
$2,461 / item
Silver Half Globe Mirror by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Silver Half Globe Mirror by Homa Dimensions: D 30 x H 16 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Silver Mirror. Silver Mirror Block. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based in Istanbul. The ...
Glass, Mirror
$1,113 / item
Loop Mirror by Redeco
Located in Geneve, CH
Loop Mirror by Redeco Dimensions: W 20 x D 15 x H 43 cm Materials: Mirror, back side with magnifying mirror, Biotite satin metal. ReDéco is a truly solid company, capable of buildin...
Satin
$399 / item
Astra Table Mirror-24 by Clemence Birot
Located in Geneve, CH
Astra table mirror-24 by Clemence Birot Dimensions: Mirror Ø 24 x 20 cm Materials: mirror, glass, cork. Clemence Birot started her career in C...
Glass, Mirror, Cork
$1,605 / item
Ovoid Mirror by Ebba Lindgren
Located in Geneve, CH
Ovoid Mirror by Ebba Lindgren Dimensions: D 14 x W 21 x H 67 cm. Materials: Ash wood with hard-wax oil, mirror. Ebba Lindgren Is an internationally renowned artist/designer based i...
Glass, Ash
$2,836 / item
Gold Ellipse Contemporary Sculptural Mirror by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Ellipse Contemporary Sculptural Mirror by Homa Dimensions: D 40 x H 20 cm Materials: Blown Glass. Gold Mirror. Gold Mirror Block. HOMA is a contemporary design atelier based i...
Glass, Mirror
$996 / item
Sahara Dressing Mirror by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
Sahara Dressing Mirror by DAaZ Dimensions: D 15.5 x W 43 x H 58.5 cm. Materials: Albizzia wood, mirror. DAaZ Furniture honors the spirit of adventure. We embrace the escape of the ...
Wood, Mirror
$3,375 / item
Ossi Mori Mirror by Studiopepe
Located in Geneve, CH
Ossi Mori mirror by Studiopepe Dimensions: W 36 x D 22 x H 36 cm Materials: Onyx, copper, limestone. Multifaceted design agency Studiopepe was founded in Milan in 2006. Eclectic...
Onyx, Limestone, Copper
$1,617 / item
Glass 90 Mirror by Maxime Louis-Courcier
Located in Geneve, CH
Glass 90 Mirror by Maxime Louis-Courcier Dimensions: W 24 x D 16 x H 46 cm Materials: Clear Tempered Glass, Aluminum Other sizes are available, please contact us for any request. Ab...
Aluminum
Match Table and Hand Mirror by Studio Lievito
Located in Geneve, CH
Match table and hand mirror by Studio Lievito Dimensions: D 27 x W 7 x H 17 cm Materials: bianco carrara marble/ nero marquina marble, mirror. Weight: 0.8 kg An ironic take on the idea of challenging the image reflected back at you in the mirror. A double-sided mirror is shaped like a table tennis...
Marble
$1,212 / item
Marrakesh Small Table Mirror by Tero Kuitunen
Located in Geneve, CH
Marrakesh small table Mirror by Tero Kuitunen Material: slip cast terracotta, Mdf, chalk paint, mirror, brass. Dimensions: D20 x H40 cm Edition o...
Brass
$738 / 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
$477 / item
Astra Table Mirror-30 by Clemence Birot
Located in Geneve, CH
Astra table mirror-30 by Clemence Birot Dimensions: Mirror Ø 30 x 33 cm Materials: mirror, glass, cork. Clemence Birot started her career in C...
Glass, Mirror, Cork
$6,189 / item
Barbican Mirror No.3 by a Space
Located in Geneve, CH
Barbican mirror No.3 by A Space Dimensions: D 64,77 x W 11,43 x H 58,42 cm Materials: Misc recycled. The design duo conceived the Barbican Collection over the spring/summer of 2...
Other
$696 / item
Burnt Mirror by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Burnt mirror by Daniel Elkayam One of a Kind Dimensions: D 10 x W 27 x H 42 cm Materials: Burnt beech wood Jerusalem-born Art-designer and phot...
Wood
Swivel table mirror – Italy 1970
Located in Girona, Girona
Swivel table mirror in duck blue lacquered wood and brushed brass. Italy circa 1970
Brass
$4,641 / item
Barbican Mirror No.2 by A Space
Located in Geneve, CH
Barbican Mirror No.2 by A Space Dimensions: D38,1 x W17,78 x H38,1 cm Materials: Misc recycled. The design duo conceived the Barbican Collection over the spring/summer of 2020 w...
Other
$1,547 / item
Marrakesh Large Table Mirror by Tero Kuitunen
Located in Geneve, CH
Marrakesh large table mirror by Tero Kuitunen Material: slip cast terracotta, Mdf, chalk paint, mirror, brass. Dimensions: D 30 x H 58 cm Edition of 8 Also available: different c...
Brass
$1,340 / item
Marrakesh Medium Table Mirror by Tero Kuitunen
Located in Geneve, CH
Marrakesh medium table mirror by Tero Kuitunen Material: slip cast terracotta, Mdf, chalk paint, mirror, brass. Dimensions: D20 x H53 cm Edition of 8 Also Available : different c...
Brass
Set of 3 Marrakesh Table Mirrors by Tero Kuitunen
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Marrakesh table mirrors by Tero Kuitunen. Material: slip cast terracotta, Mdf, chalk paint, mirror, brass. Dimensions: D30 x H58 cm, D20 x 53cm , D20 x H40 cm Edition of 8...
Brass