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Post-Modern Armchairs

POSTMODERN STYLE

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

  • Emerges during the 1960s; popularity explodes during the ’80s
  • A reaction to prevailing conventions of modernism by mainly American architects
  • Architect Robert Venturi critiques modern architecture in his Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966)
  • Theorist Charles Jencks, who championed architecture filled with allusions and cultural references, writes The Language of Post-Modern Architecture (1977)
  • Italian design collective the Memphis Group, also known as Memphis Milano, meets for the first time (1980) 
  • Memphis collective debuts more than 50 objects and furnishings at Salone del Milano (1981)
  • Interest in style declines, minimalism gains steam

CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Dizzying graphic patterns and an emphasis on loud, off-the-wall colors
  • Use of plastic and laminates, glass, metal and marble; lacquered and painted wood 
  • Unconventional proportions and abundant ornamentation
  • Playful nods to Art Deco and Pop art

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 Mendinia 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.

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Style: Post-Modern
Pair of Italian Architectural Armchairs in Cypress Wood
Pair of Italian Architectural Armchairs in Cypress Wood

Pair of Italian Architectural Armchairs in Cypress Wood

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Pair of dining chairs, cypress wood, Italy, 1970s These armchairs embrace an impressive architectural design with rounded contours and substantial lines. While it draws inspiration ...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Cypress

Mario Bellini Set of Six 'CAB 413' Dining Chairs in Black Leather
Mario Bellini Set of Six 'CAB 413' Dining Chairs in Black Leather

Mario Bellini Set of Six 'CAB 413' Dining Chairs in Black Leather

By Cassina, Mario Bellini

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Mario Bellini for Cassina, set of six armchairs model 'CAB 413', leather, plastic, Italy, 1979 The iconic ‘CAB’ chair was designed by Mario Bellini in 1979. Conceptually new was the...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Plastic

Set of 6 Postmodern Green Bent Rattan Dining Chair in the Style of Axel Enthoven
Set of 6 Postmodern Green Bent Rattan Dining Chair in the Style of Axel Enthoven

Set of 6 Postmodern Green Bent Rattan Dining Chair in the Style of Axel Enthoven

By Axel Enthoven

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Wonderful set of six vintage postmodern dining or occasional chairs in the style of Axel Enthoven, featuring sculptural bent rattan or pencil-reed frames finished in a deep lacquered...

Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Rattan

Italian Dining Chairs in Steel and Ocher Yellow Leatherette
Italian Dining Chairs in Steel and Ocher Yellow Leatherette

Italian Dining Chairs in Steel and Ocher Yellow Leatherette

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Dining chairs, yellow leatherette, chrome, steel, Italy, 1970s Comfortable Italian dining chairs in yellow leatherette. The eye-catching colored upholstery emphasizes the round sha...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Frank Gehry for Knoll "Hat Trick" Armchair
Frank Gehry for Knoll "Hat Trick" Armchair

Frank Gehry for Knoll "Hat Trick" Armchair

By Frank Gehry, Knoll

Located in Skokie, IL

Frank Gehry for Knoll "Hat Trick" Armchair The iconic "Hat Trick" chair was designed by Frank Gehry for Knoll International. Constructed of hard white maple veneers in 5cm wide, 1mm...

Category

1990s American Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Maple, Plywood

Pair of 1990s open armchairs by Piero Fornasetti's son Barnaba Fornasetti
Pair of 1990s open armchairs by Piero Fornasetti's son Barnaba Fornasetti

Pair of 1990s open armchairs by Piero Fornasetti's son Barnaba Fornasetti

By Piero Fornasetti

Located in Winnetka, IL

A pair of "Tema a variazioni" (Themes and Variations" Piero Fornasetti open armchairs by G. Galli, Italy for Barnaba Fornasetti Milan. Having upswept open arms painted in silver with...

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Silver Leaf

Rare Luigi Colani for Fritz Hansen Lounge Chair in Orange Upholstery
Rare Luigi Colani for Fritz Hansen Lounge Chair in Orange Upholstery

Rare Luigi Colani for Fritz Hansen Lounge Chair in Orange Upholstery

By Fritz Hansen, Luigi Colani

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Luigi Colani for Fritz Hansen, lounge chair, chrome-plated steel, metal, orange fabric, Denmark, 1970s The German industrial designer Luigi Colani was renowned for incorporating org...

Category

1970s Danish Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal, Steel, Chrome

Pr. Italian  Brown Leather and Black Metal  Postmodern Arm Chairs by Cidue 1970s
Pr. Italian  Brown Leather and Black Metal  Postmodern Arm Chairs by Cidue 1970s

Pr. Italian Brown Leather and Black Metal Postmodern Arm Chairs by Cidue 1970s

By Cidue

Located in New York, NY

Chic pair of architecturally designed post modern arm chairs made in Italy by Cidue, circa 1970's. The chairs feature high quality brown leather seat and back rests, and enameled bl...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Memphis First Chair by Michele de Lucchi circa 1983
Memphis First Chair by Michele de Lucchi circa 1983

Memphis First Chair by Michele de Lucchi circa 1983

By Michele de Lucchi

Located in Oakland, CA

Early production Memphis First chair designed by Michele de Lucchi this chair that was purchased by the original owner who was working at the de Lucchi design studio in the 1980s in ...

Category

1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chair in Red Leather and Fiberglass
Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chair in Red Leather and Fiberglass

Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chair in Red Leather and Fiberglass

By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This lo...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Fiberglass

Early Matte Black Doctor Sonderbar Armchair by Philippe Starck
Early Matte Black Doctor Sonderbar Armchair by Philippe Starck

Early Matte Black Doctor Sonderbar Armchair by Philippe Starck

By Philippe Starck

Located in Barcelona, ES

The "Dr. Sonderbar" chair is a creation of French designer Philippe Starck. It was designed in 1983 as part of a furniture collection. Ultra-rare disform edition (not XO) The chai...

Category

1980s French Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Celeste Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Celeste Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Celeste Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Celeste Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 74 x D 74 x H 74 cm. Materials: Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. Fabric is not ...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Foam, Beech

Bridget Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Bridget Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Bridget Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Bridget Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 70 x D 72 x H 86 cm. Materials: Stained rattan, plywood seat, and HR foam. Fabric is not inc...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Rattan, Foam, Plywood

Babylone Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Babylone Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Babylone Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Babylone Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 79 x D 86 x H 72 cm. Materials: Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. Fabric is not...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Foam, Beech

Rima Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Rima Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Rima Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Rima Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 80 x D 85 x H 70 cm. Materials: Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. Fabric is not inc...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Foam, Beech

Miss Lo Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Miss Lo Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Miss Lo Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Miss Lo Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 73 x D 68 x H 82 cm. Materials: Stained rattan, plywood seat, and HR foam. Fabric is not inc...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Rattan, Foam, Plywood

Luna Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Luna Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Luna Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Luna Armchair in Stained Rattan, Plywood and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 74 x D 72 x H 74 cm. Materials: Stained rattan, plywood seat, and HR foam. Fabric is not includ...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Rattan, Foam, Plywood

Gigi Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Gigi Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Gigi Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Gigi Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 60 x D 75 x H 83 cm. Materials: Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. Fabric is not inc...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Foam, Beech

Grace Bench in Rattan and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Grace Bench in Rattan and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Grace Bench in Rattan and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Grace Bench in Rattan and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 100 x D 40 x H 52 cm. Materials: Rattan, Upholstery and HR foam. Fabric is not included. Please contact us for fur...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Rattan, Foam

Senzafine armchair with foot rest by Gaetano Pesce 2010s
Senzafine armchair with foot rest by Gaetano Pesce 2010s

Senzafine armchair with foot rest by Gaetano Pesce 2010s

Located in PARIS, FR

Born in La Spezia in 1939, Gaetano Pesce spent six decades dismantling the conventions of Italian design from his studios in Venice, Paris and finally New York. Trained as an archite...

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Foam

"Stockholm" Armchairs by Tord Björklund for Ikea, 1990s
"Stockholm" Armchairs by Tord Björklund for Ikea, 1990s

"Stockholm" Armchairs by Tord Björklund for Ikea, 1990s

By IKEA, Tord Bjorklund

Located in Karis, Nyland

Postmodern vintage design aluminum armchairs with a black leather seat and backrest, ca 1990s. Chair model "Stockholm", designed by Tord Björklund. Manufactured by Ikea, Sweden. Not...

Category

1990s Swedish Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of vintage Piumino armchairs by De Pas, D'Urbino & Lomazzi, Italy, 1970's
Pair of vintage Piumino armchairs by De Pas, D'Urbino & Lomazzi, Italy, 1970's

Pair of vintage Piumino armchairs by De Pas, D'Urbino & Lomazzi, Italy, 1970's

A pair of Piumino armchairs upholstered in leather, celebrated for their sculptural silhouette and exceptional comfort. Designed with generously rounded forms and deep, inviting seat...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Lattice Armchair, Luminous Grid by Pestacle Studio
Lattice Armchair, Luminous Grid by Pestacle Studio

Lattice Armchair, Luminous Grid by Pestacle Studio

Located in Geneve, CH

Lattice Armchair, Luminous Grid by Pestacle Studio Dimensions: W 40 x D 20 x H 30 cm Materials: Brown velvet, Lime, Baltic Wood. About: Pestacle Studio is a Montreal-based creativ...

Category

2010s Canadian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Velvet, Wood

1980s Sculptural Leopard Tiger Wood Chairs and Ottoman, Set of 3
1980s Sculptural Leopard Tiger Wood Chairs and Ottoman, Set of 3

1980s Sculptural Leopard Tiger Wood Chairs and Ottoman, Set of 3

Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL

On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning chairs you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best, it bei...

Category

1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Prive Armchair by Paolo Nava for Arflex, Metal & Leather, Italy, 1987
Prive Armchair by Paolo Nava for Arflex, Metal & Leather, Italy, 1987

Prive Armchair by Paolo Nava for Arflex, Metal & Leather, Italy, 1987

By Paolo Nava, Arflex

Located in Ludwigslust, DE

A Prive armchair with black metal weave and black leather trim in excellent condition. The armchair shows only minimal signs of wear. The metal weave, covered in black plastic, is so...

Category

1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chairs in Red Leather and Fiberglass
Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chairs in Red Leather and Fiberglass

Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chairs in Red Leather and Fiberglass

By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chairs ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This l...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Fiberglass

Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Walnut and Dark Emperador Marble by Mavo Atelier
Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Walnut and Dark Emperador Marble by Mavo Atelier

Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Walnut and Dark Emperador Marble by Mavo Atelier

By Mavo Atelier

Located in Trofa, PT

Showcasing artistic brilliance and impeccable craftsmanship, the Soleil Armchair is a statement piece that easily commands attention. An inviting, generously contoured seat anchors t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Marble

Original Model 'SDC' Chairs by Dick Spierenburg for Castelijn, 1978
Original Model 'SDC' Chairs by Dick Spierenburg for Castelijn, 1978

Original Model 'SDC' Chairs by Dick Spierenburg for Castelijn, 1978

By Castelijn, Dick Spierenburg

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Model 'SDC' chairs, designed by Dick Spierenburg for innovative Dutch furniture maker Castelijn, 1978. The chairs' visually striking, leaning metal frames still hold the original up...

Category

1970s Dutch Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal, Steel

Mika Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Mika Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

Mika Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS

By Popus Editions

Located in Geneve, CH

Mika Armchair in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 63 x D 67 x H 67 cm. Materials: Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. Fabric is not inc...

Category

2010s French Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Foam, Beech

Boucle Fabric Light Brown Natural Oak Wood, Waveano Armchair By OMER OZTURK
Boucle Fabric Light Brown Natural Oak Wood, Waveano Armchair By OMER OZTURK

Boucle Fabric Light Brown Natural Oak Wood, Waveano Armchair By OMER OZTURK

Located in Geneve, CH

Boucle Fabric Light Brown Natural Oak Wood, Waveano Armchair By OMER OZTURK Dimensions: W 89.6 x D 72.3 x H 89 cm. Materials: Boucle Fabric Light Brown Natural Oak Wood, Gold Spheres...

Category

2010s Turkish Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Velvet Jacquard and Black Ashwood by Mavo Atelier
Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Velvet Jacquard and Black Ashwood by Mavo Atelier

Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Velvet Jacquard and Black Ashwood by Mavo Atelier

By Mavo Atelier

Located in Trofa, PT

Showcasing artistic brilliance and impeccable craftsmanship, the Soleil Armchair is a statement piece that easily commands attention. An inviting, generously contoured seat anchors t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Marble

Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Yellow Velvet, Wood and Travertine by Mavo Atelier
Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Yellow Velvet, Wood and Travertine by Mavo Atelier

Postmodern Soleil Armchair in Yellow Velvet, Wood and Travertine by Mavo Atelier

By Mavo Atelier

Located in Trofa, PT

Showcasing artistic brilliance and impeccable craftsmanship, the Soleil Armchair is a statement piece that easily commands attention. An inviting, generously contoured seat anchors t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Stone, Travertine

Pair of Dakota Jackson Crimped Velvet Maple ArmChairs
Pair of Dakota Jackson Crimped Velvet Maple ArmChairs

Pair of Dakota Jackson Crimped Velvet Maple ArmChairs

By Dakota Jackson

Located in Germantown, MD

A Pair Dakota Jackson Crimped Velvet lacquered Maple Armchairs. Measures 24.75" in width, 26" in depth and stands 35" in height. Seat height is 18.5". Arm height is 26". Seat interi...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Velvet, Maple

Mario Botta, 4 'Seconda' Black Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s
Mario Botta, 4 'Seconda' Black Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s

Mario Botta, 4 'Seconda' Black Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s

By Mario Botta

Located in Argelato, BO

Three 'Seconda' chairs designed by the famous architect Mario Botta for the Italian firm Alias, model 602. All 4 are painted black both in the structure and in the seat, they bear ...

Category

1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Original Shadow Armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Postmodern Icon
Original Shadow Armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Postmodern Icon

Original Shadow Armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, Postmodern Icon

By Gaetano Pesce, Meritalia, Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset

Located in Grand Cayman, KY

Shadow armchair by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia is a highly collectible iconic masterpiece of Post Modern Design. The chair "deconstructed". Designed a...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Upholstery, Latex, Resin

Nobody’s Queen Chair, Gaetano Pesce for Zerodisegno, 2003
Nobody’s Queen Chair, Gaetano Pesce for Zerodisegno, 2003

Nobody’s Queen Chair, Gaetano Pesce for Zerodisegno, 2003

By Gaetano Pesce

Located in Las Vegas, NV

Created by Italian architect and designer Gaetano Pesce, the Nobody’s Queen Chair is a striking example of his long-standing exploration of individuality, material experimentation, a...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Resin

1970s Vintage Mid Century Modern Hand Lounge Chair, in White-- One Piece
1970s Vintage Mid Century Modern Hand Lounge Chair, in White-- One Piece

1970s Vintage Mid Century Modern Hand Lounge Chair, in White-- One Piece

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Madison, WI

Excellent Prop piece, or a Living Room, studio or office POP! This listing is for the White chair. We also have a Black chair, sold separately, pictured here. The RMIC hand chair made its first appearance around the year 1970. The spectacular chair is made of plastic and shaped like a giant hand with its palm turned upward, while the fingers serve as a backrest. Originally, the hand chair was designed in 1962 by Pedro Friedeberg, a then 24 years old surrealist artist. Friedeberg artistic sensibilities were decisively directed against everything conventional, and he was inspired by the Dadaistic practice of producing anti-art for art's sake. This White Hand Chair features the cup holder. Dimensions 27ʺW × 21ʺD × 34ʺH Seat Interior Width: 21" Seat Interior Depth: 21" Seat Height: 18" Arm Height: 20" Shipping: We ship insured and to your door, using blanket...

Category

1970s American Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Plastic

Postmodern Italian Quinta Black Perforated Metal Chair Mario Botta Alias 1980s
Postmodern Italian Quinta Black Perforated Metal Chair Mario Botta Alias 1980s

Postmodern Italian Quinta Black Perforated Metal Chair Mario Botta Alias 1980s

By Alias, Mario Botta

Located in Hamburg, DE

Postmodern armchair by Italian manufacturer Alias, designed by Mario Botta in the 1980s. A timeless design classic from the 1980s. Classic black and made entirely of metal. Naturall...

Category

20th Century Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Frank Gehry for Knoll “Hat Trick” Bentwood Armchairs, USA, 1996
Pair of Frank Gehry for Knoll “Hat Trick” Bentwood Armchairs, USA, 1996

Pair of Frank Gehry for Knoll “Hat Trick” Bentwood Armchairs, USA, 1996

By Knoll

Located in Morristown, NJ

Designed by Frank Gehry for Knoll, these Hat Trick armchairs exemplify Gehry’s radical rethinking of structure, material, and form at the intersection of architecture and furniture design. Executed in laminated bent maple, each chair is composed as a rhythmic assemblage of curving wood ribbons: a vertically slatted, crown-like backrest rises above a generously proportioned seat, while integrated armrests flow seamlessly into an expressive base formed by entwined legs and stretchers. The visual language is unmistakably Gehry—dynamic, deconstructed, and sculptural—yet resolved with ergonomic intelligence and functional clarity. Originally introduced in the mid-1990s, the Hat Trick series emerged from Gehry’s long-standing interest in bending conventional materials to their physical and aesthetic limits. Much like his architectural work, these chairs foreground process and structure, allowing the construction itself to define the final form. The result is furniture that reads as inhabitable sculpture, equally compelling in a domestic interior, architectural setting, or design-forward commercial space. Both chairs retain original Knoll underside branding, including “Made in USA” stamp, printed Gehry signature, and date mark 1/19/96, confirming authenticity and period manufacture. Offered as a matched pair, they present a rare opportunity to acquire an important example of late-20th-century American design by one of the most influential architects of our time. Ideal for a design-forward residential interior, these Frank Gehry for Knoll Hat...

Category

1990s American Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Bentwood

Rubber Chairs for Metropolitan Furniture by Brian Kane, 1987
Rubber Chairs for Metropolitan Furniture by Brian Kane, 1987

Rubber Chairs for Metropolitan Furniture by Brian Kane, 1987

By Brian Kane

Located in Chicago, IL

"Rubber Chairs" for Metropolitan Furniture for Steelcase by Brian Kane, 1987. Chairs are black steel with rubber coating and leather seats. Measure 30” tall 22” wide 21” deep seat he...

Category

1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Rubber

Italian Postmodern Proust Geometrica Armchair Alessandro Mendini by Cappellini
Italian Postmodern Proust Geometrica Armchair Alessandro Mendini by Cappellini

Italian Postmodern Proust Geometrica Armchair Alessandro Mendini by Cappellini

By Alessandro Mendini, Cappellini

Located in Portland, OR

An iconic chair designed by Italian postmodern designer Alessandro Mendini (1931-2019). This wonderful postmodern work of art presented as a chair is in excellent condition and ready to display in your space. Proust was originally created in 1978 for the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara. It was immediately recognized as an icon of twentieth century design and one of the most renowned and essential reference points in the quest for form and aesthetic perfection. Cappellini inherited the piece in 1993 and today Proust Geometrica...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Cotton, Upholstery, Foam, Beech, Paint

Post Modern Memphis Style Club Lounge Chair by Bernhardt
Post Modern Memphis Style Club Lounge Chair by Bernhardt

Post Modern Memphis Style Club Lounge Chair by Bernhardt

By Bernhardt

Located in New York, NY

Pure 1980's Postmodern, memphis influence lounge, arm chair. Gutsy tapered legs support the dramatic upholstered seat. Structurally sound and sturdy, unfortunately, the fabric shows ...

Category

Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Pair of Cubic Lounge Chairs in Black Leather
Pair of Cubic Lounge Chairs in Black Leather

Pair of Cubic Lounge Chairs in Black Leather

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Pair of lounge chairs, black leather, wood, Northern Europe, 1980s The design of this pair of lounge chairs is characterized by a cubic frame. When seated you experience a pleasant ...

Category

1980s European Vintage Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Fringes Armchair by Munna
Fringes Armchair by Munna

Fringes Armchair by Munna

Located in Geneve, CH

Fringes Armchair by Munna Dimensions: D 85 x W 94 x H 90 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet. Available in all Munna fabrics except Wild Silk...

Category

2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Foam, Wood

Post-modern armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Post-Modern armchairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage armchairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Post-Modern armchairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Portugal pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original armchairs, popular names associated with this style include Royal Stranger, Pepe Albargues, Arturo Verástegui, and Gaetano Pesce. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for armchairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $78,000 while the average work can sell for $4,338.