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.
Italian Bulky Low-Slung Lounge Chair
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Avilla, lounge chair, fabric, beech, Italy, 1980s This bulky, low-slung lounge chair captures the relaxed confidence of Italian design in the 1980s. Rather than appearing light, rat...
Fabric, Beech
Gionathan de Pas, Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi 'Joe' Lounge Chair in Leather
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi, Poltronova
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gionathan de Pas, Donato D'Urbino and Paolo Lomazzi for Poltronova, 'Joe' glove lounge chair, cognac leather, brass-plated steel, Italy, 1970 This extraordinary chair, named the ‘Jo...
Brass, Steel
IPE Cavalli Italian Pair of Lounge Chairs in Colorful Striped Fabric
By Ipe Cavalli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
IPE Cavalli, pair of lounge chairs, fabric, steel, Italy, 1970s Exceptional lounge chairs by IPE Cavalli, crafted in Italy during the 1970s. With their bold presence and generous pr...
Steel
Dutch Post-Modern Camel Leather High Back Lounge Chair, 1990s
By Leolux, Jane Worthington
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dutch Post-Modern lounge chair from the 1990s, fully upholstered in camel leather. The high, contoured back tapers toward the seat and broadens at the crown, giving the chair a sculp...
Leather
Rare Mies van der Rohe for Knoll Pair of Model 261 lounge chairs
By Knoll, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Round Rock, TX
Pair of Rare Mies van der Rohe for Knoll Model 261 lounge chairs c. 1970s Originally designed in the early 1930s, later refined by Mies in 1967 for executive interiors and introduce...
Leather, Oak
Pair of "Colefax" Swivel Lounge Chairs & Ottoman Made in the USA by Pearson
By Pearson Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant and exceptionally comfortable pair of vintage swivel lounge chairs with matching ottoman, manufactured by Pearson Furniture in High Point, North Carolina, circa 1980s. The...
Fabric, Wood
Ubald Klug for De Sede 'Terrazza' Landscapes in Patinated Cognac Brown Leather
By De Sede, Ubald Klug
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ubald Klug for De Sede, DS-1025 'Terrazza' landscape sofa elements, patinated cognac brown leather, Switzerland, 1970s. Waterfall shaped sofas in a patinated leather by the Swiss m...
Leather
Illum Wikkelsø for Ryesberg Møbler 'Apollo' Lounge Chair in Leather
By Illum Wikkelsø, Ryesberg Møbler
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Illum Wikkelsø for Ryesberg Møbler, lounge chair model 'Apollo', leather, lacquered wood, Denmark, 1970s This distinctive lounge chair by Illum Wikkelsø is of high-quality both in t...
Leather, Wood
$975Sale Price|35% Off
Sculptural Lounge Chair Jaymar 1980s
By Jaymar
Located in Toronto, ON
Gorgeous pop art chair by Jaymar in a dark nylon like material. It's a blueish black fabric colour with slight prints/texturing on the fabric (see photos). This bold and modern chair...
Leather
Vintage Ekornes Stressless Regent Leather Recliner Armchair with Ottoman, 1980s
Located in Berlin, DE
A distinctive vintage Stressless Regent reclining armchair with matching ottoman by Ekornes, dating from the 1980s. Made in Norway, the chair combines the exceptional comfort for whi...
Metal
Mario Bellini for Cassina Pianura Lounge Chairs in Walnut and Leather
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, 'Pianura' lounge chairs with armrests, walnut, leather, Italy, 1971 The ‘Pianura’ lounge chair by Mario Bellini for Cassina, designed in 1971, presents a ...
Leather, Walnut
Joe Colombo for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Black Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This lounge ch...
Leather, Fiberglass
Danish Pair of Armchairs in Oak and Chrome with Blue Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Manufactured by Duba Møbelindustri, pair of armchairs, bent plywood, chrome-plated metal, fabric, Denmark, 1970s. Pair of Danish chairs manufactured by Duba Møbelindustri. The whol...
Fabric, Plywood
Luigi Radaelli Italian Pair of 'Tartana' Lounge Chairs in Brown Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luigi Radaelli, pair of 'Tartana' lounge chairs, leather, beech, Italy, 1970s These postmodern Italian lounge chairs will surely grab the viewer's attention. The construction is ba...
Leather, Beech
Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate 'Blop' Lounge Chairs in Original Fabric
By Carlo Bartoli, Rossi di Albizzate
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate, pair of two-seat sofa with pair of lounge chairs and coffee table, model 'Blop', original velvet, lacquered wood, Italy, 1972 A postmodern desi...
Velvet
Mario Bellini for Cassina 'Pianura' Lounge Chair in Walnut
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, 'Pianura' lounge chair, walnut, fabric, Italy, 1971 The ‘Pianura’ lounge chair by Mario Bellini for Cassina, designed in 1971, presents a compact yet scul...
Fabric, Walnut
Postmodern T Line Lounge Chairs by Arflex, Red Alcantara, Italy, 1982
Located in Den Haag, NL
Two iconic armchairs by Arflex Design Burkhard Vogtherr. Model T Line Beautiful Postmodern lounge chairs. Very good sitting comfort. In a very nice red color. The Alcantara fabric ...
Fabric
Mario Bellini 'Le Bambole' Loveseat by B&B Italia, Suede, 1972
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mario Bellini's 'Le Bambole' lounge chair for B&B Italia is one of the most recognizable silhouettes of 1970s Italian design. The chair's fully upholstered, pillow-like form has ...
Leather
Vladimir Kagan 'Ellipse' Lounge Chair in Beige Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vladimir Kagan, 'Ellipse' lounge chair, alcantara, chrome-plated aluminum, United States, designed in 1976 and produced circa 1980 This 'Ellipse' lounge chair truly employs the desi...
Aluminum, Chrome
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
White Nicoletti Salotti Post Modern Italian Leather Low lounge chair ottoman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cream white Nicoletti Salotti Post Modern Italian Leather lounge chair with ottoman. Very fun Beautiful pop art long leather chair and foot rest. Has unique back supports and legs up...
Leather, Wood
Percival Lafer 'MP 87' Lounge Chair in Reddish-Brown Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Percival Lafer, lounge chair, model ‘MP-87’, leather, chrome-plated steel, rope, Brazil, 1971 The MP-87 lounge piece is conceived by Brazilian designer Percival Lafer in the 1970s....
Steel, Chrome
$1,540Sale Price|30% Off
Red & Black Nicoletti Salotti Post Modern Italian Leather Low lounge chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Red and black Nicoletti Salotti Post Modern Italian Red Leather lounge chair. Very fun Beautiful pop art wide leather chair. Has unique back supports and legs upholstered in thick le...
Leather
$4,000 / set
Pair of Post Modern Swivel Chairs by Preview
By Preview
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A nice pair of all original Post Modern swivel chairs by Preview Furniture. The chairs are all original, left as found. The chairs are structurally sound and the fabric is in good ...
Fabric
Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chair in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
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...
Leather, Fiberglass
$2,800 / item
Pair Knoll Pfister Black Leather Lounge Chairs, 1980
By Knoll, Charles Pfister
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair Knoll Pfister Black Leather Lounge Chair, 1980. Original black leather. We have 20 of these chairs available.
Leather
Vintage Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Geoff Hollington for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Geoff Hollington
Located in Oxnard, CA
Here is a rare lounge chair and ottoman by Geoff Hollington for Herman Miller, 1989. The heavy duty construction is clad in supple black leather. It features a hidden under-arm rec...
Steel
$2,850Sale Price / set|25% Off
Radboud Van Beekum Lounge Chair Black Leather by for Pastoe Post Modern, 1980
Located in Vienna, AT
FM62 lounge leather chair by Radboud Van Beekum for Pastoe Post Modern, 1980 Dutch minimalistic lounge chairs in black saddle leather. Designed with geometric precision, these chair...
Steel
Percival Lafer Post Modern Brazilian Black Leather Reclining Pony Lounge Chair
By Lafer, Percival Lafer
Located in Troy, MI
Percival Lafer "Pony" recliner in original black leather circa 1980s Super comfortable and innovative design with relaxed leather cushions and metal front T leg support Reclines org...
Metal
Italian Post Modern Sculptural Lounge Chair
Located in Las Vegas, NV
If you've been looking for an incredible, sculptural lounge chair that will be the center of attention, look no further. This chair is big on style and size, a truly gorgeous piece, ...
Polyester
Gufram PRATONE Forever by Ceretti / Derossi / Rosso
By Riccardo Rosso, Piero Derossi and Giorgio Ceretti, Gufram Furniture
Located in Toronto, ON
Chair of soft polyurethane, upholstered in bouclé wool. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ceretti, Derossi and Rosso’s masterpiece, in 2021 Gufram introduced PRATONE® FOREVER, a ...
Wool, Bouclé
Michael Wolk Miami Swivel Lounge Chairs for Directional in Ivory Boucle, a Pair
By Michael Wolk
Located in Culver City, CA
A sculptural pair of Michael Wolk “Miami” swivel lounge chairs, freshly reupholstered in a dreamy ivory bouclé that somehow manages to feel both cloud-soft and architecturally seriou...
Bouclé
Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin 1970s Postmodern Chrome Cantilever Armchairs
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on "Read More" or "View More Details" below. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Pair of Milo Baughman for ...
Chrome
Vintage De Sede Ds-66 Lounge Chair Pair in Brown Leather, Switzerland c.1970’s
By De Sede
Located in Lutz, FL
Vintage 1970’s Swiss De Sede attributed DS-66 Lounge Chair Pair. Well documented design by De Sede. Light warm tone brown leather with black piping on cushions, matching three seat s...
Leather, Wood
Bouloum Human Form Ergonomic Lounge Chair by Arcanas (Canada) Postmodern Chaise
By Arconas, Airborne International, Olivier Mourgue
Located in Round Top, TX
The eye-catching “Bouloum” chair was designed by Olivier Mourgue and manufactured by Arconas in Canada in the 1970s. This unique, pop-art style chair in the shape of a person is full...
Textile
Toshiyuki Kita Wink Charcoal Gray Leather Lounge Chair for Cassina, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Charcoal gray leather Wink lounge chair designed by Toshiyuki Kita for Cassina, 1980s. Wink rises out of the complex interweaving of Western ways and Asian influences, a versatile...
Leather
Post-Modern Italian Pair of Lounge Chairs in Chrome and Beige Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of lounge chairs, chrome-plated metal, fabric, Italy, 1970s These captivating Italian lounge chairs from the 1970s are a playful and expressive example of postmodern design. Wi...
Metal, Chrome
$3,718Sale Price / set|20% Off
Maralunga Armchair and Ottoman by Vico Magistretti for Cassina Matte Black
Located in Basel, BS
This black and white textile leather armchair and ottoman, the Maralunga model designed by Vico Magistretti in 1973, are iconic examples of mid-20th century Italian design. Both pie...
Upholstery
Roche Bobois Pair of Lounge Chairs in Red and Patterned Upholstery
By Roche Bobois
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roche Bobois, pair of armchairs, fabric, chrome, France, 1970s These rare and wonderfully constructed chairs by Roche Bobois feature a solid construction of solely round shapes. The...
Chrome
Johan Bertil Häggström Tubular Lounge Chair for Swed-Form, Sweden, 1970s
By Swed Furn, Johan Bertil Häggström
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A lounge chair by Johan Bertil Häggström for Swed-Form, produced in Sweden in the 1970s. An example of Swedish postmodern design, the piece is built around a tubular chrome frame tha...
Metal
Percival Lafer 'MP 87' Lounge Chair in Beige Suede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Percival Lafer, lounge chair, model ‘MP-87’, leather, chrome-plated steel, rope, Brazil, 1971 The MP-87 lounge piece is conceived by Brazilian designer Percival Lafer in the 1970s....
Steel, Chrome
$2,880Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair Black Leather Flight High Chairs by Takeshita Okamura & Erik Marquardsen
By Takashi Okamura and Erik Marquardsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Flight High Chairs by Takeshita Okamura & Erik Marquardsen for Nelo of Sweden. All Black leather chairs with black lacquer wood frames. Good vintage condition. Great desi...
Leather, Bentwood, Lacquer
De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi for BBB Pair of 'Flap' Transformable Lounge Chairs
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi, BBB Bonacchina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi for BBB, pair of 'Flap' lounge chairs, metal, plastic, alcantara, Italy, 1975 The "Flap" lounge chair, produced in 1975 by BBB, tr...
Metal
Mario Bellini Reupholstered 'Camaleonda' Lounge Chair with Ottoman White Boucle
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, reupholstered 'Camaleonda' lounge chair with ottoman, boucle, metal, Italy, design 1970 The iconic Camaleonda design is conceived by Italian master Mar...
Metal
$5,840Sale Price|20% Off
Vladimir Kagan Wingback Swivel Chair, Aubergine, Directional, 1990's
Located in Culver City, CA
An iconic wingback lounge ~ designed by Vladimir Kagan for Directional in the 1990s arrived here in its original grey-aubergine microsuede, and honestly? The OG colorway hits differe...
Bouclé
Marco Zanuso for Arflex ‘Square’ Lounge Chair
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Marco Zanuso for Arflex, 'Square' lounge chair, fabric, metal, wood, Italy, 1962 This eccentric chair by Marco Zanuso is well-executed embodying a solid construction. Characteristic...
Metal
$6,400 / set
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 ...
Leather, Wood
CONCENTRICO 01 Sculptural Lounge Chair in Textured Upholstery by En Bruto
By En Bruto
Located in Cabo San Lucas, MX
CONCENTRICO 01 is a sculptural lounge chair by Mexican design studio En Bruto, defined by its curved silhouette, enveloping backrest and distinctive stacked cylindrical volumes along...
Upholstery
$1,451Sale Price|20% Off
Storvik Rattan Lounge Chair by Carl Öjerstam for IKEA, 2001
By Carl Öjerstam, IKEA
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
This expansive rattan lounge chair with its organic and absolutely timeless lines comes in excellent condition. The rattan weave was stretched over a solid bamboo frame and shows min...
Rattan
Ligne Roset “Neo” lounge chair and ottoman design by Alban-Sébastien Gilles 2002
By Ligne Roset
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Ligne Roset “Neo” lounge chair with ottoman designed by Alban-Sébastien Gilles in 2002. It is no longer in production. The fabric is a super durable vi...
Polyester
Unique Sculptural Pair of Lounge Chairs in Metal and Red Leather, Italy 1960s
Located in Hellouw, NL
A bold architectural presence characterises this pair of vintage chairs, likely dating to the late 1960s or early 1970s. Sculptural and angular, they reflect the experimental energy ...
Steel
Frank Gehry Power Play Chair and Ottoman for Knoll, Signed, Great Condition
By Knoll, Frank Gehry
Located in Kansas City, MO
Power play chair and ottoman designed by Frank Gehry for Knoll in very close to new condition. There are no chips, cracks or repairs to the wood slats...
Maple
Pair of Custom Lounge Chairs Made in USA, Circa 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful pair of large lounge chairs designed and manufactured in Los Angeles California. The chairs are vintage, made in the 1950s or earlier as it is evidentiated by the way it is...
Fabric, Wood
$476Sale Price|20% Off
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 ...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair low deep red leather slipper puffy lounge chair without arms Made in Italy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of low deep red leather slipper puffy lounge chair without arms. Can be used as individual lounge chair or you can push them together to used them as a loveseat. Made in Italy c...
Leather
Harden Furniture English Country Plaid Upholstered Lounge Chair With Ottoman
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional English Country style plaid upholstered lounge chair with ottoman In the manner of Ralph Lauren By Harden Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Measures: Chair - 34"W x 37.5"...
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage Lounge Chair Made in England by George Smith
By George Smith
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful lounge chair designed and manufactured in England by George Smith. The piece is beautifully upholstered in a mustard yellow fabric with beautiful wavy patter. The chair i...
Brass
Adrian Pearsall Channeled Post Modern Slipper Chair in Ivory White Bouclé
By Comfort Designs, Inc., Adrian Pearsall
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Channeled and plush post modern chair designed by Adrian Pearsall for Comfort Designs, Inc. If you're seeking a chair to wind down and relax in - the sort you can sit in for hours and enjoy - this is it. Every inch of this slipper chair is soft, upholstered and well cushioned. A modern space odyssey look with a channeled seat...
Upholstery, Bouclé
Vintage German Kreuzschwinger Lounge Chair by Till Behrens for Stahlmöbel, 1980s
By Till Behrens
Located in Hamburg, DE
Till Behrens Kreuzschwinger in the version as an armchair. This version is wider and flatter than the normal Kreuzschwinger chair. Elegant ...
Metal
Dramatic Pair of Mid Century Style Mohair Club Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of Mid Century Modern style Mohair Club chairs in contrasting Mustard and Grey. The serpentine form lounge chair with fixed back and unusual back leg that flows from the top t...
Mohair, Wood
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
Pair Nelo Wave Chairs by Takeshita Okamura & Erik Marquardsen for Nelo Sweden
By Takashi Okamura and Erik Marquardsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Nelo Wave Chairs by Takeshita Okamura & Erik Marquardsen for Nelo of Sweden. Gray and black patina leather chairs with black lacquer wood frames. Good vintage condition. Grea...
Leather, Bentwood, Lacquer