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.
Postmodern Pair of Lounge Chairs in Red Striped and Red Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lounge chairs, red and striped fabric, lacquered steel, lacquered wood, Europe, 1980s This pair of lounge chairs from the 1980s reflects the bold and playful character of postmoder...
Fabric
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 Poltronova, Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
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
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
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
Swoop Lounge Chair by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin in Selvedge Denim
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. USA. Reupholstered in selvedge denim
Fabric
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
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
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
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
$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
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
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
$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
$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
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
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
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
$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
Shiro Kuramata 'How High the Moon' Lounge Chair in Nickel-Plated Steel Mesh
By Vitra, Shiro Kuramata
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Shiro Kuramata for Vitra, 'How High the Moon' lounge chair, nickel-plated steel mesh, Switzerland, design 1986 Shiro Kuramata’s ‘How High the Moon...
Steel, Nickel
Italian Pair of Cubic Lounge Chairs in Black Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of lounge chair, leather, Italy, 1970s This striking lounge chair comes in a black leather upholstery that gives the room a vibrant and interesting touch. The design is further...
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
Luciano Frigerio 'Rancero' Lounge Chair with ottoman in Padouk
By Frigerio Di Desio, Luciano Frigerio
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luciano Frigerio for Frigerio di Desio, 'Rancero' lounge chair with ottoman, alcantara, padouk, steel, leather, Italy, 1970s Crafted by Italian designer Luciano Frigerio in the 197...
Steel
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
Ferdinando Buzzi for Ferruccio Brunati 'Camilla' Lounge Chair
By Brunati
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ferdinando Buzzi for Ferruccio Brunati, lounge chair, model 'Camilla', metal, plastic, fabric, Italy, 1970s Introducing a piece of innovative design...
Metal
Ubald Klug for De Sede 'Terrazza' Landscapes in Patinated Cognac Brown Leather
By Ubald Klug, De Sede
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
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
$2,800 / item
Pair Knoll Pfister Black Leather Lounge Chairs, 1980
By Charles Pfister, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair Knoll Pfister Black Leather Lounge Chair, 1980. Original black leather. We have 20 of these chairs available.
Leather
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
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
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
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
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
Pair Milo Bauhgman Style Postmodern Lounge Chairs in Chrome & Mint Green Velvet
By Carsons, Milo Baughman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed after the success of Milo Baughman's use of square tubular chrome framed chairs, this pair of chairs was made by Carsons in High Point, NC. Coincidentally, a lot of Baughman...
Steel, Chrome
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
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi 'Rocca' Lounge Chair in Walnut
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, 'Rocca' lounge chair, walnut, Italy, 1970s Giuseppe Rivadossi’s Rocca chair is a prime example of Italian craftsmanship from the second ...
Walnut
Rare Mies van der Rohe for Knoll Pair of Model 261 lounge chairs
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
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
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
$1,016Sale Price|31% Off
Post Modern Upholstered Lounge / Accent Chair by Schweiger Industries. C 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Post Modern Upholstered Lounge / Accent Chair by Schweiger Industries. Circa 1980s Features a dramatic scrolled rolled back design and the...
Upholstery
$2,304Sale Price|20% Off
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
70s Mario Bellini Cassina "Pianura" style Oak Two Seater Sofa Loveseat (2 of 2)
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Basel, BS
Stunning masterpiece 1970s Italian Two-Seater Loveseat Sofa in the manner of the Cassina Mario Bellini Pianura chair, in Oak wood and incredible striped cushions. This sofa is Modu...
Upholstery, Oak
$3,640Sale 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
Vivai Del Sud Superstar Lounge Chair in Olive Green Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vivai Del Sud, 'Superstar' lounge chair, fabric, Italy, 1970s A splendid design by Vivai del Sud, known as the Superstar, is distinguished by its organic layout and substantial size...
Fabric
American Designer, Side Chair, Oak, USA, 1980s
Located in High Point, NC
A laminated and carved oak side chair designed and produced in the US, c. 1980s. 16.75” seat height
Oak
Vintage ‘Pop’ Lounge and Ottoman by Christian Werner for Lignet Roset, 1990s
By Ligne Roset
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Commodious, strong, and attractive postmodern lounge chair by celebrated German designer Christian Werner for iconic French brand Ligne Roset, 1990s. Featuring an ample seating surfa...
Steel
Johan Bertil Häggström Tubular Lounge Chair for Swed-Form, Sweden, 1970s
By Johan Bertil Häggström, Swed Furn
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
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
$13,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
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
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
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
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
$1,421Sale Price|20% Off
Storvik Rattan Lounge Chair by Carl Öjerstam for IKEA, 2001
By IKEA, Carl Öjerstam
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
Italian Cubic Lounge Chair in Black Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lounge chair, leather, Italy, 1970s This striking lounge chair comes in a black leather upholstery that gives the room a vibrant and interesting touch. The design is further charact...
Leather
Vittorio Varo for Plan 'Zinzolo' Lounge Chair in Orange Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vittorio Varo for Plan Design Interior, 'Zinzolo' lounge chair, fabric, Italy, 1970s This superb Zinzola lounge chair is designed by the Italian Vittorio Varo. This design reflects ...
Fabric
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
Bruno Mathsson for Dux Chrome Based Swivel Lounge Chair. 2 of 2
By Bruno Mathsson, Dux of Sweden
Located in Chicago, IL
This swivelling easy chair is a cross between the famous “Jetson” lounge chair and the “Karin” lounge chair by iconic Swedish designer, Bruno Mathsson for Dux of Sweden. All three ch...
Steel, Chrome
Marco Zanuso for Arflex ‘Square’ Lounge Chair
By Marco Zanuso, Arflex
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
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
Post Modern Pallone Lounge Chair by Roy de Scheemaker for Leolux, 1989
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Post-Modern Pallone lounge chair. Design by Roy de Scheemaker for Leolux. Striking Dutch design from the 1980s. The seat is upholstered with the original black l...
Chrome