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.
Large-Scaled Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois Modular 'Mah Jong' Sofa in Wool
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois, 'Mah Jong' modular sofa, wool, France, designed in 1971 The Mah Jong sofa, designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois in 1971, is one of the most recogni...
Wool
Wiener Werkstätten 1970s Modular Organic Sofa in Colorful Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wiener Werkstätten, modular sofa, fabric, plastic, Austria, 1970s This modular sofa by Wiener Werkstätten captures something of the freedom and optimism of the 1970s. Its low, gener...
Fabric, Plastic
Hans Hopfer for Neue Wiener Werkstätte 'Castell' Sectional Sofa
By Hans Hopfer
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Hopfer for Neue Wiener Werkstätte 'Castell' modular sofa, fabric, plastic, Austria, design 1972 Stunning modular sofa designed by Hans Hopfer for Neue Wiener Werkstätte. This s...
Fabric, Plastic
Early Large-Scaled Modular 'Trio' Sofa in Brown Plush Fabric by COR
By Team Form AG, Cor Rheda Wiedenbrück
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Team Form AG (Franz Hero and Karl Odermatt) for COR, 'Trio' sectional sofa, fabric, Germany, design 1973 Designed in 1973 by Swiss designers Franz Hero and Karl Odermatt of Team Fo...
Fabric
De Sede DS-600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa in Brown Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ueli Berger, Eleonora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sede, 'Snake' sectional sofa, model 'DS-600', leather, Switzerland, 1970 Designed by Ueli Berger, Eleonora Ped...
Leather
Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti Confidential Corner Sofa in Burgundy Leather
By Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti, sectional sofa, model 'Confidential', leather, Italy, 1972 In 1972, Italian architect and furniture designer Alberto Rosselli designed a distinctive s...
Leather
Rare Large-Scale De Sede DS 11 Modular Sofa Consisting of Sixteen Elements
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, modular 'DS-11' sofa, leather, beech, Switzerland, 1970s Monumental DS-11 modular sofa by De Sede, produced in Switzerland during the 1970s. This exceptionally large compos...
Leather, Beech
1970s Italian Modular Sofa in Brown and Beige Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sofa, fabric, Italy, 1970s This charming Italian sofa is made in a characteristic patterned upholstery in brown and beige tones with cord like stitching along the backrests...
Fabric
Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois Croissant Sofa with Lounge Chair Off-White Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois, sofa with lounge chair reupholstered fabric, France, late 1970s The Croissant sofa with lounge chair, designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois, epito...
Fabric
Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate 'Down' Sectional Sofa
By Rossi di Albizzate, Carlo Bartoli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate, sectional sofa model 'Down', fabric, lacquered wood, Italy, 1973 This design truly resembles the ethos of the seventies – a bright and bold era...
Fabric, Wood
De Sede DS-600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa in Reddish-Brown Patinated Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, ‘Snake’ DS-600 sectional sofa, leather, felt, Switzerland, 1972. A design by Ueli Berger, Elenora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sede, Switzerland. This D...
Leather, Felt
Mario Marenco for Arflex Marius&Marius Sofa in Brownish Red Leather
By Mario Marenco, Arflex
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Marenco for Arflex, 'Marius&Marius' sofa, leather, plastic, lacquered wood, Italy, 1970s The Marius&Marius sofa, designed by Mario Marenco for Arflex in the 1970s, is ...
Leather, Plastic, Wood
Organically Shaped Post-Modern Sectional Sofa in Black Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sofa, leather, Europe, 1980s This sofa is fully executed in a black leather that contributes to a unified look. The construction consists of four elements. The sofa embraces...
Leather
$16,400 / set
IPE Cavalli Italian Sectional Sofa in Red Upholstery
By Ipe Cavalli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
IPE Cavalli, sectional sofa, fabric, metal, Italy, 1970s This exceptional sectional sofa by IPE Cavalli, crafted in Italy during the 1970s, is a true masterpiece of design and comfo...
Metal
Rimo Maturi for Mimo Padova Sofa Model ´Nuvolone´ in Brown Leather
By Mimo Padova
Located in Waalwijk, NL
RImo Maturi for Mimo Padova, ´Nuvolone´ sofa, leather, Italy, 1970s Stunning modular sofa by Italian designer Rimo Maturii for manufacturer Mimo Padova. The 'Nuvulone', meaning 'cl...
Leather
De Sede ‘DS-15’ Modular Sofa in Patinated Brown Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, 'DS-15' sectional sofa, patinated leather, Switzerland, 1970s. This high-quality sectional sofa designed by De Sede in the 1970s contains five regular elements, two corner ...
Leather
Hans Hopfer for Neue Wiener Werkstätte 'Castell' Sectional Sofa
By Hans Hopfer
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Hopfer for Neue Wiener Werkstätte 'Castell' modular sofa, leather, Austria, design 1972 Stunning and sizable modular sofa designed by Hans Hopfer for Neue Wiener Werkstätte. Th...
Leather
De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi for Zanotta 'Settebello' Sectional Sofa
By Zanotta, Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gionathan de Pas, Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi for Zanotta, 'settebello' modular sofa, fabric, polyurethane, Italy, 1974 A postmodern design by Gionathan de Pas, Donato D’Urbino ...
Fabric
Large Howard Keith Custom 'Cloud' Sofa 440cm/173in
By Howard Keith
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Howard Keith for HK Furniture, special order custom 'Cloud' sofa, velvet, United Kingdom, 1970s Stunning Howard Keith for HK Furniture “Cloud” modular sofa, made in the 1970s. This ...
Fabric
Mario Marenco for Arflex Modular 'Marechiaro' Three-Seat Sofa in Wool
By Mario Marenco, Arflex
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Marenco for Arflex, modular three-seater sofa, model 'Marechiaro', wool, plastic, metal, Italy, circa 1976. This well-designed sofa by Mario Marenco for Arflex is fully execut...
Metal
$2,920Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Bernhardt 4 Piece Sectional, for Custom Reupholstery
By Bernhardt
Located in Denver, CO
1980s sectional by Bernhardt. Custom reupholstery labor of sectional included in the price (labor and materials, except for fabric). COM or MENO can advise and order fabrics. Fabric...
Fabric, Upholstery
$5,500 / set
Post Modern 6 Piece Modular Sofa
By Rolf Benz
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Great 6 piece Post Modern modular sectional sofa attributed to Rolf Benz. A gorgeous sofa that will make a massive statement. Sofa is being sold as found, reupholstery is needed b...
Fabric
Seven Salotti Modular Sofa in Cognac Colored Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Seven Salotti modular sofa, plastic, leather, Italy, 1970s This modular sofa by Italian maker Seven Salotti dates from the 1970s and showcases the era’s relaxed and sculptural appro...
Leather, Plastic
French Post-Modern Sectional Sofa in Purple Upholstery 1970s
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ligne Roset, sectional sofa, fabric, foam, France, 1970s This organically shaped sofa is executed in a fresh purple fabric with subtle white flower motive. This sofa has an angular ...
Fabric, Foam
Carsons 5 Piece Post Modern Modular Sectional Sofa
By Carsons
Located in Lutz, FL
Being offered AS-IS for reupholstery. 5 piece Carsons of High Point post modern modular sectional in white wave upholstery. Frames are solid and in great condition, upholster to your...
Fabric, Wood
$396Sale Price / item|20% Off
Postmodern Sectional Sofa Bench by Steelcase
By Steelcase
Located in New York, NY
Phenomenal sectional sofa, bench, or single chair set made by Steelcase, circa 2002. The pieces have tubular chrome feet, which support a thick and heavy board, to which a thick upho...
Chrome
$9,000 / set
9 Piece Modular Scoop Swan Sofa by Henning Korch
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Great 9 piece Italian Post Modern modular sectional Swan sofa by Henning Korch. Comprised of 9 identical chair pieces that can be used individually or together. The arrangements ar...
Velvet
Italian Modular Sofa in Metal and Patterned Grey Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sofa, fabric, metal, wood, Italy, 1970s This beautiful Italian sectional sofa showcases the bold and eccentric design choices of the 1970s, highlighted by its striking uphol...
Metal
$3,160Sale Price / set|20% Off
1980s Weiman Customized Curved Serpentine Sectional
By Weiman
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1980s with this exquisite Weiman three pieces sectional sofa. The ultra rare sectional exudes an air of luxury and refinement. ...
Upholstery, Wood
Mah Jong Sofa in ‘Kenzo Takada’ Fabric by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois France
By Hans Hopfer
Located in Wien, AT
Designed by Hans Hopfer in 1971 for Roche Bobois, the Mah Jong sofa remains one of the most influential and recognizable seating systems of the 20th century. Conceived as a collectio...
Fabric
French Postmodern Steiner 'Swany' Modular Sofa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sofa 'Swany' by Hugues Steiner and Sylvain Joly for Steiner, polyurethane, foam, France, design 1969 An eye-catching modular sofa in an unconvent...
Foam
Modular sectional “Lowseat” sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, circa 2000
Located in View Park, CA
The « Lowseat » sectional modular sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, Italy circa 2000. In four parts; featuring tubular stainless steel frame and fabric in varying shades of gray....
Steel
Bernhardt Design Flair Modular Sofa or Lounge Chairs, pair in Boucle Upholstery
Located in Chicago, IL
Bernhardt Design "Flair" sofa, or pair of lounge chairs. Sold as a two-piece set. Made in USA, circa late 1950's with updated upholstery Bouclé upholstery, wood feet Condtion: Ove...
Bouclé
Postmodern Sectional Sofa in Deep Green Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sofa, fabric, Europe, 1970s This beautiful modular sofa, made in Europe in the 1970s, exudes comfort and charm. Wrapped in soft, rich green fabric, it invites you to sink in...
Fabric, Pine
Swany Sofa by Hugues Steiner for Steiner
Located in Chicago, IL
c 1970s. France. Modular 6 piece sectional sofa, reupholstered in brown wool. New veg tanned leather straps. Tagged Single Pieces: 26L 36W 26H Inside Corner Pieces: 36L 36W 26H Out...
Wool
$2,981Sale Price|25% Off
Cassina Veranda 3 seater Sofa by Vico Magistretti
Located in Bern, BE
Cassina Veranda 3 seater Sofa by Vico Magistretti and produced by Cassina, Italy in the late 1980's. Based on the Maralunga Sofa with fold down back rest. Adjustable three seater des...
Metal, Steel
Curved Serpentine Sofa by Directional Furniture
By Directional
Located in Culver City, CA
This sofa is beyond stunning! Circa 1994, this white sofa features a gorgeous flame stitch upholstery and is equal parts comfortable and beautiful. The sofa features 3 pieces and a w...
Fabric
"Todo Modo" by Jean-Michel Wilmotte for Tecno Italy Reversible Chair
By Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Tecno
Located in Hanover, MA
Original vintage (not a re-edition) Todo Modo single slipper chair with completely reversible rotating cylindrical back. Designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte and...
Steel
Post Modern 1990s Preview Sectional Sofa in Plush Ivory White Bouclé
By Preview
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Large Post Modern Sectional Sofa by Preview professionally reupholstered in highly durable super soft ivory white bouclé. If there was a ever a d...
Bouclé, Upholstery
Vintage Thayer Coggin for Milo Baughman Semi-Circular 3-Piece Sectional Sofa
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Clarksboro, NJ
Make a bold statement with this exceptional vintage Thayer Coggin for Milo Baughman three-piece sectional sofa. Featuring an impressive curved, semi-circular design, this iconic sect...
Upholstery
Monumental 1980s 3 Piece Sofa by Steve Chase
By Steve Chase, A. Rudin, Martin Brattrud
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This MASSIVE 3 piece sofa by Steve Chase is a sight to behold. Measuring in at just under 15 feet across, it is a real statement maker. The slightly asym...
Fabric
1990s Salotti Post Modern Two Toned Black Graphite Leather 3 Pieces Sectional
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1990s with this exquisite two toned blavk and graphite leather three pieces sectional sofa. The ultra rare floating style secti...
Leather, Wood
1970s Post-Modern Lounge Chairs in Beige Patterned Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular lounge chairs, fabric, wood, Belgium, 1970s These superb modular lounge chairs originate from 1970s Belgium and beautifully capture the post-modern spirit of the era, marked...
Fabric
Roche Bobois Mah Jong Sectional Sofa by Hans Hopfer, Multicolor
By Roche Bobois
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Roche Bobois "Mah Jong" – Modular corner sofa, designed by Hans Hopfer, 2000s A modular arrangement consisting of 12 seats and 6 backrests, configured in a corner layout. Designed by...
Cotton, Satin, Velvet
Mah Jong 4-seater corner sofa, 12-piece set - velvet and cotton by Roche Bobois
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The "Mah Jong" modular sofa, designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois, is a French design icon that debuted in 1971 and has been in continuous production ever since. A low, fully mod...
Cotton, Velvet
1980s Postmodern Preview Cloud Sectional Sofa
By Preview
Located in Bensalem, PA
Stunning 3 piece PREVIEW sectional sofa
Upholstery
Kwok Hoi Chan for Steiner ´Chromatic´ Modular Elements
By Kwok Hoi Chan, Gilbert Steiner
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Kwok Hoi Chan for Steiner, elements, model ´chromatic´, fabric, France, 1970 A postmodern design by Kwok Hoi Chan created in 1970 for Steiner. Design in the seventies was all about ...
Fabric
Postmodern Italian Sectional Sofa in Blue and Off-White Dots Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sofa, fabric, brushed metal, Italy, 1970s A postmodern design of Italian origin with an ingenious construction comprised of three seating elements and five/six loose backres...
Metal
Oblong sectional sofa designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Oblong sectional Sofa designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini, Italy. Jasper Morrison creates his furniture with a light touch and yet perfectionally functional. He counts they’...
Fabric, Polystyrene, Foam, Plywood
$2,950 / item
Sectional Sofa Elements in Leatherette
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sectional sofa elements or lounge chairs, leatherette, beech, Europe, 1980s. A set of modular sofa elements in a beige leatherette. Their geometrical shape contributes to the striki...
Faux Leather, Beech
Custom Italian Postmodern Vico Magistretti Style Large 2-Piece Sectional Sofa
Located in Chicago, IL
Custom Italian Postmodern Vico Magistretti Style Large 2-Piece Sectional Sofa Striking custom Italian Postmodern two-piece sectional in the style of Vico Magistretti, featuring a bo...
Fabric
HABANA Sectional Sofa by Stanley Jay Friedman for Brueton, 1980
By Brueton
Located in Chicago, IL
HABANA Sectional Sofa by Stanley Jay Friedman for Brueton, 1980 Reupholstered Each section measures 35" deep, 26" wide 27" tall 17" seat height. That is the 4 sections and 2 ottomans
Upholstery, Velvet
Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte Castell Lounge Chair in Cognac Leather
By Wiener Werkstätte, Hans Hopfer
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte 'Castell' lounge chair, leather, Austria, design 1972 Stunning and sizable lounge chair designed by Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte. This grand ...
Leather
Mario Bellini Reupholstered 'Camaleonda' Modular Sofa in White Boucle
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, reupholstered 'Camaleonda' sectional sofa, boucle, metal, Italy, design 1970 The iconic Camaleonda sofa is designed by Italian master Mario Bellini for...
Metal
TAWARAYA "Boxing Ring" Seating Pod by Masanori Umed, Memphis Design, Japan, 1983
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
The TAWARAYA Ring by Masanori Umeda for MEMPHIS srl is one of that design movements most famous & critically-discussed pieces from the inaugural MEMP...
Laminate, Wood
Muller Van Severen x KASSL Edition Rare "Pillow Sofa"
By Muller Van Severen, BD Barcelona Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a extremely rare KASSL edition "pillow sofa" by the Belgian design duo Muller Van Severen. This set is comprised of a two seat sofa with an addition third chair that can att...
Cotton, Upholstery, Wood, Coating
Preview Sectional Designed by M. Fillmore Harty
Located in Chicago, IL
Discover a blend of comfort and style with this L-shaped sectional sofa designed by M. Fillmore Harty for Preview Furniture. With its three distinct sections, the sofa accommodates up to five people with ease, making it a versatile choice for various settings. Newly re-upholstered in plush foam, it promises a cushioned seating experience. The sofa shines with its sophisticated eggplant-colored mohair upholstery, adding a touch of elegance to any living space. A unique feature is its geometrically curved...
Mohair
Postmodern Serpentine Sectional Sofa By Weiman Newly Reupholstered
Located in Chicago, IL
Postmodern Vladimir Kagan Style Serpentine 3 Piece Sectional Sofa by Weimann Newly Reupholstered in a Charcoal Alpaca Mohair Velvet Striking postmodern serpentine 3-piece sectional...
Mohair, Velvet
1980s Roche Bobois Yellow Leather Down Navy Blue Sectional Sofa
By Roche Bobois
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1980s with this exquisite yellow calf leather and navy stripe corduroys cushions. This design truly resembles the ethos of the ...
Chrome
$2,400Sale Price / set|29% Off
Weiman Sculptural Post Modern Sectional - 5 Pieces
By Weiman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A five piece post modern sectional attributed to Weiman. Sculptural silhouette, with four single modules and one corner piece. Original upholstery as found. Reupholstery recommended....
Upholstery