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.
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
Rare Large-Scale De Sede DS 11 Modular Sofa Consisting of Sixteen Elements
By De Sede
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 compositi...
Leather, Beech
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
Mah-Jong Sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois in Missoni Home Fabric , 12 Pieces
Located in Seattle, WA
A modular 12-piece Mah-Jong sofa designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois in Missoni Fabric, 2019 production. The set is in good condition, with light fabric wear on a few pieces and...
Fabric, Foam
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
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
IPE Cavalli Italian Sectional Sofa in Colorful Striped Fabric
By Ipe Cavalli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
IPE Cavalli, sectional sofa, fabric, steel, Italy, 1970s This exceptional sectional sofa by IPE Cavalli, crafted in Italy during the 1970s, is a true masterpiece of design and comfo...
Steel
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
Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte Castell Sectional Sofa in Cognac Leather
By Wiener Werkstätte, Hans Hopfer
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte 'Castell' modular sofa, leather, Austria, design 1972 Stunning and sizable modular sofa designed by Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstätte. This grand ...
Leather
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
Cassina Veranda 3 seater Sofa by Vico Magistretti
Located in Bern, CH
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
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
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
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
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
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
$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
Roche Bobois Mah Jong Large Sofa (18-Piece Set)
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
$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
$4,500Sale Price / set|23% Off
Vintage Post-Modern Bernhardt Flair Channel 4-Piece Modular Sectional Sofa 1980s
By Steve Chase, Bernhardt
Located in Southampton, NJ
4-Piece channeled modular sofa in the manner of Steve Chase by Bernhardt Flair having beautifully pattered original upholstery that features wind swooshes throughout. In very good vi...
Steel
$10,500Sale Price|30% Off
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
Postmodern Serpentine Sectional With Stacked Base
By Adrian Pearsall, Directional, Milo Baughman
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Interesting postmodern style sofa with a serpentine like shape. Great organic L shape sofa with an overall foot print of 106” x 106”. Back height is 29” and seat height is 17.5”. Sof...
Upholstery
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
$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
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
$6,300Sale Price / set|30% Off
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
Large Postmodern Sectional Sofa in Blue Upholstery and Aluminum
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sectional sofa, fabric aluminum, Italy, 1980s Large Postmodern modular sofa, consisting of six regular seating elements, one corner and an ele...
Aluminum
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
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
1980s Postmodern Preview Cloud Sectional Sofa
By Preview
Located in Bensalem, PA
Stunning 3 piece PREVIEW sectional sofa
Upholstery
Jasper Morrison Super Oblong Modular Sofa Set Design Cappellini Italy
Located in Krefeld, DE
This rare Super Oblong modular sofa set was designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini in Italy and exemplifies Morrison’s philosophy of understated, intelligent design. Composed of ...
Cotton
1970s Post-Modern Lounge Chair in Beige Patterned Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular lounge chair, fabric, wood, Belgium, 1970s This superb modular lounge chair originates from 1970s Belgium and beautifully capture the post-modern spirit of the era, marked ...
Fabric
Kwok Hoi Chan for Steiner ´Chromatic´ Modular Elements
By Gilbert Steiner, Kwok Hoi Chan
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
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
Vladimir Kagan "Omnibus" Sectional Sofa, 1970
Located in Chicago, IL
Vladimir Kagan "Omnibus" Two Piece Sectional Sofa. Circa .1970. Original fabric is in great condition. Measurements and a drawing is in pictures.
Upholstery
Postmodern 80s Sectional Sofa, Pink Floral Upholstery, USA, c. 1980s
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
A distinctive sectional sofa in the postmodern tradition, crafted with plush upholstery and showcasing a bold curved silhouette with pink floral fabric. This piece blends playful 198...
Upholstery, Foam
$8,365Sale Price|30% Off
1990s Preview Weiman Curved Serpentine Sectional
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning three pieces sectional you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of ...
Metal
Vintage De Sede 600 “Non-Stop” Sectional Sofa, Taupe Suede
By De Sede, Eleanora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich, and Ueli Berger
Located in Toronto, CA
A true icon of 1970s design, the DS-600 “Non-Stop” sofa by De Sede is celebrated for its endlessly modular, serpentine silhouette. This vintage configuration features plush taupe sue...
Suede, Felt, Wood
$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
$5,400Sale Price|50% Off
Monumental Vintage 12 Piece Sectional Sofa
Located in Dallas, TX
They don’t make them like this anymore! This spectacular monumental modular sofa consists of six regular and four rounded corner pieces, plus two rolling ottomans. Designed to form a...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Original COR Jalis Ecksofa Design Couch Sofa Module Podest
By COR
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Ecksofa vom deutschen Traditionshersteller COR aus dem Jahr 2017 zum Verkauf an. Es handelt sich um das Modell "Jalis", bei dem die Sitzmodule hier auf z...
Fabric, Wood
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
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
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 Kreiss Boucle Chenille Sectional Sofa
By Kreiss
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Experience the ultimate in relaxed luxury with this monumental U-shaped sectional sofa by the renowned manufacturer Kreiss. Embodying the iconic "California Look," this piece feature...
Fabric, Bouclé, Chenille, Wood
1980s Italian Salotti Natuzzi Post Modern Beige Modular 3Pieces Sectional
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1990s with this exquisite beige leather modular three pieces sectional. The ultra rare sectional exudes an air of luxury and re...
Leather, Wood
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
'Veranda' 3-Seater Fabric Sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, Italy, 1980s
Located in Almelo, NL
This multicolored and adjustable sofa was designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, circa 1980s. This smart and highly desirable Italian design features seats that are upholstered wi...
Steel
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
$14,314Sale Price / set|30% Off
Sofa "Pianura" M.Bellini for Cassina 70s 4 seats wood and green velvet
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Modular sofa model Pianura made in 1975 by Mario Bellini for Cassina. Light Walnut Wood frame and green velvet upholstery. A sofa with elegant lines and the most natural materials, P...
Velvet, Wood
$11,405Sale Price|20% Off
1980s B&B Italia Antonio Citterio Sity Sofa Sectional in Maroon and Eggshell
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in Basel, BS
Magnificent and very comfortable vintage Antonio Citterio 1980s Sity Sofa for B&B Italia. The Manufacturer's mark is present. The sofa is completely made of a very high quality eggsh...
Metal
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
Postmodern 'Sity' Modular Sectional Sofa, Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, 1972
By Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia
Located in Zagreb, HR
An amazing, rare and early production, three-piece modular Sity sofa designed by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia. Original upholstery, leather pole armrests, loose back and seat cushions, pink upholstered frames. Original B&B Italia labels. This sculptural Memphis sofa...
Leather, Fabric