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.
$11,620 / item
Luke 240 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Luke 240 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 110 x W 240 x H 82 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet. Available in all Munna fabrics except Wild Silk....
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Original Asko Finnland Sofa Couch Esko Pajamies Dreisitzer Leder
By Esko Pajamies, Asko
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen Dreisitzer von finnischen Traditionshersteller Asko aus den 1980er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Esko Pajamies und gilt als wahrer Desi...
Leather, Wood
$12,264 / item
Fringes 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 100 x W 280 x H 91 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Antique Pink, CV28 upholstery, and antiqu...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Rolf Benz Curved Two-Tone Suede and Leather Upholstered Sofa
By Rolf Benz
Located in Astoria, NY
Rolf Benz Curved Two-Tone Three-Seat Sofa, in red suede and tan leather upholstery. 32" H x 108" W x 36" D; seat: 16" H. Provenance: From a Fort Lauderdale, Florida Estate.
Leather, Suede
$4,786 / item
Noche Whale Seater Sofa 2 by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Noche Whale Seater Sofa 2 by SNOC Dimensions: W 190 x D 84 x H 66 cm. Materials: Teak Wood. The Whale-ash Collection features an elegant and robust design style inspired by the fo...
Teak
New York Two Seater Sofa in Metal & Leather Upholstery by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
New York Two Seater Sofa in Metal & Leather Upholstery by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 88 x W 210 x H 70 cm. Materials: Metal, goose feathers, and leather upholstery. Available in di...
Metal
$13,095 / item
Kiki 260 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Kiki 260 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 132 x W 260 x H 114 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Milkshake Pink, CV29. Available in all Mun...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$19,250 / item
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 185 x W 350 x H 80 cm. SH: 41 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet and brushed brass. Available in all M...
Brass
Leather Palmo Sofa by Amura Lab, Post-Modern Design, Italy
Located in Geneve, CH
Leather Palmo Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 417 x D 176 x H 80 cm Materials: FRAME: poplar multiply SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. SEAT: polyurethane foam...
Foam, Poplar
$4,865Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Curved Sofas with Sculptural Arms by Carsons
By Carsons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This striking pair of Mid-Century Modern sofas showcases a bold architectural silhouette defined by their gracefully curved form. Designed to create an intimate conversational arrang...
Upholstery
$27,957 / item
Linamore Lapis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Linamore Lapis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 338 x D 199 x H 70 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. SEAT, ...
Foam, Wood
$15,857 / item
Alice Sofa by Joana Teixeira
Located in Geneve, CH
Alice Sofa by Joana Teixeira Dimensions: D 113 x W 220 x H 66 cm. Materials: Fabric, upholstery, wood, and beech. Finish: White bouclé. Customization is a...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Beech
La Cividina Guest Sofa Antonio Rodriguez Couch Left Peninsula
By La Cividina
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes und äußerst seltenes Design Sofa vom italienischen Premiumhersteller La Cividina zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Antonio Rodriguez und zeichnet si...
Fabric
Original Ligne Roset Zweisitzer Sofa Design Couch Urbani Leder braun
By Ligne Roset
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Zwei- bis Dreisitzer Sofa vom französischen Traditionshersteller Ligne Roset zum Verkauf an. Das Sofa stammt aus dem Jahr 2008, trägt die Modellbezeichnu...
Steel, Chrome
Pink Baba Sofa by Gisbert Pöppler, Upholstered Teak Frame, Germany
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Baba Sofa by Gisbert Pöppler Dimensions: H 74 (SH43) x W 303 x D 140.5 cm Materials: Upholstered wooden frame, teak footings Like a friend that wan...
Upholstery, Teak
$12,264 / item
Fringes 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 100 x W 280 x H 91 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and fringes. Available in all Munna...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$10,274 / item
Oscar Sofa by DUISTT
Located in Geneve, CH
Oscar Sofa by DUISTT Dimensions: W 210 x D 85 x H 76 cm Materials: Duistt Fabric Oscar sofa, crafted with great attention to detail, is part of Oscar collection inspired by the cur...
Fabric
$4,798 / item
Sweet Fuchsia Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler Dimensions: D 75 x W 174 x H 70 cm. Seat Height: 35 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 33 kg. Available in different color options. This...
Other
$14,628 / item
Medium Baixo Sofa by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Baixo Sofa by Wentz Dimensions: D 110 x W 250 x H 58 cm Materials: Wood, Upholstery. 3 cushions included The Baixo sofa proposes a different way of sitting. An invitation to ...
Upholstery, Wood
$4,096Sale Price|20% Off
Brick & Mortar Sofa, Gray, Rich Woods & Seb Wrong, Established & Sons, UK, 2009
By Established & Sons, Sebastian Wrong, Richard Woods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gray Brick & Mortar Sofa, Rich Woods & Seb Wrong, Established & Sons, UK, 2009. Iconic Postmodern design. Produced for a short period in 2009-2010. Made in ...
Textile
Beige Baba Daybed by Gisbert Pöppler, Upholstered Teak Frame, Germany
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Baba daybed by Gisbert Pöppler Dimensions: H 82 (43) x W 250 x D 170 cm Materials: Upholstered wooden frame, teak footings Like a friend that wants to cuddle, Baba is an upholstered sofa series for lounging in complete comfort. The asymmetrical forms cater to a playful choice of sitting positions from formal to downright lounging while confidently inhabiting their environment and providing cozy sophistication. The low seating height and fluffy padded body make you want to sink into this chair and relish the moment. All of their upholstery pieces are COM prices. The prices do not include any fabric. Gisbert Pöppler studied architecture at California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco and Technische Universität, Berlin, graduating in 1996 with a Diplom Ingenieur. After completing his studies he spent several years working for various firms in Berlin, developing new architecture after the German re-unification. In 1999 Gisbert Pöppler founded Prinz–Pöppler, a partnership with architect Ilona Prinz – together creating office environments for start-up organizations filling the dynamic Berlin landscape...
Upholstery, Teak
$8,367 / item
Josephine 230 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Josephine 230 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 103 x W 230 x H 83 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and wild silk. Available in all M...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Carlo Scarpa “Cornaro” Armchairs for Gavina, Ivory Linen, 1973, Set of 2
By Gavina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa “Cornaro” armchairs for Gavina, ivory linen, Italy, 1973, set of two The “Cornaro” armchair, designed by Carlo Scarpa in 1973 for Gavina, distills the essence of archit...
Velvet, Foam, Wood
Egon Three-Seater Sofa in Lamberto & Avion Fabrics by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Egon Three-Seater Sofa in Lamberto & Avion Fabrics by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 102 x W 300 x H 63 cm. Materials: Horn, fabric, polyurethane foam, and goose down. Cushions are not inc...
Other
$2,925 / item
Noche Whale Single Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Noche Whale Single Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: W 86 x D 84 x H 66 cm. Materials: Teak Wood. The Whale-ash Collection features an elegant and robust design style inspired by the form ...
Teak
Contemporary Art Sofa - Nandì Verà by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique piece hand made by the artist. 20th century sofa from the De Curtis home in Lugano. Decorations and velvet in Pontoglio silk, exclusive design by the Author. Gold,...
Silk
$4,798 / item
Flame Red RAP Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Red RAP Sofa by Karim Rashid Dimensions: D 80 x W 170 x H 75 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 35 kg. Available in different color options. This product...
Other
$13,586 / item
Roy 290 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Roy 290 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 115 x W 290 x H 83 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Royal Blue, CV36, and gloss lacquer. Availab...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Sitiera 3-Seater Sofa in Ivory Velvet Upholstery & Aged Brass by Estudio Andean
Located in Geneve, CH
Sitiera 3-Seater Sofa in Ivory Velvet Upholstery & Aged Brass by Estudio Andean Dimensions: D 104,5 x W 206,5 x H 75,5 cm. SH: 44 cm. Materials: Steel, bronze, brass, and velvet....
Bronze, Steel, Brass
$26,963
Sofa by Guillermo Santoma
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Commissioned by Etage Projects for Salon Art and Design, 2017. Lush cream sofa made of rubber EVA, by Guillermo Santoma.
Rubber
Link-Terra Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Three-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Link-Terra Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Three-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 85,5 x W 230 x H 63 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Aluminium, wicker, and Luminesce fabric. ...
Aluminum
$8,812 / item
Niemeyer 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Niemeyer 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 92 x W 180 x H 86 cm. Materials: Oak, brushed brass, InsidherLand Woollen Ref. 1 fabric. 56 kg....
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage Postmodern White Leather Sofa, circa 1970s–1980s
Located in Montréal, CA
Striking vintage postmodern sofa upholstered in luxurious white leather. Featuring a generous, low-profile silhouette with generously padded cushions, sculptural rounded arms, and di...
Leather
$15,131 / item
Lambert 3-Seater Sofa by Somaschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Lambert 3-Seater Sofa by Somaschini Dimensions: W 290 x D 103 x H 63 cm Materials: Solid wood and plywood structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Pre-upholste...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
$9,268 / item
Upholstery Gentle Bed End by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Upholstery Gentle Bed End by Madheke Dimensions: D 50 x W 180 x H 60 cm. Materials: leather, brass. Finish options: Leather Naturalle Whisky, Fabric Cushions Rust Plain 04 & Medium ...
Leather, Upholstery
DeSede 2 Seater Leather Sofa DS-2011/02 - #2
Located in Bern, BE
DeSede 2 Seater Leather Sofa DS-2011/02. Casual sofa upholstered in Royal 'Select' leather with runners in black matt coated beech. Swiss designe...
Leather
$13,411 / item
Camurça Rocco Sofa by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Camurça Rocco Sofa by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 162 x D 98 x H 62 cm Materials: Suede. About: Studio Orth is a multidisciplinary furniture and interior design firm, founded in 2018...
Suede
$37,425 / item
DS-1025 Sofa by De Sede
By De Sede
Located in Geneve, CH
DS-1025 Sofa by De Sede Design: Ubald Klug Dimensions: D 91 x W 156 x H 70 cm Materials: SEDEX upholstery with wadding cushion. Stable, compact frame made of beech and board mater...
Leather, Foam, Beech
Fried Egg Sofa Sprinkles Dark Blue Eggplant Sage by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried Egg Sofa Sprinkles Dark Blue Eggplant Sage by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D186 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 42 kg Also available in di...
Upholstery, Teak
Caleo-Natural Teak, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Half Backrest Modular Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Natural Teak, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Half Backrest Modular Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 100 x W 181 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
$27,805 / item
Karl Sofa by Dennis Kaiser
Located in Geneve, CH
Karl Sofa by Dennis Kaiser Dimensions: D 110 x W 300 x H 70 cm. Materials: Linen, foam. Handcrafted in Tuscany, Italy. Customization is available on request. Please contact us. The...
Upholstery, Foam
$4,248 / item
Pigalle 3 Seater Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Pigalle 3 Seater Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: W 232 x D 81 x H 70 cm. Materials: Acrylic Rope, Aluminium. Pigalle Collection highlights the feeling of lightness and solidity with its ...
Aluminum
Original Living Divani Ile Cube Leder Sofa Couch Zweisitzer Design
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes und sehr hochwertiges Zweisitzer Sofa ("Ile Cube") vom Italienischen Qualitätshersteller Living Divani zum Verkauf an. Living Divani zeichnet sich durch ...
Leather
$16,851 / item
Dyoni Sofa by Moure Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Dyoni sofa by Moure Studio Dimensions: D 250x W 95 x H 76 cm Materials: cotton, linen, velvet, felt, Wood. Wide range of colors of feet and fabrics a...
Textile, Cotton, Linen, Velvet, Wood
$36,641 / item
Yellow Say Sofa by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Yellow say sofa by Gentner Design. Dimensions: D 271 x W 86 x H 63.5 cm. Materials: fabric. COM available. Strong formal lines and geometric shapes seem like puzzle pieces that...
Fabric
$14,160 / item
Hug Green Sofa by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Hug green sofa by Rejo Studio. Dimensions: D 315 x W 95 x H 76 cm. Materials: wooden structure, with velvet. Also available in different colours. Long comfortable hug. The hug sofa...
Velvet, Wood
$7,762 / item
Grand Storängen Sofa by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Grand Storängen sofa by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 120 x W 240 x H 130 x SH 45 cm Materials: birch wood, fabric. Also available in other colors...
Birch
$29,525 / item
Blue Lapis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue Lapis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 279 x D 292 x H 70 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. SEAT, BACK...
Foam, Wood
$7,559 / item
Fringes 2 Seat Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 2 Seat Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 100 x W 165 x H 91 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and fringes. Available in all Mu...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$7,185 / item
Chloe 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Chloe 2 seats sofa by Domkapa Materials: Rose gold brushed, fabric (Tarn 24). Dimensions: W 220 x D 100 x H 75.5 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact us. Chloe is an outstanding design piece with striking aesthetic balance and refined materials. Available in two-seater, three-seater, and chaise-longue versions, it stars a wooden or metallic base and upholstered seat and backrest that can elevate any room. A stitched line is dividing the piece for easy assembling and transport while double-top stitching is seen across the sofa for a luxury touch. The soft curves prevail throughout every element of Chloe sofa...
Steel
Robert Thibier Two Seat Sofa with Gold Painted Metal Frame
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Robert Thibier two-seat sofa, gold-painted steel, fabric, France, 1960s/1970s This exceptional two-seat sofa by Robert Thibier is a rare example of French design from the 1960s and ...
Steel
Lyora Teak Wood And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Modular Sofa With Table by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Lyora Teak Wood And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Modular Sofa With Table by SNOC Dimensions: D 88 x W 195 x H 66 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood and Ethereal fabric. A delicate m...
Fabric, Teak
Hub Three-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Hub Three-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 70 x W 210 x H 68 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, wood, and upholstery. Available in different f...
Stainless Steel
$5,558 / item
Pelican Sofa by The Cult
Located in Geneve, CH
Pelican Sofa by The Cult Dimensions: W 90 x D 90 x H 80 cm Materials: Upholstery, Leather/Automotive Vinyl Other colors are available. Please contact us f...
Other
Vintage Postmodern Bentwood Sofa & Pair of Lounge Chairs, 3-Piece Suite
Located in High Point, NC
An extraordinary vintage lounge suite with the warmth of sculptural bentwood and the inviting softness of cloud-like upholstery. This exceptional three-piece set includes a generousl...
Metal
$5,102 / item
Moss 2400 Sofa by Artu
Located in Geneve, CH
Moss 2400 Sofa by Artu Pavel Vetrov Dimensions: W 240 x D 82 x H 76 cm Materials: Wood, Upholstery Other colors and materials available. Please contact us. Soft, flowing, tact...
Upholstery, Wood
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Two-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Two-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 85,5 x W 195 x H 63 cm. Materials: Aluminium, wicker, and Luminesce fabric. Link-Bisque ...
Aluminum
$7,911 / item
Beige and Ochre Mid Sofa by Kann Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige and Ochre Mid Sofa by Kann Design Dimensions: D 70 x W 200 x H 74 cm. Materials: Solid wood, steel, wood veneer, HR foam, fabric upholstery - seating: K...
Steel
$12,439 / item
Louise 240 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Louise 240 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 110 x W 240 x H 83 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Desert, CV03, and ref. Pale Pink, C...
Brass
Caleo-Natural Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Left Modular Daybed by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Natural Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Left Modular Daybed by SNOC Dimensions: D 150 x W 125 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The C...
Fabric, Rope, Teak