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.
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
$3,297 / item
Pumpkin Orange Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pumpkin Orange Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 80 x W 118 x H 70 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 22 kg. Availa...
Other
One Hundred Fully Upholstered Monolithic Modular Sofa by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
One Hundred Fully Upholstered Monolithic Modular Sofa by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 134 x W 250 x H 77 cm. Materials: Polyurethane rubber, plywood, and upholstery. Available in dif...
Other
$3,654 / item
Large Lounge Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Lounge Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 176 x D 101 x H 80 cm. Materials: Plywood, Foam, Fabric. Details: Frame: HR 26kg/m3, HR 38kg/m3 and RP 28kg/...
Fabric, Foam, Plywood
$3,297 / item
Powder Blue Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Powder Blue Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 80 x W 118 x H 70 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 22 kg. Available...
Other
$3,297 / item
Saffron Yellow Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 80 x W 118 x H 70 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 27 kg. Availa...
Other
$4,216 / item
Miura Seater Sofa 3 by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Miura Seater Sofa 3 by SNOC Dimensions: W 230 x D 82.5 x H 80 cm. Materials: Acrylic Rope, Aluminium. The Miura outdoor collection is an invitation to comfort and elegance. The so...
Aluminum
$7,208 / item
Black Pierre Chair by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Pierre Chair by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 63 x W 69 x H 88 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. PLYUS Furnitur...
Upholstery, Wood
$2,262 / item
Lounge Fireside Chair by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Lounge Fireside Chair by RALPH M Dimensions: W 90 x D 101 x H 80 cm. Materials: Plywood, Foam, Fabric. Details: Frame: HR 26kg/m3, HR 38kg/m3 and RP 28kg/m3 foam complex. Coated w...
Fabric, Foam, Plywood
Amphibious Outdoor & Indoor Sofa in Concrete Gray Paint by Jacob Egeberg
Located in Geneve, CH
Amphibious Outdoor & Indoor Sofa in Concrete Gray Paint by Jacob Egeberg Dimensions: D 220 x W 75 x H 85 cm. Materials: Styrofoam & soft PU foam, hard & elastic pigmented polyurethan...
Other
Fried Egg Sofa Sheepskin Scandinavian Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa sheepskin Scandinavian grey by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D186 x W68 x H 68 cm. Material: Sheepskin upholstery, solid oiled teak. Weight: 42 kg Also available in diff...
Sheepskin, Teak
ARCH 2 Seater Sofa in Oak and DAW/Mohair & Mcnutt Upholstery by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
ARCH 2 Seater Sofa in Oak and DAW/Mohair & Mcnutt Upholstery by Mazo Design Dimensions: W 128 x D 79 x H 76 cm Materials: Oak, textile Also available: 2 seater configuration, ROMO/L...
Other
$5,959 / item
Marshmallow Sofa by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Marshmallow sofa by Rejo Studio Dimensions: D 200 x W 85 x H 40 cm Materials: Chenille upholstery, wood structure. REJO is a design studio based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Ist...
Upholstery, Wood
$10,364 / item
Olive Two Seater Nube Sofa by Siete Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Olive Two Seater Nube Sofa by Siete Studio Dimensions: D200 x W100 x H60 cm. Materials: Walnut, cushions, upholstery. Characterised by its round edges and soft white cushions, Nube ...
Other
$7,962 / 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
Sculptural Tube Sofa by Anna & Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate, 1990s Italy
By Rossi di Albizzate, Carlo Bartoli
Located in Zagreb, HR
Rare sculptural postmodern designer sofa model ''Tube'' designed by Anna & Carlo Bartoli for Italian high-end furniture manufacturer Rossi di Albizzate. The sofa features internal t...
Fabric, Foam
Galore 3 Seater Sprinkles Cappuccino Brown by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 seater Sprinkles Cappuccino brown by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D222 x W83 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring ...
Steel
$4,428 / item
Ribbons Bronze Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons bronze sofa by Mowee. Dimensions: D83 x W160 x H81 cm Material: Aluminium, upholstery. Weight: 32 kg Also available in different colors and finishes. An unmistakable ...
Aluminum
$13,992 / item
Mythos Sectional Sofa by Marioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Mythos Sectional Sofa by Marioni Dimensions: W 200 x D 95 x H 75 cm. Materials: Upholstery: Tessuto/Fabric 7,50 Mt. Pelle/Leather 11,50 Mq Product code: I0331 Pure shape and lines,...
Upholstery
Heracles Sofa in Dark Brown Oak, Patinated Bronze & Linen Fabric by OZA Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Heracles Sofa in Dark Brown Oak, Patinated Bronze & Linen Fabric by OZA Design Dimensions: D 90 x W 200 x H 65 cm. SH: 38 cm. Materials: Dark brown oak, bronze, and linen. Availabl...
Bronze
Jules Heumann Sofa for Metropolitan Furniture
By Metropolitan, Jules Heumann
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sofa by California native Jules Heumann for the San Francisco based company, Metropolitan Furniture, c.1970's. The sofa features a lacquered white frame and newly upholstered cushion...
Mohair, Upholstery
$7,620 / item
Fried Egg Sofa Dark Ochre by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa dark ochre by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 186 x W 68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 42 kg Also available in different colours and f...
Upholstery, 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
$3,297 / item
Sweet Fuchsia Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 80 x W 118 x H 70 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 22 kg. Availab...
Other
$13,132 / item
Mythos Sectional Sofa by Marioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Mythos Sectional Sofa by Marioni Dimensions: W 227 x D 185 x H 75 cm. Materials: Upholstery: Tessuto/Fabric 8,50 Mt. Pelle/Leather 12,50 Mq. Product code: I0330 Pure shape and line...
Upholstery
$8,869 / item
Rosie 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Rosie 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 98 x W 280 x H 100 cm. SH: 48 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Green Duck Egg, CV19. Available in all Mun...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$4,122Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Rectangular Red Architectural Sofa, Belgian Design, Prototype, 2000's
Located in Antwerp, BE
Postmodern Rectangular Red Architectural Sofa, Belgian design, unique prototype, early 21st century, faux-leather This postmodern architectural prototype...
Metal
$13,957 / item
Leather Mavis Sofa 3 Seater by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Leather Mavis Sofa 3 Seater by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 200 x D 87 x H 82 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply, with metal support. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts...
Metal
Unique Dama Sofa - Wood Frame and Fabric Upholstery by Megarisiotis
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Dama Sofa - Wood Frame and Fabric Upholstery by Megarisiotis Dimensions: D 96 x W 240 x H 96 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and fabric. Bespoke fabric and length are available up...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
$4,734 / item
Houston 2 Seat Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Houston 2 Seat Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 75 x W 150 x H 73 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Emerald, CV09, and Emerald gloss lacque...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$6,218 / item
Object 075 Sofa by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 075 Sofa by NG Design Dimensions: W 228 x D 107 x H 78 cm Materials: Bouclé Fabric, Oak Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. ...
Oak, Bouclé
$61,459 / item
Leather Palmo Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
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
Hub Two-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Hub Two-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 70 x W 140 x H 68 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, wood, and upholstery. Available in different fin...
Stainless Steel
$21,059 / item
Green Say Sofa by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Green 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 com...
Fabric
Glenda Settee in Welded Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor
Located in Geneve, CH
Glenda Settee in Welded Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor Limited Edition of 8 + 4AP. Dimensions: D 78 x W 173 x H 72 cm. Materials: Mirror-polished stainless steel. ...
Stainless Steel
$23,768 / item
Fabric Panis Deep Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Fabric Panis Deep Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 236 x D 152 x H 70 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. SEATS: pol...
Foam, Wood
$19,163 / item
Satin Sofa by Guillaume Alan
Located in Geneve, CH
Satin sofa by Guillaume Alan Dimensions: D 105 x W 350 cm x H 65 cm Materials: Fabric from Guillaume Alan collection French interior design has taken ...
Fabric
$6,124 / item
Object 050 Sofa by Ng Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 050 sofa by NG Design Dimensions: D230 x W106 x H78 cm Materials: Boucle upholstery Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. ...
Upholstery
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Three-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Link-Bisque 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
2x Brühl Alba Zweisitzer Sofa 55/70 neuwertig Design Couch 165cm
By Brühl
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten insgesamt 2 sehr gut erhaltene und nicht/ kaum benutzte original Brühl Alba Zweisitzer Sofas in einem modernen dunkelgrau zum Verkauf an. In dieser Anzeige handelt es sich...
Fabric
Original Giorgio Soressi Sofa Design Couch 1990 Leder Zweisitzer
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten eins von zwei wunderschönen und extrem seltenen Zweisitzer Sofas aus den 1990er Jahren an. Der Entwurf stammt von Giorgio Soressi, dessen Werke sich international einer gr...
Fabric, Leather
$7,597 / item
Dobra Module Corner Sofa by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Dobra Module Corner Sofa by Wentz Dimensions: D 110 x W 110 x H 70 cm Materials: Modular sofa with wood structure, elastic straps, hyper-soft foam and WE—KNIT covering (70% Recycled ...
Upholstery
Original Brühl Moule Sofa Leder Couch Zweisitzer Design klappbar
By Brühl
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Design Zweisitzer Sofa vom deutschen Qualitätshersteller Brühl zum Verkauf an. Es handelt sich um das Modell "Moule", das sich durch Klappfunktionen und ...
Leather, Wood
$16,960 / 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
$11,142 / 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
$2,944 / 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
$43,097 / item
Chocolate MRS 3 Sofa by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate MRS 3 Sofa by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 160 x W 310 x H 80 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. “MRS 3” sofa. With love to my favorite d...
Upholstery, Wood
$7,714 / item
Taís 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Taís 2 seats sofa by Domkapa Materials: Natural leather (Desna Polvere), polished stainless steel. Dimensions: W 190 x D 95 x H 88 cm. Also available in different materials. wi...
Steel
$4,234 / item
Beaubourg Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Beaubourg Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 220 x D 90 x H 88 cm. Materials: Solid beech, Particle board panels, Metal, Fabric. Details: Frame: Solid beech and particle board panels. ...
Metal
Psyche Everis 900 Fabric Upholstery Meridien Sofa by Casa Casati
Located in Geneve, CH
Psyche Everis 900 Fabric Upholstery Meridien Sofa by Casa Casati Dimensions: D 100 x W 240 x H 70 cm. Materials: Beech wood, marine plywood, polyurethane, polyester fibre, foam, cot...
Other
$14,828 / item
Valentine Sofa by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Valentine Sofa by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 80 x W 220 x H 78 cm. Materials: Velvet fabric SFY and polished brass. Also available in brushed brass and client's fabric with polished brass details. Please contact us. Inspired in Valentine's day and in the power of love for creation we present you a curvilinear sofa...
Brass
$8,500 / item
Orbital Plane Loveseat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Orbital Plane Loveseat in matte black lacquered steel is paired with a lush wide wale corduroy cushion and lustrous striped bolster. The steelwork is evocative of the atomic era...
Steel
$11,201 / 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
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood Frame, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood Frame, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 100 x W 195 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The Cal...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
$10,306 / item
Hughes 240 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Hughes 240 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 95 x W 240 x H 95 cm. SH: 44 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery, gloss ebony wood veneer upper ...
Brass
$6,489 / item
Shinto Module Chaise by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Shinto Module chaise by Domkapa Materials: Fabric (Helmand 02), black texturized steel, gold brushed stainless steel. Dimensions: W 100 x D 162 x H 82 cm. Also available in diffe...
Steel, Stainless Steel
$11,201 / 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
$26,065 / item
Tau Leather Sofa 4 Seater by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Tau Leather Sofa 4 Seater by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 285 x D 90 x H 75 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. REMOVABLE PARTS: ful...
Foam, Wood
Narco Teak Collection Short Divan by AMBER x IÑIGO CALLEJA
Located in Geneve, CH
Narco Teak Collection Short Divan by AMBER x IÑIGO CALLEJA Dimensions: W 110 x D 90 x H 80 cm. Materials: Dry Teak Trunks Base, charred and stained pitch black. Iñigo Calleja is an...
Teak
$13,026 / 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. Buttermilk, CV38, and gloss lacquer. Availab...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood