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.
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
$10,450 / 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
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
$4,059Sale 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
$10,288 / item
Ida Sofa by Duistt
Located in Geneve, CH
Ida Sofa by Duistt Dimensions: W 230 x D 80 x H 78 cm Materials: Duistt Fabrics, Black Lacquered Sand brushed Oak, Cast Bronze Details The IDA sofa, crafted with great attention to ...
Other
$6,031 / 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
$3,247 / 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
$12,121 / item
Maverick 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Maverick 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 120 x W 280 x H 90 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Trevira Velvet, ref. Light Grey, TRV19. Available in all Mu...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Original Rolf Benz Sofa 3000 Dreisitzer Design Couch creme beige
By Rolf Benz
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten eins von insgesamt zwei wunderschönen Rolf Benz Sofas des Modells "3000" zum Verkauf an. Bei diesem Modell handelt es sich um den etwas längeren Dreisitzer. In unseren and...
Fabric
Acer 180 Sofa in European Oak & Burgundy Wool by Mokko Amsterdam
Located in Geneve, CH
Acer 180 Sofa in European Oak & Burgundy Wool by Mokko Amsterdam Dimensions: D 70 x W 180 x H 32 cm. Materials: European oak and wool. Available in different material options and d...
Wool, Oak
$3,525 / item
Miura Seater Sofa 2 by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Miura Seater Sofa 2 by SNOC Dimensions: W 190 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
$5,938 / item
Galore 3 Seater Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 Seater Forest green by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D222 x W83 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. Weigh...
Steel
Original Zanotta Sofa Italien Design Couch Leder schwarz
By Zanotta
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes und äußerst seltenes Ledersofa vom italienischen Premiumhersteller Zanotta zum Verkauf an. Der Dreisitzer besticht durch seine einfache und zeitlose Form...
Leather
$4,894 / 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
$11,610 / item
Armless High Backrest Upholstery Sofa by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Onigiri Sofa by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 100 x W 100 x H 83 cm Materials: Upholstery, metal. Available in White, Green, and Orange. Please contact us. Taking inspiration from day-...
Metal
$17,166 / item
Byron 5010 Sofa by Redeco
Located in Geneve, CH
Byron 5010 Sofa by Redeco Dimensions: W 260 x D 101 x H 73 cm Materials: Wooden structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Seat cushions padded in polyurethane f...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Zeus Grey Sofa by Emilie Lemardeley, Limited Edition, France
Located in Geneve, CH
Zeus Grey Sofa by Emilie Lemardeley Limited Edition of 8 pieces. Dimensions: D 150 x W 280 x H 110 cm Materials: Wood, foam and Giant fabric. Designed as jewellery for the interior,...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Vintage Postmodern Three-seater Sofa in Red Wool and Black Metal, 1980s Italy
Located in Zagreb, HR
Vintage postmodern three-seater sofa in red wool upholstery with a black metal frame. Features a playful design and dismountable construction. Produced in Italy in the 1980s. Overa...
Metal
Jules Heumann Loveseat for Metropolitan Furniture
By Metropolitan, Jules Heumann
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Loveseat 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 cus...
Mohair, Upholstery
$3,247 / 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
$2,228 / 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
$9,430 / item
Cécile Bench by Studio Uwe Gaertner
Located in Geneve, CH
Cécile Bench by Studio Uwe Gaertner Dimensions: D 80 x W 245 x H 37 cm. Materials: Solid oak and Kvadrat Zero (no.001) fabric (65% cotton, 20% acrylic, 15% polyester). An elegant pi...
Fabric, Oak
$5,688 / item
Animal Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Animal Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 180 x D 110 x H 85 cm. Materials: Solid beech, Plywood. In its French workshop, Ralph M. creates and crafts person...
Beech, Plywood
$4,755 / item
Sweet Fuchsia Big Kroko Sofa by Marcantonio
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia Big Kroko Sofa by Marcantonio Dimensions: D 63 x W 167 x H 75 cm. Seat Height: 43 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 22 kg. Also available in biobased polyethylene o...
Other
$4,767 / item
Lipstick 2 Seat Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Lipstick 2 Seat Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 76 x W 130 x H 79 cm. SH: 44 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Antique Pink, CV28, antique pink gloss lacquer legs, and plated nickel feet...
Nickel
$2,644 / item
Disruption Module Corner by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Disruption Module Corner by Domkapa Materials: Velvet (Aldan 2928). Dimensions: W 100 x D 100 x H 80 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact us. Disruption i...
Velvet
$5,811 / item
RUA CHA Sofa by Clementine Caurier
Located in Geneve, CH
RUA CHA Sofa by Clementine Caurier Dimensions: D 95 x W 200 x H 74 cm. Materials: Ash, wool, and linen. RUA CHA sofa is based on a light, crossed structure in solid wood. The genero...
Wool, Linen, Ash
$14,301 / item
Chocolate Brown Mara Sofa by Lorenza Bozzoli
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate Brown Mara Sofa by Lorenza Bozzoli Dimensions: D 94 x W 180 x H 82 cm. Seat Height: 52 cm. Materials: Polyethylene, wadding, rubber, and acrylic. Weight: 60 kg. Available ...
Other
$5,938 / item
Galore 3 Seater Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 Seater Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D222 x W83 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. Weight...
Steel
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
$11,518 / 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
$4,546 / item
Copacabana Sofa Without Armrest by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Copacabana sofa without Armrest by Domkapa Materials: black texturized steel, bamboo wood, fabric (Rhine Ice). Dimensions: W 165 x D 105 x H 75 ...
Stainless Steel
$30,691 / item
White Memory Sofa by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
White Beige Memory Chair by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 90 x W 240 x H 85 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery “Memory” sofa. Collection "Memory" ins...
Upholstery, Wood
$6,391 / 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
$9,430 / 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
$40,829 / item
Lignum Novum Sofa by Justus Knut Schomann
Located in Geneve, CH
Lignum Novum Sofa by Justus Knut Schomann Dimensions: W 150 x D 90 x H 75 cm Materials: Econit Wood, FSC wood, Sanded. Weight: 100 Kg. Justus Kn...
Wood
$10,207 / 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
$10,450 / 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, ref. Blue Grey, CV07 upholstery, gloss eb...
Brass
$10,450 / 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
$3,502 / item
Cactus Auguste 2 Seats Sofa by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Cactus Auguste 2 Seats Sofa by HARTO Dimensions: W 176 x D 95 x H 79 cm. Materials: Solid pine, plywood, 88% Polyester, 12% Recycled Polyester, Foam type: HR35 / S30 foam. Weight: 4...
Foam, Polyester, Pine, Plywood
$4,755 / item
Sweet Fuchsia RAP Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia 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 pro...
Other
$10,450 / 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
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
$6,275 / item
Monsieur T 2 Seat Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Monsieur T 2 Seat Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 75 x W 150 x H 73 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Classic Leather, ref. Dark Ruby, CL05 upholstery, and wa...
Foam, Wood, Leather, Walnut
$5,741 / item
Ash Ralph Seater 3 Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash Ralph Seater 3 Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: W 232 x D 80 x H 65 cm. Materials: Teak Wood, Acrylic Rope, Sunbrella Fabric. Ralph-ash Collection consists of a lounge set, dining tab...
Fabric, Acrylic, Teak
$3,502 / item
Pearl Auguste 2 Seats Sofa by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Pearl Auguste 2 Seats Sofa by HARTO Dimensions: W 176 x D 95 x H 79 cm. Materials: Solid pine, plywood, 88% Polyester, 12% Recycled Polyester, Foam type: HR35 / S30 foam. Weight: 43...
Foam, Polyester, Pine, Plywood
$1,496 / item
Lace Grey Sofa with Cushion by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace grey sofa with cushion by Mowee. Dimensions: D66 x W135 x H75.5 cm Material: Polyethylene, Stainless Steel Weight: 21 kg Also Available in different colours and finishes. ...
Stainless Steel, Other
$4,755 / item
Malva Green Blossy Rocking Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Malva Green Blossy Rocking Sofa by Karim Rashid Dimensions: D 85 x W 159 x H 75 cm. Seat Height: 34 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 38 kg. Available in different color options....
Other
$23,964 / item
Segno Leather Sofa 4 Seater by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Segno Leather Sofa 4 Seater by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 265 x D 90 x H 88 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply, with metal support. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts...
Foam, Wood
$19,823 / item
Fabric Panis Deep Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Fabric Panis Deep Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 297 x D 97 x H 70 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. SEATS: poly...
Foam, Wood
$10,450 / 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
$11,228 / item
Unique Cassette Sofa by Collector
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Cassette sofa by Collector Dimensions: W 235 x D 95 x H 77 cm Materials: Fabric, Wood Other materials available. The Collector brand aims to...
Fabric, Wood
$5,834 / item
Object 047 Sofa by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 047 sofa by NG Design Dimensions: D216 x W90 x H77 cm Materials: Boucle upholstery, Solid Oak Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors o...
Upholstery, Oak
$11,436 / item
Grey Timber 4 Seater Sofa by Kann Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey Timber 4 Seater Sofa by Kann Design Dimensions: D 104.5 x W 260 x H 75 cm. Materials: Solid wood, elastic belts, HR foam, fabric upholstery Kvadrat Remix 126 (90% wool, 10% nylo...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
$4,048 / item
Cobalt Blue Auguste 3 Seats Sofa by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Cobalt Blue Auguste 3 Seats Sofa by HARTO Dimensions: W 216 x D 95 x H 79 cm. Materials: Solid pine, plywood, 88% Polyester, 12% Recycled Polyester, Foam type: HR35 / S30 foam. Weig...
Foam, Polyester, Pine, Plywood
$3,247 / item
Milky White Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Milky White 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
$10,775 / item
Natú Sofa by Frau Caze
Located in Geneve, CH
Natú Sofa by Frau Caze Dimensions: D 74 x W 182 x H 84 cm. Materials: Oiled walnut, Kvadrat, leather. Sofa Natú was inspired by the cool, stony landscapes of Bolivia and Argentina. ...
Leather, Upholstery, Walnut
$3,751 / item
Dune Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Dune Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 194 x D 110 x H 92 cm. Materials: Solid beech, Fabric, Wood. Details: Frame: Solid beech and particle board panels. Se...
Fabric, Wood, Beech
$13,466 / 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, Wood, Foam
$10,450 / 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