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.
Cupido 180 Glossy Lacquer Base And Beech Wood Sofa by Casa Casati
Located in Geneve, CH
Cupido 180 Glossy Lacquer Base And Beech Wood Sofa by Casa Casati Dimensions: D 86 x W 180 x H 70 cm. Materials: Beech wood, marine plywood, lacquer, polyurethane, polyester fibre, ...
Other
$4,553 / item
Large Scar Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Scar Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 220 x D 92 x H 88 cm. Materials: Solid beech, Fabric. Details: Frame: Solid beech and particle boards panels. Seat springing: Interlaced e...
Fabric, Beech
Fried Egg Sofa Sprinkles Caramel Grey Spicy Brown by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa sprinkles caramel grey spicy brown by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D186 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 42 kg Also available in d...
Upholstery, Teak
Original COR Conseta Zweisitzer Sofa Design Couch Leder schwarz
By COR
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes COR Conseta Zweisitzer Sofa aus schwarzem Leder zum Verkauf an. In unseren anderen Anzeigen bieten wir zudem einen passenden D...
Steel, Chrome
Brown ARCH 3 Seater Sofa in Oak and DAW/Mcnutt Upholstery by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brown ARCH 3 Seater Sofa in Oak and DAW/Mcnutt Upholstery by Mazo Design Dimensions: W 200 x D 79 x H 76 cm Materials: Oak, Textile Also Available: 2 Seater Configuration, ROMO/Linar...
Other
$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
$13,757 / item
Fjord Chair by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Fjord Chair by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 85 x W 110 x H 80 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. PLYUS Furniture creates pieces in collectible de...
Upholstery, Wood
$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
$14,722 / 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
$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. Midnight Blue, CV17, and gloss lacquer. Avai...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$17,667 / item
Large Baixo Sofa by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Baixo Sofa by Wentz Dimensions: D 115 x W 300 x H 58 cm Materials: Wood, Upholstery. 4 cushions included The Baixo sofa proposes a different way of sitting. An invitation to c...
Upholstery, Wood
$4,770 / item
Ash Ralph Seater 2 Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash Ralph Seater 2 Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: W 190 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
$4,605 / 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
$3,368 / item
Hembra Sofa by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
Hembra Sofa by DAaZ Dimensions: D 107 x W 245 x H 69 cm. Materials: Wood, fabric. DAaZ Furniture honors the spirit of adventure. We embrace the escape of the ordinary and revel in ...
Wood, Upholstery
$4,110 / item
Cactus Auguste 3 Seats Sofa by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Cactus 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. Weight: 4...
Foam, Polyester, Pine, Plywood
$3,297 / item
Jet Black Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Jet Black 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 i...
Other
$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. Brunswick Green, CV18, and gloss lacquer. Av...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$4,307 / item
Scar Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Scar Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 200 x D 92 x H 88 cm. Materials: Solid beech, Fabric. Details: Frame: Solid beech and particle boards panels. Seat springing: Interlaced elastic...
Fabric, Beech
$9,858 / item
Dusty Green Cut Sofa by Kann Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Dusty Green Cut Sofa by Kann Design Dimensions: D 80 x W 230 x H 72 cm. Materials: Solid wood, steel, wood veneer, HR foam, fabric upholstery Kvadrat Canvas 936 (90% wool, 10% nylon)...
Steel
Original Giorgio Soressi Sofa Design Couch 1990 Leder Zweisitzer2
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...
Leather, Fabric
$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
$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
$30,341 / item
Fabric and Cuoio Stilt Sofa 3 Seater by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Fabric and Cuoio Stilt Sofa 3 Seater by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 224 x D 96 x H 75 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and cuoio. SUSPENSIONS: rub la plume ber and polypropylene belts SEA...
Wood
$7,844 / item
Yes No Maybe So Conversation Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Yes No Maybe So Conversation Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 70 x W 146 x H 76 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Lilac CV15, and Lilac glo...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$7,761 / item
Sophia 210 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Sophia 210 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 88 x W 210 x H 94 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Pure White, CV01 upholstery, and pol...
Brass
$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. Basalt, CV25, and gloss lacquer. Available i...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$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. Tangerine Tango, CV11, and gloss lacquer. Av...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$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. Steel Blue, CV27, and gloss lacquer. Availab...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$11,731 / 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
$19,245 / 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
$19,245 / 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
$19,245 / 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
$5,924 / 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
$19,245 / 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
$6,030 / item
Galore 3 Seater Light Steel Blue by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 Seater Light Steel Blue by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D222 x W83 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. W...
Steel
$4,888 / item
Quiete Sofa by Dale Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Quiete Sofa by Dale Italia Dimensions: D 85 x W 130 x H 77 cm. Materials: Walnut and upholstery. Rocking chair in solid Canaletto walnut. Available in two finishes: natural and grey...
Upholstery, Walnut
$8,598 / item
Fuyu Two Seater Sofa by Lagu
Located in Geneve, CH
Fuyu two seater sofa by Lagu Designed by Ufuk Ceylan Dimensions: W 220 x D 130 x H 98 cm. Materials: Bouclé, Cotton, Fabric, Foam, Hardwood. The Fuyu Two Sea...
Fabric, Bouclé, Cotton, Foam, Hardwood
$4,829 / item
Jet Black Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Jet Black 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 pro...
Other
$3,557 / 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
$3,557 / 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
$33,309 / item
Fabric and Cuoio Stilt Sofa 4 Seater by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Fabric and Cuoio Stilt Sofa 4 Seater by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 294 x D 96 x H 75 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and cuoio. SUSPENSIONS: rub la plume ber and polypropylene belts SEA...
Wood
$4,829 / 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
$3,557 / item
Cobalt Blue Auguste 2 Seats Sofa by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Cobalt Blue 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. Weig...
Foam, Polyester, Pine, Plywood
$31,094 / item
Dimanche 6, Couch Vase by Marc Dibeh
By Marc Dibeh
Located in Geneve, CH
Dimanche 6, couch vase by Marc Dibeh 2018 Materials: Fabric. Dimensions: W180 x H70 x D180 cm. Beirut based designer Marc Dibeh narrates his cultural environment through compel...
Fabric
$5,076 / item
Copacabana Chaise Right by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Copacabana chaise right by Domkapa Materials: Black texturized steel, bamboo wood, fabric (Rhine Ice). Dimensions: W 165 x D 105 x H 75 cm. Also available in different materials. ...
Stainless Steel
$3,297 / item
Malva Green Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Malva Green 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
$4,829 / item
Sweet Fuchsia Blossy Rocking Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia 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 option...
Other
$6,539 / item
Jabba Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Jabba Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 280 x D 120 x H 80 cm. Materials: Solid beech, Particle boards panels, Fabric. Details: Frame: Solid beech and particle ...
Fabric, Beech
$7,326 / item
Grey and Brick Red Mid Sofa by Kann Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey and Brick Red 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...
Steel
$8,727 / item
BC Leather Sofa by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
BC Leather Sofa by DAaZ Dimensions: D 110 x W 200 x H 76 cm. Materials: Albizzia wood, semi-nobuk leather, fabric. DAaZ Furniture honors the spirit of adventure. We embrace the esc...
Upholstery, Wood, Leather
$10,942 / 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
$8,668 / item
Stella Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Stella Sofa by Domkapa Materials: Velvet (Aldan 2928), walnut stained ash. Dimensions: W 293 x D 157 x H 84 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact us. with 3 pillows included in the same fabric as the structure(50x50 cm) An exclusive design for the most unique decorations! Stella sofa is a curvilinear sofa...
Velvet, Ash
$3,809 / 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
$15,453 / item
Copacabana Sofa by Duistt
Located in Geneve, CH
Copacabana Sofa by Duistt Dimensions: W 250 x D 98 x H 84 cm Materials: Zinc and Clayton Ivory. With a bohemian look, the Copacabana sofa is the perfect blend of unique style and c...
Fabric, Oak
$7,055 / item
Bondi 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Bondi 2 seats sofa by Domkapa. Materials: black texturized stainless steel, fiber (Drava Nata). Dimensions: W 182 x D 95 x H 72 cm. Also available in different materials. The clean aesthetic gives an organic shape and a pleasing design to the Bondi Sofa...
Stainless Steel
$20,129 / 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
$3,345 / item
Moss 1300 Sofa by Artu
Located in Geneve, CH
Moss 1300 Sofa by Artu Pavel Vetrov Dimensions: W 130 x D 82 x H 76 cm Materials: Wood, Upholstery Other colors and materials available. Please contact us. Soft, flowing, tact...
Upholstery, Wood
$7,102 / item
Black Cognac Leather Level Daybed by Msds Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Black cognac leather level daybed by Msds Studio. Materials: Camo leather, foam, oak. Dimensions: D 76.5 x W 190 x H 41 cm. The founders, Mia and Torben Koed, decided to put the...
Leather, Foam, Oak
$33,309 / item
Fabric and Cuoio Stilt Sofa 4 Seater by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Fabric and Cuoio Stilt Sofa 4 Seater by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 294 x D 96 x H 75 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and cuoio. SUSPENSIONS: rub la plume ber and polypropylene belts SEA...
Wood
$3,779 / item
Large Cloud Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Cloud Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 237 x D 101 x H 87 cm. Materials: Solid beech, Particle board panels, Stainless Steel, Fabric. Details: Frame: Solid beech and particle b...
Stainless Steel