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.
$10,051 / 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
$5,704 / 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
$4,923 / item
Saffron Yellow RAP Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow 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 pr...
Other
$7,469 / 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
Milky White Low Lita Love Low Sofa With Cushion by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Milky White Low Lita Love Low Sofa With Cushion by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 80 x W 118 x H 70 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Materials: Polyethylene, rubber and a...
Other
$3,362 / item
Argil Grey Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Argil Grey 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
$3,650 / 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
$26,324 / item
Caravan Sofa by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Caravan Sofa by De Castelli Dimensions: W 160 x D 85 x H 70 cm Materials: Brushed Copper, Anica Leather Other versions are available, please contact us for any request. Modular sofa...
Copper
$3,362 / item
Lime Green Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Lime 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
$6,148 / 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
$7,349 / item
Brown Pierre Chair by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Brown Pierre Chair by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 63 x W 69 x H 88 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. PLYUS Furniture creates pieces in collecti...
Upholstery, Wood
Milky White RAP Sofa With Cotton White Cushion by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Milky White RAP Sofa With Cotton White Cushion by Karim Rashid Dimensions: Sofa: D 80 x W 170 x H 75 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Cushion: D 65 x W 130 x H 3 cm. Materials: Polyethylene, ...
Other
$14,807 / 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
$10,652 / 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
$5,175 / 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
$4,923 / item
Pumpkin Orange RAP Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Pumpkin Orange 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 pr...
Other
$13,942 / item
Belong Sofa by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Belong Sofa by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 90 x W 220 x H 75 cm. Materials: Velvet SFY, satin AB and lacquer. Also available in client's fabric. Pleas...
Satin, Upholstery, Velvet, Lacquer
$4,923 / 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
$4,923 / item
Lime Green RAP Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Lime Green 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 produc...
Other
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
$14,807 / item
Mahogany Leather Mara Sofa by Lorenza Bozzoli
Located in Geneve, CH
Mahogany Leather 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
$8,766 / 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
$3,362 / item
Flame Red Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Red 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
$2,882 / item
Ash Ralph Single Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash Ralph Single Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: W 80 x D 80 x H 65 cm. Materials: Teak Wood, Acrylic Rope, Sunbrella Fabric. Ralph-ash Collection consists of a lounge set, dining table ...
Fabric, Acrylic, Teak
$5,944 / 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
$3,362 / 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
Elephant Grey Low Lita Love Low Sofa With Cushion by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Elephant Grey Low Lita Love Low Sofa With Cushion by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 80 x W 118 x H 70 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Materials: Polyethylene, rubber and...
Other
$3,362 / item
Elephant Grey Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Elephant Grey 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
$7,253 / item
Noche Ralph Seater 3 Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Noche 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 t...
Fabric, Acrylic, Teak
$2,065 / item
Nightfall Miura Single Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Nightfall Miura Single Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: W 81.5 x D 82.5 x H 80 cm. Materials: Acrylic Rope, Aluminium. The Miura outdoor collection is an invitation to comfort and eleganc...
Aluminum
$10,940 / item
Eagle 3 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Eagle 3 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 95 x W 235 x H 93 cm. Materials: Wooden base, ebony veneer, InsidherLand Grid Ref. 6 fabric. 60 kg. Available in different fabrics. Inspired by the story of the Kazakh Eagle Hunters, the profile of the Eagle sofa...
Upholstery, Wood
$6,509 / item
Figueroa 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Figueroa 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 90 x W 180 x H 90 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, InsidherLand Bright Velvet Ref. Onyx fabric. 70 kg. Available in different fabrics....
Brass
$8,838 / 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
$3,410 / 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
$7,193 / 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
$5,452 / item
Donut Sofa by The Cult
Located in Geneve, CH
Donut Sofa by The Cult Dimensions: W 126 x D 95 x H 83 cm Materials: Upholstery, Velvet The Cult STUDIO Generates Emotional Solutions And Experiences In Different Scales Of Projects...
Upholstery, Velvet
$4,923 / item
Savannah Land Big Kroko Sofa by Marcantonio
Located in Geneve, CH
Savannah Land 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
$9,235 / item
Mid Corner Sofa by Kann Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Mid Corner Sofa by Kann Design Dimensions: D 70 x W 170 x H 74 cm. Materials: Solid wood, steel, wood veneer, HR foam, fabric upholstery - seating: Sahco Ellis 4 - back: Sahco Ellis ...
Steel
$3,410 / item
Oscar Backless Modular Sofa by DUISTT
Located in Geneve, CH
Oscar Backless Modular Sofa by DUISTT Dimensions: W 95 x D 101 x H 40 cm Materials: Duistt Fabric Inspired by the curved lines poetry of Oscar Niemeyer’s architecture, OSCAR modula...
Fabric
$2,521 / item
Amélie Duetto Sofa by Italo Pertichini
Located in Geneve, CH
Amélie Duetto Sofa by Italo Pertichini Dimensions: D 59 x W 120 x H 87 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 18 kg. Available in a standard version an...
Other
$4,923 / item
Dove Grey Blossy Rocking Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Dove Grey 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 i...
Other
$4,923 / item
Argil Grey Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Argil Grey 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 pr...
Other
$4,923 / item
Saffron Yellow Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow 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. Thi...
Other
$4,923 / item
Dove Grey Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Dove Grey 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
$4,923 / item
Pumpkin Orange Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Pumpkin Orange 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. Thi...
Other
$4,923 / item
Chocolate Brown Big Kroko Sofa by Marcantonio
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate Brown 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...
Other
$4,923 / item
Elephant Grey Blossy Rocking Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Elephant Grey 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. Availab...
Other
$10,099 / item
Yin & Yang Chairs by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Yin & Yang Chairs by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 75 x W 72 x H 84 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. PLYUS Furniture creates pieces in collectib...
Upholstery, Wood
$12,189 / item
Disruption Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Disruption sofa by Domkapa Materials: Fabric (Logone 01). Dimensions: W 444.5 x D 180 x H 80 cm. Also available in different materials. Disruption is a modular sofa, fully upho...
Fabric, Upholstery
Moss Green Oak Level Daybed with Pillow by Msds Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Moss green oak level daybed by Msds Studio Materials: Camo Leather, Foam, Oak Dimensions: D 76.5 x W 190 x H 41 cm // D 23.5 x W 67 x H 8.5 cm The founders, Mia and Torben Koed,...
Leather, Foam, Oak
$6,737 / item
Parker 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Parker 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa Materials: Polished stainless steel, velvet (Alban 2940). Dimensions: W 230 x D 110 x H 88 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact us. The most recent addition to Domkapa’s sofa collection, Parker expresses a straightforward aesthetics complemented by generous and welcoming proportions. Resting on slender wood or metal feet, the wide armrest allows great comfort combined with the fully padded double cushions on the back. The back and seat of this sofa have one thing in common: geometric and elegant vertical lines that elongate the design for a contemporary piece. Fitting in residential and contract projects, Parker sofa...
Stainless Steel
$6,148 / item
Galore 3 Seater Maple Red by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 seater maple red 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
$15,011 / 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
$2,473 / item
Ribbons Cream Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons cream central modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W68 x H81 cm. Material: Aluminium and upholstery. Weight: 17 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes. ...
Aluminum
$3,002 / item
Tuttu Sofa by Artu
Located in Geneve, CH
Tuttu sofa by Artu Pavel Vetrov Dimensions: W 134 x D 84 x H 78 cm Materials: metal, upholstery Other colors and materials available. Collection Tuttu Monteur takes its name f...
Metal
$7,397 / item
Wood Labirint Free Sofa by Andrea Giomi
Located in Geneve, CH
Wood Labirint Free Sofa by Andrea Giomi. Dimensions: D 80 x W 60 x H 84 cm. Materials: Various types off recycled wood or material on request. Andrea G...
Wood
$7,349 / item
Caper 3 Seater With Stitches Burgundy by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 Seater With Stitches Burgundy by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D200 x W84 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg ...
Steel
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Warm Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 Seater With Stitches Warm Grey by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D200 x W84 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg ...
Steel
$6,364 / item
Juliet 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Juliet 2 seats sofa by Domkapa Materials: black texturized steel, fabric (Logone 01). Dimensions: W 202 x D 86 x H 73 cm. Also available in different materials. Inspired by a...
Steel
$7,926 / item
Figueroa 3 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Figueroa 3 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 90 x W 230 x H 90 cm. Materials: Brushed stainless steel, InsidherLand Blend Ref. 5 fabric. 95 kg. Available in different fabrics. ...
Stainless Steel