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.
$2,781 / item
Ribbons White Left Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons White Left Modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W80 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm) Material: Aluminum and upholstery Weight: 19 kg Also available in different colours an...
Aluminum
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
$8,065 / item
Beige Madina Chair by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Madina Chair by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 64 x W 68 x H 90 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. “Madina” chair. ...
Upholstery, Wood
$10,215 / 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
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
Cubic Seat Module in Marine Leather by Studio Christinekalia
Located in Geneve, CH
Cubit seat Module in Marine leather by Studio Christinekalia Dimensions: W 90 x D 90 x H 75 cm (seat height 45 cm). Materials: Plush Fabric, Marine Leather, wood. Christine Kali...
Leather, Fabric, Wood
$6,109 / item
Flame Sofa by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Sofa by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 80 x W 220 x H 100 cm. Materials: Velvet TT, satin STN and lacquer. Also available in client's fabric. Please co...
Satin, Upholstery, Velvet, Lacquer
$12,064 / item
White Moreto Sofa by Dovain Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
White Moreto ssofa by Dovain Studio Dimensions: H 84 x W 240 x D 96 x SH 39 cm Materials: fabric, wood Dovain Studio Creative direction by Sergio Prieto, a Spanish artist-desig...
Fabric, Wood
$7,433 / 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
$5,975 / item
Nicole 3 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Nicole 3 Seats Sofa by Domkapa Materials: Velvet (Neva 2206), black texturized steel. Dimensions: W 230 x D 105 x H 90 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact u...
Steel
$6,388 / item
Caper 3 Seater Burgundy by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater burgundy by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 206 x W 84 x H 63 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg Also availab...
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
Galore Seater Module Left Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore seater module left forest green by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 82 x W 83 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring sys...
Steel
$8,016 / item
Sketch Chair by John Vieweg
Located in Geneve, CH
The Sketch chair by John Vieweg Dimensions: D 102 x W 61 x H 92 cm. Materials: acrylic, metal screws. Thehighkey is a design studio that creates ra...
Metal
$5,678 / item
Haven 3 Seater Apple Red by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven 3 seater apple red by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 220 x W 84 x H 110/40 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Spring system, wood Weight: 84 kg Also available in different colours and finishes. Haven is a contemporary sofa with a simple, soft idiom. With its high, embracing back, the sofa creates a sanctuary, where you can sit, gently shielded off from your surroundings, curled up with a book or enjoying an in-depth conversation in your living room. Haven is also ideal for a conference room or lobby, either alone or with two sofas facing each other, thereby expanding the private space. The Haven Lounge Chair and Pouf make the perfect complement. For a perfect holistic impression the Haven range is covered with the exclusive furnishing fabrics, Hero, whose soft, almost felt-like surface complements the sofas organic shape...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$6,218 / item
Galore 3 Seater Dark Ochre by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 seater dark Ochre by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 222 x W 83 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. Weigh...
Steel
$6,097 / item
Na Pali 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Na Pali 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 82 x W 190 x H 95 cm. Materials: Walnut, InsidherLand Bright Velvet Ref. Gold fabric. 45 kg. Available in different fabrics. The Na Pali sofa was designed as the original armchair, evoking the breathtaking landscape of Na Pali coast located on Kaua'i Island. The wooden sides extend as cliffs from the bottom to the top and the front feet get the form of the numerous sculpted needles across the landscape. Created by Architect Joana Santos Barbosa in 2012, InsidherLand is a Portuguese brand...
Upholstery, Wood
$8,405 / item
Western 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Western 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 82 x W 150 x H 95 cm. Materials: Walnut, InsidherLand Canyon Ref. Light Grey fabric. 30 kg. Available in different fabrics. Western sofa...
Upholstery, Wood
$8,344 / item
Na Pali 3 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Na Pali 3 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 82 x W 190 x H 95 cm. Materials: Walnut, InsidherLand Bright Velvet Ref. Gold fabric. 60 kg. Available in different fabrics. The Na Pali sofa was designed as the original armchair, evoking the breathtaking landscape of Na Pali coast located on Kaua'i Island. The wooden sides extend as cliffs from the bottom to the top and the front feet get the form of the numerous sculpted needles across the landscape. Created by Architect Joana Santos Barbosa in 2012, InsidherLand is a Portuguese brand...
Upholstery, Wood
$7,433 / item
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Linen by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 seater oak linen by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 201 x W 79 x H 78/46 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Spring system, Solid oiled oak legs, Solid smoked oak legs Wei...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$5,878 / item
Liquid Steel Labirint Sofa by Andrea Giomi
Located in Geneve, CH
Liquid Steel Labirint sofa by Andrea Giomi Dimensions: D 80 x W 60 x H 84 cm Materials: liquid steel. Andrea Giomi, was born in Castelfiorentino in t...
Steel
$7,858 / item
Fried Egg Sofa Petrol by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa petrol 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 finis...
Upholstery, Teak
Galore Seater Module Center Vintage Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore seater Module center vintage rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 76 x W 80 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, powder coated black steel legs, wooden frame, foam, spring s...
Steel
$7,482 / item
Wood Labirint Sofa by Andrea Giomi
Located in Geneve, CH
Wood Labirint sofa by Andrea Giomi Dimensions: D 80 x W 60 x H 84 cm Materials: painted wood. Andrea Giomi, was born in Castelfiorentino in the province of Florence in 1970. De...
Wood
$12,799 / item
Blue Stand by Me Sofa by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue stand by Me sofa by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 222 x W 74 x H 73 x SH 42 cm Materials: birch wood, fabric. Available in other colors and fabrics...
Fabric, Birch
$1,566 / 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
$4,481 / item
Xaloc Central 160 Chocolate Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc Central 160 Chocolate Modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W160 x H81 cm (Seat Height 42cm) Material: Aluminum, Textile Weight: 35.5 kg Also Available in different colo...
Aluminum
$4,712 / item
Cover Black Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover black sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W160 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 32 kg. Also available in diff...
Aluminum
$6,388 / item
Caper 3 Seater Pearl Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater pearl grey by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 206 x W 84 x H 63 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg Also avail...
Steel
$5,599 / item
Nature Cream Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature cream sofa by MOWEE. Dimensions: D85 x W151 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 32 kg. Also avai...
Aluminum
$21,620 / item
Aniston 3 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Aniston 3 Seats Sofa by Domkapa Materials: Fiber, Black Texturized Steel. Dimensions: W 230 x D 97 x H 83 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact us. Aniston...
Steel
$5,563 / item
Copacabana Sofa with 1 Arm Left by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Copacabana sofa with 1 Arm Left 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 mat...
Stainless Steel
$11,587 / item
Aniston 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Aniston 2 seats sofa by Domkapa. Materials: fiber, black texturized steel. Dimensions: W 180 x D 97 x H 83 cm. Also available in different materials. Aniston sofa is a modern...
Steel
Lena 2-Seater Sofa – Sculptural Brass Frame with White Upholstery by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Lena 2-Seater Sofa – Sculptural Brass Frame with White Upholstery by Misaya Dimensions: W61 x D42 x H31/38 cm Materials: Brass Also Available: Different colors (Gold, Polished Brass...
Brass
$5,380 / item
Juliet 1 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Juliet 1 seats sofa by Domkapa Materials: Black texturized steel, natural leather (Desna Polvere). Dimensions: W 95 x D 86 x H 73 cm. Also available ...
Steel
$4,166 / item
Nicole 1 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Nicole 1 Seats sofa by Domkapa Materials: Velvet (Neva 2206), black texturized steel. Dimensions: W 116 x D 105 x H 90 cm. Also available in differen...
Steel
$12,304 / item
Taís Chaise Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Taís Chaise sofa by Domkapa Materials: Natural leather (Desna Polvere), polished stainless steel. Dimensions: W 321 x D 185 x H 88 cm. Also available ...
Steel
$7,324 / item
Black Leather Level Daybed by Msds Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Black leather level daybed by Msds Studio Materials: Camo leather, foam, oak. Dimensions: D 76.5 x W 190 x H 41 cm Also available in different materials. The founders, Mia and...
Leather, Foam, Oak
Ecksofa Brühl Alba Design Sofa Couch mit Recammiere grau
By Brühl
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes dunkelgraues Ecksofa von Brühl zum Verkauf an. Das Modell "Alba" zeichnet sich durch zahlreiche Verstellmöglichkeiten aus. So lassen sich Liegeflächen ve...
Fabric
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Mosaic Spicy Brown by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Mosaic Spicy Brown by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D201 x W79 x H 78/46 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Spring system, Solid oiled oak legs, Solid smoked oa...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$6,388 / item
Caper 3 Seater Mosaic Spicy Brown by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater Mosaic spicy brown by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 206 x W 84 x H 63 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg Al...
Steel
$10,688 / 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
$4,360 / item
Cover Cream Double Left Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Cream Double Left Modular Sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W148 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm) Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 29 kg. Also available in different co...
Aluminum
$2,781 / item
Ribbons Bronze Left Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons Bronze Left Modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W80 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm) Material: Aluminium and upholstery Weight: 19 kg Also available in different colours ...
Aluminum
$4,567 / item
Ribbons White Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons white sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W160 x H81 cm Material: Aluminum, Upholstery Weight: 32 kg Also available in different colors and finishes. An unmistakable coll...
Aluminum
$1,566 / item
Lace Chocolate Sofa with Cushion by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace chocolate sofa with cushion by Mowee Dimensions: D 66 x W 135 x H 75.5 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless steel Weight: 21 kg Also available in different colours and finis...
Stainless Steel, Other
$3,048 / item
Nature Chocolate Right Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature chocolate right modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D85 x W76 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 19 kg. Also available in d...
Aluminum
$2,538 / item
Nature Salmon Central Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Salmon central modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W68 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 17 kg. Also available in different colo...
Aluminum
$9,680 / item
Fried Egg Sofa Sheepskin Moonlight by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa sheepskin moonlight by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 186 x W 68 x H 68 cm Material: Sheepskin upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 42 kg Also available in different co...
Sheepskin, Teak
$2,526 / item
Cover Chocolate Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover chocolate central modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D 83 x W 68 x H 81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 17 kg. Also available in different...
Aluminum
$4,044 / item
Cover Salmon Double Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Navy Double Central Modular Sofa by MOWEE. Dimensions: D83 x W136 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 27 kg. Also available in differen...
Aluminum
$4,894 / item
Nature Cream Double Right Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature cream double right modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D85 x W144 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 29 kg. Also available ...
Aluminum
$2,854 / item
Cover Burgundy Left Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Burgundy Left Modular Sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W80 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminium and upholstery . Weight: 19 kg. Also available in different colo...
Aluminum
$2,526 / item
Cover Burgundy Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Burgundy Central modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W68 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 17...
Aluminum
$2,854 / item
Cover White Right Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover White Right Modular Sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W80 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 19 kg. Also available in different colors ...
Aluminum
$4,894 / item
Nature Cream Double Left Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Cream Double Left modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D85 x W144 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 29 kg. Also available i...
Aluminum
$3,048 / item
Nature Cream Right Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Cream Right modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D85 x W76 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 19 kg. Also available in diffe...
Aluminum
$3,048 / item
Nature Salmon Right Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Salmon right modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D85 x W76 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 19 kg. Also available in diff...
Aluminum
$4,044 / item
Cover White Double Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover White Double Central modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W136 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 27 kg. Also available in differen...
Aluminum
$4,044 / item
Cover Chocolate Double Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Chocolate Double Central modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W136 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 27 kg. Also available in diff...
Aluminum