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.
$4,447 / 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
$27,489 / 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
$4,849 / 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
$14,584 / 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
$4,849 / item
Milky White RAP Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Milky White 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 produ...
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
$3,311 / 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
$3,311 / 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
$5,529 / item
Haven 3 Seater Cream by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven 3 seater cream by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D220 x W84 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
Jet Black Happylife Sofa by Bedini, Marzano And Settimelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Jet Black Happylife Sofa by Bedini, Marzano And Settimelli Dimensions: D 90 x W 240 x H 81 cm. Seat Height: 47 cm. Materials: Polyethylene and eco-leather. Weight: 69 kg. Available ...
Other
$12,999 / item
Mr Jones Sofa by DUISTT
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Jones Sofa by DUISTT Dimensions: W 222 x D 92 x H 80 cm Materials: Duistt Fabric, Natural Limed Oak, Brass MR. JONES sofa is a piece with classical influence with sleek design a...
Brass
$7,132 / 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
$6,056 / 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
$5,819 / 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
$4,849 / item
Flame Red Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Red 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
$1,525 / 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
$4,849 / 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
$4,849 / 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
$6,221 / item
Caper 3 Seater Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater forest green by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D206 x W84 x H 63 cm Material: textile upholstery, wooden frame, powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg Also avail...
Steel
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
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Walnut Challenger Pickle Green Leather by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 seater walnut challenger pickle green leather by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 201 x W 79 x H 78/46 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Spring system, Solid oiled oak leg...
Leather, Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$7,239 / 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
Disruption Module with Armrest Right / Left by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Disruption Module with Armrest Right / Left by Domkapa Materials: Velvet (Aldan 2928). Dimensions: W 144.5 x D 100 x H 80 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contac...
Upholstery, Velvet
$7,747 / 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
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
$11,450 / 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
$6,056 / 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
$22,698 / item
Jell Sofa by Alter Ego Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Jell Sofa by Alter Ego Studio Dimensions: D 120 x W 260 x H 85 cm. Materials: Wooden frame, high resistance foam, upholstery fabric Byram by Kvadrat ...
Stone
$10,527 / item
Niemeyer II 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Niemeyer II 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 92 x W 180 x H 86 cm. Materials: Oak, InsidherLand Dalai Ref. 1 fabric. 68 kg. Available in different fabrics. The Niemeyer II ...
Upholstery, Wood
$23,420 / item
Yeti Sofa by Vladimir Naumov
By Missana
Located in Geneve, CH
Yeti Sofa by Vladimir Naumov Dimensions: Width 202 - depth 110 - height 82 - seat 44 cm. Materials: Pine wood structure, plywood and tab...
Foam, Pine, Plywood
$7,653 / item
Fried Egg Sofa Petrol Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa petrol forest green 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 colo...
Upholstery, Teak
Galore Seater Module Center Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore Seater Module Center Forest Green by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D76 x W80 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring sys...
Steel
$11,177 / item
Ochre Cut Sofa by Kann Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ochre 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 Baru 450 (90% wool, 10% nylon). Availa...
Steel
$11,662 / 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
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
$8,883 / 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
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches forest green by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 200 x W 84 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55....
Steel
$5,630 / item
Xaloc Gold Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc gold sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W200 x H81 cm (Seat Height 42 cm) Material: Aluminum, Textile Weight: 46 kg Also Available in different color...
Aluminum
$4,270 / item
Bob Mod 1 Seating by Dovain Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Bob Mod 1 seating by Dovain Studio Dimensions: H 65 x W 80 x D 100 x SH 39 cm Materials: velvet, wood Dovain Studio Creative direction by Sergio Prieto, a Spanish artist-design...
Velvet, Wood
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Sprinkles Midnight Blue by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 seater Oak Sprinkles Midnight Blue by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D201 x W79 x H 78/46 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Spring system, Solid oiled oak legs, Solid smok...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$4,139 / item
Ribbons Cream Double Left Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons 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 ...
Aluminum
$3,513 / item
Xaloc Right 90 Gold Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc right 90 gold modular sofa by mOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W90 x H81 cm (Seat Height 42 cm) Material: Aluminium, Textile Weight: 25 kg Also Available in different colours and f...
Aluminum
$5,529 / item
Haven 3 Seater Petrol by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven 3 seater petrol by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D220 x W84 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
$7,239 / item
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Sand by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches sand by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 200 x W 84 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg Al...
Steel
$3,879 / item
Ribbons Navy Double Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons Navy Double central modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W136 x H81 cm Material: Aluminium, and upholstery. Weight: 27 kg. Also available in different colors and finis...
Aluminum
$4,589 / item
Cover Burgundy Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover burgundy sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W160 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 32 kg. Also available in different colors and finishe...
Aluminum
$5,251 / item
Xaloc Grey Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc grey sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W200 x H81 cm (Seat Height 42 cm) Material: Aluminium, Textile Weight: 46 kg Also Available in different colo...
Aluminum
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
$7,239 / item
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Mint by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches mint by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 200 x W 84 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg Al...
Steel
$6,221 / item
Caper 3 Seater Sand by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater Sand by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D206 x W84 x H 63 cm Material: textile upholstery, wooden frame, powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 kg Also available in ...
Steel
$7,073 / item
Dwell 2 Seater Sheepskin Moonlight by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Dwell 2 seater sheepskin moonlight by Warm Nordic. Dimensions: D137 x W66 x H 73 cm. Material: sheepskin upholstery, solid smoked or white oiled oak legs, wooden frame, foam, sprin...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Foam, Wood, Oak
$3,335 / item
Xaloc Central 90 Gold Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc Central 90 Gold Modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W90 x H81 cm (Seat Height 42cm) Material: Aluminum, Textile Weight: 24 kg Also Available in different colors and fi...
Aluminum
$6,221 / item
Caper 3 Seater Blush by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater blush 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 available ...
Steel
$5,251 / item
Xaloc Salmon Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc Salmon sofa by Mowee Dimensions: D 100 x W 200 x H 81 cm (Seat height 42 cm) Material: Aluminium, Textile Weight: 46 kg Also available in different colours and finishes. ...
Aluminum
$7,286 / 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
$4,246 / item
Cover White Double Left Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover White 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
$5,529 / item
Haven 3 Seater Jade by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven 3 seater jade 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 colour...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$1,525 / item
Lace White Sofa with Cushion by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace white 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 finishes....
Stainless Steel, Other
$2,460 / 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
$4,707 / item
Xaloc Left 160 Salmon Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc Left 160 Salmon Modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W160 x H81 cm (Seat Height 42cm) Material: Aluminium, Textile Weight: 37 kg Also Available in different colors and ...
Aluminum