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.
$2,655 / item
Ribbons Navy Right Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons Navy Right Modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W80 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm) Material: Aluminum and upholstery Weight: 19 kg Also...
Aluminum
$6,098 / item
Caper 3 Seater Terracotta by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater terracotta 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 availab...
Steel
$3,234 / item
Xaloc Left 90 Black Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc Left 90 Black 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 colors and fi...
Aluminum
Galore Seater Module Right Vintage Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore seater module right vintage rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D82 x W83 x H 76 cm. Material: textile upholstery, powder coated black steel legs, wooden frame, foam, spring sys...
Steel
$5,420 / item
Haven 3 Seater Sand by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven 3 seater sand 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
$7,501 / item
Fried Egg Sofa Pale Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried Egg Sofa Pale Rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D186 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 42 kg Also available in different colours and fini...
Upholstery, Teak
$10,365 / item
Chloe Chaise Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Chloe chaise sofa by Domkapa Materials: Bouclé (Columbia Taupe), black ash. Dimensions: W 350 x D 180 x H 75.5 cm. Also available in different materia...
Bouclé, Ash
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches fresh peach by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D200 x W84 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5 k...
Steel
$2,910 / item
Nature Black Left Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Black Left Modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D85 x W76 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminium, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 19 kg. Also available in diffe...
Aluminum
Galore Seater Module Center Dark Ochre by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore seater Module center dark Ochre by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D76 x W80 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring syste...
Steel
Fried Egg Sofa Soft Violet Plum Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa soft violet plum fresh peach 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 diffe...
Upholstery, Teak
Fig Sofa – Contemporary Brass Frame with Brown Upholstery by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Fig Sofa – Contemporary Brass Frame with Brown Upholstery by Misaya Dimensions: W 140 x D 72 x H 68.5 cm Materials: Brass Also available: Different colors (gold, polished brass. bla...
Brass
$4,498 / item
Cover Grey Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover grey sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W160 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 32 kg. Also available in differe...
Aluminum
$6,597 / item
Dwell 2 Seater Silk Camel by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Dwell 2 seater silk camel by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D137 x W66 x H 73 cm Material: Leather upholstery, Solid smoked or white oiled oak legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. We...
Leather, Upholstery, Foam, Wood, Oak
$1,495 / item
Lace Cream Sofa with Cushion by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace cream 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
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Minty Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches minty grey 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 ...
Steel
$7,096 / item
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Cream by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 seater oak cream by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D201 x W79 x H 78/46 cm Material: textile upholstery, foam, spring system, solid oiled oak legs, solid smoked oak legs Weigh...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$5,936 / item
Galore 3 Seater Amber by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 Seater Amber 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: 62 k...
Steel
$4,162 / 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
$4,162 / item
Cover Cream Double Right Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Cream Double Right 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
$2,655 / 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
$3,803 / item
Ribbons White Double Central Modular Sofa by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Ribbons White Double Central Modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W136 x H81 cm Material: Aluminum, and upholstery. Weight: 27 kg. Also available in different colors and finis...
Aluminum
$7,096 / item
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Java Brown by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 seater oak java brown 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...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$5,936 / item
Galore 3 Seater Sprinkles Eggplant by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 seater sprinkles eggplant by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D222 x W83 x H 76 cm Material: textile upholstery, powder coated black steel legs, wooden frame, foam, spring system. ...
Steel
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
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
$6,098 / item
Caper 3 Seater Mosaic Dark Bordeaux by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater Mosaic Dark Bordeaux 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 Al...
Steel
$6,098 / 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
$5,182 / item
Shinto Module with Back by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Shinto module with back by Domkapa. Materials: Fabric (Helmand 02), black texturized steel, gold brushed stainless steel. Dimensions: W 100 x D 102 x H 82 cm. Also available in d...
Steel, Stainless Steel
$4,997 / 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
$4,997 / item
Copacabana Chaise Left by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Copacabana chaise 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 materials. ...
Stainless Steel
Kolho Two Seater Natural, Cognac Leather by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Kolho two seater natural, cognac leather by Made by Choice with Matthew Day Jackson Kolho Collection Dimensions: 130 x 60 x 70 cm Materials: Plywood (Upholstery Category 1) Al...
Birch, Plywood
Mocha Brown ARCH Two-Seater Sofa in Oak and Sahara Sheepskin by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Mocha Brown ARCH Two-Seater Sofa in Oak and Sahara Sheepskin by Mazo Design Dimensions: W 128 x D 79 x H 76 cm Materials: Oak, Sheepskin Also Available: 2 Seater Configuration, ROMO/...
Other
$5,739 / item
Brass Hand-Sculpted Sofa Misaya
By Misaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass hand-sculpted sofa - Misaya Dimensions: H 75 x W 124 x L 69 cm Hand-sculpted brass sofa. Made to order dimensions are possible.
Brass
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
$10,400 / item
Upholstery Cammo Sofa by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Upholstery Cammo Sofa by Madheke Dimensions: D 100 x W 160 x H 75 cm. Materials: Sleek architectural silhouette with plush, tailored upholstery, Base finished in leather with continu...
Leather
$3,605 / item
Hendar Chair by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Hendar Chair by Madheke Dimensions: D 52.5 x W 61.8 x H 74 cm. Materials: Leather wrapped backrest with stitched detail, Fabric upholstered seat, Tapered leather finished legs with k...
Brass
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
Brühl Alba Sessel system/m neuwertig Design Armlehnstuhl
By Brühl
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen sehr gut erhaltenen und nicht/ kaum benutzten original Brühl Alba Sessel in einem modernen dunkelgrau zum Verkauf an. In unseren weiteren Anzeigen bieten wir zudem p...
Fabric
2x Brühl Alba Zweisitzer Sofa 55/70 neuwertig Design Couch 165cm
By Brühl
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten insgesamt 2 sehr gut erhaltene und nicht/ kaum benutzte original Brühl Alba Zweisitzer Sofas in einem modernen dunkelgrau zum Verkauf an. In dieser Anzeige handelt es sich...
Fabric
$7,500 / item
1970’s, French Leather Sofa
Located in Chicago, IL
Postmodern French leather sofa. 4 Matching sofas available.
Leather
Lyora Teak Wood And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Left Modular Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Lyora Teak Wood And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Left Modular Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 88 x W 170 x H 66 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood and Ethereal fabric. A delicate mid-cen...
Fabric, Teak
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood Frame, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Three-Seater Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood Frame, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Three-Seater Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 100 x W 235 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The C...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
Éclat-Bisque Rope, Luminesce Fabric And Aluminum Two-Seater Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Éclat-Bisque Rope, Luminesce Fabric And Aluminum Two-Seater Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 93,5 x W 190 x H 67 cm. SH: 39 cm. Materials: Aluminium, rope, and Luminesce fabric. Anthony ...
Aluminum
Éclat-Nightfall Rope, Luminesce Fabric And Aluminum Three-Seater Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Éclat-Nightfall Rope, Luminesce Fabric And Aluminum Three-Seater Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 93,5 x W 240 x H 67 cm. SH: 39 cm. Materials: Aluminium, rope, and Luminesce fabric. Ant...
Aluminum
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
Acquabella Three Seater Beech Wood And Bronze Feet Sofa by Casa Casati
Located in Geneve, CH
Acquabella Three Seater Beech Wood And Bronze Feet Sofa by Casa Casati Dimensions: D 106 x W 252 x H 80 cm. SH: 74 cm. Materials: Beech wood, marine plywood, polyurethane, polyester ...
Other
$4,463 / item
Yin Yang Module 2 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Yin Yang Module 2 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 101 x W 101 x H 83 cm. SH: 83 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and brushed brass. Ava...
Brass
$10,446 / 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
$12,684 / item
Gran Torino 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Gran Torino 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 96 x W 280 x H 85 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Bouclé Wool, COM upholstery, and polished brass foo...
Brass
$12,684 / item
Gran Torino 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Gran Torino 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 96 x W 280 x H 85 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Bouclé Wool, COM upholstery, and polished brass foo...
Brass
$13,368 / item
Josephine 230 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Josephine 230 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 103 x W 230 x H 83 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and leather. Finish: Leather, ref. Light grey, L17 upholstery and piping. Availab...
Foam, Wood, Leather
$12,162 / item
Roy 220 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Roy 220 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 115 x W 220 x H 83 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Amethyst, CV32, and gloss lacquer. Available...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$13,461 / 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
$13,461 / 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. Milkshake Pink, CV29, and gloss lacquer. Ava...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$13,461 / 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
$13,461 / 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. Lime, CV24, and gloss lacquer. Available in ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$13,461 / 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. Green Duck Egg, CV19, and gloss lacquer. Ava...
Upholstery, Wood, Foam
$13,461 / 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. Emerald, CV09, and gloss lacquer. Available ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$13,461 / 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