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.
$6,194 / item
Galore 3 Seater Burnt Orange by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 seater burnt orange 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. Wei...
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
$7,404 / item
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Petrol by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches petrol 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
$7,404 / item
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Blush by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches blush 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 Als...
Steel
$7,404 / 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
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Terracotta by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches terracotta 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
$7,404 / item
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Cream by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches cream 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 A...
Steel
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Nabuk Terra by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches Nabuk Terra by Warm Nordic. Dimensions: D200 x W84 x H 80 cm. Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5...
Steel
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
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
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Sprinkles Latte by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches sprinkles latte by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D200 x W84 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55...
Steel
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Nabuk Seppia by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches Nabuk Seppia by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D200 x W84 x H 80 cm. Material: Textile upholstery, wooden frame, powder coated black steel legs. Weight: 55.5...
Steel
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Sprinkles Eggplant by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches sprinkles eggplant by Warm Nordic. Dimensions: D200 x W84 x H 80 cm. Material: textile upholstery, wooden frame, powder coated black steel legs. Weigh...
Steel
$7,404 / 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
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Steel Blue by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches steel blue 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
$6,884 / item
Dwell 2 Seater Olive by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Dwell 2 seater Olive by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D137 x W66 x H 73 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Solid smoked or white oiled oak legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. Weight:...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood, Oak
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Petrol by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater olive 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
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Olive by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater olive 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
$6,884 / item
Dwell 2 Seater Cream by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Dwell 2 seater cream by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 137 x W 66 x H 73 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Solid smoked or white oiled oak legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. Weigh...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood, Oak
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Steel Blue by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater steel blue 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
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Mint by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater mint 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 i...
Steel
$6,364 / 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
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater fresh peach 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 avai...
Steel
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Warm Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater warm grey by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 206 x W 84 x H 63 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs. ...
Steel
$6,364 / 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
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Minty Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 Seater Minty Grey 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
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Mosaic Taupe by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater Mosaic taupe 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 ava...
Steel
$6,364 / 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
$6,364 / 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
Caper 3 Seater with Stitches Pearl Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater with stitches pearl 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
Caper 3 Seater Sprinkles Eggplant by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater Sprinkles Eggplant 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
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Sprinkles Latte by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater sprinkles latte 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 a...
Steel
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Mosaic Graphite by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater Mosaic graphite 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 ...
Steel
$6,364 / item
Caper 3 Seater Sprinkles Mocca by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Caper 3 seater sprinkles mocca 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 av...
Steel
$11,526 / item
Blue Stand by Me Sofa with Pillows by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue stand by me sofa with pillows by Storängen Design. Dimensions: D 222 x W 74 x H 73 x SH 42 cm Materials: birch wood, fabric. Available in ot...
Fabric, Birch
$5,541 / item
Copacabana Sofa with 1 Arm Right by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Copacabana sofa with 1 arm 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 ma...
Stainless Steel
$4,743 / item
Copacabana Sofa Without Armrest by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Copacabana sofa without Armrest by Domkapa Materials: black texturized steel, bamboo wood, fabric (Rhine Ice). Dimensions: W 165 x D 105 x H 75 ...
Stainless Steel
$8,711 / item
Taís 3 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Taís 3 Seats Sofa by Domkapa Materials: Natural leather (Desna Polvere), polished stainless steel. Dimensions: W 230 x D 95 x H 88 cm. Also available in different materials. Plea...
Steel
$5,081 / item
Nicole 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Nicole 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa Materials: Velvet (Neva 2206), black texturized steel. Dimensions: W 190 x D 105 x H 90 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact u...
Steel
$2,782 / item
Bob Mod 3 Seating by Dovain Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Bob Mod 3 seating by Dovain Studio Dimensions: H 39 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
$4,367 / 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
$5,989 / 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
$5,166 / item
Grey Black Boucle Level Daybed by Msds Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey black boucle level daybed by Msds Studio. Materials: Foam, oak, boucle. Dimensions: D 76.5 x W 190 x H 41 cm. The founders, Mia and Torben Koed, decided to put their 30 yea...
Bouclé, Foam, Oak
$5,166 / item
Grey Oak Level Daybed by Msds Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey oak level daybed by Msds studio. Materials: foam, oak, non slip fabric. Dimensions: D 76.5 x W 190 x H 41 cm Also available in different colours. ...
Fabric, Foam, Oak
$8,711 / item
Up Sofa by Lagu
Located in Geneve, CH
Up sofa by Lagu Designed by Ufuk Ceylan Dimensions: W 160 x D 80 x H 80 cm. Materials: Faux Leather, Foam, Hardwood, Metal, Upholstery. Designed to maximize both form and comfort, t...
Metal
ARCH 2 Seater Sofa in Oak and DAW/Mohair & Mcnutt Upholstery by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
ARCH 2 Seater Sofa in Oak and DAW/Mohair & Mcnutt Upholstery by Mazo Design Dimensions: W 128 x D 79 x H 76 cm Materials: Oak, textile Also available: 2 seater configuration, ROMO/L...
Other