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.
$38,586 / item
Magno American Walnut Sofa by Palena Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Magno American Walnut Sofa by Palena Furniture Dimensions: W 309.88 x D 104.14 x H 78.74 x Seat H 41.91 cm Materials: American Walnut, Black Lacquer, Plush Velvet Upholstery Availab...
Other
VIntage velvet sofa by Saporiti Italia, 1980s
By Saporiti
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage velvet two seater sofa by Saporiti italia. Very comfy two seater sofa, which has a cool pattern running troughout the upholstery. Good condition, has been cleaned. 1980s -...
Velvet
Cassina 'Soriana' Four Seater Sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa in Bouclé, 1970s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Antwerp, BE
Afra and Tobia Scarpa, soriana, Cassina, Italy 1970s, bouclé wool Manufactured by Cassina in the 1970s, the Soriana collection was meant to express beauty and comfort by using a w...
Chrome
Jell Sofa in Kvadrat Razzle Dazzle Fabric by Alter Ego Studio
Located in Castelo da Maia, PT
Jell Sofa in Kvadrat Razzle Dazzle Fabric by Alter Ego Studio Dimensions W 260 cm D 120 cm H 85 cm Product features Product options: Upholstery: Available in all Alter Ego leat...
Fabric
2x Original Walter Knoll Zweisitzer Sofa Design Couch Jason Leder
By Walter Knoll
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten eins von zwei wunderschönen Zweisitzer Sofas vom deutschen Qualitätshersteller Walter Knoll zum Verkauf an. Insgesamt stehen zwei baugleiche Sofas in einem sehr ähnlichen ...
Leather
$19,047 / item
Morrison 3-Seater Sofa by Somaschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Morrison 3-Seater Sofa by Somaschini Dimensions: W 290 x D 109 x H 55 cm Materials: Solid wood and plywood structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Seat cushio...
Fabric, Upholstery, Plywood
Contemporary Art Sofa - Consuetudine by Roberto Barni
By Mirabili, Roberto Barni
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sofa - wood, bronze sculptures 99 numbered and signed copies "The blindfold man is a metaphor of life and art: in “CONSUETUDINE” he represents the caryatids that support and delimit...
Bronze
$11,692 / item
Small Baixo Sofa by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Baixo Sofa by Wentz Dimensions: D 105 x W 200 x H 58 cm Materials: Wood, Upholstery. 2 cushions included The Baixo sofa proposes a different way of sitting. An invitation to c...
Upholstery, Wood
$62,536 / item
Pink Baba Sofa by Gisbert Pöppler
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Baba Sofa by Gisbert Pöppler Dimensions: H 74 (SH43) x W 303 x D 140.5 cm Materials: Upholstered wooden frame, teak footings Like a friend that wan...
Upholstery, Teak
$21,699 / 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 B108 by SAHCO (10...
Stone
$43,918 / item
Arizona 5004 Sofa by Redeco
Located in Geneve, CH
Arizona 5004 Sofa by Redeco Dimensions: W 444/284/160 x D 105 x H 79 cm Materials: Wooden structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Seat cushions padded in poly...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Byron Botker Sofa c. 1970s
By Landes Manufacturing Co., Byron Botker
Located in Chicago, IL
for Landes, USA. This piece has been fully reupholstered in mohair but has age appropriate wear to the chrome and significant wear to the canvas sling (pictured)
Chrome
$10,231 / 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
$17,854 / item
Segno Fabric Sofa 3 Seater by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Segno Fabric Sofa 3 Seater by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 225 x D 90 x H 88 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply, with metal support. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts ...
Foam, Wood
$15,118 / item
Lambert 3-Seater Sofa by Somaschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Lambert 3-Seater Sofa by Somaschini Dimensions: W 290 x D 103 x H 63 cm Materials: Solid wood and plywood structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Pre-upholste...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Carlo Scarpa “Cornaro” Armchairs for Gavina, Ivory Linen, 1973, Set of 2
By Gavina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa “Cornaro” armchairs for Gavina, ivory linen, Italy, 1973, set of two The “Cornaro” armchair, designed by Carlo Scarpa in 1973 for Gavina, distills the essence of archit...
Velvet, Foam, Wood
70s leather sofa Piumino model by Lomazzi De Pas D'Urbino
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Milano, MI
Piumino sofa designed by Milanese architects De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi who were part of the Radical Design movement that marked the Italian avant-garde design scene in the late 1960...
Leather
Comodus Sofa by Otto Zapf, Blue Velvet, Post-Modern, Germany, 1967
By Otto Zapf
Located in TOURS, FR
Rare Comodus sofa by Otto Zapf, designed in 1967, Germany Two seater sofa in blue velvet
Velvet, Wood
$2,246 / item
Lounge Fireside Chair by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Lounge Fireside Chair by RALPH M Dimensions: W 90 x D 101 x H 80 cm. Materials: Plywood, Foam, Fabric. Details: Frame: HR 26kg/m3, HR 38kg/m3 and RP 28kg/m3 foam complex. Coated w...
Fabric, Foam, Plywood
De Sede DS-600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa in Brown Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ueli Berger, Eleonora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sede, 'Snake' sectional sofa, model 'DS-600', leather, Switzerland, 1970s Designed by Ueli Berger, Eleonora Pe...
Leather
$5,975 / item
Object 083 Sofa by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 083 Sofa by NG Design Dimensions: W 210 x D 100 x H 69 cm Materials: Bouclé Fabric Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. The ...
Bouclé
Vintage Boho Ettore Sottsass for Knoll Postmodern Sofa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Presenting a rare and captivating vintage sofa, a striking example of Postmodern design by the iconic Ettore Sottsass for Knoll. This piece, reminiscent of Sottsass's influential "Ma...
Metal
$29,500 / item
Blue Lapis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue Lapis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 279 x D 292 x H 70 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. SEAT, BACK...
Foam, Wood
Perfidia 3-Seater Sofa in Ébano Wood, Leather & Aged Brass by Estudio Andean
Located in Geneve, CH
Perfidia 3-Seater Sofa in Ébano Wood, Leather & Aged Brass by Estudio Andean Dimensions: D 80 x W 194 x H 73 cm. Materials: Steel, bronze, brass, Seike wood, and leather. Available ...
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Grey Curved Upholstery Sofa with Solid Oak Base by Obstacles
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique, Solid Oak Marina Sofa Obstacles Dimensions: W 98 x D 235 x H 70 cm Materials: Solid oak. While most of our designs are recognized for their clea...
Oak
Brick & Mortar Sofa, Gray, Rich Woods & Seb Wrong, Established & Sons, UK, 2009
By Established & Sons, Richard Woods, Sebastian Wrong
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gray Brick & Mortar Sofa, Rich Woods & Seb Wrong, Established & Sons, UK, 2009. Iconic Postmodern design. Produced for a short period in 2009-2010. Made in ...
Textile
$7,334 / item
Margaret 210 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Margaret 210 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 92 x W 210 x H 95 cm. SH: 48 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Lilac CV15. Available in all Munna fabri...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$10,500 / item
Josephine 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Josephine 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 103 x W 280 x H 83 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and wild silk. Available in all M...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$7,904 / item
Beige and Ochre Mid Sofa by Kann Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige and Ochre 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: K...
Steel
$21,421 / item
Linamore Davis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Linamore Davis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 432 x D 100 x H 67 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. REMOVA...
Foam, Wood
$14,347 / item
Stone Chair by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Stone Chair by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 81 x W 115 x H 88 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. PLYUS Furniture creates pieces in collectible de...
Upholstery, Wood
$23,596 / item
Davis Leather Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Davis Leather Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 340 x D 100 x H 67 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. REMOVABLE PART...
Foam, Wood
Mauro Lipparini for Saporiti 'Avedon' Curved Sofa in Turquoise Upholstery
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti, Mauro Lipparini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mauro Lipparini for Saporiti 'Avedon' sofa, fabric, lacquered wood, chrome-plated steel, Italy, 1980s A truly wonderful piece that breathes the elegance of Italian Post-Modern desig...
Steel, Chrome
$30,939 / item
Beige Memory Sofa by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Memory Sofa by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 90 x W 240 x H 85 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery “Memory” sofa. Collection "Memory" inspired b...
Upholstery, Wood
$5,198 / item
C&B Gold Camaleonda Modules
Located in London, England
Listed price is per module. Three units are available and can be purchased separately. This is a vintage item in its original fabric, showing signs of use, including smoke staining ...
Steel
$16,042 / item
Arizona 5000 Sofa by Redeco
Located in Geneve, CH
Arizona 5000 Sofa by Redeco Dimensions: W 290 x D 105 x H 79 cm Materials: Wooden structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Seat cushions padded in polyurethane...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Left Modular Daybed by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Left Modular Daybed by SNOC Dimensions: D 150 x W 125 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The Caleo...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
Original COR Jalis Sofa Couch Jehs & Laub Filz magenta Design
By COR, Jehs & Laub
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Design Sofa der Marke COR zum Verkauf an. Das Sofa ist bekannt unter dem Modellnamen "Jalis" und steht hier in einer sehr seltenen Ausführung mit pinkem ...
Felt, Wood
$15,125 / item
Lambert 3-Seater Sofa by Somaschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Lambert 3-Seater Sofa by Somaschini Dimensions: W 290 x D 103 x H 63 cm Materials: Solid wood and plywood structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Pre-upholste...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
$7,920Sale Price|20% Off
Curved Velvet Hollywood Regency Sofa, Italy, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian glam couch in luxurious blue velvet, attributed to Marzio Cecchi. A striking detail is the round brass feet, which complement the deep, elegant tones...
Brass
$14,206 / item
Foz 3 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Foz 3 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 96 x W 230 x H 87 cm. Materials: Oxidized brushed brass, InsidherLand Woollen Ref. 6 fabric. 75 kg. Available in different fabrics. Five...
Brass
$13,645 / item
Hoof Sofa by Plyus Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Hoof Sofa by Plyus Design Dimensions: D 94 x W 108 x H 75 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. PLYUS Furniture creates p...
Upholstery, Wood
$11,066 / item
Luke 240 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Luke 240 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 110 x W 240 x H 82 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet. Available in all Munna fabrics except Wild Silk....
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Thank Two Seater Sofa in Chromed Metal & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Thank Two Seater Sofa in Chromed Metal & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 73 x W 150 x H 67 cm. Materials: Metal, wood, and upholstery. Available in different finishes, siz...
Metal
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Right Modular Daybed by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Right Modular Daybed by SNOC Dimensions: D 180 x W 97,5 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The Cal...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
Lyora Teak Wood And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Modular Sofa With Table by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Lyora Teak Wood And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Modular Sofa With Table by SNOC Dimensions: D 88 x W 195 x H 66 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood and Ethereal fabric. A delicate m...
Fabric, Teak
$1,993 / item
Black Along Birch Sofa by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Along birch sofa by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 52 x W 150 x H 87 x SH 45 cm Materials: birch wood. Also available in other colors and with seat cushion. Along can be ...
Birch
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
Original Living Divani Ile Cube Leder Sofa Couch Zweisitzer Design
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes und sehr hochwertiges Zweisitzer Sofa ("Ile Cube") vom Italienischen Qualitätshersteller Living Divani zum Verkauf an. Living Divani zeichnet sich durch ...
Leather
$27,934 / item
Linamore Lapis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Linamore Lapis Fabric Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 338 x D 199 x H 70 cm Materials: FRAME: solid wood and multiply. SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. SEAT, ...
Foam, Wood
Pair of 1970s Vintage French Canapé Sofas
Located in London, GB
A pair of vintage French canapé sofas from 1970s in the style of Jacques Charpentier, re-upholstered in brown herringbone fabric standing on a brass base.
Metal, Brass
$4,981 / item
Large Nova Sofa by RALPH M
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Nova Sofa by RALPH M Dimensions: W 260 x D 100 x H 64 cm. Materials: Solid beech, Fabric. Details: Frame: Solid beech. Seat springing: Interlaced el...
Fabric, Beech
$44,526 / item
Byron 5012 Sofa by Redeco
Located in Geneve, CH
Byron 5012 Sofa by Redeco Dimensions: W 465/289/174 x D 101 x H 73 cm Materials: Wooden structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Seat cushions padded in polyur...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Thank Three Seater Sofa in Chromed Metal & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Thank Three Seater Sofa in Chromed Metal & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 73 x W 220 x H 67 cm. Materials: Metal, wood, and upholstery. Available in different finishes, s...
Metal
$34,973 / item
Fabric Palmo Sofa Composition by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Fabric Palmo Sofa Composition by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 417 x D 118 x H 80 cm Materials: FRAME: poplar multiply SUSPENSIONS: rubber and polypropylene belts. SEAT: polyurethane foam,...
Foam, Poplar
Original Rolf Benz Ecksofa Dono 6100 Couch Design Sofa Leder rot
By Rolf Benz, DONÓ Design
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Rolf Benz Dono 6100 Ecksofa mit rotem Lederbezug zum Verkauf an. Das Sofa zeichnet sich aus durch seine moderne und praktis...
Leather, Wood
Glass Sofa by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Walnut end caps with glass legs. Reupholstered in Designtex floral.
Fabric
$11,614 / 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
$13,657 / item
Fjord Chair by Plyus Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Fjord Chair by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 85 x W 110 x H 80 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery. PLYUS Furniture creates pieces in collectible de...
Upholstery, Wood
Jules Heumann Loveseat for Metropolitan Furniture
By Jules Heumann, Metropolitan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Loveseat by California native Jules Heumann for the San Francisco based company, Metropolitan Furniture, c.1970's. The sofa features a lacquered white frame and newly upholstered cus...
Mohair, Upholstery