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.
$6,017 / item
Galore 3 Seater Pale Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 Seater Pale Rose 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
$14,221 / item
Hug Grey Sofa by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Hug grey sofa by Rejo Studio Dimensions: D 315 x W 95 x H 76 cm Materials: Wooden structure, with Velvet Also available in different colours. Long comfortable hug. The hug sofa...
Velvet, Wood
Galore 3 Seater Sprinkles Desert Yellow by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 seater sprinkles desert yellow 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 s...
Steel
$12,458Sale Price|32% Off
Soriana Two Seater by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, Green Mohair
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Antwerp, BE
Scarpa; Afra & Tobia Scarpa; Soriana Sofa; Cassina; 1970s; Italian Design; Italy; Two Seater; Post-Modern; Green; Fabric; Mohair; This Soriana two-seater ...
Chrome
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Modular Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Ash Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Two-Seater Modular Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 100 x W 181 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The C...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
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
$9,343 / item
Grey Cut Sofa by Kann Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey 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 Remix 126 (90% wool, 10% nylon). Availa...
Steel
$5,177 / item
Kuumo Sofa by KUUMO DESIGN
Located in Geneve, CH
Kuumo Sofa by KUUMO DESIGN Dimensions: W 150 x D 87.5 x H 96.6 cm Materials: Acrylic glass structures, Foam cushions and 1460 mm, Mirror stainless steel tubes. Weight: 42 Kg. With...
Stainless Steel
Robert Thibier Two Seat Sofa with Gold Painted Metal Frame
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Robert Thibier two-seat sofa, gold-painted steel, fabric, France, 1960s/1970s This exceptional two-seat sofa by Robert Thibier is a rare example of French design from the 1960s and ...
Steel
$22,076 / item
Segno Leather Sofa 3 Seater by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Segno Leather 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
$4,818 / item
Malva Green Big Kroko Sofa by Marcantonio
Located in Geneve, CH
Malva Green 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 of ...
Other
Grande 320 Five Seater Dark Bronze And Diablo Upholstery Sofa by Casa Casati
Located in Geneve, CH
Grande 320 Five Seater Dark Bronze And Diablo Upholstery Sofa by Casa Casati Dimensions: D 100 x W 320 x H 85 cm. Materials: Beech wood, marine plywood, polyurethane, polyester fibr...
Other
$12,332 / item
Fringes 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 100 x W 280 x H 91 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and fringes. Available in all Munna...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$10,685 / item
Object 085 Sofa by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 085 Sofa by NG Design Dimensions: W 290 x D 110 x H 60 cm Materials: Velveteen Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. Our firs...
Other
$11,685 / 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
$5,947 / item
Marshmallow Sofa by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Marshmallow sofa by Rejo Studio Dimensions: D 200 x W 85 x H 40 cm Materials: Chenille upholstery, wood structure. REJO is a design studio based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Ist...
Upholstery, Wood
Pink Baba Daybed by Gisbert Pöppler, Upholstered Teak Frame, Germany
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Baba daybed by Gisbert Pöppler Dimensions: H 82 (43) x W 250 x D 170 cm Materials: Upholstered wooden frame, teak footings Like a friend that wants to cuddle, Baba is an upholstered sofa series for lounging in complete comfort. The asymmetrical forms cater to a playful choice of sitting positions from formal to downright lounging while confidently inhabiting their environment and providing cozy sophistication. The low seating height and fluffy padded body make you want to sink into this chair and relish the moment. All of their upholstery pieces are COM prices. The prices do not include any fabric. Gisbert Pöppler studied architecture at California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco and Technische Universität, Berlin, graduating in 1996 with a Diplom Ingenieur. After completing his studies he spent several years working for various firms in Berlin, developing new architecture after the German re-unification. In 1999 Gisbert Pöppler founded Prinz–Pöppler, a partnership with architect Ilona Prinz – together creating office environments for start-up organizations filling the dynamic Berlin landscape...
Upholstery, Teak
$36,281 / item
Asthila Sofa in Solid Oak Wood by Pendhapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Asthila Sofa in Solid Oak Wood by Pendhapa. Dimensions: W 300 x D 173 x H 68 cm. Materials: Solid Oak Wood. This listing features our Asthila Sofa. It offers a choice between a text...
Oak, Wood, Hardwood
$4,212 / item
Ash Whale Seater Sofa 2 by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash Whale Seater Sofa 2 by SNOC Dimensions: W 190 x D 84 x H 66 cm. Materials: Teak Wood. The Whale-ash Collection features an elegant and robust design style inspired by the form...
Teak
$5,895 / item
Noche Whale Seater Sofa 3 by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Noche Whale Seater Sofa 3 by SNOC Dimensions: W 230 x D 84 x H 66 cm. Materials: Teak Wood. The Whale-ash Collection features an elegant and robust design style inspired by the fo...
Teak
$7,805 / item
Grand Storängen Sofa by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Grand Storängen sofa by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 120 x W 240 x H 130 x SH 45 cm Materials: birch wood, fabric. Also available in other colors...
Birch
$3,565 / item
Yin Yang Module 1 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Yin Yang Module 1 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 101 x W 101 x H 57 cm. SH: 57 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and brushed brass. Ava...
Brass
$14,239 / item
Hug Brown Sofa by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Hug Brown Sofa by Rejo Studio Dimensions: D 315 x W 95 x H 76 cm Materials: Wooden structure, with Velvet Also Available in different colours. Long co...
Velvet, Wood
Chocolate Brown Happylife Sofa by Bedini, Marzano And Settimelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate Brown 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. Avai...
Other
$8,143 / item
Sophia 210 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Sophia 210 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 88 x W 210 x H 94 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Pure White, CV01 upholstery, and pol...
Brass
$44,730 / item
Yin Yang Modular Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Ying Yang Modular Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 202 x W 455 x H 123 cm. SH: 57 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and brushed brass. Th...
Brass
$6,017 / item
Galore 3 Seater Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore 3 Seater Forest green by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D222 x W83 x H 76 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. Weigh...
Steel
$11,689 / item
Yellow Moreto Sofa by Dovain Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Yellow Moreto Sofa 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-de...
Fabric, Wood
$15,533 / item
Embryo Sofa by Studio Christinekalia
Located in Geneve, CH
Embryo sofa by Studio Christinekalia Dimensions: W 200 x D 320 x H 78 cm (seat height 43 cm). Materials: Wood, Macro Plush Fabric. Evolved from the s...
Fabric, Wood
$36,845 / item
Yellow Say Sofa by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Yellow say sofa by Gentner Design. Dimensions: D 271 x W 86 x H 63.5 cm. Materials: fabric. COM available. Strong formal lines and geometric shapes seem like puzzle pieces that...
Fabric
$6,378 / item
Figueroa 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Figueroa 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 90 x W 180 x H 90 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, InsidherLand Bright Velvet Ref. Onyx fabric. 70 kg. Available in different fabrics....
Brass
Fried Egg Sofa Sheepskin Scandinavian Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa sheepskin Scandinavian grey by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D186 x W68 x H 68 cm. Material: Sheepskin upholstery, solid oiled teak. Weight: 42 kg Also available in diff...
Sheepskin, Teak
$12,791 / item
Nounours Sofa by Studio Uwe Gaertner
Located in Geneve, CH
Nounours Sofa by Studio Uwe Gaertner Dimensions: D 94 x W 236 x H 91 cm. Materials: Brass and Kvadrat Gentle 2 (no. 183 or no. 973) fabric (60% virgin wool, 20% polyester, and 20% ny...
Brass
$7,508 / item
Snow Straight Sofa by Note Design Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Snow straight sofa by Note Design Studio Dimensions: D 100 x W 100 x H 74 cm. Materials: upholstery. Prices may vary according to the fabric choice. Snow is a modular sofa concept created by Note Design Studio. Note is based in Stockholm where snow is abundant and changes drastically the landscape during a large portion of the year. Even the most brutalist building morph into blurry and puffy shapes. This contrast between a solid and steady structure anchored in the ground and the welcoming layer of soft snow on top is the inspiration for the Snow sofa. The snow system is composed of 2 elements – a straight module and a rounded 30° module – that can be combined to create an infinity of shapes. The sofa is complemented by low modules that can be used as ottomans or can be combined to create straight or curved padded benches...
Upholstery
$7,192 / item
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Soft Violet by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 seater oak soft violet 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 ...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$36,798 / item
Green Say Sofa by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Green say sofa by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 271 x W 86 x H 63.5 cm Materials: fabric COM available. Strong formal lines and geometric shapes seem like puzzle pieces that com...
Fabric
$7,604 / item
Fried Egg Sofa Dark Ochre by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa dark ochre 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 f...
Upholstery, Teak
$6,182 / 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
$7,613 / item
Fried Egg Sofa Grey Melange by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa grey Melange by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D186 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 42 kg Also available i...
Upholstery, Teak
$7,613 / 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
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
$4,824 / item
Flame Red RAP Sofa by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Red 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 product...
Other
$5,695 / 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
$8,084 / item
Fernandine II Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Fernandina II Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 85 x W 170 x H 80 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, InsidherLand Cotton Velvet Ref. CV 0470 fabric. 48 kg. Available in different fa...
Brass
$11,177 / item
Bob Sofa by Dovain Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Bob Sofa by Dovain Studio Dimensions: H 76 x W 240 x D 100 x SH 39 cm Materials: Velvet, Wood Dovain Studio Creative direction by Sergio Prieto, a Spanish artist-designer who w...
Velvet, Wood
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
$5,789 / 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
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
$22,583 / 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
10x Brühl Alba Zweisitzer Sofa 55/70 neuwertig Design Couch 185cm
By Brühl
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten insgesamt 10 sehr gut erhaltene und nicht/ kaum benutzte original Brühl Alba Zweisitzer Sofas in einem modernen dunkelgrau zum Verkauf an. In dieser Anzeige handelt es sic...
Fabric
$2,444 / item
Cover Grey Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Grey 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 col...
Aluminum
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
$11,689 / 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
1980s Weiman Curved Serpentine Sofa and Swivel Chairs, 3 Pieces
By Directional
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Original rare set of 3, 1980s Iconic serpentine cloud sofa and swivel chairs are packed with personality! Outstanding design is exhibited throughout the monumental form. The Vintage complete set are beyond stunning. Beautiful colors in ultra suede light...
Upholstery, Wood
$9,579 / item
White One Seater Nube Sofa by Siete Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Nube Sofa One Seater White by Siete Studio Dimensions: D150 x W100 x H60 cm. Materials: Walnut, cushions, upholstery. Characterised by its round edges and soft white cushions, Nube ...
Other
2 Seater Fitz Chesterfield Sofa in Leather with Walnut and Brass by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
2 Seater Fitz Chesterfield Sofa in Leather with Walnut and Brass by Madheke. Dimensions: W 189 x D 90 x H 71 cm. Materials: Leather upholstery, walnut plinth, and traditional brass f...
Brass
Weiman Post Modern Sculptural Chaise Lounge Sofa in Tangerine Wool Upholstery
By Weiman
Located in Saint Louis, MO
There are pieces that furnish a room and there are pieces that alter its atmosphere entirely and this sculptural Weiman chaise created at the height of American postmodernism in the ...
Upholstery, Wool
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto Italian Wood Fabric "Artona" Sofa, 1970s
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design two-seater sofa from the “Artona” series designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto in the 1970s with solid wood frame and fabric cushions, made...
Fabric, Wood
Rolf Benz Curved Two-Tone Suede and Leather Upholstered Sofa
By Rolf Benz
Located in Astoria, NY
Rolf Benz Curved Two-Tone Three-Seat Sofa, in red suede and tan leather upholstery. 32" H x 108" W x 36" D; seat: 16" H. Provenance: From a Fort Lauderdale, Florida Estate.
Leather, Suede
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