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.
Hub Three-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Hub Three-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 70 x W 210 x H 68 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, wood, and upholstery. Available in different f...
Stainless Steel
$3,780Sale Price / set|45% Off
1980, Fabrizio Ballardini for Arflex, 2 Couches Ribalta in Original Soft Fabric
By Arflex, Fabricio Ballardini
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Metal
$8,701 / item
Niemeyer 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Niemeyer 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 92 x W 180 x H 86 cm. Materials: Oak, brushed brass, InsidherLand Woollen Ref. 1 fabric. 56 kg....
Upholstery, Wood
Caleo-Natural Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Left Modular Daybed by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Natural 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 C...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
$7,199 / item
Misty Beige Lupin Sofa by Nelson Araujo
Located in Geneve, CH
Misty Beige Lupin Chair by Nelson Araujo Dimensions: D 89 x W 89 x H 56 cm Materials: Wood, foam, Kvadrat Gentle 2 fabric. Available in Misty Beige, Chestnut, Mustard, and Forest co...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
$4,194 / item
Pigalle 3 Seater Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Pigalle 3 Seater Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: W 232 x D 81 x H 70 cm. Materials: Acrylic Rope, Aluminium. Pigalle Collection highlights the feeling of lightness and solidity with its ...
Aluminum
$12,283 / item
Louise 240 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Louise 240 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 110 x W 240 x H 83 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Desert, CV03, and ref. Pale Pink, C...
Brass
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
$36,954 / item
DS-1025 Sofa by De Sede
By De Sede
Located in Geneve, CH
DS-1025 Sofa by De Sede Design: Ubald Klug Dimensions: D 91 x W 156 x H 70 cm Materials: SEDEX upholstery with wadding cushion. Stable, compact frame made of beech and board mater...
Leather, Foam, Beech
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Two-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Two-Seater Outdoor Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 85,5 x W 195 x H 63 cm. Materials: Aluminium, wicker, and Luminesce fabric. Link-Bisque ...
Aluminum
$3,235 / item
Flame Red Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Red 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 i...
Other
$3,235 / item
Saffron Yellow Low Lita Love Low Sofa by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow 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: 27 kg. Availa...
Other
Éclat-Nightfall Rope, Luminesce Fabric And Aluminum Two-Seater Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Éclat-Nightfall 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. Antho...
Aluminum
Italian 1950s Corner Sofa in Bright Red Velvet
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, velvet, wood, Italy, 1950s This spacious Italian corner sofa from the 1950s has a bold, inviting shape. Its backrest changes height along the length of the sofa, giving the de...
Velvet
Dark Muted Purple Four Seater Beech Wood Modular Sofa by Casa Casati
Located in Geneve, CH
Acquabella Club Four Seater Beech Wood Modular Sofa by Casa Casati Dimensions: D 106 x W 372 x H 70 cm. Materials: Beech wood, marine plywood, polyurethane, polyester fibre, foam, c...
Other
$16,640 / item
Dyoni Sofa by Moure Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Dyoni sofa by Moure Studio Dimensions: D 250x W 95 x H 76 cm Materials: cotton, linen, velvet, felt, Wood. Wide range of colors of feet and fabrics a...
Textile, Cotton, Linen, Velvet, Wood
$7,664 / 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
$10,411 / 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
$7,095 / item
Chloe 2 Seats Sofa by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Chloe 2 seats sofa by Domkapa Materials: Rose gold brushed, fabric (Tarn 24). Dimensions: W 220 x D 100 x H 75.5 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact us. Chloe is an outstanding design piece with striking aesthetic balance and refined materials. Available in two-seater, three-seater, and chaise-longue versions, it stars a wooden or metallic base and upholstered seat and backrest that can elevate any room. A stitched line is dividing the piece for easy assembling and transport while double-top stitching is seen across the sofa for a luxury touch. The soft curves prevail throughout every element of Chloe sofa...
Steel
$4,737 / item
Sweet Fuchsia Kami Yon Sofa by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia 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...
Other
Hub Two-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Hub Two-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 70 x W 140 x H 68 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, wood, and upholstery. Available in different fin...
Stainless Steel
$5,488 / item
Pelican Sofa by The Cult
Located in Geneve, CH
Pelican Sofa by The Cult Dimensions: W 90 x D 90 x H 80 cm Materials: Upholstery, Leather/Automotive Vinyl Other colors are available. Please contact us f...
Other
$7,811 / 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
$12,884 / item
Mythos Sectional Sofa by Marioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Mythos Sectional Sofa by Marioni Dimensions: W 227 x D 185 x H 75 cm. Materials: Upholstery: Tessuto/Fabric 8,50 Mt. Pelle/Leather 12,50 Mq. Product code: I0330 Pure shape and line...
Upholstery
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
$25,930 / item
Loom Sofa by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Loom Sofa by De Castelli Dimensions: W 228 x D 106 x H 74 cm Materials: Orbitale DeLabré Brass, Fabric Other versions are available, please contact us for any request. The Loom coll...
Brass
Original Rolf Benz Plura Sofa Couch Leder Zweisitzer hell beige
By Rolf Benz
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Rolf Benz Plura Zweisitzer Sofa in hellem Leder zum Verkauf an. Das Sofa besticht durch seine vielfältige Verstellbarkeit ...
Steel
$7,476 / item
Fried Egg Sofa Petrol by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg sofa petrol 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 finis...
Upholstery, Teak
$7,476 / 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
Caleo-Natural Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Corner Modular Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Natural Teak Wood, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Corner Modular Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 123 x W 123 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The C...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
$1,970 / item
Natural Along Birch Sofa by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural 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 b...
Birch
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
Jules Heumann Sofa for Metropolitan Furniture
By Jules Heumann, Metropolitan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sofa 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 cushion...
Mohair, Upholstery
$19,008 / item
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 185 x W 350 x H 80 cm. SH: 41 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet and brushed brass. Available in all M...
Brass
$6,008 / item
Object 050 Sofa by Ng Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 050 sofa by NG Design Dimensions: D230 x W106 x H78 cm Materials: Boucle upholstery Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. ...
Upholstery
Jules Heumann Loveseat for Metropolitan Furniture
By Metropolitan, Jules Heumann
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
$6,367 / item
Shinto Module Chaise by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Shinto Module chaise by Domkapa Materials: Fabric (Helmand 02), black texturized steel, gold brushed stainless steel. Dimensions: W 100 x D 162 x H 82 cm. Also available in diffe...
Steel, Stainless Steel
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
$12,110 / 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
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
$3,489 / item
Cobalt Blue Auguste 2 Seats Sofa by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Cobalt Blue Auguste 2 Seats Sofa by HARTO Dimensions: W 176 x D 95 x H 79 cm. Materials: Solid pine, plywood, 88% Polyester, 12% Recycled Polyester, Foam type: HR35 / S30 foam. Weig...
Foam, Polyester, Pine, Plywood
$13,820 / item
Margot 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Margot 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 137 x W 280 x H 93 cm. SH: 46 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, feathers, and velvet. Finish: Trevira Velvet, ref. Steel Blue, TRV05 upholstery...
Brass
$5,720 / item
Small Dobra Sofa by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Dobra Sofa by Wentz Dimensions: D 110 x W 78 x H 70 cm Materials: Upholstered sofa/armchair module with wooden structure, elastic straps, hypersoft foam and WE–KNIT covering (7...
Upholstery
$16,778 / item
Josephine 230 Sofa by Munna in Light Grey Leather
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
$36,180 / 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
$19,008 / item
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 185 x W 350 x H 80 cm. SH: 41 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet and brushed brass. Available in all M...
Brass
$19,008 / item
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 185 x W 350 x H 80 cm. SH: 41 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet and brushed brass. Available in all M...
Brass
$13,982 / 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
Galore 3 Seater Sprinkles Hunter Green 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
$15,854 / 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
$4,032 / item
Cobalt Blue Auguste 3 Seats Sofa by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Cobalt Blue Auguste 3 Seats Sofa by HARTO Dimensions: W 216 x D 95 x H 79 cm. Materials: Solid pine, plywood, 88% Polyester, 12% Recycled Polyester, Foam type: HR35 / S30 foam. Weig...
Foam, Polyester, Pine, Plywood
$3,501 / 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
$43,922 / 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
Post-Modern Italian Two Seat Sofa in Wood and Creme Colored Velvet Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, beech, fabric, Italy, 1970s This two-seat sofa dates from Italy in the 1970s and is designed in the style of Afra and Tobia Scarpa. The design is defined by clear proportions ...
Fabric, Beech
$21,684 / 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
$5,592 / 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
$9,406 / 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
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
$4,136 / 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
$5,789 / 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