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.
Rino III TM Side Table in Polished Brass by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Rino III TM Side Table in Polished Brass by Studio Orth Dimensions: D 48 x W 64 x H 48 cm. Materials: Polished brass. Available in polished brass and polished aluminum finishes. Pr...
Brass
$3,817 / item
Newman Counter Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Newman Counter Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 40 x H 92 cm. SH: 70 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and leather. Finish: Upholstery: Leather, ref. Cream, L02. Legs: Cream...
Brass
Bleached Ash and Orange Leather ASSY Stool by Mademoiselle Jo
Located in Geneve, CH
Bleached Ash and Orange Leather Stool by Mademoiselle Jo Dimensions: Ø 35 x H 46 cm. Materials: Bleached ash and orange leather. Available in two wood colors and several designs. P...
Ash, Leather
$2,112 / item
Brass Sculptural Log Stool - Small Size by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Sculptural Log Stool - Small size by Misaya Dimensions: W 22 x D 27 x H 44 cm Materials: Brass Also available: Different colors (gold, polished brass. black, painted brass) an...
Brass
$9,390 / item
Brazilian Ottoman by Tino Seubert
Located in Geneve, CH
Brazilian ottoman by Tino Seubert Dimensions: D 140 x W 70 x H 38 cm. Materials: Oiled Sapele wood, Alpaca bouclé upholstered mattress. Tino Seubert When he first made his now ...
Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood
$6,861 / item
Tata Stool by Studio Uwe Gaertner
Located in Geneve, CH
Tata Stool by Studio Uwe Gaertner Dimensions: D 36 x W 40 x H 42 cm. Materials: Brass and Kvadrat Vidar 4 (no. 972) fabric (94% new wool, and 6% nylon). Despite its small size, the ...
Brass
$2,938 / item
Brass Trator Stool by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Trator Stool by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 46 x D 44 x H 52 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum. About: Studio Orth is a multidis...
Metal
Rare French Modern Craftsman Stool / Chair Attr. to Garouste and Bonetti, 1988
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in New York, NY
A rare and unique stool or bench attributed to the French design team of Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti. Garouste and Bonetti are known for their original creations that are bold and dramatic and feature exquisite materials and craftsmanship. This rare creation demonstration is an exciting work of imagination and sensuosity while displaying beautiful materials and finishing. This post-modern object...
Brass, Wrought Iron
$2,084 / item
Charlotte Teak Wood Stool by Heaps & Woods
Located in Geneve, CH
Charlotte Teak Wood Stool by Heaps & Woods Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 40 cm Materials: Teak wood A solid block of teak wood featuring an organic rippled texture hand-carved acr...
Other
$1,205 / item
Object 093 Stool by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 093 Stool by NG Design Dimensions: W 53 x D 51 x H 103 cm Materials: Powder Coated Steel, Bouclé Fabric Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and co...
Steel
$1,533 / item
Object 01 Noir Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 01 noir seating by Volta Dimensions: D 45 x W 40 x H 50 cm Materials: Cork and Velvet Also available in diffentent colours. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLECTION The Meï co...
Velvet, Cork
$42,759 / item
Origin Strata Signed Stool by Rockstool Paris
Located in Geneve, CH
Origin Strata Signed Stool by Rockstool Paris Limited edition of 5 + 3 AP per color Dimensions: W 55 x D 60 x H 65 cm Materials: Stoneware Available in different colors and sizes, p...
Stone, Other
Rockstool Large Signed Rock Shaped Stool by Rockstool Paris
Located in Geneve, CH
Rockstool Large Signed Rock Shaped Stool by Rockstool Paris Dimensions: W 130 x D 92 x H 55 cm Materials: Stoneware Available in different colors and sizes, please contact us. It's...
Stone, Other
$690 / item
Black Prop Stool by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Prop Stool by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 41 x W 41 x H 70 cm Materials: Leather, Black Powder Coated Steel Also Available: Different colors available. OX DENMARQ is a Danish...
Steel
$2,283 / item
Bolota Capture Stool by A. Jacob Marks
Located in Geneve, CH
Bolota Capture Stool by A. Jacob Marks Dimensions: D 30.5 x H 46 cm. Materials: high density black cork, blackened aluminum. BC1 BOLOTA is a limited series of seating and tables fea...
Aluminum
Black Painted Brass Sculpted Chair with Seat Upholstered by Misaya
By Misaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Painted Brass Sculpted Chair with Seat Upholstered by Misaya Dimensions: W 54 x L 58 x H 79 cm (seating: 63) Hand-sculpted chair in brass. The translation of Art Nouveau’s whi...
Brass
$1,440 / item
Mellow 50 Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Mellow 50 Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 50 cm. SH: 50 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery. Available in all Munna fabrics except...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Contemporary Nabuck Arch Stool in Steel and Leather by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Contemporary Nabuck Arch Stool in Steel and Leather by Pietro Franceschini. Dimensions: W 54 x L 31.5 x H 43 cm. Materials: Steel and Leather. This listing features the Nabuck Arch ...
Steel
Set of 10 Soft Edge72 Stools, Oak by Iskos-Berlin for Hay
By HAY, Iskos-Berlin
Located in Bayrut, Beirut Governorate
Iskos-Berlin’s Soft Edge series features an organically shaped design, blending strong curves with extreme lightness to create a minimalistic design that optimizes human-centric comf...
Oak
Set of 10 Soft Edge72 Stools, Fall Red by Iskos-Berlin for Hay
By HAY, Iskos-Berlin
Located in Bayrut, Beirut Governorate
Iskos-Berlin’s Soft Edge series features an organically shaped design, blending strong curves with extreme lightness to create a minimalistic design that optimizes human-centric comf...
Oak
$2,330 / item
Bone Bermuda Triangle Counter Stool by Odditi
Located in Geneve, CH
Bone Bermuda Triangle Counter Stool by Odditi Dimensions: D 42 x H 65 cm Materials: Petrified Wood Sculpted Seat, Limestone Composite, Steel Base The ‘Bermuda Triangle’ sculptural s...
Limestone, Steel
$19,319 / item
Ocean Blue Wave Ceramic Chair by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ocean Blue Wave Ceramic Chair by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 53.3 x W 53.3 x H 66 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Available in Coral Cream and Ocean Blue colors. This ceramic-crafted s...
Ceramic
$6,100 / item
Birch Plywood and Reclaimed Wood Form Stool by Goons
Located in Geneve, CH
Birch Plywood and Reclaimed Wood Form Stool by Goons Dimensions: W 28 x D 35 x H 44 cm Materials: Birch Plywood and Reclaimed Wood. Finish: White wash The Form Stool, multifaceted a...
Wood
$14,940 / set
Set of 2 Olla Stools II and III by Brera Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 olla stools II and III by Brera Studio. One of a kind. Dimensions: Olla Stool II: D 50 x W 50 x H 40 cm. Olla Stool III: D 40 x W 40 x H 50 cm. Materials: pinewood and pa...
Wood, Pine, Paint
$4,706 / item
Graceful Bar Stool Pink by Royal Stranger
Located in Geneve, CH
Graceful bar stool pink by Royal Stranger Dimensions: D 48 x W 48 x H 124 cm Materials: velvet, wood, brass. Weight: 12 kg FINISH OPTIONS Upholstery Available in all Royal Str...
Brass
Grafite Contemporary Honed Marble Stool by Angelo Alinea
Located in Geneve, CH
Grafite Contemporary Honed Marble Stool by Angelo Alinea Dimensions: D 35 x H 47 cm Materials: Marble Available in: GRAFITE / TRAVERTINO ROSSO / GREY SAINT LAURENT / PICASSO GREEN / PORT SAINT LAURENT / TRAVERTINO SILVER / ROSSO LEPANTO / BIANCO STATUARIETTO. Custom materials and sizes available upon request. Please contact us. The Angelo M stools are inspired by the base of the Angelo M table...
Marble
$2,868 / item
Black Gravatá Counter Stool by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Gravatá Counter Stool by Wentz Dimensions: D 52 x W 47 x H 90 cm Materials: Tauari Wood, Cane/Upholstery. Weight: 4,4kg / 9,7 lbs The Gravatá series synthesizes our vision reg...
Upholstery, Wood
Tecton Stool & Coffee Table in Travertine by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980
Located in Geneve, CH
Tecton Stool & Coffee Table in Travertine by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980. Dimensions: W 69.2 x D 40 x H 55 cm. Materials: Travertine. This Small Stool and Coffee Table is a...
Travertine
$843 / item
High Smart Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Smart Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 51 x D 50 x H 102 cm Materials: Smooth Reconst. Leather Also available in W 51 x D 50 x H 86 cm, Seat Height: 60 cm. With the i...
Leather
$1,967 / item
Mellow 70 Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Mellow 70 Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 70 x W 70 x H 50 cm. SH: 50 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Antique Pink, CV28 upholstery. Available in...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$550 / item
Pampa Leather Counter Stool by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Pampa Leather Counter Stool by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 47 x W 47 x H 65 cm. Materials: Leather and metal. Finish: Grass green leather and black fram...
Metal
$1,405Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of contemporary pink and light blue stools
Located in Milano, IT
Immerse yourself in the elegance of modern design with this refined pair of stools, expertly crafted to combine utility and aesthetic pleasure. The stools feature a sturdy brass tubu...
Brass
$2,927 / item
Black Tela Counter Stool by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Tela Counter Stool by Wentz Dimensions: D 52 x W 58 x H 84 cm Materials: Tauari Wood, Cotton, Weave, Plywood, Upholstery. Weight: 5,8kg / 12,7 lbs The Tela armchair is a meeti...
Upholstery, Wood, Plywood
$5,151 / item
Heritage Stool by Lee Jung Hoon
Located in Geneve, CH
Heritage Stool by Lee Jung Hoon Dimensions: D 16.5 x W 60 x H 54.6 cm Materials: Granite, Ash, Stainless Steel. The Heritage series, created by designer Lee Jung-hoon is a collectio...
Granite, Stainless Steel
$960 / item
Malva Green Gear Stool by Anastasia Ivanyuk
Located in Geneve, CH
Malva Green Gear Stool by Anastasia Ivanyuk Dimensions: D 55 x W 55 x H 43 cm. Seat Height: 43 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 6 kg. Available in different color options. This ...
Other
TORO Stool in Oak with Cream Wash Tint by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
TORO Stool in Oak with Cream Wash Tint by Daniel Couttolenc Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 47 cm. Materials: Oak. The TORO Stool by Daniel Couttolenc blurs the line between design and ...
Oak
Cubic Shape Natural Ash Wood Side Table with Fiber Seating by Heilig Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Throne Stool in Natural Ash Wood And Synthetic Yarn by Heilig Objects Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 45 cm. Materials: Ash wood and synthetic yarn. Daniel Heilig. A young Hungarian-Ger...
Ash, Yarn
$2,411 / item
Olympia Bar Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Olympia Bar Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 55 x W 58 x H 100 cm. SH: 80 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Emerald, CV09. R...
Brass
$1,358 / item
Plane Standard Stool by Temper Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Plane Standard Stool by Temper Studio Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 45 cm. Materials: Wood. A family of stools in three sizes – bar, standard, and milking – these sculptural stools ha...
Wood
$8,839 / item
Torii Oak and Rattan Stool by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Torii Oak and Rattan Stool by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 35 x W 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak, rattan. Available in Red or Black. Please contact us. For this stool, I have been inspir...
Oak, Rattan
Happens Stool in Oak Wood And Red Melange Wool Fabric by Heilig Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Happens Stool in Oak Wood And Red Melange Wool Fabric by Heilig Objects Dimensions: D 29 x W 29 x H 49 cm. Materials: Oak wood and wool fabric. Daniel Heilig. A young Hungarian-Germ...
Fabric, Oak
Set of 2 Medium Pausa Oak Stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 medium Pausa oak stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 27 x W 35 x H 65 cm Materials: oak wood Available in burnt oak version and in 3 sizes. Pausa is a se...
Oak
$749 / item
Layout Round Stool by Studio Super Sunday
Located in Geneve, CH
Layout Round Stool by Studio Super Sunday Dimensions: Ø 33 x H 45,7 cm. Materials: Oak. Available in six different finishes. Prices may vary. Please contact us. We are a Canadian f...
Oak
$526 / item
Lace Grey Stool by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace grey stool by MOWEE. Dimensions: D43 x H91 cm. Material: polyethylene, stainless steel. Weight: 6.7 kg Also available in different colours and fini...
Stainless Steel
Cadence 55 Stool in Dark Brown European Oak by Mokko Amsterdam
Located in Geneve, CH
Cadence 55 Stool in Dark Brown European Oak by Mokko Amsterdam Dimensions: D 38,5 x W 55 x H 45 cm. Materials: European oak. Available in different material options. Designed by Aa...
Oak
$1,873 / item
Fran Stool by GIROTTI ENRICO
Located in Geneve, CH
Fran Stool by GIROTTI ENRICO Dimensions: W 64 x D 51 x H 101 cm Materials: Steel, Upholstery. Weight: 8 Kg. Enrico Girotti is an industrial designer who has found in the word “make...
Steel
$2,833 / item
Brown Wave Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Brown Wave Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 32 x W 32 x H 38.5 cm. Materials: Blown glass, cork. Available in different blown glass colors. Please contact us. Blown glass by...
Blown Glass
$4,671 / item
Trasiego Bench by Sebastián Ángeles
Located in Geneve, CH
Trasiego bench by Arturo Verástegui Dimensions: D 160 x W 60 x H 42 cm Materials: oak wood. Natural white oak bench. Sebastián Angeles is an In...
Oak
Trator Stool With Backrest in Cast Brass by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Trator Stool With Backrest in Cast Brass by Studio Orth Dimensions: D 44 x W 46 x H 52 cm. Materials: Cast brass. Available in cast brass and aluminum finishes. Prices may vary. Pl...
Brass
Iridescent White Metal Gustave Stool 45 cm Natural Oak by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Iridescent White Metal Gustave Stool 45 cm Natural Oak by HARTO Dimensions: W 35.5 x D 35.5 x H 45 cm. Materials: Solid wood, Painted metal. Weight: 3.8 kg Gustave is a stool with ...
Metal
Small Pausa Oak Bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Pausa oak bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 20 x W 95 x H 45 cm Materials: oak wood. Available in burnt oak version and in 3 sizes. Pa...
Oak
Cognac and Steel Trifolium Stool by Ox Denmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Cognac and Steel Trifolium Stool by Ox Denmarq Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Leather, Steel Also Available: Different colors and other frame color available, OX ...
Steel
Deep Stool in Oak Wooden Legs & Upholstered Seat by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Deep Stool in Oak Wooden Legs & Upholstered Seat by Quinti Sedute Designed by Archirivolto Design Dimensions: D 50 x W 52 x H 98 cm. Materials: Oak and upholstery. Available in diff...
Upholstery, Oak
$1,931 / item
Unique Arch Square Stool by Mesut Öztürk
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique arch square stool by Mesut Öztürk. Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x H 40 cm. Materials: stoneware. "Arch stools are sculptural furnitures derived ...
Stoneware
$2,739 / item
Cuddle Stool in Natural Oak Veneer by Pendhapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Cuddle Stool in Natural Oak Veneer by Pendhapa. Dimensions: W 40 x D 40 x H 37 cm. Materials: Natural oak veneer. This listing features our Cuddle Stool in its 37 cm height configur...
Oak
$643 / item
Powder Blue Pandoro Stool by Gianni Arnaudo
Located in Geneve, CH
Powder Blue Pandoro Stool by Gianni Arnaudo Dimensions: D 47 x W 47 x H 42 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 3 kg. Available in different color options. This product is suitable ...
Other
$19,834 / item
Gradient 02 Stool / Side Table by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Gradient 02 Stool / Side Table by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: W 40 x D 40 x H 50 cm Materials: Black Stained Oak, Chestnut Wood, Ash Wood and Beech Wood. The idea behind this design wa...
Wood, Chestnut, Oak
Dartagnan Tinto Ebano Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Dartagnan Tinto Ebano Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 53.5 x W 50.5 x H 95.5 cm. Materials: Crosta Tortora leather, Tinto Ebano ash. Available in different ash finis...
Leather, Ash
$7,470 / item
Tamga Wenge Stool by Tolga Sencer
Located in Geneve, CH
Tamga Wenge Stool by Tolga Sencer Dimensions: D 55.5 x W 55.5 x H 40 cm. Materials: Wenge wood. Available in different wood options (massive american...
Wenge
Medium Pausa Oak Bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Pausa oak bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 27 x W 95 x H 65 cm Materials: oak wood. Available in burnt oak version and in 3 sizes....
Oak