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.
Vecta Beylerian Collection Table & Stool
By Vecta Group
Located in Highland, IN
This terrific post-modern design by Vecta uses wire rod for a strong graphic quality. It features a semi-circular table with a machined steel top paired with a three-legged stool. It...
Steel
$3,946 / item
Flame Foot Stool by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Foot Stool by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 50 x W 68 x H 42 cm. Materials: Velvet TT, satin STN and lacquer. Also available in client's fabric. Please contact us. Flame bench...
Satin, Upholstery, Velvet, Lacquer
TORO Stool in Oak with Black Finish by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
TORO Stool in Oak with Black Finish 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 sc...
Oak
Pumpkin Orange Cubo Pouf Stool by SLIDE Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pumpkin Orange Cubo Pouf Stool by SLIDE Studio Dimensions: D 43 x W 43 x H 43 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 4 kg. Available in different color options. This product is suita...
Other
$5,634 / item
Element Basalt Bulk Stool by Idaaf Architects
Located in Geneve, CH
Element Basalt Bulk Stool by Idaaf Architects Dimensions: W 85 x D 45 x H 55 cm Materials: basalt ‘Element’, which combines furniture of different functions, was created under the influence of the Georgian Oda house...
Other
Javier Mariscal duplex stool
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Old edition of iconic duplex stool by Javier Mariscal . Made in beginning of the eighties for the duplex bar in Valence.
Metal
$2,665 / item
Escape Stool by Duistt
Located in Geneve, CH
Escape Stool by Duistt Dimensions: D 50 x H 45 cm Materials: Duistt Fabric, Light Bronze The ESCAPE stool, crafted with great attention, was elegantly designed with a special fabric...
Bronze
$4,714 / item
Linard Barstool by Thai Hua
By Thai Hua
Located in Geneve, CH
Linard barstool by Thai Hua Dimensions: D 57 x W 48 x H 91 cm Materials: oak wood, leather. Solid holm white oak and bone leather stool. Thai Hua is an industrial designer or...
Leather, Oak
$19,719 / item
Gradient 03 Stool / Side Table by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Gradient 03 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
$1,594 / item
Prisma Stool by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Prisma Stool by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: W 35 x D 35 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak Wood. Four sleek prism-shaped legs support a top seat crafted from three layers of thick, dark brown ash...
Oak
$7,275 / item
Cromo (0) Stool by Breuer
Located in Geneve, CH
Cromo (0) Stool by Breuer Dimensions: D 40 x H 46.5 cm. Materials: High-gloss lacquered wood, steel. Cromo is inspired by the duality of nature and technology. This collection is ch...
Steel
$4,609 / item
Trasiego Barstool by Sebastián Ángeles
Located in Geneve, CH
Trasiego barstool by Arturo Verástegui Dimensions: D 47 x W 53 x H 99 cm Materials: oak wood. High dining chair made of natural white oak. Se...
Oak
$1,431 / item
Saffron Yellow Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid Dimensions: D 40 x W 43 x H 76 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 5 kg. Available in different color options. Available in standa...
Other
$2,304 / item
Burnt Black C Tables / Stools by Touch With Eyes
Located in Geneve, CH
Burnt Black C Tables / Stools by Touch With Eyes Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 45 cm Materials: Wood washed out by the sea. Weight: 20 Kg. The black tabl...
Wood
Dartagnan Tinto Rovere Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Dartagnan Tinto Rovere Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 53.5 x W 50.5 x H 95.5 cm. Materials: Nero leather, Tinto Rovere ash. Available i...
Leather, Ash
$3,794 / 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
$838 / 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
$849 / item
Radical Design White Bouclé Stool Furia
By Moanne
Located in Almería, ES
There’s a fire that doesn’t need to roar to be felt—an inner intensity that simmers beneath the surface. The Furia Stool captures that quiet force. With its soft, rounded body and as...
Bouclé
$19,207 / item
Coral Cream Wave Ceramic Chair by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Coral Cream 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 ...
Ceramic
Pebble Bar Stool Small Smoked Oak Black Noir by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Pebble bar stool small smoked oak black noir by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 38 x H 65 cm Material: Oiled solid ash, Smoked solid oak, Black noir powder...
Steel
$7,845 / item
Arco Wood Stool by Francesco Zonca
Located in Geneve, CH
Arco Wood Stool by Francesco Zonca Numbered series signed Dimensions: D 30 x W 60 x H 45 cm Materials: Wood, patina. An arch that connects thoughts to words. A stool to sit on and t...
Wood
$2,851 / item
Unique Wood Stool by Goons
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique wood stool by Goons. Dimensions: W 50 x D 35 x H 33 cm Materials: wood Dimensions can be adjusted +/- 10 cm Goons is located in Paris, France. All of their designs are...
Wood
$3,585 / item
Mārum Stool by Murubi
Located in Geneve, CH
Mārum Stool by Murubi Dimensions: W 65 x D 41.5 x H 46.5 cm. Materials: Teak Wood & Walnut Wood. Wood & Finish: Walnut. Also available in different finishes: Teak Wood & Walnut W...
Wood, Teak, Walnut
Medium Pausa Burnt Oak Bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Pausa burnt oak bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 27 x W 95 x H 65 cm Materials: burnt oak wood. Available in natural oak version and in 3 sizes. Pausa i...
Oak
Sitiera Stool in Solid Wood, Olivo Thick Leather & Aged Bronze by Estudio Andean
Located in Geneve, CH
Sitiera Stool in Solid Wood, Olivo Thick Leather & Aged Bronze by Estudio Andean Dimensions: D 34 x W 34 x H 50 cm. SH: 50 cm. Materials: Bronze, leather, and solid wood. Stool craf...
Bronze
$2,386 / item
Dove Grey Ribs Up High Stool by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Dove Grey Ribs Up High Stool by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 58 x W 57 x H 117 cm. Seat Height: 73 cm. Materials: Polyethylene and metal. Weight: 13 kg. Avai...
Metal, Other
Dartagnan Tinto Grigio 3 Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Dartagnan Tinto Grigio 3 Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 53.5 x W 50.5 x H 95.5 cm. Materials: Nero leather, Tinto Grigio 3 ash. Available in different ash finishes ...
Leather, Ash
$4,074 / item
Efesto Stool by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Efesto Stool by De Castelli Dimensions: W 36 x D 42 x H 45 cm Materials: Polished Brass Other versions are available, please contact us for any request. More than mere furniture, th...
Brass
4er Set Vitra HAL RE Barhocker Küchenvariante Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Vitra
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten eins von insgesamt vier 4er Sets Barhockern vom deutschen Premiumhersteller Vitra zum Verkauf an. Bei den Stühlen handelt es sich um die niedrigere Küchenvariante mit rund...
Steel, Chrome
Caballito Blanco Petit Stool in Leather & Fabric by Oscar Maschera
Located in Geneve, CH
Caballito Blanco Petit Stool in Leather & Fabric by Oscar Maschera Dimensions: D 37 x W 40 x H 43 cm. Materials: Leather, steel, epoxy, and fabric. Available in different sizes ...
Steel
$3,073 / item
Meta Stool 3-Legged by Jaclyn Pappalardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Meta Stool 3-Legged by Jaclyn Pappalardo Dimensions: W 47 x D 36 x H 49 cm Materials: Pine wood, upholstery foam and bouclè wool fabric. Jaclyn is a designer and maker based in Lon...
Steel
Dartagnan Tinto Grigio 1 Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Dartagnan Tinto Grigio 1 Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 53.5 x W 50.5 x H 95.5 cm. Materials: Nero leather, Tinto Grigio 1 ash. Available in different ash finishes ...
Leather, Ash
$1,652 / item
Umber Pier Bar Stool by Resident
Located in Geneve, CH
Umber Pier Bar Stool by Resident Dimensions: W 46 x D 42.8 x H 107 cm Materials: Solid Oak. Weight: 8.2 Kg. About: Founded by Simon James & Scott Bridgens in 2011, Resident is the ...
Leather, Oak
$10,802 / item
Slumped Leather Stool by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Slumped leather stool by Gentner Design. Dimensions: D 48 x W 48 x H 43 cm. Materials: aluminium, raw leather. These uniquely shaped stools are incredibly lightweight and extrem...
Aluminum
Limited Edition SSS01W Stool in MDF with Lacewood Veneer by sashaxsasha
Located in Geneve, CH
Limited Edition SSS01W Stool in MDF with Lacewood Veneer by sashaxsasha Limited Edition of 8 + 2 A.P Dimensions: D 30 x W 35 x H 40 cm. Materials: MDF and lacewood veneer. sashaxsa...
Other
$14,853 / 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
$1,431 / item
Sweet Fuchsia Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid Dimensions: D 40 x W 43 x H 76 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 5 kg. Available in different color options. Available in standar...
Other
Set of 4, Airisto Side Tables/Stools, Natural Color by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4, Airisto side tables/stools, natural color by Made By Choice By Choice with Joanna Laajisto Dimensions: D35 x H45 cm Materials: Solid Ash. Finishes: Natural Ash / Painte...
Wood, Ash
$2,851 / item
Green Gravatá Bar Stool by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Gravatá Bar Stool by Wentz Dimensions: D 52 x W 47 x H 100 cm Materials: Tauari Wood, Cane/Upholstery. Weight: 4,7kg / 10,4 lbs The Gravatá series synthesizes our vision regar...
Upholstery, Wood
Large Pausa Oak Bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Pausa oak bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 35 x W 95 x H 80 cm Materials: oak wood. Available in burnt oak version and in 3 sizes. ...
Oak
$1,955 / 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 upholstery. Available in all Munna fabrics except...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$453 / item
Mocca and Black Trifolium Stool by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Mocca and Black Trifolium Stool by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Leather, Steel Also Available: Different colors and other frame color available, OX DE...
Steel
$4,178 / item
Element Travertine Stool by Idaaf Architects
Located in Geneve, CH
Element Travertine Stool by Idaaf Architects Dimensions: W 75 x D 45 x H 55 cm Materials: Travertine ‘Element’, which combines furniture of different functions, was created under the influence of the Georgian Oda house...
Travertine
$5,517 / item
Stainless Steel Julius Bar Stool by Duistt
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless Steel Julius Bar Stool by Duistt Dimensions: W 55 x D 46 x H 101 cm Materials: Stainless Steel and leather The JULIUS stainless steel bar stool, crafted with great attenti...
Stainless Steel
$3,119 / item
Fringes 110 Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 110 Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 110 x W 110 x H 50 cm. SH: 50 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and fringes. Available in all Munn...
Upholstery, Wood, Foam
$3,119 / item
Fringes 110 Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 110 Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 110 x W 110 x H 50 cm. SH: 50 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Desert, CV03. Fringes: Deser...
Upholstery, Wood, Foam
$1,470 / item
Halikko Stool Backrest, Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Halikko stool backrest, black by Made By Choice Dimensions: 47 x 42 x 84 cm Materials: solid oak Standard finishes: natural wood / painted black. Also available: upholstery in...
Oak
$2,793 / item
Becomes Me Bar Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Becomes Me Bar Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 53 x H 105 cm. SH: 82 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Midnight Blue...
Brass
$6,181 / item
Element Red Marble Stool by Idaaf Architects
Located in Geneve, CH
Element Red Marble Stool by Idaaf Architects Dimensions: W 75 x D 40 x H 55 cm Materials: Georgian Red Marble ‘Element’, which combines furniture of different functions, was created under the influence of the Georgian Oda house...
Marble
$954 / item
Lime Green Threebù Stool by Marcantonio
Located in Geneve, CH
Lime Green Threebù Stool by Marcantonio Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 45 cm. Seat Height: 45 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 4 kg. Also available in biobased polyethylene of vege...
Other
Rectangular Prism Base Stool in Oak Wood And Cushion by Heilig Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Zehnfinger Stool in Oak Wood And Synthetic Yarn by Heilig Objects Dimensions: D 36 x W 36 x H 45 cm. Materials: Oak wood and synthetic yarn. Daniel Heilig. A young Hungarian-German ...
Yarn, Oak
$2,723 / item
In Between 140 Bench by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
In Between 140 Bench by Munna Dimensions: D 40 x W 140 x H 50 cm. SH: 50 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, nickel, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Silence Chenille, ref. Pale Gree...
Nickel
$13,060 / item
Object 08 Brown Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 08 Brown Seating by Volta One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 80 x W 80 x H 30 cm. Materials: Cork and ceramic. Also available in diffentent colors. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLECTI...
Ceramic, Cork
$1,920 / item
Unique Arch Square Dark Stool by Mesut Öztürk
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique arch square dark stool by Mesut Öztürk. Dimensions: W 19 x D 19 x H 40 cm. Materials: stoneware. "Arch stools are sculptural furnitures deriv...
Stoneware
$2,665 / item
Newman Bar Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Newman Bar Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 40 x H 102 cm. SH: 80 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and leather. Finish: Upholstery: Leather, ref. Cream, L02. Legs: Cream gl...
Brass
$3,492 / item
Bumhole Stool by Jaclyn Pappalardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Bumhole Stool by Jaclyn Pappalardo Dimensions: W 53 x D 46 x H 43 cm Materials: Plywood, upholstery foam, ball fiber, Kvadrat textiles, Valchromat, steel, thread and magnets. Jaclyn...
Steel
Set of 4 SPC Black Chairs by Atelier Thomas Serruys
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 SPC black chairs by Atelier Thomas Serruys. Dimensions: D65 x W43 x H46. Materials: steel, powder coated. Steel chair made of one shaped tube with sheet steel seat and ...
Steel
$5,331 / item
Object 05 Brown Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 05 Brown Seating by Volta One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 40,5 x W 40,5 x H 47 cm. Materials: Cork and ceramic. Also available in diffentent colors. Please contact us. MEÏ COLL...
Ceramic, Cork
$2,048 / item
Object 04 Violet Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 04 violet seating by Volta Dimensions: D45 x W40 x H90 cm Materials: Cork and Velvet Also available in diffentent colours. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLECTION The Meï col...
Velvet, Cork
Prisma Oak Stool with Three Layered Seating by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Prisma Oak Stool by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak. Four sleek prism-shaped legs support a top seat crafted from three layers of thick, dark brown ash ...
Oak