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.
$13,590 / item
Object 07 Beige Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 07 Beige Seating by Volta One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 34,5 x W 120 x H 80 cm. Materials: Cork and ceramic. Also available in diffentent colors. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLE...
Ceramic, Cork
$375Sale Price / item|46% Off
Amigo Modern Snack Bar Stool White Powder-Coated Steel with Ash Wood Seat
By Amigo Modern
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Level up your kitchen or bar with the addition of this colorful and charming work. This bar stool is reliable and imaginative furniture that’s designed to stand up to the test of time in many ways while maintaining its visual spirit. This is proof that great design doesn’t have to be complicated. Eric Trine...
Steel
Original Printed Velvet Awaiting T Stool by Secondome Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Original Printed Velvet Awaiting T Stool by Secondome Edizioni Limited Edition Of 9 pieces + 3 A.P. Designer: Coralla Maiuri + Giorgia Zanellato. Dimensions: D 40 x W 49 x H 67 cm. M...
Brass
$13,590 / item
Object 07 Black Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 07 Black Seating by Volta One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 34,5 x W 120 x H 80 cm. Materials: Cork and ceramic. Also available in diffentent colors. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLE...
Ceramic, Cork
$1,076 / item
Burnt Oak Stool by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Burnt oak stool by Daniel Elkayam Edition of 3 Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak Wood The Charred Collection A collection of handmade wo...
Oak
Set of 2 Ash and Orange Leather ASSY Stools by Mademoiselle Jo
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Ash and Orange Leather ASSY Stools by Mademoiselle Jo Dimensions: Ø 35 x H 43 cm (each). Materials: Black stained/bleached ash and orange leather. Available in two wood col...
Leather, Ash
Set of 4 Small Pausa Oak Stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Small Pausa oak stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 20 x W 35 x H 45 cm Materials: oak wood Available in burnt oak version and in 3 sizes, please contact us...
Oak
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
$8,893 / item
Arch Side Table by Sam Goyvaerts
Located in Geneve, CH
Arch side table by Sam Goyvaerts Dimensions: 45 x 34 x 34 cm Marble and brass. Its strong design language sets arch 01.1 c apart. The marble object is beautifully fnished with a met...
Marble, Brass
$9,685 / item
The Hive Bar Stool by Royal Stranger
Located in Geneve, CH
The Hive counter stool by Royal Stranger Dimensions: D66 x W55 x H105 cm Materials: Celadon cotton velvet. cotton velvet, Polished brass. Weight: 15 kg Finish options: Upholst...
Brass
Set of 2 Large Pausa Oak Stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Large Pausa oak stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 32 x W 35 x H 80 cm Materials: oak wood Available in burnt oak version and in 3 sizes Pausa is a seri...
Oak
$474 / item
Natural Blossom Stool by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Blossom stool by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 41 x W 41 x H 45 cm Materials: birch wood. Available in other colors and sizes. A small ...
Birch
Metate Translucent Blue Steel Stool by David Del Valle
Located in Geneve, CH
Metate Translucent Blue Steel Stool by David Del Valle Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 40 cm. Materials: Steel. DAVID VALLE We are a place, a space, a wov...
Steel
$3,391 / set
Set of 4, Halikko Bar Stools by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4, Halikko bar stools by Made By Choice Dimensions: 40 x 34 x 66 cm Materials: Solid oak Standard finishes: Natural wood / painted black. Also available: Upholstery in ...
Oak
$524 / item
Lace Chocolate Stool by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace chocolate stool by Mowee. Dimensions: D43 x H91 cm. Material: Polyethylene, stainless steel. Weight: 6.7 kg. Also Available in different colours and finishes. Lace is a ...
Stainless Steel
$4,720 / 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
$10,536 / item
Hopi Ottoman Red Pattern by Marta Bakowski
Located in Geneve, CH
Hopi Ottoman red pattern by Marta Bakowski Dimensions:D65 x W65 x 44 cm Materials: Marble and fabric. Also available in different finishes. HOPI, this new collection of ottomans ins...
Marble
Hoop Low Stool – Sculptural Brass & Contemporary Form by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Hoop Low Stool – Sculptural Brass & Contemporary Form by Misaya Dimensions: D 58 x H 24 cm Materials: Brass Also available: Different colors (gold, polished brass. black, painted br...
Brass
$524 / item
Lace Cream Stool by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace cream stool by MOWEE. Dimensions: D43 x H91 cm. Material: polyethylene, stainless steel. Weight: 6.7 kg Also available in different colours and fi...
Stainless Steel
Pink Matt Plopp Standard Cotton Candy Stool by Zieta
By Zieta
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Matt Plopp Standard Cotton Candy Stool by Zieta Dimensions: D35 x H50 cm Material: steel Available finishes: Also available in other sizes and col...
Steel
Set of 4, Halikko Stool Backrest, Tall & Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4, Halikko stool backrest, tall & black by Made By Choice. Dimensions: 47 x 42 x 84 cm Materials: solid oak Standard finishes: natural wood / painted black. Also availa...
Oak
Everlastingreen Table and Stool Set by Richard Yasmine
Located in Geneve, CH
Everlastingreen table and stool set by Richard Yasmine Materials: Gaugin granite with solid polished brass legs Dimensions: - Table: 42cm x 136cm x 48cm - Stool: 16.5cm x 44...
Granite, Brass
$1,538 / item
Brass Sculpted Stool, Misaya
By Misaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass sculpted stool, Misaya Dimensions: W 36 x L 36 x H 65 cm Hand-sculpted stool.
Brass
$1,923 / item
Arc De Stool 52 in Walnut by Project 213A
Located in Geneve, CH
Arc de stool 52 in Walnut by Project 213A Dimensions: D 39 x W 39 x H 52 cm Materials: Walnut wood. The taller version of the stool's legs curves in...
Walnut
$9,685 / item
Hive Counter Stool by Royal Stranger
Located in Geneve, CH
The Hive counter stool by Royal Stranger Dimensions: D66 x W55 x H95 cm Materials: Marine cotton velvet, Polished brass. Weight: 15 kg Finish options: Upholstery Available in ...
Brass
Set of 2, Fold Serie Sidetable, Stool by Marianne
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, fold serie sidetable, stool by Marianne Materials: Larch veneer and finished with a gray lacquer and a PU lacquer Dimensions: R 35 x H 45cm Also available custom made ...
Wood
$1,118 / item
Cognac Strap Bar Chair by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Cognac strap bar chair by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 104 cm Materials: Leather, black powder coated steel Also available: Different colors available OX DENMARQ is a ...
Steel
$687 / item
Nature Prop Stool by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature 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
$4,685 / item
Graceful Counter Stool Red by Royal Stranger
Located in Geneve, CH
Graceful Counter stool red by Royal Stranger Dimensions: D 48 x W 48 x H 110 cm Materials: Velvet, Wood, Brass. Weight: 10 kg Finish options Upholstery Available in all Royal ...
Brass
Hazelnut and Steel Trifolium Stool by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Hazelnut and steel 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 ...
Steel
Pebble Bar Stool Small Re-Plast Black Noir by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Pebble bar stool small re-plast black noir by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 38 x H 65 cm Material: Re-Plast, Black noir powder coated steel. Weight: 7 k...
Steel, Other
Sgabello Camouflage Antique Wood Stool by Yukiko Nagai
Located in Geneve, CH
Sgabello Camouflage Antique wood stool by Yukiko Nagai Dimensions: D40 x W40 x H45 cm Material: Chestnut wood, Marble, Natural stone, Styrofoam, ...
Stone, Cement, Marble
Set of 3 Day Bench, Pillow & Headrest by Bicci De Medici
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 day bench, pillow & headrest by Bicci de Medici Dimensions: 147 x 33 x H 33.7 cm Materials: Natural wood. Oiled. Mat finished. Linen pillow and headrest. Technique: Carve...
Linen, Wood
Set of 4, Halikko Stool Backrest, Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4, 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: up...
Oak
$5,149 / item
Layered Steel Seat xii by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel seat XII by Hyungshin Hwang Dimensions: D 60 x W 36 x H 39 cm Materials: stainless steel Layered Series is the main theme and concept of work of Hwang, who continu...
Stainless Steel
$3,448 / item
Rumbo Unic Stool by Jean-Baptiste Van Den Heede
Located in Geneve, CH
RUMBO unic stool by Jean-Baptiste Van den Heede. Dimensions: W 49 x D 28 x H 40 cm Materials: white beech, textile. Also available: other textiles available. The “RUMBO unic” v...
Textile, Beech
Small Pausa Burnt Oak Bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Pausa burnt oak bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 20 x W 95 x H 45 cm Materials: burnt oak wood. Available in natural oak version and in 3 sizes. Pausa is...
Oak
Anodized Grey and Rush Weave Wicker Stool by Tino Seubert
Located in Geneve, CH
Anodized grey and rush weave wicker stool by Tino Seubert Dimensions: D 43 x W 38 x H 45 cm. Materials: Grey anodised aluminum extrusions, rush. Tino Seubert When he first made...
Aluminum
$4,872 / item
Moji Stool by Iterare Arquitectos
Located in Geneve, CH
Moji stool by Iterare Arquitectos Dimensions: D 80 x W 37 x H 58 cm Materials: Seat, legs and backrest: Wood (in two options: Oak, Beech), Structure: Steel (in two options), Polish...
Steel
$984 / item
Red Loop Stool by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Red loop stool by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D38 x W38 x H44 cm Material: Aluminium Weight 3.5 kg Also available in wood. Also available in colours: snow white / light sand /...
Aluminum
$2,505 / item
Rose Loop Chair by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Rose loop chair by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D57 x w40 x H80 cm Material: Aluminium. Weight: 5.1 kg. Also available: Colours: Snow white / light sand / sun yellow / clay oran...
Aluminum
$1,076 / item
Large Green Blossom Bar Chair by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Green Blossom bar chair by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 45 x W 44 x H 99 x SH 82 cm Materials: birch wood, steel. Available in other colors and sizes. With or without back...
Steel
$4,615 / item
Heritage Gwol Stool by Lee Jung Hoon
Located in Geneve, CH
Heritage Gwol Stool by Lee Jung Hoon Dimensions: D46 x W16.3 x H43.5cm Materials: Stainless Steel, Steel, Granite, Maple. The Heritage series, created by designer Lee Jung-hoon...
Granite, Steel, Stainless Steel
$2,051 / 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
$923 / item
Natural Tupp Barstool by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Tupp barstool by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 41 x W 41 x H 85 x SH 65 cm Materials: birch wood, nickel plated steel. Also available in o...
Steel
$3,560 / item
Loop Bench 240 Oak by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Loop Bench 240 Oak by Sebastian Scherer Material: Aluminium, Oak Dimensions: D240x W38 x H45 cm. Weight: 28.6 kg Also Available: Colours: solid wood (matt lacquered): black and w...
Aluminum
$1,247 / item
Puffy Stool M by Phormy
Located in Geneve, CH
PUFFY stool M by Phormy Dimensions: D 44 x W 88 x H 44 cm. Materials: Upholstery, powder coated steel base. Different materials and sizes available. PUFFY is softness and lightness dressed up in ten intriguing modules. Its usage is very wide. It will turn out great as a hallway seat...
Steel
$1,025 / item
Green Blossom Bar Chair by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Green blossom bar chair by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 48 x W 43 x H 92 x SH 65 cm Materials: birch wood, steel. Available in other colors and sizes. With or without backrest. ...
Steel
$2,890 / item
Colbert S Stool by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Colbert S stool by Domkapa Dimensions: W 129 x D 45 x H 45 cm. Materials: Natural leather (Desna Brandy), black texturized steel. Also available in different materials. Colber...
Steel
$4,615 / item
Sgabello Rose Antique Wood Stool by Yukiko Nagai
Located in Geneve, CH
Sgabello Rose Antique wood stool by Yukiko Nagai. Dimensions: D36 x W37 x H47 cm. Material: Wood, Marble, Natural stone, Venetian color glass, Ce...
Stone, Cement, Marble
$2,505 / item
Raw Aluminium Loop Chair by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Raw Aluminium loop chair by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D57x w40 x H80 cm Material: Aluminium. Weight: 51 kg. Also available: Colours: Snow white / light sand / sun yellow / cl...
Aluminum
$1,685 / item
Lammi Bar Stool, Tall, Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Lammi bar stool, 74 cm, Tall, black by Made By Choice with Saku Sysiö. Dimensions: 47 x 38 x 74 cm. Materials: Oak Standard Finishes: Natural Wood / Painted Black Also Availabl...
Oak
Set of 2, Halikko Stool Backrest, Black by Made By Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, 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: Uph...
Oak
Set of 2, Halikko Stool Backrest, Tall & Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, Halikko stool backrest, tall & black by made by choice. Dimensions: 47 x 42 x 84 cm Materials: solid oak Standard finishes: natural wood / painted black. Also availa...
Oak
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
Ensemble of Grey Zen Pouffes and Coffee Table, Misaya
By Misaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Ensemble of Grey Zen Pouffes and coffee table - Misaya Hand-sculpted Pouffe Materials: Brass, teak, wood. Dimensions: A. 106 x 68 x 72 cm B. 90 x 72 x 72 cm. Table: 38 x 48 x 3...
Brass
$734 / item
SPC Black Chair by Atelier Thomas Serruys
Located in Geneve, CH
SPC black chair by Atelier Thomas Serruys Dimensions: D65 x W43 x H46 Materials: Steel, Powder Coated Steel chair made of one shaped tube with shee...
Steel
$6,900 / set
Set of 2 Black Ocean 2 and 3 Stools by the Shaw
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 black ocean 2 and 3 stools by The Shaw Dimensions: D32.5 x W 32.5 x H97 cm //D32.5 x W 32.5 x H60 Materials: Stainless Steel Weight: 28 kg B L A C K O C E A N I open...
Stainless Steel
$1,923 / 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
$3,846 / item
Unique Hygge Stool by Collector
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Hygge Stool by Collector Dimensions: D 45 x H 44 cm Materials: Fabric, Travertino Other materials available. Depending on the material the price may...
Travertine