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.
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
$1,611 / item
Txt.02 Stool by Txt.Ure
Located in Geneve, CH
Txt.02 stool by Txt. Ure Dimensions: Ø 64 x H 40 cm. Materials: Tulle natural fiber with natural finish. For interior and exterior use (under covered spaces). Txt. ure was the first design project to reintroduce the Mexican weaving...
Other
$1,868 / item
Medium Pouf! Leather Stool by Nestor Perkal
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium pouf! leather stool by Nestor Perkal Dimensions: W 83 x D 75.5 x H 35 cm Materials: Leather, poplar plywood, suede. Available in other colors and in 3 sizes. The POUF! collection is made up of three seats made of leather and suede. They look like diamonds, minerals or the footprints of an animal in the soil. They are suitable for home furnishing, in the office or in a public place. Genuine italian vegetable...
Leather, Suede, Poplar, Plywood
$1,844 / item
Bermuda Triangle Stool by Odditi
Located in Geneve, CH
Bermuda Triangle Stool by Odditi Dimensions: D 42 x H 46 cm Materials: Petrified Wood Sculpted Seat, Limestone Composite, Steel Base The ‘Bermuda Triangle’ sculptural stool features...
Limestone, Steel
$1,073 / item
Small Pouf! Leather Stool by Nestor Perkal
Located in Geneve, CH
Small pouf! leather stool by Nestor Perkal Dimensions: W 45 x D 39 x H 40 cm Materials: Leather, poplar plywood, suede. Available in other colors and in ...
Leather, Suede, Poplar, Plywood
$797 / item
Mocca September Bar Stool by Oxdenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Mocca September Bar Stool by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 38 x W 42 x H 93 cm Materials: leather, black powder coated steel Also available: different colors available. Ox Denmarq is...
Steel
$1,826 / item
Marco Bar Stool by Dawid Konieczny
Located in Geneve, CH
Marco Bar Stool by Dawid Konieczny Dimensions: D 36 x W 40 x H 88 cm. Materials: Black steel and fabric. Different fabric options on request. Made in Poland. Please contact us. D...
Steel
$868 / 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
$1,026 / item
Noel Bar Chair by Thorup Copenhagen
Located in Geneve, CH
Noel Bar Chair by Thorup Copenhagen Dimensions: D 43.5 x W 51 x H 89 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, fair grey wool. Available in other colors. Please contact us. Thorup Copenhagen...
Stainless Steel
Aurora stool, black solid wood, black caning back, black natural leather
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of the award-winning Aurora Collection, also known as Dawn — a transformative milestone in our esteemed design legacy that has earned the pr...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Faux Leather, Cane, Hardwood, Walnut
Eric O'Leary Glazed Ceramic Stool
By Eric O'leary
Located in New York, NY
Glazed ceramic stool attributed to the American artist, Eric O'Leary ( 1949- ), circa 1980s, approximately 18 1/2 inches tall and 14 1/4 inches in diameter. 44 lbs. In 1972 the art...
Ceramic
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Rodney Kinsman Tokyo Stool for Bieffelplast, Italy 1980s
By Bieffeplast, Rodney Kinsman
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern Tokyo counter stool made of a satin black steel frame, curved black polyurethane backrest and a red naugahyde cushioned seat. The footrest maintains the plastic tube...
Steel
$1,528Sale Price|20% Off
Brutalist Style Solid Pine Stool with Leather Cushion, Finland, 1980s
Located in Karis, Nyland
Unique solid pine stool with leather cushion. Crafted by unknown Finnish designer in 1980s, custom-made for a ski lodge in Finnish Lapland. Great craftmanship, perfectly suited for ...
Pine, Leather
$6,800 / set
Pair of French Wool Boucle Pouf Dining Stools
Located in New York, NY
Pair of beautiful hand crafted luxurious French dining height pouf/stools with long wool boucle upholstery. Old new stock /never used. Polished bronze hand cast sheep legs. Can be so...
Bronze
$979 / item
Object 064 Stool by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 064 stool by NG Design Dimensions: D38 x H45 cm Materials: Powder coated steel, Boucle upholstery Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colo...
Steel
$1,050 / item
Brutus Stool by 101 Copenhagen
Located in Geneve, CH
Brutus stool by 101 Copenhagen Designed by Kristian Sofus Hansen & Tommy Hyldahl Dimensions: L 60 / W 30 /H 54 cm Materials: fiber concrete Inspired...
Concrete
Burned and Black Stained Solid Pine Ousia Stool by Sizar Alexis
By Sizar Alexis
Located in Geneve, CH
Burned and Black Stained Solid Pine Ousia Stool by Sizar Alexis Dimensions: W 48 x D 28 x H 28 cm Materials: Burned and Black Stained Solid Pine. About: Sizar Alexis is a Swedish-...
Pine
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Emilio Nanni Musmé Counter Stool for Fly Line, 1984
By EMILIO NANNI, Fly Line
Located in Miami, FL
Considered one of his first chair designs, the Musmé counter stool was designed by Emilio Nanni for Fly Line. The stool consists of a steel cantilevered frame...
Steel
$979 / item
High Drops Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Drops Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 43 x D 54 x H 82 cm Materials: Paint, Leather. Also available in W 43 x D 54 x H 66 cm, Seat Height: 60 cm. With the intention ...
Paint, Leather
$960Sale Price / set|20% Off
1980s Post-Modern Bar Stools by Giandomenico Belotti, White Metal
By Giandomenico Belotti, Fly Line
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Post modern bar stools in white enameled metal with spaghetti corded seats designed by Giandomenico Belotti for fly line. good condition. Located in Brooklyn NYC Dimensions...
Steel
Stool by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Benetton
Located in Lugo, IT
Steel and leather stool Design by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Benetton 1980 88 Not perfect condition as pictured Thank you
Steel
$3,600 / set
Set of 3 Postmodern 1980s Bar Stools
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These sturdy stools feature powder-coated steel frames for durability and composite wood seats for comfort. Their cool minimalist design makes these stools a stylish choice for any m...
Metal
Orbis Stool & Side Table in Marble with Mirror Core by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Orbis Stool & Side Table in Marble with Mirror Core by Homa. Dimensions: W 40 x D 40 x H 50 cm Materials: Marble, Green and Honey Onyx. The image showcases the version in Green and...
Onyx, Marble
Aurora stool, light honey solid wood, natural caning back, black natural leather
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of the award-winning Aurora Collection, also known as Dawn — a transformative milestone in our esteemed design legacy that has earned the pr...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Faux Leather, Cane, Hardwood, Walnut
Set of 3 Design Institute of America Brass Stools in Ivory White Bouclé, c. 1980
By Design Institute America, Milo Baughman
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Super sexy set of three Post Modern counter or bar stools manufactured in the 1980s by Design Institute of America ("DIA") in the style of Milo Baughman. Cantilevered brass stools with long horizontal foot rests. The look is modern, upscale and luxurious. Light and airy but very sophisticated. Fully restored seat with new cushioning. Newly professionally upholstered in super soft ivory white bouclé. The fabric ventilates well making it great for all climates. Cozy in the cold and cool and airy in the heat. The bouclé is also rated highly durable ( over 50k double rubs). These DIA stools...
Brass
$1,910 / 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
Set of 2 Small Pausa Oak Stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 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. Pausa is a ser...
Oak
A Set of 3 POST-MODERN BAR STOOLS, in the style of MEMPHIS, France 1980
Located in PARIS, FR
A set of 3 high bar stools, Post-Modernist, Memphis, Eighties, circular and angular structures in anthracite lacquered square section steel, footrests and low backrests, red and yell...
Metal
Private re-edition for PRADA of iconic 1960s Inflatable Stool by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Prada, Verpan
Located in Renens, CH
Private re-edition for PRADA of the iconic 1960s Inflatable Stool designed by Verner Panton. Exclusively produced by Verpan for the Spring/Summer PRADA Men’s fashion show, held in Mi...
Plastic
$1,301 / item
Maçka Bar Stool, Brushed Stainless Steel by AVLU
Located in Geneve, CH
Maçka Bar Stool, Brushed Stainless Steel by AVLU Dimensions: W 50 x D 44 x H 99 cm Materials: Brushed Stainless Steel or Powder Coated Metal Structure with custom upholstery. Refer...
Metal, Stainless Steel
$2,125 / item
Bruna Teak Wood Stool by Heaps & Woods
Located in Geneve, CH
Bruna 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 across its ...
Other
$11,780 / item
Hand-Carved Oak Edition Lounge Stool by Studio Lugo
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand-Carved Oak Edition Lounge Stool by Studio Lugo Dimensions: W 53 x D 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak, Stainless Steel, Horse Hair, Kutnu Fabric. Finishing: Matt Varnish. Weight: 18 k...
Stainless Steel
German Black Kreuzschwinger Kitchen Barstool by Till Behrens, 1980s
By Till Behrens
Located in Hamburg, DE
An original Till Behrens Kreuzschwinger kitchen stools or bar stools in a rare black version.Elegant design classic by Prof. … Read more An...
Metal
$2,579 / item
Coleman Counter Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Coleman Counter Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 54 x W 44 x H 95 cm. SH: 70 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Vivid Chenille, ref. Moss, VIC13....
Brass
Set of 3 Mid Century Post Modern Black Metal Frame Bar Stools by Cal Style
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A beautifully designed Post-Modern set of three bar stools produced by Cal-Style in the early 1990's. These feature black powder coat frames with white seat cushions. Fabric is soile...
Metal
$1,611 / item
GIO Stool - Contemporary Murano Glass
Located in Murano, VE
Handmade eclectic seating pieces creating using the blown glass technique applied to a meticulously hammered mold. The creation of these stunning work...
Murano Glass
$780 / item
Chair D
Located in Mérida, MX
The handwoven technique of the 'Petatillo' in Yucatan has been practiced for more than 50 years. Usually, it is woven with natural cane. This is one hundred percent artisan work, whi...
Nylon, Wood
Cult Stool, Sculptural Side Table, Mexican Ice Onyx / Marble
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult stool / side table; a hand sculpted stone from an incredibly particular stone; Mexican Ice Onyx, remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials in...
Onyx
$140Sale Price / item|20% Off
Four 1970s White Side Table by Olaf von Bohr for GEDY
Located in San Gabriel, CA
16” high x 16.5” wide x 10.5” deep Space Age 4-Legged Stool or Side Table by Olaf von Bohr for GEDY. Made in Italy. Four available and sold separately. Each have light wear consiste...
Plastic
Moroccan Pouf Upholstered Stool in Bold Colorful Floral Fabric
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan Art Deco Style pouf in bronze, red, orange, white and red psychedelic floral cut velvet and satin fabric upholstery in 1970s style. Modern contemporary round Morocc...
Fabric
Set of Four Solid Pine Bar Stools or Benches, The Netherlands, 1970s
Located in Almelo, NL
Set of Four Solid Pine Bar Stools or Benches, The Netherlands, 1970s – Late 20th Century This set of four sculptural bar stools or benches was crafted in solid pine in the Netherlan...
Pine
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
$5,104 / item
Wave Stool & Side Table VII by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Wave Stool & Side Table VII by Homa. Dimensions: D 28 x H 40 cm. Materials: Blown Glass. Colour: Olive Green. Formed through an experimental glassblowing process, each Wave Stool...
Blown Glass
Stainless Steel, Horse Hair, Kutnu Fabric Lounge Stool by Studio Lugo
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless Steel, Horse Hair, Kutnu Fabric Lounge Stool by Studio Lugo Dimensions: W 53 x D 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Stainless Steel, Horse Hair, Kutnu Fabric. Finishing: Matt Varnish....
Stainless Steel
Post Modern Milo Baughman Parsons Style Bench in Ivory White Bouclé, circa 1980s
Located in Saint Louis, MO
A most alluring Milo Baughman Parsons style Post Modern bench newly reupholstered in super soft and inviting ivory bouclé. The Parsons style in upholstery - consisting of covering every surface with upholstery - not only exudes upper crust elegance but also delivers exquisite comfort from top to bottom. Whether in a dressing room, bedroom, bathroom next to a large bathtub, or in an Entry or Vestibule, this Post Modern Parsons style bench...
Bouclé, Upholstery
$720Sale Price / set|20% Off
Carlo Bimbi and Nilo Gioacchini "Charlie" Barstools for Segis Italia, a Pair
By Carlo Bimbi and Nilo Gioacchini
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Postmodern Memphis style barstools by Carlo Bimbi and Nilo Gioacchini for Segis Italia, circa 1980s. Chairs are made of white moulded plastic attached to a tubular chrome fra...
Chrome
$2,149 / item
Melody Bar Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Melody Bar Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 105 cm. SH: 80 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Mustard, CV 10. Legs: Mu...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Maçka Bar Stool, Black Powder Coated Metal Structure by AVLU
Located in Geneve, CH
Maçka Bar Stool, Brushed Stainless Steel by AVLU Dimensions: W 50 x D 44 x H 99 cm Materials: Brushed Stainless Steel or Powder Coated Metal Structure with custom upholstery. Refer...
Metal, Stainless Steel
$2,149 / item
Melody Counter Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Melody Counter Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 95 cm. SH: 70 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Mustard, CV 10. Legs:...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
A set of Black Post Modern barstools by Cali-Style, circa 1980s
Located in Houston, TX
A set of Post Modern barstools by Cali-Style, circa 1980s. These feature black powder coat frames with newly reupholstered seat cushions. They ha...
Metal
$1,958 / item
Chamois Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Chamois Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 42 x W 52 x H 49 cm. SH: 49 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Lilac, CV15. Footer: ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$1,440Sale Price / set|20% Off
Three Postmodern Memphis Style Bar Stools, Italy, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Three bar height Italian Postmodern bar chairs inspired by Memphis Milano. Made of black lacquered steel with black moulded rubber seats and backs.
Steel
Set of 3 Piton Stools by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby for Knoll, Signed
By Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three Piton stools designed by Edward Barber and Osgerby in 2013 and manufactured by Knoll. The stools are made in die cast steel with a wooden swivel seat. All of the t...
Steel
Rodney Kinsman Tractor Stool, Chromed Steel, Post-Modern, 1970
Located in Toronto, CA
Stool designed by Rodney Kinsman in the 1970's for his brand OMK Chromed steel tubular base and foot and white steel plate seat inspired by the shape of traditional tractor seats. S...
Metal, Steel
Rare set of Three Michael Graves Bent Wood and Steel Barstools
Located in Chicago, IL
Rare set of three steam-bent maple wood and steel framed post modern barstools designed by NYC architect and designer Michael Graves. Graves often featured a modernist aesthetic wit...
Steel
Signed Artist Shlomi Haziza Lucite Sculpture Z Stools, 6 Available
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Sculpted 1 inch thick Lucite Z bar stool by Shlomi Haziza for H Studio(signed). Each hand engraved-signed by Shlomi himself. Labeled on bottom of cushion. ...
Upholstery, Lucite
Pair of Purple Postmodern Memphis Style Bar Stools, Italy 1980s
Located in Athens, Attiki
A pair of purple Postmodern Memphis style bar stools, Italy 1980s. Periwinkle purple lacquered steel with black moulded rubber seats and backs. Ver...
Metal
Trio Vintage Design Institute America Counter Height Bar Stools Steel Frames
By Design Institute America, Milo Baughman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed and made in the United States, these feature a somewhat ambiguous history. They have been credited to Design Institute America, a somewhat ambiguous manufacturer itself, and...
Steel
Night Log / Nightstand Sculptural Side Table
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Night Log Formed from a reclaimed tree trunk, Night Log preserves the natural silhouette of the wood its knots, cracks, and irregular contours that trace the memory of growth. After ...
Resin, Wood
Pair of Loewenstein Rush Seat Counter Stools
By Loewenstein
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Postmodern with a soft edge. This pair of counter-height stools by Loewenstein features rounded dowel legs, gently arched backs, and original handwoven rush seats that keep things gr...
Rush, Wood