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.
Contemporary Pair of "Buati" Stools by Dj Papagaio, Brazil, 2021
By DJ Papagaio
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
Contemporary pair of "Buati" stools by DJ Papagaio, Brazil, 2022. Stool composed of different types of Brazilian woods. With the use of traditional woodworking techniques, the desig...
Wood
$1,753 / 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
$1,558 / item
Black Pier Bar Stool by Resident
Located in Geneve, CH
Black 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
Nobu Tanigawa "Nardis" Black Bar Stools with Back for Fasem Italy, Set of Two
By Fasem International, Nobu Tanigawa
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Post modern Nardis black stool by Nobu Tanigawa for Fasem. Nobu Tanigawa "Nardis" black bar stools for Fasem Italy, Set of Two. Pair of Nardis bar height stools with black rubber lik...
Steel
Medium Pausa Oak Stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
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 series of s...
Oak
$21,178 / item
Gradient 01 Stool / Side Table by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Gradient 01 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...
Oak, Wood, Chestnut
Melody Counter Stool in Mustard Cotton Velvet & Mustard Gloss Lacquer by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Melody Counter Stool in Mustard Cotton Velvet & Mustard Gloss Lacquer by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 95 cm. SH: 70 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Upho...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
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
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
Pair of Postmodern Italian Round Bamboo Stools in the style of Agnoli
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s - 1970s. These rare stools feature a bamboo frame. They are vintage, therefore they might show slight traces of use, but they can be considered in mint condition...
Bamboo
$687 / item
4D Stool I by Kutarq Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
4D Stool I by Kutarq Studio Materials: Stainless steel. Dimensions: D 29 x W 29 x H 42 cm The 4D STOOLS emerge from years of dedicated exploration, embodying a seamless fusion of fo...
Stainless Steel, Other
Allmilmö Postmodern Brown Bentwood Rainbow Counter Stools, Germany 1980s
Located in Steinheim am Albuch, BW
A beautiful pair of dark brown Allmilmö counter stools from the 1980s, embodying the bold spirit of postmodern design through their sculptural presence, expressive geometry, and dist...
Wood
Brass Sculptural Log Stools – Set of 2 (Small & Large) by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Sculptural Log Stools – Set of 2 (Small & Large) by Misaya Dimensions: W 22 x D 27 x H 44 cm (S), W38 x D34 x H33.5 (L)cm Materials: brass Also available: different colors (go...
Brass
Gradient 01 Oak, Chestnut, Ash and Beech Wood Stool by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Gradient 01 Oak, Chestnut, Ash, and Beech Wood Stool by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 50 cm Materials: Black stained Oak, Chestnut, Ash, Beech. The idea behind this design...
Oak, Ash, Beech, Chestnut
Set of 2 Bar stools, black lacquer, black metal.Italy 1980s.
Located in Athens, Attiki
Set of 2 Bar stools, black lacquer, black metal.Italy 1980s. Beautiful design in excellent condition. The seats rotate 360* Price is for the set of 2.
Metal
ELEMENTOS Air Stool in Sandblasted Pine with Natural Finish by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
ELEMENTOS Air Stool in Sandblasted Pine with Natural Finish by Daniel Couttolenc Dimensions: D 42 x W 42 x H 42 cm. Materials: Sandblasted Pine. Air is detachment—existing in the re...
Pine
$1,741 / item
Timber Stool Maple by Onno Adriaanse
Located in Geneve, CH
Timber Stool Maple by Onno Adriaanse Signed and numbered Dimensions: D 40 x W 29 x H 45 cm Materials: Maple wood, clear matte coating Also available in Color: Indigo blue, purple-red...
Coating, Maple
U-shaped Form Rubber Seat and Burned Steel Medium Stool 2.0 by Arno Declercq
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium AD stool 2.0 by Arno Declercq Materials: Patinated steel. Dimensions: W 104 x D 38 x H 69 cm. Arno Declercq Belgian designer and art dealer who makes bespoke objects with pa...
Steel
1980s Sculptural Italian Postmodern Faux Tan Suede Bar Stools – a Pair
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a stylish, unique pair of bar stools, circa the 1980s. These vintage barstools are a nod to Italian postmodernism, showcasing a distinct architectural p...
Faux Leather
Post Modern Lucite Vanity Stool Bench with Faux Leather Snakeskin Upholstery
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Two benches available. Sold individually. These are a first for us and the style, quality and condition continue to amaze us every time we walk by. These stylish, post-modern vintage 1970s Lucite acrylic vanity...
Lucite, Faux Leather, Acrylic
Stool Sedes 1/15 by Sculptur Ron van de Ven 1998
By Ron van de Ven
Located in Weesp, NL
Rare Sculptural Stool “Sedes” by Ron van de Ven, 1998 — Numbered 1/15 Offered here is an exceptionally rare collector’s piece: the “Sedes” sculptural stool by Dutch artist and desig...
Aluminum
$10,084 / item
W2376 Unique Stool in Oxidized Oak by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
W2376 Unique Stool in Oxidized Oak by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 29 x W 29 x H 38 cm. Materials: Oak, oxidized. In Pietschmann’s sculptures, trees that for centuries were part o...
Oak
Uri Stool, Ikea, 1995
By IKEA
Located in Firenze, IT
Stool, model Uri, designed by Per Idar Ledang in 1995 for Ikea. It features a cushion upholstered in blue velvet and distinctive wave paws, iconic of the postmodern style.
Steel
Set of 3 White Italian Modernist Tubular Steel Wire Counter Stools, Italy 1970s
Located in Brussels, Brussels
This elegant set of three Italian counter stools exemplifies the refined industrial language that emerged from Italian design during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Each stool is co...
Steel
Four Glamorous Brass and Grey Barstools, Midcentury, France, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Brass and grey barstools, midcentury, France, 1970s Beautiful restored brass barstools with grey corduroy top that swivels. Adds glamour to any room. Pi...
Brass
$3,632 / item
Strict Counter Stool by Veermakers
Located in Geneve, CH
Strict Counter Stool by Veermakers Dimensions: L 42 x H 82,5-65 cm. Materials: Oak Classic with a satin clear coat / Leather Shoulder Cognac. About: After years of successful colla...
Oak
$1,547 / 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
Original Printed Velvet Awaiting L Stool by Secondome Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Original Printed Velvet Awaiting L Stool by Secondome Edizioni Limited Edition Of 9 pieces + 3 A.P. Designer: Coralla Maiuri + Giorgia Zanellato. Dimensions: D 48 x W 48 x H 69 cm. M...
Brass
$4,916 / item
Wave Stool & Side Table III by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Wave Stool & Side Table III by Homa. Dimensions: W 30 x D 23 x H 36 cm. Materials: Blown Glass. Colour: Burgundy. Formed through an experimental glassblowing process, each Wav...
Blown Glass
Tecton Stool in Travertine or Teak by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980
Located in Geneve, CH
Tecton Stool in Travertine or Teak by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980. Dimensions: W 45 x D 45 x H 44 cm. Materials: Travertine and Teak wood. This stool is available in a selectio...
Travertine
Contemporary Stool by Objects of Common Interest, Metamorphic Rock, Purple
Located in Copenhagen, DK
A solid rock formation sitting upon a tray on casters as an elemental gesture for creating a resting element. The rock is a familiar yet surprising material mass, semitransparent, so...
Steel
Organic Postmodern Sculptural Blue Velvet Stool Ritmo
By Moanne
Located in Almería, ES
Playful. Perceptive. Percussive. Ritmo Stool. The Ritmo Stool takes its name from rhythm—not just as a beat, but as a way of being. With four bold cylindrical legs echoing in perfec...
Velvet
$13,225 / item
Max Stool in Kvadrat Hero 2 Fabric by Julien Lestrille
Located in Geneve, CH
Max Stool in Kvadrat Hero 2 Fabric by Julien Lestrille. Dimensions: W 62 x D 50 x H 45 cm. Materials: Wood, Kvadrat Hero 2 Fabric. The upholstery is available in several color choices of Kvadrat Hero 2, allowing for a personalized finish that perfectly complements your interior. Inspired by cartoon characters, the Max collection brings out the child within us. Its design reflects a bold spirit — one that explores volume, plays with balance, and transforms an everyday object into a showcase of craftsmanship. Its solidity, strong presence, and playful touch make it a unique piece that draws the eye while remaining fully functional. Composed of upholstered panels, Max celebrates the meticulous work of master upholsterers. It is designed to highlight textiles and showcase their texture and richness, turning the piece into a true stage for materials. Julien Lestrille is a designer. A graduate of the Strate School of Design, he has developed expertise in furniture design through collaborations with prestigious studios such as Gilles & Boissier, Bruno Moinard...
Upholstery, Wood
$5,959 / item
Arco Stool by Gabriela Campos
Located in Geneve, CH
Arco Stool by Gabriela Campos Dimensions: D 45 x W 60 x H 62 cm. Materials: Freijó wood with imbuia finish and hand-painted fabric. The essence of this cap...
Fabric, Wood
Releve Stool in Matte Lacquered Sapele with Mohair Upholstery by Vonnegut Kraft
Located in Geneve, CH
Releve Stool in Matte Lacquered Sapele with Mohair Upholstery by Vonnegut Kraft Dimensions: D 35,6 x W 53,3 x H 44,5 cm. Materials: Sapele and mohair up...
Mohair, Sapele Wood
$1,948 / item
Brass Sculpted Brass Chair, Misaya
By Misaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass sculpted brass chair, Misaya. Dimensions: W 54 x L 58 x H 79 cm (seating: 63). Hand-sculpted chair in brass.
Brass
$1,191 / item
Patio II Stool by Marta Ayala Herrera
Located in Geneve, CH
Patio II Stool by Marta Ayala Herrera Dimensions: D 22 x W 55 x H 50 cm. Materials: MDF and woven bulrush. This piece can be customized in differe...
Other
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN BRUTALIST Tripod STOOL, in style of PERRIAND, France 1950
By Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Chapo
Located in PARIS, FR
One single tripod stool, Mid-Century Modern, Modernist, Rustic Modern, Brutalist, solid and architectural tripod structure in solid elm, 3 smoothly shaped high legs, a small but mass...
Wood
$2,039 / item
Carla Teak Wood Stool by Heaps & Woods
Located in Geneve, CH
Carla 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 ...
Other
$1,042 / item
Natural Offset Stool by Resident
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Offset Stool by Resident Dimensions: D 34 x H 43 cm Materials: Solid Oak. Weight: 7.9 Kg. About: Founded by Simon James & Scott Bridgens in 2011, Resident is the home of e...
Oak
Contemporary Stool by Objects of Common Interest, Metamorphic Rock, Green
Located in Copenhagen, DK
A solid rock formation sitting upon a tray on casters as an elemental gesture for creating a resting element. The rock is a familiar yet surprising material mass, semitransparent, so...
Stainless Steel
$4,836 / item
Leather Tella Bar Stool by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Leather Tella Bar Stool by Madheke Dimensions: D 47.1 x W 41.1 x H 92.8 cm. Materials: Sculptural retro-inspired design, Double-cushioned leather seat with curved backrest, Sleek met...
Metal
Fringes Bar Stool in Steel Blue Cotton Velvet & Brushed Nickel by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes Bar Stool in Steel Blue Cotton Velvet & Brushed Nickel by Munna Dimensions: D 54 x W 57 x H 100 cm. SH: 80 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, nickel, and upholstery. Finish: Upholste...
Nickel
$19,161 / item
Otto Signed Stool by Rockstool Paris
Located in Geneve, CH
Otto Signed Stool by Rockstool Paris Limited edition of 15 + 5 AP per color Dimensions: W 75 x D 60 x H 55 cm Materials: Stoneware Available in different colors and sizes, please co...
Stone, Other
Charlotte Counter Stool in Raspberry Twill FR, Lacquer & Brushed Brass by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Charlotte Counter Stool in Raspberry Twill FR, Lacquer & Brushed Brass by Munna Dimensions: D 47 x W 46 x H 82 cm. SH: 70 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Fini...
Brass
Travertino Rosso Contemporary Honed Marble Stool by Angelo Alinea
Located in Geneve, CH
Travertino Rosso 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...
Marble
Four Gilt & Horse Hair Stools Attr. to Malcolm McLaren, c. 1976
By Malcom Mclaren
Located in New York, NY
Four stools or benches with gilt organic form bases and pony hair seats attributed to Malcolm McLaren. The pieces have been described as "rare, exotic, visionary and transcendent". ...
Wood
Postmodern German Kreuzschwinger Kitchen Barstool Till Behrens Meyer Stahlmöbel
By Till Behrens
Located in Hamburg, DE
Till Behrens Kreuzschwinger kitchen stool or bar stool. Elegant design classic by Prof. Till Behrens in the kitchen stool version. The further development of the cantilever chair. ...
Metal
$5,044 / item
Layered Steel Seat IV by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel seat IV by Hyungshin Hwang Dimensions: D 33 x W 54 x H 81 cm Materials: stainless steel Layered Series is the main theme and concept of work of Hwang, who continue...
Stainless Steel
ELEMENTOS Earth Stool in Sandblasted Pine with Black Finish by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
ELEMENTOS Earth Stool in Sandblasted Pine with Black Finish by Daniel Couttolenc Dimensions: D 42 x W 42 x H 42 cm. Materials: Sandblasted Pine. Earth is firmness, stability—a force...
Pine
$985 / item
Object 092 Stool by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 092 Stool by NG Design Dimensions: W 43 x D 50 x H 110 cm Materials: Powder Coated Steel, Bouclé Fabric Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and co...
Steel
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
$1,684 / item
Knot Stool / Side Table by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Knot Stool / Side Table by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: W 32 x D 32 x H 45 cm Materials: Solid Red Oak. The Knot Stool is a handcrafted piece made from red oak, features an interlocking ...
Oak
Set of 3 Postmodern "Banana" Bar Stools by Tom Dixon for Cappellini, Italy 1988
By Tom Dixon, Cappellini
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an iconic and highly sculptural set of three "Banana" bar stools designed by Tom Dixon during the 1980s. Celebrated for their playful organic form and innovative use of materials, these stools exemplify Dixon's early experimental approach that would later establish him as one of Britain's most influential contemporary designers. Each stool features a distinctive banana-shaped seat hand-woven in natural rush over a metal frame, resting on elegantly slender black lacquered steel legs. The juxtaposition of the warm, tactile woven surface with the graphic linearity of the steel base creates a striking silhouette that is both functional and artistic. Produced in limited numbers during Dixon's formative years, the Banana stools...
Iron
$779 / item
Togi Stool by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
Togi Stool by DAaZ Dimensions: D 35 x W 50 x H 45 cm. Materials: Wood, fabric. DAaZ Furniture honors the spirit of adventure. We embrace the escape of the ordinary and revel in the...
Wood, Fabric
$1,008 / item
Black Stool 01 by Iranzo
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Stool 01 by Iranzo Dimensions: D 68 x H 48 cm. Material: Epoxy resin & polypropylene Also available in: White - at the same price Light pink / Blue / Pastel green / Signa...
Epoxy Resin
Set of 8 Galva Steel Outdoor Chairs by Atelier Thomas Serruys
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 8 Galva steel outdoor chairs by Atelier Thomas Serruys Dimensions: H 74.5 cm, W 43cm, D 64cm Materials: Galvanized steel. Steel chai...
Steel
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN Hand Crafted BRUTALIST Tripod STOOL, France 1950
By Pierre Chapo, Charles Dudouyt, Charlotte Perriand
Located in PARIS, FR
A tripod stool, Modernist, Brutalist, Rustic-Modern, Forme-Libre, massive circular hand sculpted wood top, on 3 thin streamlined wood legs, to be attributed, France 1950. This is a ...
Wood
Limited Edition NullEins Stool in Black Marble by Justus Knut Schomann
Located in Geneve, CH
Limited Edition NullEins Stool in Black Marble by Justus Knut Schomann Limited Edition of 25 + 2AP. Dimensions: D 44 x W 45 x H 44 cm. Materials: ...
Marble
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