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.
Monolit Stool & Side Table in Silver Modular Mirror Glass Bricks by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Monolit Stool & Side Table in Silver Modular Mirror Glass Bricks by Homa. Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 40 cm Unit Size: W 15 x D 15 x 40 cm (each). Materials: Glass Bricks, Silver Mi...
Mirror, Glass
Bianco Statuarietto Contemporary Honed Marble Stool by Angelo Alinea
Located in Geneve, CH
Bianco Statuarietto 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
$13,216 / item
Object 08 Green Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 08 Green 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
Powder Coated White and Cane Wicker Stool by Tino Seubert
Located in Geneve, CH
Powder Coated white and cane wicker stool by Tino Seubert Dimensions: D 43 x W 38 x H 45 cm. Materials: Powder coated aluminum extrusions, cane weave. Tino Seubert When he firs...
Aluminum
Michele De Lucchi FIRST Barstool, Metal, Memphis Design, Italy, 1995
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
The FIRST Chair is an iconic and sculptural creations conceived by the Italian Architect/Designer Michele De Lucchi. He seems to be paying homage to Alexander Calder in the lightness...
Metal
$1,990 / item
Piedmont no. 1 Stool by A. Jacob Marks
Located in Geneve, CH
Piedmont no. 1 Stool by SKRAM Dimensions: W 41 x D 38 x H 46 cm. Materials: white ash, ebonized. PS1-1 The piedmont no. 1 stool is a backless stool featuring solid timber constructi...
Ash
$3,887 / item
Gaia Mini Stool by KV Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Gaia Mini Stool by KV Design Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 30 cm. Materials: Walnut, Stainless Steel. Finish: oil Limited Edition of 8. KV Design is a team of professionals, and we be...
Stainless Steel
$1,201 / item
High Ale Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Ale Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 55 x D 54 x H 107 cm Materials: Veneer, Leather, Soleta. With the intention of providing good taste and personality, Doimo deciphe...
Leather
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 65cm Materials: Galvanized steel. Steel ...
Steel
$1,649 / item
High Smile Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Smile Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 52 x D 53 x H 111 cm Materials: Metal, Soleta. Also available in W 52 x D 53 x H 95 cm, Seat Height: 60 cm. With the intention ...
Metal
$1,543 / item
Silent Stump, Side Table / Stool by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Silent stump, side table / stool by Made By Choice (Seating object, functioning also as a table) Nordic Silence Collection with Katrín Ólína Dimensions:...
Ash, Cork
$1,943 / item
Sass Natural Stool by Riccardo Monte
Located in Geneve, CH
Sass Natural Stool by Riccardo Monte Dimensions: D 33 x W 35 x H 39 cm. Materials: Oak. Riccardo Monte is a creative studio based in the Italian Alps. With the vision of creating a ...
Oak
$4,193 / item
Wax Aluminum Stool by Saturday Yard Work
Located in Geneve, CH
Wax Aluminum Stool by Saturday Yard Work Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 58 cm Materials: Aluminium. SATURDAY YARD WORK by Nathan Martin is a Kaurna/Adelaide-based practice that aims to...
Aluminum
$3,047 / item
Split Stool by Temper Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Split Stool by Temper Studio Dimensions: D 36 x W 36 x H 65 cm. Materials: Wood. The Split Stool is a lightweight and sculptural piece designed to use as little material as possible...
Wood
$14,123 / item
Hughes Stool by Moure Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Hughes stool by Moure Studio Limited Edition of 23. Dimensions: d40x w45 x h27.8 cm Materials: Oiled solid oak The Hughes stool is made of solid oak...
Oak
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
$1,602 / 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
$5,701 / item
White Layered Oak Wood Stool I by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
White layered oak wood stool I by Hyungshin Hwang. Dimensions: D 33 x W 54 x H 69 cm. Materials: oxidized red oak. Layered Series is the main theme and concept of work of Hwang,...
Oak
$3,639 / 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 Stainless Steel Other versions are available, please contact us for any request. More than mere fur...
Stainless Steel
Sculptural Wooden Ashanti Stool by Interior Craft
Located in Greensboro, NC
A post modern interpretation of African Ashanti Stools by American furniture company Interior Crafts. Very sturdy and sculptural. Reach out for alternate shipping quotes depending o...
Wood
$1,731 / 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
80s Postmodern Lacquered Wood & Vegan Leather Barstool Radical
By Moanne
Located in Almería, ES
Rebellion isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it takes shape in silence—in the refusal to blend in, in the geometry that breaks the mold. The Radical Counter Stool is just that: a visual m...
Wood, Faux Leather, Lacquer
$3,109 / item
Solid Wood Japanese Coffee Table by Taller Batán
Located in Geneve, CH
Solid Wood Japanese Coffee Table by Taller Batán Dimensions: W 180 x D 40 x H 20 cm Materials: solid wood. Finishes: blackened pine. Weight: 12 kg. Japanese Coffee Table Having li...
Wood
$2,073 / item
Object 02 Noir Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 02 noir seating by Volta Dimensions: D 45 x W 40 x H 95 cm Materials: Cork and Velvet Also available in diffentent colours. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLECTION The Meï co...
Velvet, Cork
$388 / item
Blue Cosmic Stool by Mati Sipiora
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue Cosmic Stool by Mati Sipiora Dimensions: D 35 x W 40 x H 40 cm Materials: Painted. Finish: Glossy powder coating paint. Weight: 5.5 Kg. Max User We...
Paint
$1,543 / item
Object 01 Beige Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 01 Beige 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 c...
Velvet, Cork
$2,073 / item
Object 02 Marron Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 02 marron seating by Volta Dimensions: D 45 x W 40 x H 95 cm Materials: Cork and Velvet Also available in diffentent colours. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLECTION The Meï ...
Velvet, Cork
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
Vintage Postmodern Bar Stools by Prof. Till Behrens for Schlubach, Germany, 1980
By Till Behrens
Located in Vienna, AT
An elegant and highly collectible postmodern design by renowned German architect and designer Prof. Till Behrens. These sculptural bar stools, produced by Schlubach in Germany during...
Stainless Steel
$4,370 / item
Radical Postmodern Lacquered Green Barstool Poderío
By Moanne
Located in Almería, ES
True confidence doesn’t ask for attention—it commands it. The Poderío Barstool embodies that quiet authority. With its cylindrical form and assertive geometry, it stands grounded, fi...
Wood, Lacquer
Saffron Yellow Cubo Pouf Stool by SLIDE Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow 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
$14,382 / item
Bold Sofa by Mohdern
Located in Geneve, CH
Bold Sofa by Mohdern Dimensions: W 268 x D 102 x H 76 cm Materials: Fabric, Bouclé Bold is a refined furniture collection designed and produced by the Mohdern brand. The series inc...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery
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
Happens Stool in Ash Wood And Green Melange Wool Fabric by Heilig Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Happens Stool in Ash Wood And Melange Wool Fabric by Heilig Objects Dimensions: D 29 x W 29 x H 49 cm. Materials: Ash wood and wool fabric. Daniel Heilig. A young Hungarian-German d...
Ash, Fabric
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
ELEMENTOS Fire Stool Sandblasted Pine with Natural Finish by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
ELEMENTOS Fire Stool in Sandblasted Pine with Natural Finish by Daniel Couttolenc Dimensions: D 42 x W 42 x H 42 cm. Materials: Sandblasted Pine. Fire is movement, energy ascending....
Pine
$1,013 / item
Airisto Side Table, Stained Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Airisto side table, black by Made By Choice with Joanna Laajisto Dimensions: D35 x H45 cm Materials: solid ash. Finishes: natural ash / painted black Also available: natural & custom order. The Airisto collection’s furnishings are multifunctional – they can be used as a side table, stool and a bench. The natural ash accents the beautiful features of the wood. In addition to the light wood, the other colour option is stained black, which highlights the shape of the product, representative to Laajisto’s work. ”A good product has to fit in different environments from the modern and minimalist to rich and classical,” explains Laajisto. The simple and modest design language of the Airisto furniture emphasizes the asymmetric shape of the foot structure. About Made by Choice: Nordic Happiness. Nordic Happiness is our grand theme and guiding star. Studies show that Nordic people are among the happiest on Earth. Nordic happiness is composed of authentic values and sustainable choices. The vision of Choice is based on the added value of collective creation while promoting sustainable Nordic values through authentic design. Rooted in the traditions of Finnish woodworks, Made by Choice is a creative powerhouse of collaborative thinkers, believers and makers, establishing a global brand for the 21st century. Committed to producing durable, bold and innovative designs, we combine contemporary woodworking methods and modern technology. Halikko is home to our 4000 square metre campus where we turn abstract concepts into tangible objects. Our team in our office in Helsinki coordinates all operations and installations. Made by Choice's agile, purpose driven approach means all new products are developed on demand, for a specific project and need, and carries the authentic story of it's reason of existence. Our products are developed and manufactured at our own factory in south-western Finland by some of the best craftsmen in the world. Choice is inspired by heritage and Nordic urban...
Wood, Ash
$2,308 / item
Chouchou Rose Stool by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Chouchou rose stool by Pulpo Dimensions: D35 x W30 x H43 cm Materials: ceramic Also available in different colours. Whether stool or storage table...
Ceramic
$5,053 / item
Metate Stainles Steel Stool by David Del Valle
Located in Geneve, CH
Metate Stainles Steel Stool by David Del Valle Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 40 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Available in polished or brushed finish...
Stainless 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
$4,146 / item
Layered Oak Wood Stool by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered oak wood stool by Hyungshin Hwang Dimensions: D 33 x W 30 x H 42 cm Materials: weathered oak Layered Series is the main theme and concept o...
Oak
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
$21,709 / item
Large Bold Curved Sofa by Mohdern
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Bold Curved Sofa by Mohdern Dimensions: W 310 x D 133 x H 76 cm Materials: Fabric, Bouclé Bold is a refined furniture collection designed and produced by the Mohdern brand. T...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery
$1,743 / item
Fringes Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 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 and fringes. ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$824 / item
Senufo Stool by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
Senufo Stool by DAaZ Dimensions: D 36 x W 48 x H 46 cm. Materials: Albizzia. DAaZ Furniture honors the spirit of adventure. We embrace the escape of the ordinary and revel in the m...
Wood
$1,166 / item
Foot Stool by Project 213A
Located in Geneve, CH
Foot stool in brown by Project 213A Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 26.5 cm Materials: Chestnut wood. This playful design is inspired by a classic milking stool, and has a fun twis...
Chestnut
$2,850 / item
Silver Wave Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Silver 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 b...
Blown Glass
$1,743 / item
Fringes Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 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 and fringes. ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$1,578 / item
High Luna Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Luna Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 51 x D 53 x H 106 cm Materials: Paint, Fabric. Also available in W 51 x D 53 x H 90 cm, Seat Height: 60 cm. With the intention o...
Fabric, Paint
$19,954 / 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
$3,156 / 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, Foam, Wood
$883 / item
Bollocks Stool by Studio Pin
Located in Geneve, CH
Bollocks stool by Studio Pin Dimensions: D 39 x W 39 x H 46 cm Materials: poured concrete, polystyrene. Weight: 50 kg A chair for “real men” made of concrete. Nuff said St...
Concrete
$2,332 / item
Burnt Black E Tables / Stools by Touch With Eyes
Located in Geneve, CH
Burnt Black E 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 tables were made of wood washed o...
Wood
$1,013 / 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
Amazing Post modern Set of 3 stools Made from Solid color plexiglass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Amazing Unique Post modern set of Stools in solid color fabricated plexiglass. Beautiful 3 Stools very colorful large solid joined plexiglass Very Unique. (1) blue (1) green and (1) ...
Plexiglass, Acrylic, Lucite
$2,426 / 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
Single Jamaica Swivel Bar Stool by Pepe Cortes for Amat Spain
By Knoll, Pepe Cortés, Amat-3
Located in San Diego, CA
The Jamaica Swivel Stool from Amat brings an ultra-modern aesthetic to your living space. It was designed by Pepe Cortes. This stool boasts swivel capabilities that allow you to rest...
Chrome
$823 / item
Radical Design Blue Velvet 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...
Velvet
$965 / item
Saffron Yellow Threebù Stool by Marcantonio
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow 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 ...
Other
$965 / item
Jet Black Gear Stool by Anastasia Ivanyuk
Located in Geneve, CH
Jet Black 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 pr...
Other