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.
$2,344 / 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
$2,158 / item
Brass Sculptural Log Stool - Small Size by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Sculptural Log Stool - Small size by Misaya Dimensions: W 22 x D 27 x H 44 cm Materials: Brass Also available: Different colors (gold, polished brass. black, painted brass) an...
Brass
$1,222 / 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
$7,500 / item
Pierre Chapo Stool 'S13A' in Elm
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, stools, model 'S31A', solid elm, France, circa 1974 This S31A stool is one of the early editions designed by Pierre Chapo, known for his hallmark use of solid elmwood ...
Elm
$837 / 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
$1,105 / 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
$2,368 / 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
$2,871 / item
Ciro Stool by Murubi
Located in Geneve, CH
Ciro Stool by Murubi Dimensions: W 50 x D 50 x H 45.5 cm. Materials: Teak Wood- Natural, Cast Aluminium, Black powder coated, Cane natural. Murubi is a contemporary design-driven...
Wood
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
$2,109 / item
Object 02 Vert Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 02 vert 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
$2,572 / 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
Set of 2, Airisto Side Tables/ Stools, Stained Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, airisto side tables/ stools, stained black by Made By Choice with Joanna Laajisto Dimensions: D35 x H45 cm Materials: solid ash. Finishes: natural ash / painted black ...
Wood, Ash
Small Pausa Oak Stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Pausa oak stool by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 20 x W 35 x H 45 cm. Materials: burned oak. Available in natural oak version and in 3 sizes. Pausa is a series...
Oak
Past Create Future Barstool by Markus Friedrich Staab
Located in Geneve, CH
Past Create Future Barstool by Markus Friedrich Staab One of a Kind Dimensions: D 26 x W 43 x H 74 cm. Materials: Wood, lacquer, paint. French barstool contemporized, piece added, c...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
$5,380 / item
Barth Laqué Stool by Le Berre Vevaud
Located in Geneve, CH
Barth Laqué Stool by Le Berre Vevaud Dimensions: D 37 x H 45 cm. Materials: Solid Wood, Variety of Linden, Gloss lacquer in Aubergine ALV-L0039. For over 15 years, Raphaël Le Berre...
Wood
$19,738 / item
Ocean Blue Wave Ceramic Chair by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ocean Blue 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 s...
Ceramic
$3,313 / item
Unique Building Stool by Goons
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique building stool by Goons Dimensions: W 41 x D 26 x H 33 cm Materials: Wood Dimensions can be adjusted +/- 10 cm Goons is located in Paris, France. All of their designs are ...
Wood
$934 / item
Lonna Bar Stool, Oak by Made By Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Lonna bar stool, oak by Made By Choice (Medium) Dimensions: 34 x 34 x 66 cm Materials: Oak Also Available: Ash, Black, Ultra Yellow Custom color Lonna furniture series was or...
Ash
$2,117 / item
Blooming Cuts Stool by Ebba Lindgren
Located in Geneve, CH
Blooming Cuts Stool by Ebba Lindgren Dimensions: D 50 x W 60 x H 45 cm. Materials: Recycled textile fiberboard (“really board”). Ebba Lindgren Is an internationally renowned artist...
Other
$1,953 / item
White Oak Mono Bar Stool by Kasper Nyman
Located in Geneve, CH
White oak mono bar stool by Kasper Nyman. Materials: plywood with oak veneer. Dimensions: D 44.7 x W 43.7 x H 87.6 cm. The founders, Mia and Torben Koed, decided to put their 30...
Oak, Plywood
$933 / item
Flame Red Double U Stool by Kazuko Okamoto
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Red Double U Stool by Kazuko Okamoto Dimensions: D 43 x W 43 x H 58 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 7 kg. Available in different color options. This product is suitable ...
Other
Bar Stools in Metal and Red Corduroy Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Bar stools, metal, velvet, Europe, 1970s. Exquisite barstools in red velvet upholstery. Due to the soft seat and back, these chairs provide a very pleasant seating comfort. The five...
Metal
$2,392 / item
Pedina Stool by Kreoo
Located in Geneve, CH
Pedina Stool by Kreoo Designed by Enzo Berti Dimensions: Ø 36 x H 43 cm. Base: Ø 25 cm. Materials: Verde Imperiale marble. Available in different marble options. Please contact us....
Marble
$2,895 / 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
$1,818 / item
Natú Stool by Frau Caze
Located in Geneve, CH
Natú Stool by Frau Caze Dimensions: D 35 x W 54 x H 36.5 cm. Materials: Oiled walnut, natural leather. Although Berlin has been her home for many years, Carolin – the designer behi...
Leather, Walnut
$3,074 / item
MG102 Kitchen Bar Stool by Malte Gormsen
Located in Geneve, CH
MG102 Kitchen Bar Stool by Malte Gormsen Dimensions: D 37 x W 43 x H 65 cm. Materials: Dark Nature oak, blackened metal. Available in Nature, Raw Nature, Light Nature, Grey Nature, ...
Metal
$11,053 / item
Olla Stool I by Brera Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Olla Stool I by Brera Studio One of a kind. Dimensions: D 75 x W 75 x H 45 cm. Materials: pinewood, paint, linen. Made from endemic pine wood in the region of Chihuahua, and ha...
Linen, Wood, Pine, Paint
$22,873 / item
Object 06 Brown Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 06 Brown Seating by Volta One Of A Kind. Dimensions: D 80 x W 200 x H 75 cm. Materials: Cork and ceramic. Also available in diffentent colors. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLECT...
Ceramic, Cork
$1,914 / item
Fran Stool by GIROTTI ENRICO
Located in Geneve, CH
Fran Stool by GIROTTI ENRICO Dimensions: W 64 x D 51 x H 101 cm Materials: Steel, Upholstery. Weight: 8 Kg. Enrico Girotti is an industrial designer who has found in the word “make...
Steel
$2,368 / item
Burnt Black B Tables / Stools by Touch With Eyes
Located in Geneve, CH
Burnt Black B 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
$681 / item
High Básica Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Básica Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 46 x D 50 x H 104 cm Materials: Paint, Natural Leather With the intention of providing good taste and personality, Doimo deciph...
Leather, Paint
$14,343 / 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
$1,315 / item
Sweet Fuchsia Voilà High Stool by Marc Sadler
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia Voilà High Stool by Marc Sadler Dimensions: D 38 x W 35 x H 84 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 6 kg. Available in different different color options. This product ...
Other
$1,818 / item
Timber Stool Burned Pine by Onno Adriaanse
Located in Geneve, CH
Timber Stool Burned Pine by Onno Adriaanse Signed and numbered Dimensions: D 40 x W 29 x H 45 cm Materials: Burned pine, colored linseed oil Also available in Color: Indigo blue, pur...
Coating, Pine
$1,292 / item
Mikado Bellini Low Stool by Coco Flip
Located in Geneve, CH
Mikado Bellini Low Stool by Coco Flip Dimensions: D 34 x W 34 x H 45 cm Materials: Timber / Stone tops, Powder-coated steel frame. Weight: 5 kg Frame Finishes: Textura Black. Coco ...
Stone, Steel
$9,474 / set
Set of 2 Bar Stools by Studio Nicolas Erauw
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 bar stools by Studio Nicolas Erauw. Unique piece. Limited Edition 1 of 1. Dimensions: - H 70 cm x Ø 33 cm - H 70 cmx Ø 35 cm Materials: Aluminum, wax dipped Par...
Aluminum
Set of 2, Airisto Side Tables / Stools, Natural Color by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2, 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
$1,315 / item
Flame Red Drink High Stool by Jorge Najera
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Red Drink High Stool by Jorge Najera Dimensions: Ø 45 x H 75 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 7 kg. Available in different color options. This product is suitable for ind...
Other
Contemporary Art Senior Footstool in Velvet and Grezzo Arte Wood by Urano Palma
By Mirabili, Urano Palma
Located in Pistoia, IT
... So many chairs, so many benches, so many big tables, all with the wrinkled skin of old tree trunks or of rusted metal sheet. The chair is probably the central symbol of this univ...
Velvet, Wood
Small Pausa Oak Bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Pausa oak bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 20 x W 95 x H 45 cm Materials: oak wood. Available in burnt oak version and in 3 sizes. Pa...
Oak
$1,926 / item
Element Bulk Stool by Idaaf Architects
Located in Geneve, CH
Element Bulk Stool by Idaaf Architects Dimensions: W 85 x D 40 x H 55 cm Materials: Century Old Oak Made of solid oak, this 'Bulk' stool is one of the pieces of the ‘Element’ collection influenced by the Georgian Oda house...
Oak
$9,941 / 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
Pair of Postmodern Stools by Anna Casatelli Ferrieri for Kartell, Italy, 1980s
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in Rome, IT
Pair of black and white Postmodern bar or counter stools by the Italian designer Anna Casatelli Ferrieri for Kartell, Italy, circa 1980.
Metal
Original Printed Velvet Awaiting H Stool by Secondome Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Original Printed Velvet Awaiting H Stool by Secondome Edizioni Limited Edition Of 9 pieces + 3 A.P. Designer: Coralla Maiuri + Giorgia Zanellato. Dimensions: D 40 x W 65 x H 60 cm. M...
Brass
$731 / item
Be My Guest Bar Stool by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Be My Guest Bar Stool by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 38 x H 73 cm Material: White oiled solid oak, French cane, Black noir powder coated steel frame W...
Steel
$1,411 / item
Timber Stool Uncolored Wood by Onno Adriaanse
Located in Geneve, CH
Timber stool uncolored wood by Onno Adriaanse Signed and numbered Dimensions: D 40x W 29 x H 45 cm Materials: Stained pine wood, clear satin coating A...
Pine, Coating
$5,488 / item
Object 05 Black Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 05 Black 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
$5,263 / item
Layered Steel Seat VI by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel seat VI by Hyungshin Hwang. Dimensions: D 33 x W 51 x H 93 cm. Materials: stainless steel. Layered Series is the main theme and concept of work of Hwang, who conti...
Stainless Steel
$3,421 / item
Layered Steel Stool by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel stool by Hyungshin Hwang 2019 Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 42 cm Materials: Stainless Steel Layered Series is the main theme and...
Stainless Steel
$5,263 / item
Layered Steel Seat VII by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel seat VII by Hyungshin Hwang Dimensions: D 33 x W 54 x H 66 cm Materials: stainless steel Layered Series is the main theme and concept of work of Hwang, who continu...
Stainless Steel
$5,263 / item
Layered Steel Seat iii by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel seat III by Hyungshin Hwang Dimensions: D 33 x W 54 x H 99 cm Materials: stainless steel Layered Series is the main theme and concept of work of Hwang, who continu...
Stainless Steel
$7,632 / item
Olla Stool II by Brera Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Olla stool II by Brera Studio. One of a kind. Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 40 cm. Materials: pinewood and paint. Made from endemic pine wood in the region of Chihuahua, and hand...
Wood, Pine, Paint
Postmodern Plastic Faux Wood Stool, Memphis Style, Vintage, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Plastic Faux Wood Stool, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Plastic Styles: Memphis, Postmodern Item Type: Vintage, Anti...
Plastic
$5,263 / item
Layered Steel Seat XVII by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel seat XVII by Hyungshin Hwang Dimensions: D 30 x W 51 x H 108 cm Materials: stainless steel Layered Series is the main theme and concept of work of Hwang, who conti...
Stainless Steel
$9,594 / item
Brazilian Ottoman by Tino Seubert
Located in Geneve, CH
Brazilian ottoman by Tino Seubert Dimensions: D 140 x W 70 x H 38 cm. Materials: Oiled Sapele wood, Alpaca bouclé upholstered mattress. Tino Seubert When he first made his now ...
Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood
$1,973 / item
Unique Arch Circular White Stool by Mesut Öztürk
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique arch circular white stool by Mesut Öztürk Dimensions: W 26 x D 26 x H 41 cm Materials: Stoneware "Arch Stools are sculptural furniture's deri...
Stoneware
$949 / item
White Tupp Barstool by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
White 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 other colors. Give the bar some ...
Steel
$2,308 / item
Brass Ribbon Stool by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Steel Ribbon stool by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 50 x W 15 x H 43 cm Materials: brass Available in steel and brass. An exercise in minimalism and...
Brass
$4,773 / item
Trasiego Bench by Sebastián Ángeles
Located in Geneve, CH
Trasiego bench by Arturo Verástegui Dimensions: D 160 x W 60 x H 42 cm Materials: oak wood. Natural white oak bench. Sebastián Angeles is an In...
Oak
$586 / item
Smoked Cork Prop Stool by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Smoked Cork Prop Stool by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 41 x W 41 x H 70 cm Materials: Cork, Black Powder Coated Steel Also Available: Different colors available, OX DENMARQ is a Dan...
Steel