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.
$1,386 / item
Timber Stool Indigo Blue by Onno Adriaanse
Located in Geneve, CH
Timber stool indigo blue by Onno Adriaanse Signed and numbered Dimensions: D40x W29 x H45 cm. Materials: stained pine wood, clear satin coating Also a...
Pine, Coating
$3,103 / item
Oak Root Stool by Daniel Elkayam
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak Root Stool by Daniel Elkayam One of a Kind Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak Wood Daniel Elkayam — Designer Jerusalem-born Art-de...
Oak
$1,810 / item
Low Brass Sculpted Stool, Misaya
By Misaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Low brass sculpted stool, Misaya Dimensions: W 58 x L 58 x H 24 cm Hand-sculpted stool.
Brass
Large Pausa Burnt Oak Bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Pausa burnt oak bench by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Dimensions: D 35 x W 95 x H 80 cm Materials: burnt oak wood. Available in natural oak version and in 3 sizes. Pausa is...
Oak
$6,911 / 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: Oak. The Building Stool is one of goons’ most architectural pieces. Inspired by the Nordic Pavilion o...
Wood
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
ELEMENTOS Stool Set in Sandblasted Pine with Natural Finish by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
ELEMENTOS Stool Set in Sandblasted Pine with Natural Finish by Daniel Couttolenc. Overall Dimensions: D 168 x W 168 x H 168 cm. Individual Dimensions: D 42 x W 42 x H 42 cm. Material...
Pine
Sculptural Side Table & Stool, Black Lacquered Wood, Panorammma, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult Stool remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials in a modernist manner. This edition of Cult Stool in stark contrast to its predecesor is redu...
Resin, Wood
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
Vintage Postmodern Memphis Style White Tubular Metal Swivel Bar Stools - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Postmodern Memphis Style White Tubular Metal Swivel Bar Stools by Cal-Style -...
Metal
American Designer, Stools, Pine, Brass, Mohair, USA, 1980s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of dark-stained pine, brass and mohair stools designed and produced in the US, c. 1980s. Dimensions: 31.25” H x 16” W x 15.375” D All upholstered furniture can be reupholste...
Brass
$1,445 / item
Puffy Stool L by Phormy
Located in Geneve, CH
PUFFY stool L by Phormy Dimensions: D 44 x W 110 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
Contemporary Gold Arch Stool with Brass Finish by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Contemporary Gold Arch Stool with Brass Finish by Pietro Franceschini. Dimensions: W 54 x L 31.5 x H 43 cm. Materials: steel with brass finish. This listing features the Gold Arch S...
Brass, Steel
Postmodern Kreuzschwinger Barstool by Till Behrens for Meyer Stahlmöbel, 1980s
By Till Behrens
Located in Hamburg, DE
Till Behrens Kreuzschwinger bar stool in the rare color black. Elegant design classic by Prof. Till Behrens in the Bar stool version. The further development of the free wing. The s...
Metal
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
Cubic Shape Natural Ash Wood Side Table with Fiber Seating by Heilig Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Throne Stool in Natural Ash Wood And Synthetic Yarn by Heilig Objects Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 45 cm. Materials: Ash wood and synthetic yarn. Daniel Heilig. A young Hungarian-Ger...
Ash, Yarn
Stool & Side Table, Convex, Black Lacquered Wood, Post-Modern, Panorammma
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish inform an imaginative play as sculptural stools or side table sets. Directly referencing chess pieces, these stools luidica...
Resin, Wood
Pair of Duplex stools by Javier Mariscal for BD 1980's Memphis
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Unique memphis style bar stools designed by Javier Mariscal and initally created for the Duplex bar in valencia. The stools are also on display at the Barcelona design Museum. 1980...
Metal
$176 / item
Postmodern stools by Samo, 1980s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Postmodern red tubular metal stools by Samo. Attractive design. 1980s - France Plywood seats. Salvaged from a school, used as laboratory stools Dimensions: Height: 70cm Width: 4...
Metal
$1,939 / item
Ult Black Ducale BZ Stool by GIROTTI ENRICO
Located in Geneve, CH
Ult Black Ducale BZ Stool by GIROTTI ENRICO Dimensions: W 53 x D 55 x H 110 cm Materials: Solid shaped steel with a chrome finish and eco-leather upholstery. Weight: 8 Kg. Enrico G...
Steel
$2,950 / item
Lune V Stool by Duistt
Located in Geneve, CH
Lune V Stool by Duistt Dimensions: D 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Duistt Fabric, Brass LUNE V stool, crafted with great attention to detail, is a gorgeous and versatile piece. It is pres...
Brass
$2,985 / item
Leather Lune C Stool by DUISTT
Located in Geneve, CH
Leather Lune C Stool by DUISTT Dimensions: D 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Bronze and Snake Special Leather An optional wood tray can be added. Please contact us for any request. LUNE C ...
Bronze
Design for Leisure Gray Ultrasuede, Lucite, Aluminum, Glass Postmodern Bar Suite
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This rare and fantastic bar suite was in the 1980s by Design for Leisure. The now defunct company was a high quality seating resource for the interior design trade, in the day. These...
Aluminum, Steel
$14,222 / item
Granite Caracoles Ceramic Stool by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Granite Caracoles Ceramic Stool by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 45.7 x W 45.7 x H 50.8 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Available in Green and Granite colors. This ceramic-crafted stool ...
Ceramic
$9,779 / item
Cronos Bench by Sebastián Ángeles
Located in Geneve, CH
Cronos bench by Sebastián Ángeles Dimensions: W 180 x D 42 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak Sebastián Angeles is an Industrial Designer originally from Mexico City who graduated from th...
Oak
$1,269 / item
Marmoset Bellini Low Stool by Coco Flip
Located in Geneve, CH
Marmoset 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 Paperbark. ...
Stone, Steel
$2,879 / item
Bleached Tauari Gravatá Counter Stool by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Bleached Tauari Gravatá Counter Stool by Wentz Dimensions: D 52 x W 47 x H 90 cm Materials: Tauari Wood, Cane/Upholstery. Weight: 4,4kg / 9,7 lbs The Gravatá series synthesizes our ...
Upholstery, Wood
$13,187 / item
Object 08 Black Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 08 Black 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
$1,892 / 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
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
$2,456 / item
Postmodern Stool by Dechem Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Postmodern stool by Dechem Studio. Dimensions: D 40 x H 45 cm. Materials: Corian. One of the few projects of DECHEM without glass, our Post M. Furniture collection was created i...
Corian
$10,625 / item
Hopi Ottoman Green Pattern by Marta Bakowski
Located in Geneve, CH
Hopi ottoman green pattern by Marta Bakowski. Dimensions:D 65 x W 65 x 44 cm. Materials: marble and fabric. Also available in different finishes. HOPI, this new collection of ottoma...
Marble
$5,675 / item
Banquito Galeana Stool by Jorge Diego Etienne
Located in Geneve, CH
Banquito Galeana stool by Jorge Diego Etienne Limited Edition of 10 + 1 AP Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 37.5 cm Material: alabaster Galeana is a collection of 6 objects designed...
Alabaster
$1,422 / item
Foot Stool in Natural by Project 213A
Located in Geneve, CH
Foot stool in Natural by Project 213A Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 26.5 cm Materials: Oak wood. This playful design is inspired by a classic milking stool, and has a fun twist w...
Oak
$840 / item
Large Natural Tupp Stool by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Natural Tupp stool by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 82 cm Materials: birch wood, nickel plated steel. Also available in other colors and with backrest. Giv...
Steel
Large Natural Tupp Barstool by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Large natural tupp barstool by Storängen Design. Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 102 x SH 82 cm. Materials: birch wood, nickel plated steel. Also available in other colors. Give th...
Steel
$4,913 / item
Layered Steel Seat XI by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel seat XI by Hyungshin Hwang Dimensions: D 36 x W 54 x H 54 cm Materials: stainless steel Layered Series is the main theme and concept of work of Hwang, who continue...
Stainless Steel
Stool & Side Table Set, Black Lacquered Wood, Post-Modern Design, Panorammma
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish lacquer play together as sculptural stools or side table sets.
Resin, Wood
$2,068 / item
Oak Stool 1 by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak Stool 1 by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 37 x H 50 cm. Materials: Oak. About: Romain des Bois is, above all, rooted in a deep love for the countryside — especially the country...
Wood
Contemporary Silver Arch Stool in Polished Aluminium by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Contemporary Silver Arch Stool in Polished Aluminium by Pietro Franceschini. Dimensions: W 54 x L 31.5 x H 43 cm. Materials: Polished Aluminium. This listing features the Silver Arc...
Aluminum
$1,116 / set
Vintage bar stools by Allmilmö, 1980s, Set of 3
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Set of 3 post modern bar stools by Allmilmö. White metal frames with cool bentwood seats. 1980s - Germany In good condition Dimensions: Height 100cm Width: 50cm Depth: 45cm Seat ...
Metal
$5,818 / item
Romy Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Romy Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 56 x W 60 x H 45 cm. Materials: Upholstery, wood. Available in different fabrics. This set of seats wit...
Upholstery, Wood
Aurora stool, black solid wood, black caning back, off white textiles seating
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
Danish Designer, Stools, Metal, Leather, Denmark, 1980s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brown leather and metal stools designed and produced in Denmark, c. 1980s. Seat Height (inches) stool 1: 13.88" Seat Height (inches) stool 2: 15.88"
Steel
Sculptural Night Log Side Table by Panorammma, Wood & Resin
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
$3,878 / item
Mangala Stool in Natural Oak Veneer by Pendhapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Mangala Stool in Natural Oak Veneer by Pendhapa. Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 45 cm. Materials: Natural Oak Veneer, fabric. This listing features our Mangala Stool in its 45 cm height confi...
Oak
$8,874 / item
Torii Oak and Rattan Stool by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Torii Oak and Rattan Stool by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 35 x W 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak, rattan. Available in Red or Black. Please contact us. For this stool, I have been inspir...
Oak, Rattan
$800Sale Price|27% Off
Stool ASHIGARU-4 by POPCORN
By POPCORN
Located in 加須市, 11
Stools, display stands, and interior design elements ASHIGARU means "a common foot soldier" in Japanese, so named because it looks like a common foot soldier. It weighs 13 kg.
Steel
Stool & Side Table, Concave, Black Lacquered Wood, Post-Modern, Panorammma
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Two hand-turned wooden pieces with an elegant piano polish lacquer play together as sculptural stools or side table sets.
Resin, Wood
Hexagonal Drumstool, Black Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse, Limited
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hexagonal drumstool Black lacquer Hand Repousse Limited Edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, ...
Lacquer
Swedish Designer, Stool, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine stool designed and produced in Sweden, 1970s.
Pine
Set of 3 Postmodern Stools in Bentwood, Alvar Aalto Style, Circa 1980s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Round Top, TX
Nice and simple set of (3) Postmodern stools in the style of the Artek Stool 60 by Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto. The originals were a 1930's design that utilized bent...
Wood, Bentwood
$6,464 / item
Sgabello Pois Antique Wood Stool by Yukiko Nagai
Located in Geneve, CH
Sgabello Pois Antique wood stool by Yukiko Nagai Dimensions: D33 x W33 x H50 cm Material: Wood, Marble, Nero, Natural stone, Styrofoam, Glass fib...
Stone, Cement, Marble
Soma Bar Stool in White Pigmented Lacquered Oak by Kasper Nyman
Located in Geneve, CH
Soma Bar Stool in White Pigmented Lacquered Oak by Kasper Nyman. Materials: Solid oak, Plywood with oak veneer. Dimensions: D 49.5 x W 47.5 x H 101 cm. This listing features the Som...
Oak, Plywood, Wood, Hardwood, Lacquer
Soma Counter Chair in White Pigmented Lacquered Oak by Kasper Nyman
Located in Geneve, CH
Soma Counter Chair in White Pigmented Lacquered Oak by Kasper Nyman. Materials: Solid oak, Plywood with oak veneer. Dimensions: D 49.5 x W 47.5 x H 91 cm. This listing features the ...
Plywood, Wood, Hardwood, Oak, Lacquer
Set of Six De Sede DS 218 Bar Stools by Paolo Piva in Nappa Leather
By Paolo Piva, De Sede
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
This set of six bar stools with red seats made of high-quality nappa leather is in excellent condition. The leather seats show minimal signs of wear. The cubic frames made of polishe...
Stainless Steel
$880Sale Price|20% Off
Stool ASHIGARU-8 by POPCORN
By POPCORN
Located in 加須市, 11
Stools, display stands, and interior design elements ASHIGARU means "a common foot soldier" in Japanese, so named because it looks like a common foot soldier. It weighs 13 kg.
Steel
Postmodern Leather Bar Stools designed by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Poltrona Frau
By Massimo Iosa Ghini, Poltrona Frau
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find stunning postmodern swivel bar stools, model "Alo", designed by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Poltrona Frau. Each chair is stamped by the manufacturer beneath ...
Steel
Inside / Outside Jää Cube Side Table / Seat - Recycled Plastic - Pair Available
Located in Leicester, GB
The Jää cube is a multifunctional side table. The Jää cube has a sculptural design with a beautiful tactile surface and small, satin polished aluminium spacers and end nuts. It has a...
Aluminum
Vintage Memphis Style Hammered Metal Counter Stools Newly Upholstered - Set of 4
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Memphis Style Hammered Metal Counter Stools Newly Upholstered - Set of 4 Striking set of four Postmodern counter-height chairs featuring sculptural brushed metal frames and ...
Metal