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.
Stool and light Elephant -Dutch Design Richard Hutten for Gispen- 2008
By Richard Hutten, Gispen
Located in The Hague, NL
The Low-res Elephant is both a stool, a lamp and a playful decoration object at the same time. Designed by Richard Hutten in 2008 for the renowned Dutch manufacturer Gispen in the Ne...
Acrylic
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
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
Pair of Bar Stools "Dania" in green leather by Salvati & Tresoldi for Saporiti
By Salvati & Tresoldi, Saporiti
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a pair of striking swivel Postmodern Bar Stools designed by Salvati & Tresoldi for Saporiti Italia. They feature a leather upholstered in forest gre...
Stainless Steel
Set Of 5 Mini Sissi Stackable Totems in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 5 Mini Sissi Stackable Totems in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition of 10 Pieces Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 35 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Mini ...
Aluminum
Mini Sissi Stackable Totem Seat in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Mini Sissi Stackable Totem Seat in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition of 10 Pieces Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 35 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Mini Sissi...
Aluminum
Sissi Stackable Totem Seat in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Sissi Stackable Totem Seat in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition of 10 Pieces Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 45 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Sissi is a made...
Aluminum
Set Of 5 Sissi Stackable Totem Seats in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 5 Sissi Stackable Totem Seats in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Limited Edition of 10 Pieces Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 45 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. Sissi...
Aluminum
Hanabishi Stool, Stained Birch Wood by Mun Hau Production
Located in Geneve, CH
Hanabishi Stool, Stained Birch Wood by Mun Hau Production Dimensions: W 38 x D 28 x H 43.5 cm. Materials: Stained Birch Wood, Stained Birch Plywood, Wood inlay - oak, sapele, birch. ...
Wood
$2,637 / item
Coleman Bar Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Coleman Bar Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 54 x W 44 x H 105 cm. SH: 80 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Vivid Chenille, ref. Moss, VIC13. Le...
Brass
$1,103 / 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
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
$2,265 / item
Bolota Capture Stool by A. Jacob Marks
Located in Geneve, CH
Bolota Capture Stool by A. Jacob Marks Dimensions: D 30.5 x H 46 cm. Materials: high density black cork, blackened aluminum. BC1 BOLOTA is a limited series of seating and tables fea...
Aluminum
Unique, Plywood, Oak and Paper Summit Stool Joanne Odisho
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique, Plywood, Oak and Paper Summit Stool Joanne Odisho Dimensions: W 30 x D 45 x H 45 cm Materials: Plywood, American Oak, Paper Pump. Joanne Odisho is a designer committed to s...
Paper, Oak, Plywood
$10,780 / item
Slumped Leather Stool by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Slumped leather stool by Gentner Design. Dimensions: D 48 x W 48 x H 43 cm. Materials: aluminium, raw leather. These uniquely shaped stools are incredibly lightweight and extrem...
Aluminum
$880Sale Price|20% Off
Stool ASHIGARU-6 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
“Florada” Stool in Wool and Wood by Inês Schertel, Brazil, 2021
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
“Florada” Stool in Wool and Wood by Inês Schertel, Brazil, 2021 Ines Schertel's primary material is sheep's wool. As a practitioner of Slow Design, the artist takes a holistic appro...
Wool, Wood
Swedish Designer, Stool, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine stool designed and produced in Sweden, 1970s.
Pine
Swedish Designer, Stool, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine stool designed and produced in Sweden, 1970s.
Pine
Vintage Veneman Cast Aluminum Branch Barstools. - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite pair of Veneman cast aluminum barstools captures the whimsical yet sophisticated essence of Faux Bois design. Expertly crafted to mimic the organic texture of real tre...
Aluminum
$3,787 / item
Newman Counter Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Newman Counter Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 40 x H 92 cm. SH: 70 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and leather. Finish: Upholstery: Leather, ref. Cream, L02. Legs: Cream...
Brass
1980's Postmodern Barstools by Les Industries Amisco, Canada, Leather Minimalist
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
1980's Postmodern Barstools by Les Industries Amisco, Canada, Leather, Minimalist, Kitchen, Stools Vintage from the 1980s DIMENSIONS: 20ʺW × 20ʺD × 43.5ʺH Seat Height: 30.5" These...
Metal
$7,040Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary "Bullet Proof" Bench by Brazilian designer Alê Jordão, Brazil 2017
By Alê Jordão
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
The 2017 "Bullet Proof" Bench by the contemporary Brazilian designer Alê Jordão is structured in welded steel and armoured glass, featuring the unique shots...
Steel
Barrel Chair Counter Stools Post Modern Preview, 1990
$1,463 / item
Halikko Stool Backrest, Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Halikko stool backrest, black by Made By Choice Dimensions: 47 x 42 x 84 cm Materials: solid oak Standard finishes: natural wood / painted black. Also available: upholstery in...
Oak
$1,963 / 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
$2,067 / item
Charlotte Teak Wood Stool by Heaps & Woods
Located in Geneve, CH
Charlotte 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
$14,823 / set
Set of 2 Tamga Stools by Tolga Sencer
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Tamga Stools by Tolga Sencer Dimensions: D 55.5 x W 55.5 x H 40 cm (each). Materials: Wenge wood and American walnut. Available in different...
Wenge, Walnut
Rockstool Medium Signed Rock Shaped Stool by Rockstool Paris
Located in Geneve, CH
Rockstool Medium Signed Rock Shaped Stool by Rockstool Paris Dimensions: W 80 x D 65 x H 50 cm Materials: Stoneware Available in different colors and sizes, please contact us. It's...
Stone, Other
Natural White Ash Lineground no. 2 Counter Stool by A. Jacob Marks
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Walnut Lineground no. 2 Counter Chair by SKRAM Dimensions: W 51 x D 53 x H 91 cm. Materials: Natural Walnut. LC4 The lineground no. 2 stools are offered in 2 models for coun...
Walnut
Dartagnan Tinto Grigio 1 Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Dartagnan Tinto Grigio 1 Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 53.5 x W 50.5 x H 95.5 cm. Materials: Nero leather, Tinto Grigio 1 ash. Available in different ash finishes ...
Leather, Ash
4er Set Vitra HAL RE Barhocker Küchenvariante Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Vitra
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten eins von insgesamt vier 4er Sets Barhockern vom deutschen Premiumhersteller Vitra zum Verkauf an. Bei den Stühlen handelt es sich um die niedrigere Küchenvariante mit rund...
Steel, Chrome
$1,428 / item
Sweet Fuchsia Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid Dimensions: D 40 x W 43 x H 76 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 5 kg. Available in different color options. Available in standar...
Other
$3,833 / 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 Brass Other versions are available, please contact us for any request. More than mere furniture, th...
Brass
$17,890 / item
Large Bold Sofa by Mohdern
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Bold Sofa by Mohdern Dimensions: W 320 x D 102 x H 76 cm Materials: Fabric, Bouclé Bold is a refined furniture collection designed and produced by the Mohdern brand. The seri...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery
$5,239 / item
Wave Stool & Side Table VIII by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Wave Stool & Side Table VIII by Homa. Dimensions: D 25 x H 54 cm. Materials: Blown Glass, Smoke Mirror. Colour: Smoke. Formed through an experimental glassblowing process, each Wave...
Blown Glass, Mirror
$1,347 / item
Sanguine Bellini High Stool by Coco Flip
Located in Geneve, CH
Sanguine Bellini High Stool by Coco Flip Dimensions: D 34 x W 34 x H 65/75 cm Materials: Timber / Stone tops, Powder-coated steel frame. Weight: 8kg Frame Finishes: Textura Paperbar...
Stone, Steel
Post modern cantilevered set of chrome and black vinyl barstools, circa 1990s
Located in Houston, TX
Post modern cantilevered set of chrome and black vinyl barstools, circa 1990s. Chrome has been cleaned and the stools are in very good condition. Structurally sound. 38.5” H x 16” ...
Chrome
Stone Heart Travertine Stool by Harshita Jhamtani Designs
Located in Geneve, CH
Stone Heart Travertine Stool by Harshita Jhamtani Designs Dimensions: D 30.5 x H 45.7 cm Materials: Travertine. Handcrafted from beige and red travertine, this unique ottoman/end ta...
Travertine
Postmodern Prototype Stool by Isabelle Moore, 1995
Located in Surbiton, GB
Prototype barstool made by the artist and furniture maker Isabelle Moore in 1995 at Parnham College. Composed from maple, suede and painted MDF. Isabelle Moore creates unique furni...
Suede, Wood, Maple
Set of 4 SPC Black Chairs by Atelier Thomas Serruys
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 SPC black chairs by Atelier Thomas Serruys. Dimensions: D65 x W43 x H46. Materials: steel, powder coated. Steel chair made of one shaped tube with sheet steel seat and ...
Steel
$6,168 / item
Element Red Marble Stool by Idaaf Architects
Located in Geneve, CH
Element Red Marble Stool by Idaaf Architects Dimensions: W 75 x D 40 x H 55 cm Materials: Georgian Red Marble ‘Element’, which combines furniture of different functions, was created under the influence of the Georgian Oda house...
Marble
$2,044 / item
Object 04 Violet Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 04 violet seating by Volta Dimensions: D45 x W40 x H90 cm Materials: Cork and Velvet Also available in diffentent colours. Please contact us. MEÏ COLLECTION The Meï col...
Velvet, Cork
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
$4,983 / item
Wave Stool & Side Table I by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Wave Stool & Side Table I by Homa. Dimensions: W 30 x D 23 x H 40 cm . Materials: Blown Glass. Colour: Brown. Formed through an experimental glassblowing process, each Wave Stool/S...
Blown Glass
$5,239 / item
Wave Stool & Side Table IV by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Wave Stool & Side Table IV by Homa Dimensions: W 26 x D 30 x H 40 cm. Materials: Blown Glass, Silver Mirror. Colour: Brown. Formed through an experimental glassblowing process, e...
Blown Glass, Mirror
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
$4,925 / item
Stainless Steel Julius Bar Stool by Duistt
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless Steel Julius Bar Stool by Duistt Dimensions: W 55 x D 46 x H 101 cm Materials: Stainless Steel and Brass The JULIUS stainless steel bar stool, crafted with great attention...
Stainless Steel
$13,034 / item
Object 08 Brown Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 08 Brown 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
$7,307 / item
Form Entry Table by Goons
Located in Geneve, CH
Form Entry Table by Goons Dimensions: W 35 x D 31 x H 74 cm Materials: Wood. Finish: White wash The Form Entry Table, multifaceted and multifunctional, was born of our studio itself...
Wood
$19,679 / item
Gradient 03 Stool / Side Table by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Gradient 03 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
$3,578 / item
Mārum Stool by Murubi
Located in Geneve, CH
Mārum Stool by Murubi Dimensions: W 65 x D 41.5 x H 46.5 cm. Materials: Teak Wood & Walnut Wood. Wood & Finish: Walnut. Also available in different finishes: Teak Wood & Walnut W...
Wood, Teak, Walnut
$6,389 / 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
$952 / item
Lime Green Threebù Stool by Marcantonio
Located in Geneve, CH
Lime Green 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 vege...
Other
Javier Mariscal duplex stool
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Old edition of iconic duplex stool by Javier Mariscal . Made in beginning of the eighties for the duplex bar in Valence.
Metal
$731 / item
SPC Black Chair by Atelier Thomas Serruys
Located in Geneve, CH
SPC black chair by Atelier Thomas Serruys Dimensions: D65 x W43 x H46 Materials: Steel, Powder Coated Steel chair made of one shaped tube with shee...
Steel
Ensemble of 3 Playful Cha-Cha-Cha' Black Marble Stools by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Ensemble of 3 Cha-Cha-Cha' stools by Pietro Franceschini Sold exclusively by Galerie Philia Materials: Nero Marquina marble Dimensions: 1. W 30cm, L 30cm, H 45cm 2. W 30cm, L 30...
Marble
$6,052 / item
Birch Plywood and Reclaimed Wood Form Stool by Goons
Located in Geneve, CH
Birch Plywood and Reclaimed Wood Form Stool by Goons Dimensions: W 28 x D 35 x H 44 cm Materials: Birch Plywood and Reclaimed Wood. Finish: White wash The Form Stool, multifaceted a...
Wood
$3,066 / item
Meta Stool 3-Legged by Jaclyn Pappalardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Meta Stool 3-Legged by Jaclyn Pappalardo Dimensions: W 47 x D 36 x H 49 cm Materials: Pine wood, upholstery foam and bouclè wool fabric. Jaclyn is a designer and maker based in Lon...
Steel
Set of 10 Soft Edge72 Stools, Oak by Iskos-Berlin for Hay
By Iskos-Berlin, HAY
Located in Dubai, AE
Iskos-Berlin’s Soft Edge series features an organically shaped design, blending strong curves with extreme lightness to create a minimalistic design that optimizes human-centric comf...
Oak