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.
$7,151 / item
White Magic Stool by Lucile Gracile
Located in Geneve, CH
White Magic Stool by Lucile Gracile Dimensions: D 65 x W 48 x H 35 cm Materials: Glazed ceramic, platinum. Born in 1988, lives and works in Paris. Ceramic artist using traditional ...
Platinum
Rare French Modern Craftsman Stool / Chair Attr. to Garouste and Bonetti, 1988
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in New York, NY
A rare and unique stool or bench attributed to the French design team of Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti. Garouste and Bonetti are known for their original creations that are bold and dramatic and feature exquisite materials and craftsmanship. This rare creation demonstration is an exciting work of imagination and sensuosity while displaying beautiful materials and finishing. This post-modern object...
Brass, Wrought Iron
$4,620 / item
Large Bolota Capture Stool by A. Jacob Marks
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Bolota Capture Stool by A. Jacob Marks Dimensions: W 61 x D 32 x H 46 cm. Materials: high density black cork, blackened aluminum. BC2 BOLOTA is a limited series of seating an...
Aluminum
Porcelain and Oak Stool, Judith van den Boom, Netherlands, 2012
Located in Regensburg, DE
Stool Porcelain by Studio Boom Wehmeyer, 2012. Artist: Judith van den Boom (Dutch, b. 1977) Unique Work from the series ‚Vitrified Variables‘. Porcelain, moulded and glazed, oak. Di...
Porcelain, Oak
$2,413 / item
Rumbo Stool by Jean-Baptiste Van Den Heede
Located in Geneve, CH
RUMBO stool by Jean-Baptiste Van den Heede Dimensions: W 49 x D 28 x H 40 cm Materials: white beech The RUMBO stool version in beech wood with walnut plywood bottom Jean-Baptiste V...
Textile, Beech
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
$9,961 / item
Console Bar Stool by Konstantin Achkov
Located in Geneve, CH
Console Bar Stool by Konstantin Achkov Limited Edition Dimensions: D 50 x W 44 x H 85 cm. SH: 65 cm. Materials: Oak wood, epoxy resin, and stainless steel. Konstantin Achkov is a le...
Stainless Steel
$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
$13,188 / item
Nuture Stool by Ella Bulley
Located in Geneve, CH
Nuture Stool by Ella Bulley Limited Edition Of 15 Pieces Dimensions: D 40 x W 90 x H 76 cm. Materials: Walnut and red wood. Ella Bulley is a Material Design Studio based in London, ...
Wood, Walnut
Rockstool Large Signed Rock Shaped Stool by Rockstool Paris
Located in Geneve, CH
Rockstool Large Signed Rock Shaped Stool by Rockstool Paris Dimensions: W 130 x D 92 x H 55 cm Materials: Stoneware Available in different colors and sizes, please contact us. It's...
Stone, Other
Post Modern High Arm Bench by Directional, 1970
By Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
Post Modern high arm bench by Directional, 1970. Original upholstery.
Upholstery
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
Galactica Star Decorative Stool in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Galactica Star Decorative Stool in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 43 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. “Where to, Miss?... To the stars!” (Tit...
Other, Aluminum
$2,298 / item
Escape Stool by Duistt
Located in Geneve, CH
Escape Stool by Duistt Dimensions: D 50 x H 45 cm Materials: Duistt Fabric, Light Bronze The ESCAPE stool, crafted with great attention, was elegantly designed with a special fabric...
Bronze
$3,401 / item
Temple Oak and Leather Stool by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Temple Oak and Leather Stool by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 35 x W 45 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak, leather. Made out of four hexagonal prisma legs, this stool is a throw back to classic ...
Oak, Leather
$7,012 / item
Cyber Stool in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Cyber Stool in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Dimensions: D 43 x W 40 x H 85 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum. The space routes of the Apollo 11 are all enclos...
Aluminum
$7,256 / item
Cromo (0) Stool by Breuer
Located in Geneve, CH
Cromo (0) Stool by Breuer Dimensions: D 40 x H 46.5 cm. Materials: High-gloss lacquered wood, steel. Cromo is inspired by the duality of nature and technology. This collection is ch...
Steel
Set of Three 1980s Postmodern "Alice" Bar Stools by Claudio Nardi for Zeus
Located in Sacramento, CA
Set of three 1980s postmodern bar stools manufactured by Zeus Noto in Italy and designed by Claudio Nardi. The stools have gray powder-coated steel bases and black molded polyurethan...
Steel
$1,102 / 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
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
$1,428 / item
Saffron Yellow Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow 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 standa...
Other
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
$2,263 / 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
Dartagnan Tinto Rovere Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Dartagnan Tinto Rovere Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 53.5 x W 50.5 x H 95.5 cm. Materials: Nero leather, Tinto Rovere ash. Available i...
Leather, Ash
$2,844 / item
Unique Wood Stool by Goons
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique wood stool by Goons. Dimensions: W 50 x D 35 x H 33 cm Materials: wood Dimensions can be adjusted +/- 10 cm Goons is located in Paris, France. All of their designs are...
Wood
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
“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
$777 / item
Cognac September Bar Stool by Ox Denmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Cognac September Bar Stool by Ox Denmarq Dimensions: D 38 x W 42 x H 93 cm Materials: Leather, Black Powder Coated Steel Also Available: Different colors available, OX DENMARQ ...
Steel
$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
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
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
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
$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
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
$1,962 / 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
$2,066 / 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
$10,774 / 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
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
$2,380 / item
Dove Grey Ribs Up High Stool by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Dove Grey Ribs Up High Stool by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 58 x W 57 x H 117 cm. Seat Height: 73 cm. Materials: Polyethylene and metal. Weight: 13 kg. Avai...
Metal, Other
Dartagnan Tinto Grigio 3 Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Dartagnan Tinto Grigio 3 Ash Bar Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 53.5 x W 50.5 x H 95.5 cm. Materials: Nero leather, Tinto Grigio 3 ash. Available in different ash finishes ...
Leather, Ash
$5,236 / 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
$3,784 / 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
$2,844 / item
Green Gravatá Bar Stool by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Gravatá Bar Stool by Wentz Dimensions: D 52 x W 47 x H 100 cm Materials: Tauari Wood, Cane/Upholstery. Weight: 4,7kg / 10,4 lbs The Gravatá series synthesizes our vision regar...
Upholstery, Wood
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
$4,980 / 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
$5,236 / 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
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
$626 / item
Oslinchik 01 Low Stool by Oito
Located in Geneve, CH
Oslinchik 01 Low Stool by Oito Dimensions: D21 x W38 x H30 cm Materials: Oak wood, wax or paint. Weight: 4 kg Also Available in different colours. Wooden stools are a trend fo...
Oak
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
$7,302 / 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
$1,462 / 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
$14,814 / 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