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.
$5,177 / item
Aro Stool by Gabriela Campos
Located in Geneve, CH
Aro Stool by Gabriela Campos Dimensions: D 55 x W 55 x H 62 cm. Materials: Freijó wood with imbuia finish and hand-painted fabric. The essence of this capsule of 4 pieces is a dialo...
Fabric, Wood
$6,243 / 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
Swedish Designer, Stool, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine stool designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Seat height: 17”
Pine
$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
$1,701 / item
Umber Pier Bar Stool by Resident
Located in Geneve, CH
Umber 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
$7,489 / 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
Tecton Stool & Coffee Table in Travertine by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980
Located in Geneve, CH
Tecton Stool & Coffee Table in Travertine by Félix Millory for Monitillo 1980. Dimensions: W 69.2 x D 40 x H 55 cm. Materials: Travertine. This Small Stool and Coffee Table is avail...
Travertine
KABIKI Rocking Stool in Red Oak with Black Finish by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
KABIKI Rocking Stool in Red Oak with Black Finish by Daniel Couttolenc. Dimensions: D 90 x W 45 x H 56 cm. Materials: Red Oak. The KABIKI Rocking Stool by Daniel Couttolenc is a scu...
Oak
Travertino Rosso Contemporary Honed Marble Stool by Angelo Alinea
Located in Geneve, CH
Travertino Rosso 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
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
Grey Saint Laurent Contemporary Honed Marble Stool by Angelo Alinea
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey Saint Laurent 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
$2,672 / item
In Between 140 Bench by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
In Between 140 Bench by Munna Dimensions: D 40 x W 140 x H 50 cm. SH: 50 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, nickel, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Silence Chenille, ref. Pale Gree...
Nickel
$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
$800Sale Price|27% Off
Stool ASHIGARU-5 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
$11,073 / item
Ebonized Mahogany Stool by Michael Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Ebonized Mahogany Stool by Michael Wilson Dimensions: W 83.82 x D 39.37 x H 53.34 cm Materials: mahogany The Michael Wilson Studio was founded in the fall of 2000. The Japanese-Amer...
Other
Gradient 03 Oak, Chestnut, Ash and Beech Wood Stool by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Gradient 03 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...
Ash, Beech, Chestnut, Oak
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
$880Sale Price|20% Off
Stool ASHIGARU-7 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
BLEO Stool II in Red Oak Wood with Cream Wash Tint by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
BLEO Stool II in Red Oak Wood with Cream Wash Tint by Daniel Couttolenc Dimensions: D 55 x W 21 x H 42 cm. Materials: Red Oak Wood Also available in black finish and Tzalam wood upo...
Hardwood
TORO Stool in Oak with Black Finish by Daniel Couttolenc
Located in Geneve, CH
TORO Stool in Oak with Black Finish by Daniel Couttolenc. Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 47 cm. Materials: Oak. The TORO Stool by Daniel Couttolenc blurs the line between design and sc...
Oak
$2,588 / 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
Solid Pine Stool by Era Herbstb 1980s Germany
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Post Modern solid Oak stool . Manufactured by E.R.A. Herbstb 1980s Germany .
Pine
Uri Stool, Ikea, 1995
By IKEA
Located in Firenze, IT
Stool, model Uri, designed by Per Idar Ledang in 1995 for Ikea. It features a cushion upholstered in blue velvet and distinctive wave paws, iconic of the postmodern style.
Steel
Slate Grey Metal Gustave Bar Stool 65 cm Natural Oak by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Slate Grey Metal Gustave Bar Stool 65 cm Natural Oak by HARTO Dimensions: W 42 x D 42 x H 65 cm. Materials: Solid wood, Painted metal. Weight: 5.5 kg Gus...
Metal
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
$5,488 / item
Object 05 Brown Seating by Volta
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 05 Brown 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
Slate Grey Metal Gustave Bar Stool 65 cm Natural Walnut by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Slate Grey Metal Gustave Bar Stool 65 cm Natural Walnut by HARTO Dimensions: W 42 x D 42 x H 65 cm. Materials: Solid wood, Painted metal. Weight: 5.5 kg ...
Metal
$9,047 / 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
$6,591 / item
Stool 00 3 Legs Stool by Tellurico
Located in Geneve, CH
Stool 00 3 Legs Stool by Tellurico Signed And Numbered. Dimensions: D 45 x W 50 x H 53 cm. SH: 53 cm. Materials: Handcarved solid wood with beeswax finish. The piece is fully custom...
Wood
$1,030 / item
Lonna Bar Stool, Tall & Oak by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Lonna bar stool, tall & oak by made by choice (large) Dimensions: 34 x 34 x 74 cm Materials: oak Also available: ash, black, ultra yellow custom color, Lonna furniture serie...
Ash
Anodized Green and Flax Webbing Wicker Stool by Tino Seubert
Located in Geneve, CH
Anodized green and flax webbing wicker stool by Tino Seubert Dimensions: D 41.2 x W 34.9 x H 45 cm. Materials: Color anodized aluminum extrusions, flax webbing. Tino Seubert Wh...
Aluminum
$1,282 / item
Puffy Stool M by Phormy
Located in Geneve, CH
PUFFY stool M by Phormy Dimensions: D 44 x W 88 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
$1,162 / item
Memento, Barstool by Jesse Sanderson
Located in Geneve, CH
Memento barstool - Jesse Sanderson, WDSTCK Studio Original signed chair by Jesse Sanderson. Dimensions: 106 x 40 x 45 cm. Seat height: 70 cm. With a sturdy oak school chair...
Leather
$754 / item
High Rodes Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Rodes Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 43 x D 43 x H 76 cm Materials: Aged steel, Aged/crocco leather. Also available in W 43 x D 43 x H 60 cm, Seat Height: 60 cm. Wi...
Steel
$6,603 / item
Cage Stainless Steel Stool by Tuğçe Geyik
Located in Geneve, CH
Cage Stainless Steel Stool by Tuğçe Geyik Dimensions: D 43 x W 43 x H 45 cm. SH: 45 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Tuğçe Geyik is an architect and designer based in Istanbul. She s...
Stainless Steel
$2,109 / item
A Stool by Jaclyn Pappalardo
Located in Geneve, CH
A Stool by Jaclyn Pappalardo Dimensions: W 53 x D 41 x H 43 cm Materials: Mild steel powder coated. Jaclyn is a designer and maker based in London. Her background in set design informs her creative work as a designer. Colour and texture play an important role in developing each and every project. With a particular interest in the use of seating, Jaclyn looks at chairs not only as a functional object but rather as a study of body, shape and language. Her work incorporates unconventional design techniques that stretch far from traditional craftsmanship. Exploring new techniques and material driven processes such as metal forming and non-traditional upholstery, she builds on similar profiles and repetitive patterns in the aim of creating something timeless. Jaclyn’s work has been published in Arcipelago, Modern House, Dezeen, Vogue and Luncheon magazine. Represented by The Radford Gallery & Fels World gallery in London UK. Caselli 11-12 Gallery in Milan IT...
Steel
$19,773 / item
Bold Curved Sofa by Mohdern
Located in Geneve, CH
Bold Curved Sofa by Mohdern Dimensions: W 280 x D 127 x H 76 cm Materials: Fabric, Bouclé Bold is a refined furniture collection designed and produced by the Mohdern brand. The ser...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery
$778 / item
Lonna Stool, Black & Small by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Lonna stool, black & small by made by choice. Dimensions: 34 x 34 x 44 cm Materials: Ash Also Available: Medium, Large, Oak, Ash, Custom color, Lonna furniture series was or...
Ash
$2,612 / item
Lune A Stool by Duistt
Located in Geneve, CH
Lune A Stool by Duistt Dimensions: D 40 x H 45 cm Materials: Duistt Fabric, Satin Ironwood, Brass The Ironwood tray is optional. Please contact us for any request. LUNE A stool, cra...
Brass
$1,474 / item
Flame Red Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Flame Red 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 standard, g...
Other
$2,732 / item
Symphony Stool by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Symphony Stool by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 41 x W 41 x H 50 cm. Materials: Rustic oxidized brushed brass, Mongolian Lamb fur Ref. White. 10 kg. Recog...
Brass
$1,390 / 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 Black. ...
Stone, Steel
$430Sale Price / set|19% Off
Pair of foldable stools by Calligaris, 1990s
By Calligaris
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Pair of tripod foldable bar stools by Calligaris made from black lacquered wooden bases and blue velvet upholstery 1990s - Italy Good condition wi...
Velvet, Wood
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
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
$1,917 / item
Mellow 70 Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Mellow 70 Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 70 x W 70 x H 50 cm. SH: 50 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery. Available in all Munna fabrics except...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
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
Val Kropiwnicki "Woogie" Stool
Located in Highland, IN
Equal parts sculpture and functional object, this stool by Branford, CT artist Val Kropiwnicki shows his use of positive and negative space in a compelling way to create a three-legg...
Steel
$1,474 / item
Jet Black Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Jet Black 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 standard, g...
Other
$8,077 / item
Arco Wood Stool by Francesco Zonca
Located in Geneve, CH
Arco Wood Stool by Francesco Zonca Numbered series signed Dimensions: D 30 x W 60 x H 45 cm Materials: Wood, patina. An arch that connects thoughts to words. A stool to sit on and t...
Wood
$1,030 / item
High Bora Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Bora Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 52 x D 56 x H 108 cm Materials: Paint, Natural leather. Also available in W 52 x D 56 x H 92 cm, Seat Height: 60 cm. With the in...
Leather, Paint
$1,054 / item
White Stool 01 by Iranzo
Located in Geneve, CH
White Stool 01 by Iranzo Dimensions: D 68 x H 48 cm. Material: Epoxy resin & polypropylene Also available in: Black - at the same price Light pink / Blue / Pastel green / Signal ye...
Epoxy Resin
$2,995 / item
Black Tela Counter Stool by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Tela Counter Stool by Wentz Dimensions: D 52 x W 58 x H 84 cm Materials: Tauari Wood, Cotton, Weave, Plywood, Upholstery. Weight: 5,8kg / 12,7 lbs The Tela armchair is a meeti...
Upholstery, Wood, Plywood
$15,291 / 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
$527 / item
Pampa Leather Counter Stool by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Pampa Leather Counter Stool by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 47 x W 47 x H 65 cm. Materials: Leather and metal. Finish: Montana leather and black frame. ...
Metal
Rectangular Prism Base Stool in Oak Wood And Cushion by Heilig Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Zehnfinger Stool in Oak Wood And Synthetic Yarn by Heilig Objects Dimensions: D 36 x W 36 x H 45 cm. Materials: Oak wood and synthetic yarn. Daniel Heilig. A young Hungarian-German ...
Yarn, Oak
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
$766 / item
Layout Round Stool by Studio Super Sunday
Located in Geneve, CH
Layout Round Stool by Studio Super Sunday Dimensions: Ø 33 x H 45,7 cm. Materials: Oak. Available in six different finishes. Prices may vary. Please contact us. We are a Canadian f...
Oak
$1,474 / item
Powder Blue Koncord High Stool by Karim Rashid
Located in Geneve, CH
Powder Blue 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 standard,...
Other