Curule Iron Bench
$1,480 / item
Curule Iron Bench
Located in Houston, TX
Iron curule stool with boxed linen seat cushion. Also available C.O.M.
21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Seating
Iron
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.
$1,480 / item
Curule Iron Bench
Located in Houston, TX
Iron curule stool with boxed linen seat cushion. Also available C.O.M.
Iron
Artelano Black Leather Arm Side Chair, Italy 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
One Artelano Black Leather Arm Side Chair, Italy 1980s. Steel frame with black finish and black leather. We also have a set of eight available.
Steel
Cult Stool, Sculptural Side Table, Mexican White Onyx Marble, Panorammma, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult stool / side table; a hand sculpted stone from an incredibly particular stone; Mexican White Onyx, remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials ...
Onyx
$2,920Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Bernhardt 4 Piece Sectional, for Custom Reupholstery
By Bernhardt
Located in Denver, CO
1980s sectional by Bernhardt. Custom reupholstery labor of sectional included in the price (labor and materials, except for fabric). COM or MENO can advise and order fabrics. Fabric...
Fabric, Upholstery
$2,800 / item
Pair Knoll Pfister Black Leather Lounge Chairs, 1980
By Charles Pfister, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair Knoll Pfister Black Leather Lounge Chair, 1980. Original black leather. We have 20 of these chairs available.
Leather
Postmodern Leather Sofa in the style of Nicoletti Salotti Italian 2 Seat Sofa
Located in Rochester, NY
Iconic postmodern rich red leather 2 person sofa. Likely a Natuzzi version of the Nicoletti Salotti Italian leather sofa and chair line. A statement piece in your living room or anyw...
Leather
French Post-Modern Sectional Sofa in Purple Upholstery 1970s
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ligne Roset, sectional sofa, fabric, foam, France, 1970s This organically shaped sofa is executed in a fresh purple fabric with subtle white flower motive. This sofa has an angular ...
Fabric, Foam
$703Sale Price / set|20% Off
1980's Giandomenico Belotti Black Leather Dining Chairs, A Pair - Made in Italy
Located in San Carlos, CA
For Sale: Stunning Pair of Giandomenico Belotti Black Leather Dining Chairs Elevate your space with these gorgeous, high-end designer dining chairs crafted by the renowned Italian m...
Chrome
Mario Marenco for Arflex Modular 'Marechiaro' Three-Seat Sofa in Wool
By Arflex, Mario Marenco
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Marenco for Arflex, modular three-seater sofa, model 'Marechiaro', wool, plastic, metal, Italy, circa 1976. This well-designed sofa by Mario Marenco for Arflex is fully execut...
Metal
Italian Post Modern Sculptural Lounge Chair
Located in Las Vegas, NV
If you've been looking for an incredible, sculptural lounge chair that will be the center of attention, look no further. This chair is big on style and size, a truly gorgeous piece, ...
Polyester
$600Sale Price|20% Off
1980s Knoll Jorge Pensi Amat Toledo Chair Spain Postmodern
By Jorge Pensi, Amat-3
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Toledo chair stackable designed by Jorge Pensi for Amat 3 Spain for Knoll Organic and streamlined shape lightweight cast aluminum. Unmarked. Dye cast alum...
Aluminum
Vintage Ekornes Stressless Regent Leather Recliner Armchair with Ottoman, 1980s
Located in Berlin, DE
A distinctive vintage Stressless Regent reclining armchair with matching ottoman by Ekornes, dating from the 1980s. Made in Norway, the chair combines the exceptional comfort for whi...
Metal
$5,500 / set
Post Modern 6 Piece Modular Sofa
By Rolf Benz
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Great 6 piece Post Modern modular sectional sofa attributed to Rolf Benz. A gorgeous sofa that will make a massive statement. Sofa is being sold as found, reupholstery is needed b...
Fabric
Joe Colombo for Comfort 'Elda' Lounge Chair in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This lo...
Leather, Fiberglass
Mario Bellini for Cassina 'Pianura' Lounge Chair in Walnut
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, 'Pianura' lounge chair, walnut, fabric, Italy, 1971 The ‘Pianura’ lounge chair by Mario Bellini for Cassina, designed in 1971, presents a compact yet scul...
Fabric, Walnut
$4,000 / set
Pair of Post Modern Swivel Chairs by Preview
By Preview
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A nice pair of all original Post Modern swivel chairs by Preview Furniture. The chairs are all original, left as found. The chairs are structurally sound and the fabric is in good ...
Fabric
Robert Venturi Sheraton chair for Knoll Postmodern 80s
By Knoll, Robert Venturi
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Robert Venturi chair for knoll Model: Sheraton Silkscreen printed pattern on black plywood. Rare model in famous Venturi's chairs in Knoll collection.
Plywood
Glass chair in the Manner of Louis Dierra
By Louis Dierra
Located in London, GB
This striking curved glass chair, inspired by the iconic designs of Louis Dierra for the Glass Centre Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, represents a masterful blend of a...
Glass, PVC
$720Sale Price / item|40% Off
Hans Ullrich Bitsch Set of 10 Red Blue Metal Chairs Series 8600
By Kusch+Co, Hans Ullrich Bitsch
Located in Vienna, AT
Set of ten/10 Hans Ullrich Bitsch chairs Series 8600, circa 1980 -Sold as individual pieces. 5 are red and 5 blue. Please combine. Wonderful dining room set of 10 red and blue metal chairs...
Metal, Chrome
$6,300Sale Price|30% Off
Postmodern Sculptural Curved Serpentine Sectional Snake Sofa
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Monumental serpentine snake sectional sofa in the style of Vladimir Kagan and Milo Baughman. This unique modular curved sofa consists of three interlocking sections reupholstered in ...
Upholstery, Ultrasuede, Wood
Pair of Alias Italy Black Chrome spaghetti stools by Giandomenico Belotti
By Giandomenico Belotti, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Alias Italy Black Chrome spaghetti stools by Giandomenico Belotti. Black rubber woven seat and back with a chrome tube frame. Made in Italy circa 1980. Located in Brooklyn NY...
Chrome
French Postmodern Steiner 'Swany' Modular Sofa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sofa 'Swany' by Hugues Steiner and Sylvain Joly for Steiner, polyurethane, foam, France, design 1969 An eye-catching modular sofa in an unconvent...
Foam
Rare Oversized Italian Black Leather Lounge Chair, circa 1980
Located in Montréal, CA
Striking Italian one-seat lounge chair dating to the 1980s, upholstered in rich black leather and defined by its bold, sculptural silhouette. The generous proportions, deep seating ...
Leather
Vintage Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Geoff Hollington for Herman Miller
By Geoff Hollington, Herman Miller
Located in Oxnard, CA
Here is a rare lounge chair and ottoman by Geoff Hollington for Herman Miller, 1989. The heavy duty construction is clad in supple black leather. It features a hidden under-arm rec...
Steel
Joe D’Urso "Island" Sofa for Donghia, 1990s
By Joe D'Urso, Donghia
Located in Coronado, CA
A wonderfully chic "Island" Sofa designed by Joe D'urso and manufactured by Donghia around 1990. The unique sofa/chaise features a slightly tapered form with an open back on one side...
Mohair, Wood
A vintage biomorphic sofa in shearling, late 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
A vintage biomorphic curvy sofa, late 20th century. Upholstered in an off-white shearling bouclé, this piece represents the avant-garde of the postmodern design era, of which Russian...
Fabric, Wood
Nautilus Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Directional
By Vladimir Kagan, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. USA. Reupholstered in beige mohair. Tagged Directional. Original example designed by Vladimir Kagan
Mohair
Set of Eight Postmodern Dining Chairs in Solid Ash Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of dining chairs, ash, Europe, 1980s Striking set of eight dining chairs, made in Europe in the 1980s. These chairs showcase beauty and strength due to their material, solid ash...
Ash
$1,230 / item
Lila Hunter Chairs By Philippe Starck For XO 1980s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Lila Hunter chair by Philippe Starck for XO.
Metal
Postmodern French Sofa in Stainless Steel and Burgundy Velvet Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, stainless steel, velvet, France, late 1960s This sofa grabs attention with its modern substantial design, combining a sturdy stainless steel frame with decorative velvet cushi...
Stainless Steel
Large Howard Keith Custom 'Cloud' Sofa 440cm/173in
By Howard Keith
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Howard Keith for HK Furniture, special order custom 'Cloud' sofa, velvet, United Kingdom, 1970s Stunning Howard Keith for HK Furniture “Cloud” modular sofa, made in the 1970s. This ...
Fabric
Pair of post modern Black leather Chrome Bar stools style of Mart Stam
By Mart Stam
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of post modern Black leather and Chrome bar or Counter stools in the style of Mart Stam. Black leather seat and back with a chrome tube frame with footrest. Made in Italy circa ...
Chrome
Post Modern Sofa by Robert and Trix Haussmann for Knoll 1980's
By Robert and Trix Haussmann, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Post Modern sofa designed by Robert and Trix Haussmann for Knoll as part of The Lounge Seating series, circa 1980's. The upholstered box form sofa rests on an aluminum ...
Aluminum
Percival Lafer Post Modern Brazilian Black Leather Reclining Pony Lounge Chair
By Lafer, Percival Lafer
Located in Troy, MI
Percival Lafer "Pony" recliner in original black leather circa 1980s Super comfortable and innovative design with relaxed leather cushions and metal front T leg support Reclines org...
Metal
Percival Lafer 'MP 87' Lounge Chair in Reddish-Brown Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Percival Lafer, lounge chair, model ‘MP-87’, leather, chrome-plated steel, rope, Brazil, 1971 The MP-87 lounge piece is conceived by Brazilian designer Percival Lafer in the 1970s....
Steel, Chrome
Gufram PRATONE Forever by Ceretti / Derossi / Rosso
By Gufram Furniture, Riccardo Rosso, Piero Derossi and Giorgio Ceretti
Located in Toronto, ON
Chair of soft polyurethane, upholstered in bouclé wool. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ceretti, Derossi and Rosso’s masterpiece, in 2021 Gufram introduced PRATONE® FOREVER, a ...
Wool, Bouclé
$2,550Sale Price|40% Off
Post modern beautiful beige leather 3 seat sofa by Busnelli
By Busnelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful soft Beige Leather 3 seat Sofa by Busnelli. Rare time capsule sofa in amazing condition. Great post modern design. circa 1980. Made in Italy. Located in Brooklyn NYC 28” H...
Leather
CONCENTRICO 01 Sculptural Lounge Chair in Textured Upholstery by En Bruto
By En Bruto
Located in Cabo San Lucas, MX
CONCENTRICO 01 is a sculptural lounge chair by Mexican design studio En Bruto, defined by its curved silhouette, enveloping backrest and distinctive stacked cylindrical volumes along...
Upholstery
Pr. Italian Brown Leather and Black Metal Postmodern Arm Chairs by Cidue 1970s
By Cidue
Located in New York, NY
Chic pair of architecturally designed post modern arm chairs made in Italy by Cidue, circa 1970's. The chairs feature high quality brown leather seat and back rests, and enameled bl...
Steel
$1,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Giancarlo Vegni & Gianfranco Gualtierotti P40 Chairs for Fasem - Set of Three
By Giancarlo Vegni & G. Gualtierotti, Fasem International
Located in Miami, FL
Set of three P40 post modern dining arm chairs with black rubber seats and back on a black lacquered steel frame designed by Giancarlo Vegni & Gianfranco Gualtierotti for Fasem.
Steel
Cult Stool, Sculptural Side Table, Mexican Honey Onyx Marble Conglomerate
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult stool/ side table; a hand sculpted stone from a Mexican marble and Mexican onyx conglomerate, remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials in a ...
Onyx, Marble
Vintage Postmodern Teal Leather Sofa by Directional Furniture. Circa 1980s.
By Directional
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Postmodern Teal Leather Sofa by Directional Furniture. Circa 1980s. Features a quintessential 1980s postmodern lines design, upholstered in the original pastel teal preminum...
Leather
Chainmail Camping Stool, Hand-Linked Mesh, Nickel-Plated Steel, Panorammma
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
This foldable camping stool exemplifies the fusion of utility and artistry within collectible design. Its unique seat, crafted from intricately woven chainmail, brings an unexpected ...
Steel
$2,471Sale Price / set|25% Off
Modern to Postmodern Low-Slung Love Seat & Chair Burnt Orange & Aluminum Detail
Located in Topeka, KS
Fabulous vintage Modern to Postmodern very low slung sofa or loveseat & chair fully upholstered in a burnt orange velvet fabric with rolled-barrel shaped ruched backs & arms,...
Aluminum
Fler 'Idler' Lounge Chairs with Ottoman in Teddy Mohair by Pierre Frey
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Fler for Furniture Makers of Australia, living room set - lounge chairs with ottoman, model 'The Idler', "Teddy Mohair" Aubergine by Pierre Frey, Australia, wood, design 1969 This s...
Mohair, Wood
Archi Armchair by Pierre Paulin for Ligne Roset Post Modern Leather & Chrome.
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an Archi Armchair, designed by the legendary French designer Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Ligne Roset.This eye-catching piece features a hot pink leather...
Stainless Steel
$396Sale Price / item|20% Off
Postmodern Sectional Sofa Bench by Steelcase
By Steelcase
Located in New York, NY
Phenomenal sectional sofa, bench, or single chair set made by Steelcase, circa 2002. The pieces have tubular chrome feet, which support a thick and heavy board, to which a thick upho...
Chrome
Substantial Lounge Chair in Delicate Striped Green Blue Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lounge chair, fabric, Europe, 1970s/80s A robust and substantial lounge chair, exuding a playful charm through its distinct geometric form. The chair features three back cushions t...
Fabric
Italian Wood Fabric "Artona" Sofa Design Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 1970s
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design three-seater sofa from the “Artona” series designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto in the 1970s with solid wood frame and layers in different...
Fabric, Wood
Original Model 'SDC' Chairs by Dick Spierenburg for Castelijn, 1978
By Dick Spierenburg, Castelijn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 'SDC' chairs, designed by Dick Spierenburg for innovative Dutch furniture maker Castelijn, 1978. The chairs' visually striking, leaning metal frames still hold the original up...
Metal, Steel
Substantial Sofa in Delicate Striped Green Blue Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, fabric, Europe, 1970s/80s A robust and substantial sofa, exuding a playful charm through its distinct geometric form. The sofa's three back cushions seamlessly integrate into...
Fabric
Set of Six Sculptural Mid Century Italian Post Modern Dining Chairs Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A lovely set of sculptural dining chairs from Italy circa 1980's. Well made heavy construction. Fabric is fair / good with fading, so r...
Steel
$2,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Six Postmodern Costantini Ello Dining Chairs Made in Italy c 1970/80's
By Constantini, Ello Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Heroic set of Post Modern, Hollywood Regency school black lacquered dining chairs made in Italy by Pieto Costantini, imported by Ello, circa 1970-1980's. The set consists of four s...
Leather, Wood
Pietro Constantini Postmodern Italian Modern Stricking Pair of Dining Chairs
Located in San Diego, CA
With a rabidly modern Italian design, this pair of chairs by Pietro Constantini captures any look that comes your way. Fan-shaped backrest with a beautiful piano black finish and le...
Leather, Wood
Vintage Milo Baughman Style Flat Bar Chrome Arm Chairs - Set of 2
Located in Clarksboro, NJ
Elevate your space with this stunning pair of vintage flat bar chrome armchairs, expertly crafted in the iconic style of Milo Baughman. Featuring substantial, heavy chrome frames wit...
Chrome
$12,620Sale Price / set|25% Off
Angelo Mangiarotti for Agapecasa Oak Leather Dining Chairs 3T Model, Italy 2000s
By Angelo Mangiarotti, AgapeCasa
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Set of eight Italian post modern dining chairs model 3T designed by Angelo mangiarotti from 1978 with oak frame and leather seat. Produced by Agapecasa with the designer’s and manufa...
Leather, Oak
Arcadia dining chairs by Paolo Piva for B& B Italia set of 10
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Set of 10 Arcadia dining chairs designed by Paolo Piva for B& B italia's Arcadia series. Upholstered in dark green leather. They are very comfortable. The set consists of 8 r...
Leather
$31,541Sale Price / set|20% Off
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto Italian Solid Wood Fabric "Artona" Sofas
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Set of two Italian midcentury modern design three-seater sofa and two-seater sofa from the “Artona” series designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto in the 1970s with solid woo...
Fabric, Wood
$3,160Sale Price / set|20% Off
1980s Weiman Customized Curved Serpentine Sectional
By Weiman
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1980s with this exquisite Weiman three pieces sectional sofa. The ultra rare sectional exudes an air of luxury and refinement. ...
Upholstery, Wood
Post Modern Knoll Swivel Desk, Office, Chairs 11 Available
By Knoll, Don Chadwick
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Knoll swivel desk chair(s) from the 1970's, in rich brown formed foam upholstery, on five star base. The chair swivels a full 360, and the base is on double wheel coaster...
Plastic