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.
$4,124 / item
Odette Black Oak Chair by Fred and Juul
Located in Geneve, CH
Odette Black Oak Chair by Fred and Juul Dimensions: D 51 x W 58 x H 75 cm. Materials: Oak. Available in different oak finishes. Custom sizes, materials ...
Oak
Lay Down Chaise Longue in Pele de Tigre Marble by MANTA Handmade Stone Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Lay Down Chaise Longue in Pele de Tigre Marble by MANTA Handmade Stone Design Limited Edition of 5 Pieces. Dimensions: D 70 x W 160 x H 120 cm. Materials: Pele de Tigre marble. MAN...
Marble
Twist Chair in Stainless Steel and Cowhide by Animate Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Twist Chair in Stainless Steel and Cowhide by Animate Objects. Limited Edition of 12 Pieces. Dimensions: W 44 x D 68 x H 103 cm. Materials: Stainless Steel, Cowhide. The Twist chair...
Stainless Steel
Handcrafted Oak Bench Bed End, Post-Modern Design, Dutch Woodwork, New
Located in DE MEERN, UT
Elevate your space with the understated elegance of our Handcrafted Oak Bench / Bed End, a masterpiece designed for the discerning eye. Meticulously crafted from premium, sustainably...
Wood, Oak
Mustard Yellow Velvet Fabric, Stainless Metal ButterMelt Sofa By OMER OZTURK
Located in Geneve, CH
Mustard Yellow Velvet Fabric, Stainless Metal ButterMelt Sofa By OMER OZTURK Dimensions: W 310 x D 99.3 x H 102.4 cm. Materials: Mustard Yellow Velvet Fabric, Stainless Metal. About...
Metal
Stainless Steel, Horse Hair, Kutnu Fabric Lounge Bench by Studio Lugo
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless Steel, Horse Hair, Kutnu Fabric Lounge Bench by Studio Lugo Dimensions: W 148 x D 50 x H 45 cm Materials: Stainless Steel, Horse Hair, Kutnu Fabric. Finishing: Matt Varnish...
Stainless Steel
$8,180 / item
Heart Chair by Giulia Maria Ligresti
Located in Geneve, CH
Heart Chair by Giulia Maria Ligresti Dimensions: D 40.5 x W 41 x H 84.5 cm. Materials: Iron, upholstery. Featuring a stylish design that makes it both aesthetically pleasing and fun...
Iron
Ettore Sottsass Mandarin Dining Set in Carrara Marble, Red & Black, 1986 Italy
By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Icon of the Memphis Milano Movement. A set of four Ettore Sottsass Mandarin chairs for Knoll. Black Alcantara upholstery. Arms in red lacquer. Additionally, a Carrara marble round pe...
Metal, Steel
$5,019 / 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
Bob Dubois chair by Philippe Starck
Located in PARIS, FR
Philippe Starck (b. 1949) Chaise Bob Dubois, Ca. 1987 Édition Driade, Italie Bois de poirier, assise en papier tressé façon paille, logo embossé sur le dossier H. 91 x L. 36 x P. 51 ...
Fruitwood, Bentwood
$1,789 / item
Redemption Dining Chair by Albert Potgieter Designs
Located in Geneve, CH
Redemption coffee table by Albert Potgieter Designs Dimensions: L 45 x W 45 x H 80 cm Materials: oak wood and Fruitleather Product is customizable. “Look and Feel designs”, thi...
Leather, Oak
Philippe Starck Boom Rang Chair, Aleph-Driade Edition, 1992, France.
Located in Brussels, BE
Rare Philippe Starck Boom Rang Chair, small edition by Aleph-Driade in 1992, France. Grey and pale pink polyurethan and fiberglass. Signed Aleph by Starck. Original good condition. D...
Fiberglass
$1,859 / item
Evo Lounge Chair by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
Evo Lounge Chair by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 93 x D 74 x H 76 cm Materials: Paint, Natural leather With the intention of providing good taste and personality, Doimo deciphers tr...
Leather
$7,413 / item
Snow Straight Sofa by Note Design Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Snow straight sofa by Note Design Studio Dimensions: D 100 x W 100 x H 74 cm. Materials: upholstery. Prices may vary according to the fabric choice. Snow is a modular sofa concept created by Note Design Studio. Note is based in Stockholm where snow is abundant and changes drastically the landscape during a large portion of the year. Even the most brutalist building morph into blurry and puffy shapes. This contrast between a solid and steady structure anchored in the ground and the welcoming layer of soft snow on top is the inspiration for the Snow sofa. The snow system is composed of 2 elements – a straight module and a rounded 30° module – that can be combined to create an infinity of shapes. The sofa is complemented by low modules that can be used as ottomans or can be combined to create straight or curved padded benches...
Upholstery
$5,066 / item
Moss 2400 Sofa by Artu
Located in Geneve, CH
Moss 2400 Sofa by Artu Pavel Vetrov Dimensions: W 240 x D 82 x H 76 cm Materials: Wood, Upholstery Other colors and materials available. Please contact us. Soft, flowing, tact...
Upholstery, Wood
Contemporary Zebrano Wood Chair by Soft Baroque
By Soft Baroque
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Unique handmade solid Zebrano chair from the "Hard Round" series by the London based design duo soft Baroque. Custom designs and sizes are available on r...
Zebra Wood
$9,202 / item
MV Leather Bed End Bench by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
MV Leather Bed End Bench by Madheke Dimensions: D 50 x W 170 x H 38 cm. Materials: leather, stainless steel. Rooted in the modern vintage aesthetic, the MV Bedend is a refined compa...
Stainless Steel
$2,068 / item
Nala Teak Wood Stool by Heaps & Woods
Located in Geneve, CH
Nala Teak Wood Stool by Heaps & Woods Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 45 cm Materials: Teak wood A solid block of teak wood featuring an organic rippled texture hand-carved across its o...
Other
$3,416 / item
Brera Chair by Somaschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Brera Chair by Somaschini Dimensions: W 55 x D 55 x H 80 cm Materials: Solid wood and curved plywood structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Pre-upholstery in...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
'Universal' Chair 'Pink & Gray' by Peter Shire, 1994
By Peter Shire
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Vintage chair by Peter Shire, 1994 Steel and Polychrome Paint. Pink seat, grey back, green & red arms, black stretcher bars. Peter Shire: Peter Shire is an LA-based artist whos...
Steel
$6,927Sale Price / set|25% Off
Optical velvet modular sofa mod. Calida Arch. Judges for COIMA 1970s
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Gorgeous 1970s multicolored velvet modular sofa. Designed by Architect Giudici for Coima. the sofa is characterized by a beautiful shape with rounded edges. The upholstery in a bea...
Velvet
$457Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage PS Surrig children chairs by Eva & Peter Moritz for Ikea, 2000
By IKEA, Peter & Eva Moritz
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Pair of children"Surrig" chairs, designed by Eva & Peter Moritz for IKEA as a part of PS 2000 series. Lacquered metal, plastic and fabric cover. Height 70 cm, width 90 cm, depth 50 c...
Metal
Postmodern Design ARTONA XL Leather Ottoman by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto
By Maxalto, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Postmodern Italian Design "Artona" XL Leather Ottoman / Pouf by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto. Made in Italy, 1980's period. Xlarge black thick soft leather ottoman with wo...
Leather
1980s Wittmanns Leather Sofa Chair
By Wittmann
Located in Marbella, ES
Anthracite color original Wittmann designer sofa chair in a minimalistic and modern design. Very good condition.
Leather, Wood
Beige Baba Sofa by Gisbert Pöppler, Upholstered Teak Frame, Germany
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige baba sofa by Gisbert Pöppler. Dimensions: H 74 (SH43) x W 303 x D 140.5 cm. Materials: Upholstered wooden frame, teak footings. Like a friend that...
Upholstery, Teak
Lounge Seating Two-seater Sofa by Robert Haussmann for Knoll International
By Knoll, Trix and Robert Haussmann
Located in VENLO, NL
This rare two-seater sofa from ‘The Lounge Seating’ series, was designed by Trix & Robert Haussmann in 1988 and manufactured by Knoll International. It has its original light red...
Fabric
Golem Chaise Longue in Mirror Polished Stainless Steel by Barberini & Gunnell
Located in Geneve, CH
Golem Chaise Longue in Mirror Polished Stainless Steel by Barberini & Gunnell Limited Edition of 6 + 2 AP + 1 p. Dimensions: D 106 x W 201 x H 76 cm. Materials: Mirror-polished stai...
Stainless Steel
$3,183 / item
Aileen Armchair by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Aileen Armchair by Munna Dimensions: D 78 x W 82 x H 79 cm. SH: 46 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Trevira Velvet. Available in all Munna fabrics except Wild Silk...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$5,507 / item
Fabric Noa Armchair by Amura Lab
Located in Geneve, CH
Fabric Noa Armchair by Amura Lab Dimensions: W 63 x D 75 x H 75 cm Materials: SEAT: polyurethane foam, density 35 kg/m3 + 30 kg m³ + memory foam BACK: Moulded polyurethane foam with ...
Metal
$2,300 / item
Pitufi Teak Wood Low Dining Chair by Heaps & Woods
Located in Geneve, CH
Pitufi Teak Wood Low Dining Chair by Heaps & Woods Dimensions: W 45 x D 50 x H 92 x Seat H 45 Materials: Teak wood + natural loom The Pitufi Chair is a stripped back piece featuring...
Other
Monolit Stool & Side Table in Silver Modular Mirror Glass Bricks by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Monolit Stool & Side Table in Silver Modular Mirror Glass Bricks by Homa. Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 40 cm Unit Size: W 15 x D 15 x 40 cm (each). Materials: Glass Bricks, Silver Mi...
Mirror, Glass
$10,903 / item
Jell Armchair in Dark Blue Fabric by Alter Ego Studio
Located in Castelo da Maia, PT
Jell Armchair in Dark Blue Fabric by Alter Ego Studio Dimensions W 155 cm D 120 cm H 80 cm Product features Product options: Upholstery: Available in all Alter Ego leathers and...
Stone
$35,915 / item
Yvy Asy Sofa by Kelly Boukobza
Located in Geneve, CH
Yvy Asy Sofa by Kelly Boukobza Dimensions: W 300 x D 110 x H 75 cm Materials: Natural Wood Base (Walnut) black. Available Finishes : Dedar and Pierre Frey fabrics. Kelly Boukobza i...
Wood
$47,198 / item
Rialto Sofa by Laurameroni
Located in Geneve, CH
Rialto Sofa by Laurameroni Dimensions: W 264 x D 86 x H 75 cm Materials: Cachemire Loro Piana Altai 037 Paprika, gray travertine stone legs. Upholstered sofa featuring four legs in ...
Travertine
Maybe High Backrest Executive Upholstered Armchair by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Maybe High Backrest Executive Upholstered Armchair by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 68 x W 68 x H 117 cm. Materials: Aluminum and upholstery. Available in different finishes, sizes, a...
Aluminum
3er Set Orangebox Away from the desk Sofa Sitzmodul Gerard Taylor
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten drei von insgesamt 14 "Away from the desk" Sitzmodulen vom Qualitätshersteller "Orangebox" zum Verkauf an. Die Module sind neu und in einem unbenutzten Zustand, teils noch...
Fabric
$4,800
Thayer Coggin Sofa
Located in Chicago, IL
Experience the epitome of comfort and refined style with this Thayer Coggin sofa. Its luxurious beige fabric features subtle shimmering speckles that catch the light, adding a touch ...
Fabric
Rakis Taburet Stool in Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay by Catalin Filip
Located in Geneve, CH
Rakis Taburet Stool in Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay by Catalin Filip. Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 40 cm. Materials: Black Vulcan Stoneware Clay with textu...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$1,551 / item
Qoticher Chair by Ángel Mombiedro
Located in Geneve, CH
Qoticher chair by Ángel Mombiedro Cm: Ø44 x 48 seat 80 back cm Inches: Ø17 x 19 seat 32 back in Any RAL metallic structure with natural suede seat. Can...
Steel
Pierre Chapo “S24” Dining Chair, 1967
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Pierre Chapo “S24” dining chair for Atelier Pierre Chapo, elm and leather, France, 1967. Pierre Chapo designed the “S24” dining chairs for his friend...
Leather, Elm
$18,300 / item
Awaiting J Bench by Secondome Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Awaiting J Bench by Secondome Edizioni Limited Edition Of 9 pieces + 3 A.P. Designer: Coralla Maiuri + Giorgia Zanellato. Dimensions: D 49 x W 190 x H 167 cm. Materials: Brass and or...
Brass
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Outdoor Meditation Bed by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Link-Bisque Wicker And Powder-Coated Aluminum Outdoor Meditation Bed by SNOC Dimensions: Ø 200 x H 63 cm. Materials: Aluminium, wicker, and Luminesce fabric. Link-Bisque When desig...
Aluminum
Vintage Boho Pencil Reed Loveseat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Embrace the iconic style of 1980s design with this exceptionally chic vintage pencil reed loveseat. Showcasing the highly sought-after waterfall silhouette, this piece is defined by ...
Fabric, Upholstery, Rattan, Reed
Vitra office chair T-Chair red blue gray black design chair
By Vitra
Located in Berlin, DE
We offer beautiful used office chairs in a total of four different colors (red, grey, blue, black) from Vitra for sale. The chairs photographed are ...
Fabric
$2,893 / item
Imaginary Object Stool by Joana Teixeira
Located in Geneve, CH
Imaginary Object Stool by Joana Teixeira Limited Edition Dimensions: D 28 x W 35 x H 47 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Joana Teixeira was born in Oporto and graduated in industria...
Stainless Steel
$2,045 / item
Oak Stool 2 by Romain des Bois
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak Stool 2 by Romain des Bois Dimensions: D 30 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
Blackened Brass Sculptural Log Stools – Set of 2 (Small & Large) by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Brass Sculptural Log Stools – Set of 2 (Small & Large) by Misaya Dimensions: W22 x D27 x H44 cm (S), W38 x D34 x H33.5 (L)cm Materials: Brass Also Available: Different col...
Brass
Cupido 180 Glossy Lacquer Base And Beech Wood Sofa by Casa Casati
Located in Geneve, CH
Cupido 180 Glossy Lacquer Base And Beech Wood Sofa by Casa Casati Dimensions: D 86 x W 180 x H 70 cm. Materials: Beech wood, marine plywood, lacquer, polyurethane, polyester fibre, ...
Other
$8,737Sale Price|20% Off
Daybed Sofa Bed mod 711 design 70s Tito Agnoli Cinova new leather
By Tito Agnoli
Located in Milano, Lombardia
An icon of 1970s Italian design, this model 711 sofa from Cinova is completely reupholstered in a smooth Chianti red leather. Low, horizontal lines with that typical lounge allure t...
Leather
$7,482 / item
Perlude Walnut Natural Large by Caroline Voet
Located in Geneve, CH
Perlude walnut natural large by Caroline Voet. Dimensions: 190 x H 43 cm Materials: Walnut natural Also available in Oak natural, seating oak black, seating teak (outdoor). Th...
Walnut
Lounge chair in wood with hand-dyed upholstered seat
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Mercy Seat", is a one-of-a-kind piece as part of Jason Andrew Turner's "Welcome Home" collection. This piece is hand painted and hand crafted by the artist...
Acrylic, Linen, Foam, Wood, Plywood
Ibuju 03 Large Bench in Colombian Woven Yaré Natural Fiber by Fango Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ibuju 03 Large Bench in Colombian Woven Yaré Natural Fiber by Fango Studio Dimensions: D 45 x W 200 x H 43 cm. Materials: Colombian woven yaré natural fiber Available in different ...
Natural Fiber
$8,017Sale Price / set|20% Off
Cassina 'Viola d'amore' Armchairs by Piero Martini, Postmodern, Italian design
Located in Antwerp, BE
Cassina produced these post-modern luxury lounge chairs by Italian designer Piero de Martini. Remarkably comfortable, magnificent camel leather seats in amazing vintage condition, as...
Leather, Wood, Down
Bubble Chair by Anna Stechschulte for AFS Dsgn
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 2024 This uniquely handcrafted furniture piece is entirely made in the U.S.A and is a part of a production run of only 12 pieces. Each chair is numbered with a signature stamp of ...
Leather, Wood
Swiss ‘Quinta’ Accent Chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985
By Mario Botta
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta for Alias in 1985, the ‘Quinta’ chair is composed of a black-lacquered steel rod frame with a perforated sheet metal seat and back. Its archit...
Metal, Steel
$1,092 / item
Imbuia Cardume Stool by Andreas Anwander
Located in Geneve, CH
Imbuia Cardume Stool by Andreas Anwander Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 45 cm Materials: Solid Imbuia Wood. Weight: 2,5 kg. Stackability in the unconventional way A fish is just a sid...
Wood
$10,225 / item
Solidus Polished Bronze Chair by Palena Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Solidus Polished Bronze Chair by Palena Furniture Dimensions: W 50.8 x D 58.42 x H 83.82 x Seat H 45.72 cm Materials: Polished Bronze, Black Lacquer, Woven Leather, Plexiglass Avail...
Other, Bronze
1980's Philippe Starck "Pratfall" Leather Easy Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of first edition "Partfall" armchairs created by Philippe Starck in 1983 and produced by Driade, a renowned Italian furniture manufacturer. Designed for a space conducive to med...
Steel
$2,068 / item
Cognac Stitch Chair by Oxdenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Cognac Stitch chair by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 82 x W 93 x H 77 cm Materials: Leather, Stainless Steel Also Available: Different leather colors available OX DENMARQ is a Danish...
Stainless Steel
$9,318 / item
Candy Limited Edition Armchair by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Candy Limited Edition Armchair by Munna Limited Edition Of 12 Pieces. Designed And Signed By Paula Sousa. Dimensions: D 83 x W 73 x H 99 cm. SH: 44 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and uph...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood