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.
$2,495 / item
Chair with Buoys by Touch With Eyes
Located in Geneve, CH
Chair with Buoys by Touch With Eyes Dimensions: W 40 x D 40 x H 70 cm Materials: Black metal and buoys. Weight: 5 Kg. The chair was made with buoys from fishing nets. Moving aroun...
Metal
$1,412 / item
Single Block Wood Batan C Stool by Taller Batán
Located in Geneve, CH
Single Block Wood Batan C Stool by Taller Batán Dimensions: W 35 x D 35 x H 45 cm Materials: Single block wood. Finishes: White cedar, blackened cedar (yakisugi), encino (mexican o...
Wood
$4,273 / item
Pigalle 3 Seater Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Pigalle 3 Seater Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: W 232 x D 81 x H 70 cm. Materials: Acrylic Rope, Aluminium. Pigalle Collection highlights the feeling of lightness and solidity with its ...
Aluminum
$3,637 / 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 Stainless Steel Other versions are available, please contact us for any request. More than mere fur...
Stainless Steel
$4,143 / item
Curulis Aluminium Chair by Bureau of Entropy
Located in Geneve, CH
Curulis Aluminium Chair by Bureau of Entropy. Limited edition, numbered & signed. Dimensions: W 75 x D 40 x H 50 cm. Materials: Aluminium. Curulis is the more condensed counterpart...
Aluminum
$8,122Sale 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
$2,648 / item
AL-04 Stout Chair by Orlando Pippig
Located in Geneve, CH
AL-04 Stout Chair by Orlando Pippig Dimensions: W 36 x D 41 x H 69 cm (Dimensions may vary slightly) Materials: Aluminum Part of the ongoing research and ...
Aluminum
Sitiera 3-Seater Sofa in Ivory Velvet Upholstery & Aged Brass by Estudio Andean
Located in Geneve, CH
Sitiera 3-Seater Sofa in Ivory Velvet Upholstery & Aged Brass by Estudio Andean Dimensions: D 104,5 x W 206,5 x H 75,5 cm. SH: 44 cm. Materials: Steel, bronze, brass, and velvet....
Bronze, Steel, Brass
Vintage Brushed Metal Ribbon Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Hand Crafted Post-Modern Ribbon Chair Brushed Metal Texture Throughout with Smooth Glossy finish
Metal, Steel
$16,952 / item
Dyoni Sofa by Moure Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Dyoni sofa by Moure Studio Dimensions: D 250x W 95 x H 76 cm Materials: cotton, linen, velvet, felt, Wood. Wide range of colors of feet and fabrics a...
Textile, Cotton, Linen, Velvet, Wood
Cream Figured Walnut Version 5 Rocker Chair by A. Jacob Marks
Located in Geneve, CH
Cream Figured Walnut Version 5 Rocker Chair by A. Jacob Marks Dimensions: W 61 x D 86 x H 67 cm. Materials: Figured Walnut. V5R Also available in different materials. The version...
Walnut
Egon Three-Seater Sofa in Lamberto & Avion Fabrics by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Egon Three-Seater Sofa in Lamberto & Avion Fabrics by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 102 x W 300 x H 63 cm. Materials: Horn, fabric, polyurethane foam, and goose down. Cushions are not inc...
Other
$19,942 / 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
Robert Thibier Two Seat Sofa with Gold Painted Metal Frame
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Robert Thibier two-seat sofa, gold-painted steel, fabric, France, 1960s/1970s This exceptional two-seat sofa by Robert Thibier is a rare example of French design from the 1960s and ...
Steel
Chocolate Brown Iron Modular Bench by Sebastian Bergne
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate Brown Iron Modular Bench by Sebastian Bergne Dimensions: D 92 x W 121 x H 45 cm. Seat Height: 45 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 25 kg. Available in different color o...
Other
$1,012 / item
Noel Counter Chair by Thorup Copenhagen
Located in Geneve, CH
Noel Counter Chair by Thorup Copenhagen Dimensions: D 42 x W 50 x H 77 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, dark grey wool. Available in other colors. Please contact us. Thorup Copenhag...
Stainless Steel
$27,123
Sofa by Guillermo Santoma
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Commissioned by Etage Projects for Salon Art and Design, 2017. Lush cream sofa made of rubber EVA, by Guillermo Santoma.
Rubber
Yellow plastic K 4860 chair by A. Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, 1978
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Desk, room or side chair mod. k 4860, designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell in 1978. the chair is stackable and legs removable. Pretty good condition: wear consistent with a...
Plastic
$1,436 / item
Postmodern Space Age Blue Velvet Dining Chair Coraje
By Moanne
Located in Almería, ES
The Coraje Dining Chair is a tribute to bravery—an invitation to live and design boldly. With its sculptural base and commanding presence, it doesn’t just complete a space, it anchor...
Velvet
$36,859 / item
Yellow Say Sofa by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Yellow say sofa by Gentner Design. Dimensions: D 271 x W 86 x H 63.5 cm. Materials: fabric. COM available. Strong formal lines and geometric shapes seem like puzzle pieces that...
Fabric
$1,200 / item
Pampa Mariposa Lounge Chair by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Pampa Mariposa Lounge Chair by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 86 x W 87 x H 92 cm. Materials: Leather and metal. Finish: Chocolate leather and black frame. Weight: 12 kg. Available in d...
Metal
$10,359 / item
W2376 Unique Stool in Oxidized Oak by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
W2376 Unique Stool in Oxidized Oak by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 29 x W 29 x H 38 cm. Materials: Oak, oxidized. In Pietschmann’s sculptures, trees that for centuries were part o...
Oak
$10,359 / item
W2386 Unique Stool in Oxidized Oak by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
W2386 Unique Stool in Oxidized Oak by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 29 x W 33 x H 38 cm. Materials: Oak, oxidized. In Pietschmann’s sculptures, trees that for centuries were part o...
Oak
Lounge Chair in Aluminium and Blackwood by Case Studios
Located in Geneve, CH
Lounge Chair in Aluminium and Blackwood by Case Studios. Dimensions: W 70 x D 135 x H 75 cm. Materials: 6mm aluminum parts, blackwood backrest and seating. Collectible design lounge...
Aluminum
$890Sale Price / item|35% Off
Penguin Bar Stool by Franco V, Hand-Crafted Steel & Carrara Marble
By Franco V
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Meticulously hand-crafted, this striking piece features a powder coated steel frame, Carrara marble seat and footrest. Seamlessly blending function with art, Its design draws inspi...
Carrara Marble, Steel
$2,119 / item
Blackwood Bench in Oak and Aluminium by Case Studios
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackwood Bench in Oak and Aluminium by Case Studios. Dimensions: W 100 x D 25 x H 50 cm. Materials: Regional oak wood (blackened and oiled), hand-brushed aluminum. With a seat heig...
Aluminum
$7,251Sale Price / set|30% Off
Set of 8 black lacquered "MED ACERBIS" chairs and rust-colored velvet Italy 1980s
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The MED chair was made in 1983 by Giotto Stoppino and Lodovico Acerbis for Acerbis. It is characterized by its contrast between curves and linearity, such as the particular section o...
Velvet, Harewood
$2,224 / item
Saddlestool Backless Stool/Perch by A. Jacob Marks
Located in Geneve, CH
Saddlestool Backless Stool/Perch by A. Jacob Marks Dimensions: W 37 x D 39 x H 52 cm. Materials: Natural Walnut. SDA Also available in different materials. Saddlestool is a backle...
Walnut
$1,214Sale Price|20% Off
Set plywood 'Strip' chairs by Gijs Bakker for Castelijn, Netherlands, 1970s
By Gijs Bakker
Located in CASTENRAY, NL
The Strip chair was designed with simplifying the chair's form in mind, and is made of only four strips of laminated ash that are linked together by dowels. It's simple flowy form ...
Plywood
Very Rare Carbon Fibre “Elephant” Lounge Chair Herbert Schultes, Lensvelt
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
The “Elephant” lounge chair is a very rare and extraordinary statement piece where futuristic form and advanced materials converge. Designed by Herbert Schultes for Lensvelt, the cha...
Aluminum
$2,224 / item
Charlotte Bar Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Charlotte Bar Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 47 x W 46 x H 92 cm. SH: 80 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Twill FR, ref. Raspberry, TFR11. L...
Brass
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
$10,606 / item
Hughes 240 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Hughes 240 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 95 x W 240 x H 95 cm. SH: 44 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery, gloss ebony wood veneer upper ...
Brass
$5,309 / item
Embrace Gentle 663 Armchair by Royal Stranger
Located in Geneve, CH
Embrace gentle 663 armchair by Royal Stranger Dimensions: W 96 x D 85 x H 68 cm. Different upholstery colors and finishes are available. Materials: Upholstery. Featuring an e...
Upholstery
Set of 6 Dining Chairs made in the USA by Casa Stradivari.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the Set of 6 Dining Chairs made in the USA by Casa Stradivari, the epitome of elegance and sophistication for your dining space. Crafted with utmost precision, these cha...
Naugahyde, Wood
DeSede 2 Seater Leather Sofa DS-2011/02 - #2
Located in Bern, BE
DeSede 2 Seater Leather Sofa DS-2011/02. Casual sofa upholstered in Royal 'Select' leather with runners in black matt coated beech. Swiss designe...
Leather
$14,244 / item
Green Caracoles Ceramic Stool by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Caracoles Ceramic Stool by Forma Rosa Studio Dimensions: D 45.7 x W 45.7 x H 50.8 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Available in Green and Granite colors. This ceramic-crafted stool di...
Ceramic
Vintage Postmodern White Leather Sofa, circa 1970s–1980s
Located in Montréal, CA
Striking vintage postmodern sofa upholstered in luxurious white leather. Featuring a generous, low-profile silhouette with generously padded cushions, sculptural rounded arms, and di...
Leather
Italian post modern folding chair in wood and blue fabric structure, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post modern folding chair in wood and blue fabric structure, 1990s Folding chair with wooden frame. The seat and backrest are made of a single blue fabric structure, which "f...
Fabric, Wood
$5,886 / item
Bold Armchair by Mohdern
Located in Geneve, CH
Bold Armchair by Mohdern Dimensions: W 78 x D 65 x H 73 cm Materials: Fabric, Bouclé Bold is a comfortable armchair that features enveloping lines and different geometric shapes sk...
Fabric, Upholstery, Bouclé
Set of 2 From Disco to Disco Chair by Markus Friedrich Staab
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 From Disco to Disco Chair by Markus Friedrich Staab One of a Kind Dimensions: D 44 x W 54 x H 77 cm. Materials: Wood, lacquer, paint. 80’s IKEA H...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
$14,244 / item
Hug Green Sofa by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Hug green sofa by Rejo Studio. Dimensions: D 315 x W 95 x H 76 cm. Materials: wooden structure, with velvet. Also available in different colours. Long comfortable hug. The hug sofa...
Velvet, Wood
$4,840Sale Price|20% Off
Chaise Longue by Italian Artist Angelo Brescianini, Italy, 2008
Located in Antwerp, BE
This one-of-a-kind stainless steel chaise longue by Italian artist Angelo Brescianini (circa 2008) showcases his mastery of metal manipulation. The ...
Stainless Steel
Fried Egg Sofa Sprinkles Dark Blue Eggplant Sage by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried Egg Sofa Sprinkles Dark Blue Eggplant Sage by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D186 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 42 kg Also available in di...
Upholstery, Teak
$8,735 / item
Feast Walnut Bench by Bowen Liu
Located in Geneve, CH
Feast Walnut Bench by Bowen Liu Dimensions: D 19.5 x W 66 x H 18 Materials: brass, walnut, leather upholstery Based in, produced and shipped from the US. The Feast bench is a new a...
Brass, Other
$4,190 / item
Wax Aluminum Stool by Saturday Yard Work
Located in Geneve, CH
Wax Aluminum Stool by Saturday Yard Work Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 58 cm Materials: Aluminium. SATURDAY YARD WORK by Nathan Martin is a Kaurna/Adelaide-based practice that aims to...
Aluminum
$1,601 / item
Galore Module Pouf Pale Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore Module Pouf Pale Rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D75 x W75 x H 44 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. Weight...
Steel
Caleo-Natural Teak, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Half Backrest Modular Sofa by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Caleo-Natural Teak, Rope And Ethereal Fabric Half Backrest Modular Sofa by SNOC Dimensions: D 100 x W 181 x H 65 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Teak wood, rope, and Ethereal fabric. The...
Fabric, Rope, Teak
Arrben Jocauro chair Italy 1990
By Arrben
Located in Čelinac, BA
Jocauro Arrben postmodern armchair Italy 1990
Leather
Handkerchief Chairs in White by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Post Modern a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Iconic design by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll. These ethereal chairs, seeming floating in air are fully labeled with an embossed Knoll, Vignelli design and a paper Knoll Label. This...
Fiberglass
$3,731 / item
Walnut MV Footstool by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Walnut MV Footstool by Madheke Dimensions: D 68.4 x W 50 x H 46.8 cm. Materials: Solid walnut wood cross-leg frame, Supple leather cushioned seat with piping detail, Raffia finished ...
Leather
Italian postmodern padded blue and white cubes chaise longue by Arflex, 1990s
By Arflex
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern padded blue and white cubes chaise longue by Arflex, 1990s Padded chaise longue with rectangular seat. The backrest, armrest and seat are made up of eighteen padde...
Fabric
Gigi Sabadin “Pala” Dining Chairs for Emme, 1973, Set of 4
By Gigi Sabadin
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gigi Sabadin “Pala” dining chairs for Emme, wood, Italy, 1973, set of four Designed in 1973 by Italian architect and designer Gigi Sabadin, the “Pala” chairs embody the radical experimentation of the Italian Seventies. Their structure reduces the archetype of a chair to an essential gesture: two vertical planes intersected by a suspended circular seat in woven straw. The stark black lacquered wood, resting on a double-base support, highlights the tension between geometric rigor and the organic tactility of natural fiber. Sabadin’s design language resonates with the conceptual explorations of Archizoom, Superstudio, and Gianni Pettena, where furniture transcends function to become a spatial and architectural statement. The radical minimalism of the “Pala” also recalls the self-reduction principles of Enzo Mari...
Wood
Brown Linear Carved Oak Steel Contemporary Sculptural Bench by STUDIO SOL LECCIA
Located in Geneve, CH
Numero 7 bench by STUDIO SOL LECCIA Dimensions: W 200 x D 38 x H 34 cm Materials: Carved raw oak, EPDM foam leather, Skin, feet in oiled raw steel. Options: b...
Steel
$9,170 / item
Small Dimple Walnut Stool by Studio TOOJ
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Dimple Walnut Stool by Studio TOOJ Designed by Johan Wilén Dimensions: D 63 x H 42 cm. Materials: Walnut wood. A true testament to the designer’s si...
Walnut
$1,836 / item
Grace Forest Green Pouf by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Grace forest green pouf by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 77 x H 45 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Wood. Weight: 15.5 kg Also available in different colours and finishes. A...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$3,837 / item
MG103 Bench, Leather, by Malte Gormsen
Located in Geneve, CH
MG103 Bench, Leather, by Malte Gormsen Dimensions: D 40 x W 80 x H 46 cm. Materials: Grey Nature oak, blackened metal, leather. Available in Nature, Raw Nature, Light Nature, Grey N...
Metal
Sculptural Rope and Leather Lounge Chair by Driade, Italy, 1996
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
A striking and highly sculptural lounge chair produced by Driade in Italy in 1996. The design combines a beautifully shaped wooden frame with an intricate hand-woven rope constructio...
Leather, Rope, Wood
Set of Six Sculptural Dining Chairs by Allmilmö, Germany, 1980s
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
A striking set of six sculptural dining chairs produced by Allmilmö in Germany during the 1980s. The chairs feature an exceptionally expressive construction in beechwood and laminate...
Wood
Essa Chair in Upholstery, Horn & Wood with Lacquered Black Finish by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Essa Chair in Upholstery, Horn & Wood with Lacquered Black Finish by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 53 x W 56 x H 74 cm. Materials: Wood with lacquered black gloss finish, horn, and Monsieur...
Other