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.
Original Moroso armchair leather green Patricia Urquiola swivel
Located in Berlin, DE
We are offering a beautiful green swivel chair/armchair from Moroso for sale. The design is by Patricia Urquiola and is characterized by its unique...
Leather
$2,224 / item
Melody Bar Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Melody Bar Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 105 cm. SH: 80 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Mustard, CV 10. Legs: Mu...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Bogo Modular Lounge Chair by Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate
By Carlo Bartoli, Rossi di Albizzate
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Bogo modular lounge chair by Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate combines brown suede upholstery with citrus yellow leather cushions in a low, armless configuration. Contrast st...
Leather, Suede, Upholstery
$4,814 / item
Circus 5019 Pouf by Redeco
Located in Geneve, CH
Circus 5019 Pouf by Redeco Dimensions: W 130 x D 130 x H 45 cm Materials: Plywood seat padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Pre-upholstery in polyester wadding, upho...
Fabric, Upholstery, Plywood
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
$7,628 / item
Double Bench by Goons
Located in Geneve, CH
Double bench by Goons Dimensions: W 220 x D 45 x H 43 cm. Materials: Wood. Dimensions can be adjusted +/- 10 cm. Goons is located in Paris, France. All of their designs are m...
Wood
White WNG Chairs in Moonlight Sheepskin Upholstery by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
White WNG Chairs in Moonlight Sheepskin Upholstery by Mazo Design Dimensions: W 60 x D 50 x H 76 cm Materials: Oak, Sheepskin. Also Available: DAW/Royal, KVADRAT/Hallingdal & Fiord,...
Other
$3,884 / item
Sosa Chair by Lagu
Located in Geneve, CH
Sosa armless chair by Lagu Designed by Ufuk Ceylan Dimensions: W 90 x D 85 x H 80 cm Materials: Bouclé, Fabric, Foam, Hardwood. Standing out with its round details and upholste...
Fabric, Bouclé, Foam, Hardwood
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
$5,356 / item
Debi Armchair by Dovain Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Debi armchair by Dovain Studio Dimensions: H 85 x W 94 x D 55 x SH 39 cm Materials: Velvet, Wood Dovain Studio Creative direction by Sergio Prieto, a Spanish artist-designer wh...
Velvet, Wood
Contemporary Sculptural Kabuto Throne in Black Bronze by Michel Amar
Located in Geneve, CH
Contemporary Sculptural Kabuto Throne in Black Bronze by Michel Amar Dimensions: D 52 x W 105 x H 70 cm. Materials: Black bronze. At the head of his own ...
Bronze
Prisma Oak Stool with Three Layered Seating by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Prisma Oak Stool by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 45 cm Materials: Oak. Four sleek prism-shaped legs support a top seat crafted from three layers of thick, dark brown ash ...
Oak
Vintage Postmodern Beige Leather 6 Piece Modular Sectional Sofa
Located in Lutz, FL
Lane HTB custom ordered 6 piece modular Post Modern Sectional Sofa. Single owner, custom ordered in cream/beige leather in 1987 and rarely used. Great lines and silhouette similar It...
Leather, Fabric
$824 / item
Wox Chair by Artu
Located in Geneve, CH
Wox chair by Artu Pavel Vetrov Dimensions: W 53 x D 51 x H 83 cm Materials: Ashwood Other colors and materials available. The design was created based on the silhouette of a r...
Other
$13,184 / item
So We Meet Again Long Bench by Claste
Located in Geneve, CH
So We Meet Again Long Bench by Claste Dimensions: D 50.8 x W 122 x H 55.9 cm Material: Glass, Marble Weight: 93 kg Also available in different sizes and materials: Carrara Gioia, Belvedere Black, Mont Blanc, Manhatten Calacatta, Fusion Marble, Temptation Marble, Blue Mare...
Marble
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN BRUTALIST Tripod STOOL, in style of PERRIAND, France 1950
By Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Chapo
Located in PARIS, FR
One single tripod stool, Mid-Century Modern, Modernist, Rustic Modern, Brutalist, solid and architectural tripod structure in solid elm, 3 smoothly shaped high legs, a small but mass...
Wood
$19,424 / 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
Lean Back Lounge Chair White Oiled Oak Pale Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Lean back lounge chair white oiled oak pale rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D68 x W78 x H 78 cm Material: White oiled solid oak, Foam, Textile upholstery. Weight: 9 kg Also avail...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$1,542 / item
Lammi Bar Stool, Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Lammi bar stool, 66 cm, black by Made By Choice with Saku Sysiö. Dimensions: 47 x 38 x 66 cm. Materials: Oak. Standard finishes: natural wood / painted black. Also available: L...
Oak
$8,228 / item
Brutal Chair by Alexander Lotersztain
Located in Geneve, CH
Brutal Chair by Alexander Lotersztain Limited Edition. Dimensions: D 77,6 x W 42 x H 78,7 cm. Materials: 70% recycled aluiminium. Alexander Lotersztain i...
Aluminum
Globe Lounge Chair by Peter Opsvik for Stokke editions, Norway, 1980s
By Stokke, Peter Opsvik
Located in TOURS, FR
A collectible Scandinavian modern lounge chair by Peter Opsvik, this 1980s Globe Chair features a sculptural, spherical cushion, upholstered in two tones leather. Its enveloping curv...
Leather, Wood
$10,206 / item
Bevel Bench by HADGE
By Hadge
Located in Geneve, CH
Bevel Bench by HADGE Dimensions: D 45 x W 200 x H 40 cm. Materials: Steel tin. Also available in different materials. Custom dimensions are possible. HADGE - an architecture I int...
Steel
B&B Italia Armchair Set of Six by Paolo Piva, Leather, Vintage, 1989
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in Nagykovácsi, Central Hungary
B&B Italia armchair set of 6, desiged by Paolo Piva. The leather is in poor condition.
Metal
$5,580 / 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
Italian postmodern dark blue velvet and chromed metal chairs with armrests 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern dark blue velvet and chromed metal chairs with armrests 1980s Set of four chairs with rectangular seat. The backrest extends to the floor, and is covered in deep d...
Metal
Plywood and Upholstered Dorsia Chair by Dainelli Studio Atelier
Located in Geneve, CH
Plywood and Upholstered Dorsia Chair by Dainelli Studio Atelier Dimensions: W 66 x D 60 x H 80 cm Materials: Plywood, Upholstery. Chair with a plywood structure, padded and upholste...
Upholstery, Plywood
White TMBO Lounge Sofa in Oak and Moonlight Sheepskin Upholstery by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
White TMBO Lounge Sofa in Oak and Moonlight Sheepskin Upholstery by Mazo Design Dimensions: W 165 x D 68.5 x H 87 cm Materials: Oak, Sheepskin. Also availa...
Other
$2,976Sale Price|20% Off
Danish BoConcept IMOLA Chair By Henrik Pedersen
By BoConcept
Located in Čelinac, BA
BoConcept Imola Chair by Henrik Pedersen
Fabric
$4,343 / item
Josephine Armchair by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Josephine Armchair by Munna Dimensions: D 92 x W 93 x H 82 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, silk, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Light Grey, CV16, and wild silk, re...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
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
$13,491 / item
Camurça Rocco Sofa by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Camurça Rocco Sofa by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 162 x D 98 x H 62 cm Materials: Suede. About: Studio Orth is a multidisciplinary furniture and interior design firm, founded in 2018...
Suede
Italian Postmodern Green Side Chair, Glazed Plywood, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern chair from Italy in a special color. The shells are made of green glazed molded plywood. The backrest features symmetrical perforations of triangular holes. It penetrates...
Metal
$8,417 / item
Natural Ash Hardwood Back Dining Chair by BNF Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Ash Hardwood Back Dining Chair by BNF Studio Dimensions: W 19 x D 21 in, Seating height: 19”. Materials: Ash, Mohair velvet. Finishes and Colors: White, Black, Green, Pink,...
Mohair, Ash
$671 / item
High Básica Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
High Básica Bar Stool by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 46 x D 50 x H 104 cm Materials: Paint, Natural Leather With the intention of providing good taste and personality, Doimo deciph...
Leather, Paint
Dartagnan Sbiancata Ash Counter Stool by Haymann Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Dartagnan Sbiancata Ash Counter Stool by Haymann Editions Dimensions: D 53.5 x W 50.5 x H 80.5 cm. Materials: Rosso Bulgaro leather, Sbiancata ash. ...
Leather, Ash
Saffron Yellow Queen Of Love Armchair by Moro, Pigatti
Located in Geneve, CH
Saffron Yellow Queen Of Love Armchair by Moro, Pigatti Dimensions: D 98 x W 103,5 x H 112,5 cm. SH: 38 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Available in different color and finish options. ...
Other
Tahiti Blue, Kolho Original Lounge Chair, MDJkuu by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Tahiti blue, Kolho original lounge chair, MDJ KUU by Made By Choice with Matthew Day Jackson Kolho Collection Dimensions: 70 x 60 x 70 cm Materials: Plywood Also available: dia...
Birch, Plywood
$1,812 / 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
$2,954 / item
Caprice Armchair by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Caprice Armchair by Munna Dimensions: D 72 x W 70 x H 77 cm. SH: 42 cm. Materials: Solid walnut, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet, ref. Emerald, CV09, walnut varnis...
Nickel
$9,323 / item
Upholstery Gentle Bed End by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Upholstery Gentle Bed End by Madheke Dimensions: D 50 x W 180 x H 60 cm. Materials: leather, brass. Finish options: Leather Naturalle Whisky, Fabric Cushions Rust Plain 04 & Medium ...
Leather, Upholstery
$8,287 / 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
$4,124 / set
Chairs Set 4 Philippe
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
- Classic contemporary design using new materials and production methods. - The transparency gives a versatility and spaciousness in the historic and modern interior. - Pair and juxtapose beautifully with antique furniture and historic interiors. - The light weight and stackability means that they can be moved around and stored easily. - The material used makes the chair suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and it will not lose its transparency from exposure to UV rays. -The first completely transparent chair...
Plastic
$1,801 / item
Marco Bar Stool by Dawid Konieczny
Located in Geneve, CH
Marco Bar Stool by Dawid Konieczny Dimensions: D 36 x W 40 x H 88 cm. Materials: Black steel and fabric. Different fabric options on request. Made in Poland. Please contact us. D...
Steel
Powder Blue Amélie Sit Up High Stool by Italo Pertichini
Located in Geneve, CH
Powder Blue Amélie Sit Up High Stool by Italo Pertichini Dimensions: D 49 x W 45 x H 95 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 6 kg. Available in a standard version and lacquered vers...
Other
$6,604 / item
Chair T006, Unique Piece by Studio Nicolas Erauw
Located in Geneve, CH
Chair T006, unique piece by Studio Nicolas Erauw Piece unique 1 of 1 Dimensions: H 85 CM x W 50 CM x D 50 CM Materials: Aluminum, wax dipped Part of the on-going ‘Wax on/Wax ...
Aluminum
$2,048 / item
Naive Lounge Chair by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
Naive Lounge Chair by DAaZ Dimensions: D 80.5 x W 62 x H 80 cm. Materials: Albizzia wood, twine, fabric. DAaZ Furniture honors the spirit of adventure. We embrace the escape of the...
Wood, Upholstery, Twine
$977 / item
Organic Postmodern Cow Furry Stool Ritmo
By Moanne
Located in Almería, ES
Playful. Perceptive. Percussive. Ritmo Stool. The Ritmo Stool takes its name from rhythm—not just as a beat, but as a way of being. With four bold cylindrical legs echoing in perfec...
Velvet
Colourful postmodern armchair, 1980s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Unique postmodern coloured wooden armchair in the style of gerrit Rietveld. This chair has an unknown provenance but thanks to the coloured wooden panels and the great design, it r...
Wood
Lena Stool – Sculptural Brass Frame with White Upholstery by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Lena Stool – Sculptural Brass Frame with White Upholstery by Misaya Dimensions: W 61 x D 42 x H 31/38 cm Materials: Brass Also available: Different colors (gold, polished brass. bla...
Brass
$10,000 / set
Mario Botta Seconda Chairs, Set of 4
By Mario Botta
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Designed in 1982 by renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta for the Italian brand Alias, the Seconda chair is a definitive icon of the Postmodern era. Celebrated for its rigid geometry,...
Metal, Steel, Cut Steel, Sheet Metal, Steel Mesh
$14,927 / item
Alexander Armchair by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Alexander armchair by Domkapa Materials: Natural Leather, Rose Gold Brushed metal. Dimensions: W 88 x D 90 x H 96 cm. Also available in different materials. Please contact us. ...
Metal
$2,566 / item
Terracota Jasmine Chair by Nelson Araujo
Located in Geneve, CH
Terracota Jasmine Chair by Nelson Araujo Dimensions: D 88 x W 88 x H 80 cm Materials: Wood, foam, fabric. Available in Mustard and Terracotta colors. Nelson de Araújo graduated in ...
Foam, Wood, Fabric
Set of 8 Liberty Postmodern Black Lacquered High Dining Chairs with Knoll Fabric
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 8 Liberty Furniture high back dining chairs. This lovely set of dining chairs feature a unique 80s postmodern design, with a wooden construction and a black lacquered finish...
Fabric, Lacquer
$1,883Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set 5 chairs with arms vintage 80s Coro design for Origlia Italy
By Luigi Origlia, Origlia Italy
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Set of five chairs with chrome-plated steel frame, orange synthetic fabric upholstery and plastic armrests with briar finish, model "Coro" design Luigi Origlia for Origlia Italy. CO...
Steel
$32,891 / item
Printed Nature Econit Wood Seater by Harry Thaler
Located in Geneve, CH
Printed Nature Econit Wood Seater by Harry Thaler Dimensions: D 100 x W 155 x H 80 cm. Materials: Econit wood. "In addition to proposing ecological and sustainable design, which has...
Wood
$13,500 / set
Luxurious Green Mohair French Armchairs, PAIR
Located in North Miami, FL
These beautifully crafted re-editions of an early original Danish design are made in France and upholstered in a deep green mohair velvet and natural oak feet.
Velvet, Oak
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
$5,132 / 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
$11,525 / item
Heart Throne Chair by Giulia Maria Ligresti
Located in Geneve, CH
Heart Throne Chair by Giulia Maria Ligresti Dimensions: D 40.5 x W 41 x H 101.5 cm. Materials: Iron, upholstery. Imbued with vintage flair and artistic appeal, this armchair is anyt...
Iron
Austrian post modern black chaise longue S 828 by Torben Skov for Thonet, 1980s
By Thonet
Located in MIlano, IT
Austrian post modern black chaise longue S 828 by Torben Skov for Thonet, 1980s Chaise longue mod. S 828 convertible into a rocking armchair. The body is made of black plastic with a...
Metal