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.
Vintage Boho Ettore Sottsass for Knoll Postmodern Sofa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Presenting a rare and captivating vintage sofa, a striking example of Postmodern design by the iconic Ettore Sottsass for Knoll. This piece, reminiscent of Sottsass's influential "Ma...
Metal
$12,383 / item
Fringes 280 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Fringes 280 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 100 x W 280 x H 91 cm. SH: 47 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet upholstery and fringes. Available in all Munna...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
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
$749Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pietro Costatini Dining chair Set of Two Italy 1970s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Pietro Costantini post modern dining chair ITALY 1970s
Leather, Wood
Large Natural Blossom Bar Chair by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Natural Blossom bar chair by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 45 x W 44 x H 99 x SH 82 cm Materials: birch wood, steel. Available in other colors and sizes. With or without ba...
Steel
$1,181 / item
Fly Chair by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
Fly Chair by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 50 x D 60 x H 82 cm Materials: Metal chair covered with reconstituted leather. With the intention of providing good taste and personality, ...
Metal
$28,747 / item
QTZ Swivel Base Lounge Chair by Alexander Lotersztain
Located in Geneve, CH
QTZ Swivel Base Lounge Chair by Alexander Lotersztain Limited Edition. Dimensions: D 65,8 x W 82 x H 113 cm. Materials: Metal. Finish: Limited Bronze Electroplated. Available in dif...
Metal
$7,400 / item
Misty Beige Lupin Sofa by Nelson Araujo
Located in Geneve, CH
Misty Beige Lupin Chair by Nelson Araujo Dimensions: D 89 x W 89 x H 56 cm Materials: Wood, foam, Kvadrat Gentle 2 fabric. Available in Misty Beige, Chestnut, Mustard, and Forest co...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
$1,949 / item
Outdoor Ducale BZ Chair by GIROTTI ENRICO
Located in Geneve, CH
Outdoor Ducale BZ Chair by GIROTTI ENRICO Dimensions: W 53 x D 55 x H 87 cm Materials: Solid shaped steel with a Painted finish and outdoor fabric upholstery. Weight: 7 Kg. Enrico ...
Steel
$916Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of vintage 90s leather chairs design Segis Italia
By Segis
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Pair of chairs with chromed metal frame and black leather seat, Segis design, 1990s. CONDITION: In good condition, may show signs of wear given by time. SIZING: Height 82 cm, widt...
Metal
Sunshine Mariposa Outdoor Lounge Chair by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Sunshine Mariposa Outdoor Lounge Chair by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 86 x W 87 x H 92 cm. Materials: Upholstery and metal. Finish: Forest Green upholstery and grey frame. Weight: 12 ...
Metal
White Capri Easy Lounge Chair with Seat Cushion by Cools Collection
Located in Geneve, CH
White Capri easy lounge chair with seat cushion by Cools Collection Materials: Powder coated stainless steel, fabric suitable for outdoor use. Dimensions: Lounge Chair: W 70 x D 84...
Stainless Steel
Upholstered Shell Lounge Chair - Low Arms, by Brent Warr Studios
By Brent Warr
Located in Bainbridge, GA
Crafted by hand, the Shell Lounge Armchair is a playful yet demanding presence that explores a new way of thinking in regards to turn of the century Victorian furniture. Torn down, r...
Upholstery, Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass, Plaster, Hardwood, Paint
$1,187 / item
Jet Black Zoe Chair by Guglielmo Berchicci
Located in Geneve, CH
Jet Black Zoe Chair by Guglielmo Berchicci Dimensions: D 57 x W 50 x H 84 cm. Seat Height: 44 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 7 kg. Available in different color options. This p...
Other
Trigon Chair in Dark Brown European Oak by Mokko Amsterdam
Located in Geneve, CH
Trigon Chair in Dark Brown European Oak by Mokko Amsterdam Dimensions: D 45 x W 73,5 x H 119,5 cm. Materials: European oak. Available in different material options. Designed by Aad...
Oak
Sandcastle Lounge Chair Concrete by Atelier Ruben Van Megen
Located in Geneve, CH
Sandcastle Lounge Chair Concrete by Atelier Ruben Van Megen Dimensions: D 68 x H 45 cm Materials: Sand, Resin, Bronze. Ruben van Megen (1984)...
Sandstone, Bronze
Pair of J. Lang Armchairs, Philippe Starck, Driade 1987
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
This pair of model "J Lang" armchairs was designed by Philippe Starck in 1987 for Driade. These chairs were integrated to the Lang collection, specifically crafted to furnish the Fr...
Aluminum
$5,919 / item
Elefante Armchair by Dovain Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Elefante armchair by Dovain Studio Dimensions: H 86 x W 105 x D 65 x SH 39 cm Materials: Velvet, Wood Dovain Studio Creative direction by Sergio Prieto, a Spanish artist-design...
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
$992 / item
Nature Stretch Chair by Oxdenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Stretch chair by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 55 x W 47 x H 85 cm Materials: Leather, Black Powder Coated Steel Also Available: Different colors available. OX DENMARQ is a Da...
Steel
$1,211 / 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
Black Acapulco Chair With Black Cushion by OK Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Acapulco Chair With Black Cushion by OK Design Dimensions: D 110 x W 79 x H 72 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal, PVC cord. Available with black frame, white frame, or stainl...
Metal
$7,250 / set
Annie Hieronimus “Sandra” Chairs, a pair
By Cinna (Ligne Roset), Annie Hiéronimus
Located in Chicago, IL
for Cinna c. 1980s, France. There is fading consistent with age and use along with a small stain (pictured) - the chairs are in otherwise great condition
Fabric
$9,452 / item
Milky White Summertime Pouf by Giò Colonna Romano
Located in Geneve, CH
Milky White Summertime Pouf by Giò Colonna Romano Dimensions: D 120 x W 129 x H 43 cm. Seat Height: 43 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 55 kg. This product is suitable for indoo...
Other
$5,589 / item
Charles Cormo Cobalt Armchair by Royal Stranger
Located in Geneve, CH
Charles cormo cobalt armchair by Royal Stranger Dimensions: D 88 x W 84 x H 78 cm. Materials: Upholstery, prussiana lacquered with glossy finish. Weight: 62.5 kg. Finish Option...
Other
$4,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
Fabulous Statuesque Set of 6 Sculptural Postmodern Dining Chairs
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Statuesque set of six Postmodern tall back chairs, four side chairs and two armchairs. They each have tall, narrow backs with rounded top corners and a lumbar curve, extending down t...
Upholstery
$519 / item
Object 044 Chair by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 044 chair by NG Design Dimensions: D45 x W42 x H73 cm Materials: Powder coated steel, Plywood. Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors ...
Steel
$2,103 / item
Black Stitch Chair by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Black 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
$19,437 / item
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Ferdinand 350 Sofa by Munna Dimensions: D 185 x W 350 x H 80 cm. SH: 41 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Cotton Velvet and brushed brass. Available in all M...
Brass
Daybed installation "Aufwachraum" / "wake up room" by Florian Borkenhagen
By Florian Borkenhagen
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Florian Borkenhagen: „Aufwachraum“ (Wake Up Room) Ready-Made-Design as a complete set: The aptly named “Aufwachraum” („Wake Up Room“) by german artist and design professor Florian B...
Metal
Hub Two-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
Hub Two-Seater Sofa in Stainless Steel & Upholstery by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 70 x W 140 x H 68 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, wood, and upholstery. Available in different fin...
Stainless Steel
Nestle Lounge Chair Gypsum & Fiberglass by Brent Warr Studios
By Brent Warr
Located in Bainbridge, GA
The Nestle Lounge Chair by Brent Warr merges playful form with sculptural elegance in a striking silhouette that commands attention. Its curved seat and exaggerated, tubular legs evo...
Fabric, Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass, Plaster, Hardwood, Mohair
$2,315 / item
Chouchou Cobalt Stool by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Chouchou cobalt stool by Pulpo. Dimensions: D35 x W30 x H43 cm. Materials: ceramic. Also available in different colours. Whether stool or storage table, piece of column...
Ceramic
$14,297 / 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...
Wood, Velvet
$415 / item
Pampa Flying Goose Footstool by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Pampa Flying Goose Footstool by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 48 x W 47 x H 48 cm. Materials: Leather and chrome. Finish: Grass Green leather and chrome frame. Weight: 5,5 kg. Availabl...
Chrome
$2,032 / item
Chamois Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Chamois Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 42 x W 52 x H 49 cm. SH: 49 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Lilac, CV15. Footer: ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Set of 5 Tulip chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, 1970s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Renens, CH
The Tulip chair, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956 for Knoll International, is a key piece of mid-century modern design. Saarinen aimed to create a chair that removed the clutter of ...
Steel
Eileen Gray Non Conformist Sessel weiß Vereinigte Werkstätten Munich
By Eileen Gray, Vereinigte Werkstätten München
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen und sehr seltenen Armlehnstuhl von den Vereinigten Werkstätten Munich aus den 1970er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Eileen Gray aus dem ...
Steel, Chrome
Steelcase Post Modern i2i Swivel Desk Office Dining Chairs c 2013 4 available
By Steelcase
Located in New York, NY
Nice sharp examples of the postmodern production from Steelcase Inc. Model i2i circa 2013, swivel desk, office or dining chairs in grey and blue finish. All four are fully function...
Metal
Borek Sipek ”Prosim Sedni” Armchair for Driade, 1987
Borek Sipek ”Prosim Sedni” / “Papillon Chair” armchair for Driade, wood, leather and brocade, Italy, 1987. Emerging from the creative mind of Sipek in 1987, Papillon/Prosim Sedni fo...
Leather, Brocade, Wood
$4,844 / item
Ciro Bench by Murubi
Located in Geneve, CH
Ciro Bench by Murubi Dimensions: W 120 x D 50 x H 45.5 cm. Materials: Teak Wood- Natural; Cast Aluminium- Black powder coated; Cane- natural. Murubi is a contemporary design-drive...
Wood, Teak
$1,120Sale Price / set|60% Off
Pair of Post Modern Italian Green Leather lounge chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Italian Green Leather Lounge armchairs with removable cushions and armrests attached with zippers. High end soft leather upholstery - Pillow style post modern design. Made in...
Leather
$1,176 / item
Valhalla Armchair by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Valhalla Armchair by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 76 x W 89 x H 89 cm. Materials: Sheepskin and metal. Finish: Wild brown sheepskin and black frame. Available in different sheepskin a...
Metal
Solar Unique Sculptural Bench in Brazilian Wood by Otavio Motta
Located in Geneve, CH
Solar Unique Sculptural Bench in Brazilian Wood by Otavio Motta Unique piece, exclusive, signed, will not be reproduced Dimensions: D 85 x W 310 x H 93 x Seat H 48 cm. Weight: Approx...
Wood, Bamboo, Paper, LEDs
$8,897 / item
Niemeyer 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand
Located in Geneve, CH
Niemeyer 2 Seat Sofa by InsidherLand Dimensions: D 92 x W 180 x H 86 cm. Materials: Oak, brushed brass, InsidherLand Woollen Ref. 1 fabric. 56 kg....
Upholstery, Wood
$1,702 / item
Babylone Pink O2 Armchair by Babel Brune
Located in Geneve, CH
Babylone pink O2 armchair by Babel Brune Dimensions: D 63 x W 54 x H 67 cm, Seat H 35 cm. Material: Suede velvet 380g / m², steel. For the Armchair 02, we've taken a simple, ele...
Steel
$1,758Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 5 vintage 80s chairs "Coro" design Luigi Origlia for Origlia Italy
By Origlia Italy, Luigi Origlia
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Set of five chairs with chromed steel frame and orange synthetic fabric cover, model "Coro" design Luigi Origlia for Origlia, 1980s. CONDITION: In good condition, may show signs of ...
Steel
Arrben Jocauro chair Italy 1990
By Arrben
Located in Čelinac, BA
Jocauro Arrben postmodern armchair Italy 1990
Leather
Postmodern Italian Chenille Bench
Located in Chicago, IL
Postmodern bench newly redone in Italian chenille.
Chenille
$2,518 / 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
$2,851 / item
Becomes Me Bar Stool by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Becomes Me Bar Stool by Munna Dimensions: D 50 x W 53 x H 105 cm. SH: 82 cm. Materials: Solid wood, foam, brass, and upholstery. Finish: Upholstery: Cotton Velvet, ref. Midnight Blue...
Brass
B&B Italia Armchair Set of Six by Paolo Piva, Leather, Vintage, 1989
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Nagykovácsi, Central Hungary
B&B Italia armchair set of 6, desiged by Paolo Piva. The leather is in poor condition.
Metal
$5,226 / item
Layered Steel Chair by Hyungshin Hwang
Located in Geneve, CH
Layered steel stool by Hyungshin Hwang 2020 Dimensions: D 33 x W 60 x H 72 cm Materials: Stainless steel Layered Series is the main theme and...
Stainless Steel
$1,949 / item
Sister Dining Chair by Nick Sugihara
Located in Geneve, CH
Sister Dining Chair by Nick Sugihara Dimensions: W 38 x D 41 x H 84 cm (Dimensions may vary slightly) Materials: Cherry A playful dining chair which draws heavily from antique swiss...
Cherry
Set of 2 Levante Armchair and Ottoman by Francesco Zonca
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Levante Armchair and Ottoman by Francesco Zonca Numbered series signed Dimensions: D 85 x W 90 x H 71.5 cm, D 70 x W 70 x H 38.5 cm. Materials: Loro Piana Interiors fabric. ...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
$5,329 / 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
$10,646 / 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
$11,438 / item
Mollino Chair in Ebonized Wood by Brian Fireman Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Mollino Chair in Ebonized Wood by Brian Fireman Design Dimensions: D 50.8 x W 43.18 x H 91.4 cm. Materials: Ebonized walnut. Based in, produced and shipped from the US. The glass to...
Wood
Modernist Lounge Chair, Green Loden, 1970s
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Modernist lounge chair in tubular chromed steel, green loden, Italy, 1970s With their sleek cantilever structure and soft round forms, these modernist lounge chairs encapsulate the radical spirit of 1970s Italian design. The chromed tubular steel frame defines a low-slung silhouette that balances structural clarity with sculptural presence. A continuous loop forms the base and supports both seat and backrest, showcasing an expressive mastery of bent metal—a material language that traces its roots back to the revolutionary designs of Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand in the 1930s, such as the iconic LC7 chair for Cassina. The round backrests and wide seats are upholstered in loden, lending warmth, tactility, and visual depth to the otherwise minimal composition. The contrast between the industrial frame and the sensual textile echoes the experimental ethos of postmodern design—reminiscent of the formal investigations by Giandomenico Belotti or Cini Boeri, whose work often blended technical precision with emotional softness. Though the author of these chairs remains unidentified, their design reflects the avant-garde energy of the Italian furniture scene in the late 20th century—a moment defined by material experimentation and structural boldness. Comparable in spirit to Belotti’s “Spaghetti” chair...
Wool
$760 / item
Gesture Chair Black Beech by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Gesture chair black beech by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 56 x W 53 x H 80 cm Material: Teak or white oiled solid oak, Black lacquered solid beech, Solid wood base, Veneer seat and ba...
Wood, Beech, Oak, Teak