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.
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Grid Wall Cabinet in Oak
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, wall cabinet, oak, Italy, 1970s A striking piece from the 1970s, this hanging cabinet by Giuseppe Rivadossi reflects his deep respect for ...
Glass, Oak
Ambrogio Tresoldi e Alberto Salvati Wardrobe Cabinet Purple Blue Lacquered Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ambrogio Tresoldi and Alberto Salvati, cabinet / wardrobe, lacquered wood, Italy, 1970s Ambrogio Tresoldi and Alberto Salvati began their careers at the Politecnico di Milano under ...
Wood, Lacquer
Memphis Milano Freemont Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass, Italy
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Toronto, ON
Resting on a base with five cylindrical legs, Freemont by Ettore Sottsass appears to grow strongly from the bottom to the top. With its fractured shapes, it branches out into the spa...
Gold Leaf
Guido Faleschini for Mariani Cabinets in Red Brown Leather
By i4 Mariani, Guido Faleschini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guido Faleschini for i4 Mariani, cabinets from the 'Pace Collection', leather, fabric, chrome-plated steel, aluminum, mahogany, Italy, circa 1975 This captivating set of four cabin...
Chrome, Aluminum, Steel
Ettore Sottsass Style Postmodern Magenta and Orange Lacquered Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Postmodern magenta and orange lacquered cabinet, bookcase, or bar cabinet In the manner of Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano USA, Circa 1980s Measures: 51.25"W x 2...
Wood, Lacquer
Italian Postmodern Sideboard with Geometric Front
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cabinet, cherry wood, ebony wood, mahogany wood, Italy 1970s This stunning sideboard, made from a luxurious combination of cherry, ebony wood, and mahogany, is a true statement piec...
Cherry, Ebony, Mahogany
Otto Zapf for ZapfDesign 'Softline' Cabinet in Grey
By Otto Zapf
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Otto Zapf for Zapfdesign 'Softline' cabinet, plastic, fabric, Germany, 1969 A grey-colored detachable 'Softline' cabinet with shelves designed by the German designer Otto Zapf. Pres...
Plastic, Fabric
$8,700 / item
1970s Italian Tall Cabinets in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cabinets, walnut, glass, Italy, 1970s These three walnut cabinets from 1970s Italy have a strong and unusual shape that immediately stands out. The most noticeable element is the ro...
Walnut
Luigi Saccardo 'Topline' Highboards in Vibrant Green and Black Color
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luigi Saccardo, 'Beehive' large cabinets from the 'Topline' series, lacquered laminated wood, metal, Italy, circa 1976 Back in the seventies, Topline was a newly introduced collecti...
Metal
Bridget Low Cabinet in Natural Rattan by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Bridget Low Cabinet in Natural Rattan by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 110 x D 35 x H 100 cm. Materials: Natural stained rattan and wrapped rattan. Fabric is not included. Please co...
Rattan
Memphis Style Tall Cabinet by Eugenio Pinuer, Colorful Design, 1980s
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Wassily Kandinsky
Located in ECHT, NL
Quality made tall cabinet. Made in Switzerland by Wohnsinn AG in the 1980s. Crazy post modern design in true Memphis style. Lots of colors and asymmetric patterns. A style that let g...
Metal
Henredon Scene Two Cabinets, Olive Burl Wood, Post-Modern Design, 1986
By Henredon
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair of Scene Two Henredon cabinets in honey colored olive burl wood with one adjustable shelf inside each cabinet. These feature Macassar ebony wood trim around the doors and sculpt...
Olive, Burl
USM Haller Modular System Six Drawer Cabinet in Light Grey
By Usm Haller
Located in Seattle, WA
This is a modular USM Haller two-column, six-drawer cabinet in original light gray, made in Switzerland, in overall good condition with some surface wear and scratches. Height: 45 ...
Steel
Pair of bedside cabinets by Interluke, 1970s
By Interlübke
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Pair of vintage black lacquered bedside cabinets by Interlubke. Each cabinet has 2 drawers. Timeless design 1970s - Germany good condition Dimensions: Height: 43cm Width: 65cm...
Wood, Lacquer
Pierre Chapo Cabinet Model 'R18' in Solid Elm
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, cabinet model 'R18', solid elm, France, 1960s This exquisitely crafted 'R18' cabinet combines a simplified yet complex design combined with nifty, solid construction d...
Elm
$1,108Sale Price|25% Off
Vintage Post Modern Deco Revival Black Lacquer Tall Cabinet / Tallboy, USA 1980s
Located in Hastings, GB
1980s deco revival black lacquer tall cabinet, by Millennium, USA. Looks like chrome edging, but is actually mirror glass. Double doors open onto shelved storage; 2 large drawers bel...
Mirror, Lacquer
Vittorio Introini for Saporiti Wall Unit in Lacquered Ash and Chrome
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vittorio Introini for Saporiti, multifunctional wall unit, black lacquered ash, chrome and white fabric, Italy, 1980s. Rare multifunctional wall unit designed by the Italian design...
Chrome
Luxurious Italian Cabinet in Bamboo and Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cabinet, lacquered bamboo and ash, brass, Italy, 1970s. This glamorous cabinet, dating from the 1970s, has a compact geometric shape that is at once simple and assertive. Yet the e...
Brass
Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl Shelving Cabinet in Black and Beige Polyurethane
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl, shelving cabinet, polyurethane, Germany, 1970/71 Ernest Hofmann, also known by his artist name 'Igl', recently gained an international audience for hi...
Plastic, Fiberglass
Alber Bar Cabinet by Madheke: Leather & Wood, Post-Modern Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Alber Bar Cabinet by Madheke Dimensions: D 338.5 x W 56.2 x H 256.3 cm. Materials: Leather and wood. Finish options: Bordeaux Leather. Dunkelbraun Leather. Marine Leather. Beige Lea...
Wood
Vintage Model Märd Rolling Storage Box from Ikea, 1990s
By IKEA
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Model Märd Rolling Storage Box from Ikea, Sweden, 1991 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Plastic, Wood Color: Red Period: 1990s Item ...
Plastic, Wood
Late 20th Century Postmodern to Art Deco Revival Mirrored Entertainment Cabinet
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Postmodern to Art Deco Revival or Hollywood Regency layered mirrored entertainment cabinet, in the style of Ello Furniture Manufacturing. Beautiful condition, keepi...
Chrome
Unique Rectangular Deep Blue Brass Cabinet with Two Doors by Christopher Boots
Located in Geneve, CH
Curiosity Cabinet by Christopher Boots Unique Piece Dimensions: D 50 x W 97 x H 140 cm. Materials: Reclaimed oak, cast bronze, clear quartz, smoky quartz, lapis lazuli, pyrite, indus...
Lapis Lazuli, Quartz, Pyrite, Brass, Bronze
$15,858 / item
Rockhound Cabinet by Laylo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Rockhound Cabinet by Laylo Studio Limited Edition Dimensions: D 50 x W 106.6 x H 91.4 cm. Materials: Steel, stainless steel, linoleum, oak, limestone. Deposited by prehistoric seas ...
Limestone, Steel, Stainless Steel
$3,720 / item
Small Cibeles Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Cibeles Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 41 x W 73 x H 130 cm Materials: Wood. We are Félix and Désirée Ramos, brothers and product designers of our brand, Lola Glamour....
Wood
$26,000
Ledge Dry Bar by Simon Johns
By Simon Johns
Located in East-Bolton, Quebec
Ledge dry bar is a floating wall-mounted sculptural dry bar. Made of carved solid ash, it’s surface recalls the textures of crumbling cliffs around the studio. It’s interior has two solid wood surfaces for a collection of bottles...
Leather, Glass, Ash
$13,474 / item
Marea Cabinet by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Marea Cabinet by De Castelli Dimensions: W 90 x D 45 x H 155 cm Materials: DeMarea Stainless Steel, Titanium Oak Wood Brass and Copper versions also avai...
Stainless Steel
$15,172 / item
Marea Cabinet by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Marea Cabinet by De Castelli Dimensions: W 90 x D 45 x H 155 cm Materials: DeMarea Brass, Titanium Oak Wood Stainless Steel and Copper versions also avai...
Brass
Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl Cabinet in Off-White Polyurethane
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl, sideboard, polyurethane, Germany, 1970/71 Ernest Hofmann, also known by his artist name 'Igl', recently gained an international audience for his desig...
Plastic
$3,580 / item
Dinastía Entry Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Dinastía Entry Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 35 x W 88 x H 135 cm Materials: Wood. The smallest of the Dynasty series, but not for that reason renounces its grandeur. Four-d...
Wood
$4,917 / item
Pez Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Pez Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 42 x W 140 x H 166 cm Materials: Wood. It is as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside. The front scales, which can change positio...
Wood
A two-part cabinet in rare exotic woods with solid ebony inlays, Italy, 1990s
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A large two-part cabinet in rare exotic woods with solid ebony inlays. This unique two-part sideboard, crafted by Bottega Costa in the 1990s, is a remarkable example of Ligurian cra...
Ebony, Fruitwood, Rosewood
$13,358 / item
Tako Floor Console by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Tako Floor Console by De Castelli Dimensions: W 220 x D 41 x H 40 cm Materials: DeLabré B Stainless Steel, Natural Oak Wood Copper and Brass versions are available. One drawer versio...
Stainless Steel
Half-moon Wall Patinated Bronze Cabinet with Jade Green Stone by Pierre De Valck
Located in Geneve, CH
Bow wall cabinet by Pierre De Valck Dimensions: D 100 x W 28 x H 15 Materials: Stone, bronze Weight: 25 kg Each piece is unique Pierre De Valck (1991) ...
Stone, Bronze
Large Postmodern Geometric Bar Cabinet in Custom Lacquer
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
A large-scale architectural postmodern cabinet defined by bold stepped geometry and strong volumetric composition. Composed of offset cubic forms arranged in an asymmetrical configu...
Wood, Lacquer
Postmodern Ash Cabinet, c.1980
Located in Surbiton, GB
A late 20th Century bespoke cabinet made by fine furniture makers Pierre Cronje of South Africa, c.1980. Made from solid ash stained in a deep red and featuring a concealed drawer an...
Ash
Contemporary Swedish Cabinet model "Visir" by Max Lund.
Located in Stockholm, SE
Contemporary Swedish Cabinet model "Visir" by Max Lund. With double doors made of perforated metal and inside with glass shelves. Signs of age and wear, overall nice condition with ...
Metal
Grifo Decorative Cabinet with Mirror in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme
Located in Geneve, CH
Grifo Decorative Cabinet with Mirror in Powder-Coated Aluminum by altreforme Dimensions: D 42 x W 132 x H 200 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminum and mirror. A sweet love story ha...
Aluminum
USM Haller Bürocontainer Büroschrank Design weiß klein Fritz
By Fritz Haller, WK Möbel
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen, kleinen USM Haller Bürocontainer in weiß zum Verkauf an. Der kleine Büroschrank lässt sich ideal unter dem Schreibtisch positionieren und bietet dank ...
Metal
$20,462 / item
Solomia Cabinet by Ruda Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Solomia Cabinet by Ruda Studio Dimensions: D 45 x W 170 x H 75 cm. Materials: Solid Ash Wood, Rye Straw Inlay, Plywood, Brass handles and legs. Weight: 70 kg. Design brand RUDA Stud...
Brass
5x USM Haller Rollcontainer Büroschrank Rollen dunkelblau offen
By Fritz Haller, WK Möbel
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen von fünf wunderschönen USM Haller Rollcontainern in dunkelblau zum Verkauf an. Die Bürocontainer lassen sich ideal unter dem Schreibtisch positionieren und bieten da...
Metal
$16,369 / item
Tlaloc Wine Cabinet by Andres Gutierrez
Located in Geneve, CH
Tlaloc Wine cabinet by Andres Gutierrez Dimensions: D40 x W80 x H130 cm Materials: Body: solid white oak wood, Legs: white oak plywood. — Inspir...
Oak, Plywood
$6,995 / item
Maple Path of Totality Bar Cabinet
Located in Portland, OR
Prototyped in the weeks leading up to a solar eclipse, this bar cabinet is an exploration of partially obscured light. The laser cut lattice work on the bypass doors is an interpreta...
Steel
$10,231 / item
Black Sea Natūra Cabinet by Ruda Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Sea Natūra Cabinet by Ruda Studio Dimensions: D 45 x W 100 x H 100 cm. Materials: Solid wood (ash), rye straw inlay, plywood and brass. Weight: 70 kg. Dimensions are customiza...
Brass
Bertrand Cabinet by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Memphis, Milano, 1987
By Massimo Iosa Ghini, Memphis Group
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare Bertrand cabinet by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Memphis, Milano, 1987. Original condition with very few blemishes. This can be used as a bar cabinet, sideboard, or general storage.
Steel, Chrome
$1,755 / item
TV Mini Vinyl Small Cabinet With Drawers by Pastform
Located in Geneve, CH
TV Mini Vinyl Small Cabinet With Drawers by Pastform Dimensions: D 35 x W 100 x H 57 cm. Materials: Stained and varnished wood. Available in different wood color finishes: Whiskey, ...
Wood
Post modern bar cabinet by Belgochrom, 1980s
By belgochrom
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautiful brass/copper postmodern design cabinet by Belgochrom. Belgochrom used to make high quality furniture that was sold in high end furniture shops all around belgium. The we...
Brass
$19,438 / item
Trono Credenza by Andres Gutierrez
Located in Geneve, CH
Trono credenza by Andres Gutierrez Dimensions: D50 x W186 x H74 cm Materials: Solid white oak wood — Inspired by Xochiquetzal, the aztec godess as...
Oak
$7,200Sale Price / set|37% Off
Pair of Monumental Post-Modern Obelisk Cabinets
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A truly unique pair of Post-Modernist cabinets in the form of a faux porphyry obelisk or pyramid on four gilded balls, resting on a black plinth base. Each cabinet contains four draw...
Laminate, Wood
Kuno Prey Container Model CO 1028 'Sciuscia' for Alessi Twergi, 1990s
By Alessi
Located in Skokie, IL
Kuno Prey Container model CO 1028 'Sciuscia' for Alessi Twergi Italy 1990. Rare. Additional information: Materials:colored wooden nails, textile, dark ...
Textile, Wood
Vintage German Postmodern Cabinet by Elmar Flötotto for Flötotto, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Container from the profile system collection from Flötotto in a special color. A very simple and functional design. The container comes from the profile system collection, which is ...
Metal
$11,347 / item
Geller Credenza by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Geller Credenza by Madheke Dimensions: D 202 x W 54 x H 76.1 cm. Materials: Marbled stone credenza top, Walnut credenza body with pronounced front edge profile, Walnut veneered sculp...
Brass
$4,557 / item
Toscano Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Toscano Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 45 x W 80 x H 138 cm Materials: Wood. We are Félix and Désirée Ramos, brothers and product designers of our brand, Lola Glamour. We ar...
Wood
Emerald Sideboard by Nathalie Du Pasquier, Memphis Style, 1985, France
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
EMERALD Sideboard by Nathalie Du Pasquier - Memphis Milano This stunning MEMPHIS sideboard is a veritable masterwork of postmodernist art, designed in 1985 by Nathalie Du Pasquier. ...
Mirror, Laminate, Wood
Italy Post-Modern Dark Oak Wood Cabinet with Raffia Panels and Bronze Handles
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a very beautiful cabinets, one of a kind, for the slim proportion, the two bronze handles, fully handmade and designed by studio Dimore. The colo...
Oak, Raffia
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
Drexel Heritage Cabochon TV Console Entertainment Center Cabinet 868-960 72"
By Drexel
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Drexel Heritage Cabochon TV console / entertainment center / bar or liquor cabinet featuring post modern styling. Made from whitewashed oak with paneled doors over an iron ba...
Iron
Set of 5 Postmodern Profilsystem Cabinets and Shelf by Elmar Flötotto, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Container and shelf from the profile system collection from flöotto in a special color combination. a very simple and functional design. The elements come from the profile system co...
Metal
$11,009 / item
Pilion Dressing Cabinet by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Pilion Dressing Cabinet by Madheke Dimensions: D 150 x W 45 x H 105 cm. Materials: Leather finished cabinet with contrasting leather trims, Brass hardware details. Finish options: Le...
Brass
Brass And Glass Bubbles Decorative Cabinet by PANOPTIKUM COLLECTIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass And Glass Bubbles Decorative Cabinet by PANOPTIKUM COLLECTIONS Dimensions: D 55 x W 55 x H 190 cm. Materials: MDF, brass, glass, and LED lighting. The “Bubbles collection” is ...
Brass, Other
$1,720 / item
Lowbo S Cabinet by Phormy
Located in Geneve, CH
LOWBO S cabinet by Phormy Dimensions: D 40 x W 119 x H 53 cm. Materials: acrylic engraved or flat laminate, oak, powder coated steel base Different materials and sizes available...
Oak