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
Giuseppe Rivadossi Unique Large Freestanding Display Cabinet in Sculpted Oak
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, showcase unit, oak and glass, Italy, 1980s This tall cabinet by Italian sculptor and designer Giuseppe Rivadossi demonstrates his distinct...
Glass, Oak
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
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
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
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
Post Modern Lacquered Wall Unit Entertainment Center Chest of Drawers c 1970/80s
Located in New York, NY
Massive lacquered sideboard, entertainment center, chest of drawers, in faux marbleized finish, made by Elkins Industries c. 1970/80's. This impressive cabinet features two banks of ...
Lacquer
$1,109Sale 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
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
Memphis Milano Freemont Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass, Italy
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
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
Sculpt Black Cabinet in Stone Textured Lacquered MDF by Hermhaus
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculpt Black Cabinet in Stone Textured Lacquered MDF by Hermhaus Dimensions: D 80 x W 35 x H 150 cm Materials: MDF with stone texture and special lacquer finish. 3 Glass Shelves and...
Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)
Memphis Milano 1980s Gerard Taylor Airport Cabinet
Located in Roanoke, VA
A rare and highly collectible early Memphis Milano design by Gerard Taylor, the Airport Cabinet exemplifies the movement’s radical approach to color, geometry, and functional furnitu...
Steel
Rare Emiel Veranneman Cabinet in Off-White and Green Lacquered Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Emiel Veranneman, cabinet, lacquered wood, mahogany veneer, Belgium, circa 1970 Few cabinets, tables, or chairs express such a distinct identity as the design creations of Flemish ...
Mahogany
Knoll File Cabinet with Upholstered Top on Casters Metal
By Knoll
Located in San Diego, CA
Knoll mobile pedestal file cabinet with upholstered top versatile very practical great condition.
Metal
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
Shiro Kuramata "Dinah" Cabinet for Cappellini #008 Italy
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A re-edition of the Progetti Compiuti collection, also part of the permanent collection of the MoMA in New York, the Dinah cabinet is a chest of drawers envisioned by designer Shiro ...
Metal
Ocean Green Painted Murano Glass and Brass Two-Door Cabinet
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazingly crafted 2-door cabinet clad completely in Murano green glass and trimmed with brass, also features wonderful tapering glass legs. Interior long clear glass shelf. T...
Glass
Large Postmodern Geometric Cabinet with Custom Lacquer Available
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
A large-scale architectural postmodern cabinet defined by bold stepped geometry and a strong volumetric composition. Offset cubic forms create an asymmetrical silhouette that functio...
Wood, Lacquer
$12,701 / 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
$9,448 / item
Sona Cabinet in Aluminium by Animate Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Sona Cabinet in Aluminium by Animate Objects. Dimensions: W 48 x D 48 x H 172 cm. Materials: Aluminium. Inspired by Sonia Delaunay’s stage costumes, where geometry became performanc...
Aluminum
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
Postmodern Cabinet in the Manner of Philippe Starck, France, 1980s
Located in ROUEN, FR
Postmodern cabinet in the manner of Philippe Starck. Raised on slender black metal legs with conical feet, the mahogany-veneered case is topped by a distinctive architectural pedime...
Metal
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
$13,958 / 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
Perfidia Bar Cabinet in Solid Wood with Cast Bronze Details by Estudio Andean
Located in Geneve, CH
Perfidia Bar Cabinet in Solid Wood with Cast Bronze Details by Estudio Andean Dimensions: D 43,8 x W 85 x H 185 cm. Materials: Solid wood, cast bronze, steel, and aged mirror. Bar ...
Bronze, Steel
$17,545 / 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
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
$27,899 / item
Yoroi Cabinet by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Yoroi Cabinet by De Castelli Dimensions: W 208 x D 46 x H 90 cm Materials: Orbitale DeLabrè Brass, Natural Oak Wood Stainless Steel and Copper version al...
Brass
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
$3,527 / 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
Curvy Wood Cabinet, Post-Modern Design, Nine Drawers, France, 1970s
Located in Toronto, CA
A sculptural take on classic storage. This tallboy twists tradition with its undulating silhouette and rich, honeyed wood grain. Each of the nine narrow drawers is a little offbeat, ...
Wood
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
$15,575 / 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
IKEA Märd Rolling Storage Box in Red Plastic, 1990s
By IKEA
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vintage IKEA “Märd” rolling storage box from the 1990s, executed in durable molded red plastic. Designed as a compact and mobile storage solution, the piece features integrated whee...
Plastic
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
Memphis Style Tall Cabinet by Eugenio Pinuer, Colorful Design, 1980s
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, 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
$19,149 / 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
$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
$1,623 / item
Low Frame Bookcase by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
Low Frame Bookcase by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: W 150 x D 30 x H 65 cm Materials: Structure: painted metal, Top: leather, Shelf: venner. With the intention of providing good tas...
Steel
Vintage Yellow Acrylic Storage Cube with Three White Drawers after Joe Colombo
$3,435 / item
Lego Entry Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Lego Entry Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 48 x W 90 x H 130 cm Materials: Wood. The pieces of the famous Lego construction game have given us glorious moments when we were ch...
Wood
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
Walnut Low Sideboard by Says Who with Metal Accents, Danish Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Walnut array low sideboard 150 by Says Who Materials: walnut, metal Dimensions: D 37 x W 150 x H 25 cm Also available in different colours and materia...
Metal
Italy Postmodern Dark Oak 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
$2,629 / item
LOTV TV Cabinet by Pastform
Located in Geneve, CH
LOTV TV Cabinet by Pastform Dimensions: D 40 x W 200 x H 57 cm Materials: Stained and varnished wood. Available in different wood color finishes: Whiskey, Rum, BPA, Nobel, Brandy, S...
Wood
Limited Edition Wood and Metal Three Doors Cabinet by Bottega Nera Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Limited Edition Wood and Metal Three Doors Cabinet by Bottega Nera Furniture Dimensions: W 120 x D 42 x H 165 cm Materials: Wood, Metal. 3DC12 - 40.50. Wooden structure covered in ...
Metal
$4,844 / 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
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
USM Haller Bürocontainer Büroschrank Design weiß klein Fritz
By WK Möbel, Fritz Haller
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
$16,095 / item
Solomia 2 Cabinet by Ruda Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Solomia 2 Cabinet by Ruda Studio Dimensions: D 45 x W 170 x H 75 cm. Materials: Solid wood (ash), rye straw inlay, plywood, glass and brass. Weight: 80 kg. Dimensions are customizable. Please contact us. Inspired by the wealth of Ukrainian land, RUDA Studio has created an interior object – the Solomia cabinet...
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
$12,449 / item
Arnava Drawer Cabinet in Natural Oak Veneer by Pendhapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Arnava Drawer Cabinet in Natural Oak Veneer by Pendhapa. Dimensions: W 100 x D 50 x H 80 cm. Materials: Natural oak veneer. You can further personalize your cabinet with our palette...
Oak
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
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
Stained Birch XL CNSTR Cabinet by Paul Heijnen, Hand-Crafted in NL
Located in Geneve, CH
CNSTR cabinet, stained birch XL by Paul Heijnen (2009) Dimensions: H230 x L200 x W65 cm Materials: Stained birch Also available in, oak, natural birch, walnut, and other varieti...
Birch, Oak
$4,214Sale Price|20% Off
Pierre Cardin Black Lacquer and Teak Drawer Cabinet, Postmodern Credenza, 1970's
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pierre Cardin; French Design; Black lacquer; Teak drawer; Cabinet; Credenza; Pierre Cardin sideboard in black lacquered wood and teak. This item is provided with two doors on each...
Teak, Lacquer
$2,286 / item
Object 002 Cabinet by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 002 cabinet by NG Design Dimensions: D115 x W50 x H76 cm Materials: Powder coated steel. Also Available: All of objects available in different m...
Steel
$19,090 / 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 Copper, Titanium Oak Wood Brass and Stainless Steel versions also avai...
Copper