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Post-Modern Dry Bars

POSTMODERN STYLE

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

  • Emerges during the 1960s; popularity explodes during the ’80s
  • A reaction to prevailing conventions of modernism by mainly American architects
  • Architect Robert Venturi critiques modern architecture in his Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966)
  • Theorist Charles Jencks, who championed architecture filled with allusions and cultural references, writes The Language of Post-Modern Architecture (1977)
  • Italian design collective the Memphis Group, also known as Memphis Milano, meets for the first time (1980) 
  • Memphis collective debuts more than 50 objects and furnishings at Salone del Milano (1981)
  • Interest in style declines, minimalism gains steam

CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Dizzying graphic patterns and an emphasis on loud, off-the-wall colors
  • Use of plastic and laminates, glass, metal and marble; lacquered and painted wood 
  • Unconventional proportions and abundant ornamentation
  • Playful nods to Art Deco and Pop art

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 Mendinia 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.

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Style: Post-Modern
Rougier 3300 Wall System
Located in Hanover, MA
This incredibly rare and sculptural post-modern (Memphis vibe) wall unit/entertainment center was designed and produced by Roger Rougier of Canada. See original brochure. It is in e...
Category

1980s Canadian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Wood, Glass, Lacquer

Bar and Wall Unit in Solid Pine
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Bar and wall unit or backbar, pine, Europe, 1970s This set is the ultimate component for hosting and entertaining friends: a home bar and large wall unit behind it. Crafted with car...
Category

1970s European Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Pine

Luigi Saccardo Sideboard with Dry Bar Model ‘Parentisi’ in Lacquered Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luigi Saccardo for Arrmat, sideboard with dry bar Model ‘Parentisi’, red lacquered wood, metal, glass, Italy, 1976 The ‘Parentisi’ sideboard with dry bar by Italian designer Luigi S...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Memphis Style Cabinet by Gerard Van Den Berg for Pastoe, Netherlands, 1980s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Memphis-inspired 'Magic' cabinet by Gerard Van Den Berg for Pastoe, a rare gem that exudes Dutch flair. This original piece, featured prominently in the Eddie Murphy...
Category

Late 20th Century Dutch Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Metal

Massimo Papiri for Mario Sabot ‘Harry’s Bar’ Cocktail Table with Dry Bar
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Massimo Papiri for Mario Sabot, coffee table with dry bar, brushed aluminum, plexiglass, lacquered wood, plastic, Italy, 1970s This ico...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Aluminum

Italian Post-Modern Bar Cabinet with Stools in Black Lacquered Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cocktail bar with two stools, black lacquered wood, plastic, steel, chrome, glass, Italy, late 1970s/early 1980s. Eccentric Post-Modern cocktail bar with two matching stools. The c...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Extravagant Formitalia Burl Walnut and Leather Dry Bar Table
Located in Dronten, NL
One-off dining table by luxury Italian design label Formitalia, with built-in electrical bar lift. Leather clad base, burl walnut veneered top with yellow inserts. Formitalia is reno...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Leather, Burl

Striking Glass & Rattan Bar Cart Postmodern
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful great quality and condition on this unique large rattan dry bar cart, circa 1980's solid large with nice thick custom glass, one of a kind piece.
Category

20th Century American Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Brass

Postmodern Italian Bar Sideboard Murano Glass and Brass, 1980s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
An interesting postmodern bar cabinet, sideboard/bar cabinet, very distinctive Italian design, with two front doors in milky white Murano glass,...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Brass

Post Modern Midcentury Pink Bar Cart Style of Memphis Milano
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Awesome Postmodern midcentury Pink Bar Cart style of Memphis Milano. Very cool custom built unit with pink laminate with 2 mirror front drawers on chrom...
Category

1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Laminate, Mirror

Cream Curved Lace Bar by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Cream curved lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (lacq...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Black Curved Lace Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Black curved lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (lacq...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Petit Comité Bar by Renatta Chain
Located in Geneve, CH
Petit Comité bar by Renatta Chain Dimensions: D 85 x W 50 x H 155 cm Materials: ebony veneer, glass, leather, steel, Petra Grey marble. Bar made of ebony veneer, black leather, ...
Category

2010s Mexican Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Marble, Steel

Curved Cream Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Curved cream lacquered classe bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg Also available in different colors, wheel k...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Special Edition Petit Comité Bar by Renatta Chain
Located in Geneve, CH
Special edition Petit Comité bar by Renatta Chain. Dimensions: D 85 x W 51 x H 170 cm. Materials: Paglia Diritto veneer, glass, oak wood. Bar made of Paglia Diritto veneer, oak,...
Category

2010s Mexican Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Glass, Oak

White Curved Lace Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
White curved lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (lacq...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Curved Burgundy Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Curved burgundy lacquered classe bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg Also available in different colors, whee...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Cream Straight Lace Bar by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Cream Straight Lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D68 x W140 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 45 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (lac...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Black Straight Lace Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Black straight lace bar by Mowee. Dimensions: D68 x W140 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 45 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (la...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Curved Black Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Curved black lacquered classe bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg Also available in different colors, wheel k...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Straight Black Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Straight black lacquered classe bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D140 x W68 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless Steel Weight: 45 kg Also available in different colours, wheel kit...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

White Straight Lace Bar by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
White Straight Lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D68 x W140 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 45 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (lac...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Grey Curved Lace Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey curved lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (lacqu...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Other, Stainless Steel

Chocolate Straight Lace Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate straight lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D68 x W140 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 45 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes ...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Chocolate Curved Lace Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate curved Lace bar by Mowee Dimensions: D 100 x W 100 x H 115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg. Also available in different colors and finishe...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Curved Grey Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Curved grey lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee. Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg Also available in different colors, wheel k...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Straight Burgundy Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Straight burgundy lacquered classe bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D140 x W68 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless Steel Weight: 45 kg Also available in different colours, wheel ...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Curved Chocolate Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Curved chocolate lacquered classe bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg Also available in different colors, whe...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Grey Straight Lace Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey straight lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D68 x W140 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 45 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (lacq...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Curved White Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Curved white Lacquered classe bar by Mowee Dimensions: D 100 x W 100 x H 115 cm Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg Also availabl...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Straight Grey Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Straight grey lacquered classe bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D140 x W68 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless Steel Weight: 45 kg Also available in different colours, wheel kit ...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Straight Chocolate Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Straight chocolate lacquered classe bar by Mowee Dimensions: D 140 x W 68 x H 115 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless Steel Weight: 45 kg Also available in different colours, wh...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Straight Cream Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Straight cream lacquered classe bar by Mowee. Dimensions: D140 x W68 x H115 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless Steel Weight: 45 kg Also available in different colours, wheel ki...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Burgundy Curved Lace Bar by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Burgundy curved Lace bar by MOWEE Dimensions: D100 x W100 x H115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 31 kg. Also available in different colors and finishes (l...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Straight White Lacquered Classe Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Straight white lacquered classe bar by Mowee Dimensions: D 140 x W 68 x H 115 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless Steel Weight: 45 kg Also available in different colours, wheel ...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Burgundy Straight Lace Bar by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Burgundy straight Lace bar by Mowee Dimensions: D 68 x W 140 x H 115 cm. Material: Polyethylene and stainless steel. Weight: 45 kg. Also available in different colors and finishe...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Ledge Dry Bar 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...
Category

2010s Canadian Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Leather, Glass, Ash

Contemporary Bar by Paulo Alves, 2017
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
This wooden bar is designed in a square shape and features four sturdy wooden feet that split in two for extra support. One of the standout features of the wooden bar is its two can...
Category

2010s Brazilian Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Cane, Wood

Mid-Century Modern Style Bar Cabinet on Stand, Lacquer, Metal, Brass
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern style bar cabinet on stand, lacquer, metal, brass. A sleek and stunning bar having a high console metal base supporting and a ...
Category

2010s American Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Metal

Postmodern Interlübke Teal & Black Lighted Bar Cabinet from Germany, 1970s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Postmodern bar from German Manufacturer Interlübke, produced in the 1970s. Arched center door folds down to reveal a lighted mirrored space to hold bottles and glasses. There are ...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Wood

Post Modern Chinoiserie Dry Bar Cabinet C. 1990s
Located in Saint Louis, MO
A really fun Post Modern bar cabinet with a Chinoiserie nod that adds an uplifting air whether in or out of use into any space. Go from sexy sc...
Category

1990s American Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Wood

Vladimir Kagan Exotic Wood Illuminated Sideboard Bar Cabinet, c 1970s, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This impressive Vladimir Kagan for Vladimir Kagan Designs illuminated sideboard and hutch cabinet, in an exotic wood with incredible wood grain was...
Category

1970s American Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Brass

Pair of XL Italian Vitrines by Giorgio Collection
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair of architectural vitrines designed by Alan Meadoff and produced in Italy in 1990 by Nuova Modernindustria for the Giorgio Collection. African walnut book matched grain veneers o...
Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Italian Modern Black Wood Corner Cabinet with Wheels, Shelf and Bottle Rack 1980
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post modern black wood corner cabinet on wheels with shelf and bottle rack, 1980 Corner cabinet on wheels in black painted wood with triangular base with rounded corners, hi...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Wood

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...
Category

2010s American Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Steel

Bertrand Cabinet by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Memphis, Milano, 1987
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.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Pedro Friedeberg Snake Bar / Server / Table / Candle Holder / Sculpture, Signed
Located in Kansas City, MO
Pedro Friedeberg Snake bar, Mexico, c. 1970s. Made of carved and gilt wood, antique statuary, and glass. The stretched out hands hold the round removable glass tray and the upper han...
Category

1970s Mexican Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Glass, Wood

Maitland Style Postmodern Tessellated Stone Rolling Credenza Buffet Dry Bar
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Offering one of our recent Palm Beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of 1980's postmodern tessellated & mactan stone credenza buffet dry bar...
Category

1980s Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Stone

Postmodern Black Steel Standing Floor Wine Rack by Brookstone Exclusive, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Standing Postmodern Memphis style floor wine rack in matte black lacquer with space for 12 bottles by Brookstone Exclusive, circa 1980s.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Steel

Mid Century Modern Brass and Jatoba Dry Bar by Osvaldo Borsani.
Located in Weesp, NL
Stunning Jatoba and brass Mid-century dry bar designed by Osvaldo Borsani This fabulous cabinet has four doors. Two in the middle and one on each side. On the left and right glasses,...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Brass

Post-modern dry bars for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Post-Modern dry bars for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage dry bars created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Post-Modern dry bars made in a specific country, there are Europe, Spain, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original dry bars, popular names associated with this style include Renatta Chain, Directional, Paul Evans, and Formitalia. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for dry bars differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $47,000 while the average work can sell for $4,305.

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