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.
A large Italian walnut sideboard with pencil reed and curved waterfall edges
Located in London, GB
A large mid century modern Italian pencil reed with curved waterfall edges credenza features include two sliding doors on each side with a centre pull door , five drawers all with ma...
Reed, Wood, Walnut
Pierre Chapo 'R28' Sideboard in Solid Elm
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, sideboard, model 'R28', elm, France, circa 1980. This exquisitely crafted sideboard combines a simplified yet complex design combined with nifty, solid construction de...
Elm
Sculptural vintage postmodern pale pink lacquered rhombus sideboard, USA 1980s
Located in Hastings, GB
Sculptural postmodern pale pink lacquered rhombus sideboard, USA 1980s. Really unusual shape- the closest thing to this that we've had before was a triangular set by Rougier. No make...
Lacquer
French Sideboard in Solid Elm by Skilled Craftsman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sideboard, elm, France, 1970s Stunning lived-in sideboard made in France in the 1970s. This piece is comprised of a lower and upper cabinet, displaying elegance and practicality. Th...
Elm
Early Pierre Chapo Sideboard 'R16' in Solid Elm
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, sideboard model 'R16', elm, France, design 1966 This piece is one of the early editions designed by Pierre Chapo, known for his hallmark use of solid elmwood and a com...
Elm
USM Haller Sideboard Fritz Haller 1x2 mittelgrau Design TV Board
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes USM Haller Sideboard in der Größe 1x2 mit zwei nach oben öffnende Klappen zum Verkauf an. Die Teile wurden professionell gereinigt und das Board wurde vo...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Marte3, Low Sideboard with Three Drawers with and Round Legs by Ultramobili
Located in Geneve, CH
Marte3, Low Sideboard with Three Drawers with and Round Legs by Ultramobili Dimensions: W 270.6 x D 53 x H 50.5 cm Materials: Matte or Glossy Lacquer Finish. Low sideboard with 2 ...
Lacquer
$6,450 / item
Italian Postmodern Sideboards with Geometric Front
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sideboards, cherry wood, ebony wood, mahogany, Italy 1970s This stunning sideboard, made from a luxurious combination of cherry, ebony wood, and mahogany, is a true statement piece ...
Cherry, Ebony, Mahogany
$7,249 / item
Reina Sideboard 230, Five Doors, by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Reina Sideboard 230, Five Doors, by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 45 x W 230 x H 110 cm Materials: Wood. This sideboard exudes elegance in abundance. We use cherry wood as a base to cr...
Wood
$5,754 / item
Dinastía Sideboard by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Dinastía Sideboard by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 50 x W 175 x H 100 cm Materials: Wood. We are Félix and Désirée Ramos, brothers and product designers of our brand, Lola Glamour. W...
Wood
$10,590 / item
Amore TV Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Amore TV Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 35 x W 345 x H 170 cm Materials: Wood. We are Félix and Désirée Ramos, brothers and product designers of our brand, Lola Glamour. We ...
Wood
Italian Colored Glass and Brass Sideboard or Credenza
Located in London, London
Colored glass sideboard Brass base and details Postmodern mix of colors Contemporary, Italy.
Brass
$5,612 / item
Rascacielos Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Rascacielos Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 40 x W 120 x H 182 cm Materials: Wood. As if it were a skyline, we thought of a piece that played with volumes and heights. Variety...
Wood
Totem Wood Sideboard, Four Doors and Two Drawers, by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Totem Wood Sideboard by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 45 x W 200 x H 75 cm Materials: Wood. The mathematics hidden behind our idea of the canon of beauty encourages us to grant attribu...
Wood
$17,981 / item
Marea Sideboard by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Marea Sideboard by De Castelli Dimensions: W 190 x D 45 x H 71 cm Materials: DeMarea Brass, Titanium Oak Wood Copper and Stainless Steel versions are available. Two, Three, Five and ...
Brass
Nikol International Tall Post-Modern Sideboard in Walnut and Smoked Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Nikol International, storage unit/sideboard, walnut, smoked glass, Italy, 1970s/early 1980s Presenting an exquisite post-modern sideboard that skillfully balances form and function ...
Smoked Glass, Walnut
$22,200 / item
Collectionist Lounge Sideboard by Laurameroni
Located in Geneve, CH
Collectionist Lounge Sideboard by Laurameroni Dimensions: W 160 x D 40 x H 73 cm Materials: Delabré Dark bronze; shiny Levanto marble; gunmetal legs. Low sideboard with curved side...
Wood
Original USM Haller Sideboard weiß 1x2 TV-Board Kommode Fritz
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes USM Haller Sideboard mit zwei großen, offenen Fächern zum Verkauf an. Das Möbel lässt sich vielseitig einsetzen und kann bspw. ideal als TV-Board genutzt...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Paul Evans for Directional Faceted 'PE 300' Cabinet in Steel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans, Paul Evans Studio for Directional, ‘Faceted Cityscape II’ (PE 300 series), chrome-plated steel, brushed steel, High Pressure Laminate, United States, circa 1970 This sid...
Steel, Chrome
Italian Modern Blue Black Solid Wood Sideboard by Umberto Asnago, Giorgetti 1982
By Umberto Asnago, Giorgetti S.p.A.
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post modern blue, black and wooden solid wood sideboard by Umberto Asnago for Giorgetti Italia, 1982. Sideboard in solid wood, with a curved ...
Wood
Original USM Haller 2x2 Sideboard Fritz Haller grau TV Board
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes USM Haller 2x2 Sideboard/ TV-Board in der Farbe "mittelgrau" zum Verkauf an. Das Möbel verfügt über vier geräumige Fächer und hat oben zwei gelöcherte Rü...
Metal, Steel
Original USM Haller Sideboard Fritz Haller 2x2 mittelgrau
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes USM Haller Sideboard in der Größe 2x2 mit zwei Schüben zum Verkauf an. Das Board wurde professionell gereinigt und von Grund neu aufgebaut. Die Schublade...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Venus, 4 doors Sideboard on Two Cylinder Legs in Gradient Lacquer by Ultramobili
Located in Geneve, CH
Venus, 4 doors Sideboard on Two Cylinder Legs in Gradient Lacquer by Ultramobili Dimensions: W 225 x D 53 x H 83 cm Materials: Mat lacquer. 4-door sideboard cabinet with rounded e...
Lacquer
$5,221 / item
Reina Sideboard 190 by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Reina Sideboard 190 by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 45 x W 190 x H 78 cm Materials: Wood. Each of the pieces in the Reina series captivates due to its exclusive combination of colors ...
Wood
MEMPHIS "CARLTON" Cabinet / Ettore Sottsass (Italy) / PostModern
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
The totemic CARLTON room divider is a Memphis icon. The piece calls into question conventional furniture forms by combining a space divider, bookcase, and chest of drawers. Intended ...
Laminate, Wood
Sleek Black Lacquer and Brass Sideboard
Located in North Charleston, SC
A striking credenza in high-gloss black lacquer with polished brass base and trim. Designed with clean minimalist lines and rounded corners, the piece reflects the bold elegance of l...
Brass
$5,650 / item
Leo Medium Sideboard by Pastform
Located in Geneve, CH
Leo Medium Sideboard by Pastform Dimensions: D 42 x W 200 x H 80 cm Materials: Stained and varnished wood. Available in different wood color finishes: Whiskey, Rum, BPA, Nobel, Bran...
Wood
Italian Architectural Grid-Structured Sideboard in Meranti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sideboard, yellow meranti, Italy, 1980s Exceptional sideboards made in Italy that perfectly balances architectural elegance with a natural approach. The design is defined by a graph...
Wood
$4,300 / item
Flor Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Flor Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 50 x W 120 x H 168 cm Materials: Wood. The versatility of the furniture is revealed in this Flower, which grows from an architectural base...
Wood
One Sideboard, Five Doors and One Drawer, by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
One Sideboard, Five Doors and One Drawer, by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 45 x W 250 x H 83 cm Materials: Wood. We love the One series. And especially this piece, absolute queen of th...
Wood
$27,588 / item
Collectionist Sideboard by Laurameroni
Located in Geneve, CH
Collectionist Sideboard by Laurameroni Dimensions: W 160 x D 40 x H 147 cm Materials: Siberian Ash, satin brass, cast bronze Sesel handles CO 157 SM: Storage unit in Siberian Ash wo...
Brass
$4,522 / item
Walnut Array Low Sideboard 150 by Says Who
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
Luciano Frigerio 'Diamante' Sideboard with Cubist Graphic Front
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luciano Frigerio, 'Diamante' sideboard, wood, Italy, 1970s This remarkable cabinet, created by the creative Italian designer Luciano Frigerio, exemplifies the aesthetic sensibilitie...
Wood
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto 'Artona' Sideboard in Black Lacquered Wood
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 'Artona' sideboard, walnut, lacquered wood, ebony, brass, Italy, 1975/1979 This sideboard with strong geometrical lines is a design by Afra & Tobia ...
Brass
Postmodern Italian Bar Sideboard Colored Glass and Brass, 1980s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
An interesting Postmodern sideboard / bar cabinet, of Italian design, with 5 gray printed glass front doors and square brass and dark green printed glass handles, highlighting the br...
Brass
$2,131 / item
Natural Oak Marius Sideboard by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Oak Marius Sideboard by HARTO Dimensions: W 155 x D 45 x H 65 cm. Materials: Solid Wood, MDF wood veneer. Weight: 51.0 kg The 155cm sideboard from the Marius collection i...
Wood
Pastoe A'Dammer' Roller Shutter Sideboard, Black
By Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Pastoe
Located in Toronto, CA
The A’dammer stands out as a remarkable example of furniture conceived as an artistic design object. Its signature feature is the ribbed roll shutter, which can effortlessly slide aw...
Plastic, Wood
Vintage Postmodern Asymmetric Sideboard by Rougier
Located in Oxnard, CA
Here is a rare asymmetric sideboard / console by Roger Rougier, circa 1980s. The piece is comprised of two halves - on the left a triangular set of drawers topped by a deep drop-dow...
Wood, Lacquer
$14,001 / item
Curl Series Sideboard 2x4 by hm-LI Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Curl Series Sideboard 2x4 by hm-LI Studio Dimensions: W 178.2 x D 50 x H 94.2 cm Materials: Oak Wood, Blackened Steel Legs, Blackend Steel/Marble Top Surface. Available Finishes: Wa...
Marble, Steel
$4,122 / item
Mytho Wooden Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Mytho Wooden Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 45 x W 120 x H 160 cm Materials: Wood. A bet on ingenuity. A set of wooden pieces with different thicknesses glides across its sur...
Wood
$6,337 / item
Bosco Sideboard, Five Doors, by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Bosco Sideboard, Five Doors, by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 50 x W 235 x H 87 cm Materials: Wood. The essence of nature surrounds us and drives us to create. It is a reflection of ou...
Wood
Marquina Black Marble lacquer Italian Post Modern Sideboard, 1980s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Postmodern sideboard in fake Marquina marble. High-end luxury item. It would fit well in an eclectic postmodern-inspired interior, Italy, 1980s.
Wood
Franco Poli ‘Scaligera’ Sideboard for Bernini, Italy 1980s
By Bernini, Franco Poli
Located in Hellouw, NL
A remarkable interplay of architectural form and masterful joinery lies at the heart of this ‘Scaligera’ sideboard by Franco Poli for Bernini, crafted in Italy during the 1980s. Des...
Birch, Walnut
$6,834 / item
Milenium Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Milenium Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 44 x W 116 x H 165 cm Materials: Wood. We are Félix and Désirée Ramos, brothers and product designers of our brand, Lola Glamour. We ...
Wood
Postmodern vintage pastel pink blue peach laminate waterfall sideboard USA 1980s
Located in Hastings, GB
Postmodern pastel colourwash / watercolour effect laminate waterfall sideboard, USA 1980s. The interior is also fully finished in the pastel lamina...
Laminate
Postmodern Blue Lacquer and Black Marble Sideboard by DBM, Italy, 1980s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Postmodern sideboard with mirror, produced by the Italian company DBM, in wood and resin, lacquered in dark blue, with briar effects and black mar...
Marble
Amazing angular trapezoid-shaped postmodern vintage zig zag sideboard, USA 1980s
Located in Hastings, GB
An amazing angular trapezoid-shaped postmodern zig zag sideboard, USA 1980s. Clad in 3 colours of shiny laminate- pale pink, deeper mauvey pink, maroon. Four push-click doors open o...
Laminate
Bespoke Postmodern Style Colored Glass and Brass Console Sideboard
Located in London, London
Bespoke sideboard Colored glass Four doors Brass inlay Contemporary, Italy.
Brass
Slate Grey Metal Gabin Sideboard 162 cm with Drawers Natural Walnut by HARTO
Located in Geneve, CH
Slate Grey Metal Gabin Sideboard 162 cm with Drawers Natural Walnut by HARTO Dimensions: W 162 x D 45 x H 49 cm. Materials: Solid wood, Wood veneered MDF, Painted metal. Weight: 52....
Metal
Bespoke Italian Mondrian Style Blue Green White Brown Modern Brass Dresser/Chest
By Cosulich Interiors & Antiques
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary modern graphic Pop Art design six-drawer dresser / sideboard, entirely handcrafted in Italy, with a Piet Mondrian inspired abstract decor, the surrounds edged in natural...
Brass
Oli Sideboard by Chi Wing Lo for Giorgetti, 1990s
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Chi Wing Lo
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Exceptional sideboard designed by Chi Wing Lo for Giorgetti. The 'Oli' sideboard is made out of high quality maple wood as you would expect from Giorgetti furniture. The small and ...
Wood, Maple
$3,980 / item
Totem Wooden Cabinet by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Totem Wooden Cabinet by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 38.5 x W 120 x H 160 cm Materials: Wood. Geometry in motion, constantly changing perspective and depth. Pure lines at right angles...
Wood
$23,230 / item
Corteccia Sideboard by Laurameroni
Located in Geneve, CH
Corteccia Sideboard by Laurameroni Dimensions: W 200 x D 50 x H 80 cm Materials: Liquid Metal Bronze on Corteccia carving; white Carrara top; internal Termocotto Oak. Sideboard with...
Marble, Bronze
$30,015 / item
Oak Enzo Sideboard by Rosanna Ceravolo
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak Enzo sideboard by Rosanna Ceravolo Dimensions: W 220 x D 46 x H 68 cm Materials: Solid american oak fronts, polyurethane spray finish. Also available in different dimensions a...
Oak
$6,408 / item
Seller Sideboard by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Seller Sideboard by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 50 x W 203 x H 95 cm Materials: Wood. We are Félix and Désirée Ramos, brothers and product designers of our brand, Lola Glamour. We a...
Wood
$4,821 / item
Tatel Oak Sideboard, Four Doors, by Lola Glamour
Located in Geneve, CH
Tatel Sideboard by Lola Glamour Dimensions: D 45 x W 220 x H 70 cm Materials: Oak. The design of this low sideboard is inspired by wooden panels that fit together to achieve a geome...
Oak
Modern Italian Ivory Gray Teal Blue Geometric Postmodern Brass Cabinet Sideboard
By Cosulich Interiors & Antiques
Located in New York, NY
Bring your own accent colors to any space with our customizable modern collection, entirely handmade in Italy, with the purpose of anchoring individuality through Art in a functional...
Brass
$5,328Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Credenza by Renato Toso and Robertà Pamio, Italy, 1920s
By Roberto Pamio & Renato Toso
Located in Antwerp, BE
Post-modern; Italian design; Roberto Pamio and Renato Toso; sideboard; Credenza; Room divider, Italy, 1970's Post-modern Italian credenza in wood with black-painted wooden pillars...
Wood
Luciano Frigerio Sideboard in Brass and Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luciano Frigerio, sideboard, brass, lacquered elm burl, Italy, 1970s This exquisite sideboard, created by the creative Italian designer Luciano Frigerio, exemplifies the aesthetic s...
Brass
Brass And Paint Bubbles Decorative Sideboard by PANOPTIKUM COLLECTIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass And Paint Bubbles Decorative Sideboard by PANOPTIKUM COLLECTIONS Dimensions: D 50 x W 120 x H 85 cm. Materials: MDF, brass, paint, and LED lighting. The “Bubbles collection” i...
Brass, Other