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.
Nerone & Patuzzi for Gruppo NP2 'C10T' Coffee Table in Wood and Crystal Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Nerone & Patuzzi for Gruppo NP2, coffee table, wood, glass, iron, Italy, 1970s Designed by the Italian duo Nerone and Patuzzi, this sculptural coffee table is a true statement p...
Iron
Jean Claude Dresse Coffee Table in Brass Inlayed with Agate
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jean Claude Dresse, coffee table, brass, lacquered steel and wood, agate, Belgium, 1970s A luxurious square cocktail table, crafted with high attention for detail which is character...
Agate, Brass, Steel
Mario Bellini Set of Six 'Lira e Liuto' Dining Chairs in Cognac Leather
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, set of six ‘Lira e Liuto’ dining chairs, cognac leather, Italy, 1989 This set of six ‘Lira e Liuto’ dining chairs has beautiful cognac colored leather tha...
Leather
Italian Sofa in Cognac Leather and Aluminum
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, aluminum, leather, Italy 1970s Comfortable sofa made in the 1970s. This sofa strongly represent the essence of furniture design of the 1970s, going beyond the strict conventio...
Aluminum
Post modern taupe beige Gloss lacquer 6 Drawer long Dresser Italy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful post modern taupe beige gloss lacquer 6 drawer long dresser, circa 1980. Very clean inside and out. Look at photos. all drawers have metal glides with stops. Great for home...
Plywood, Lacquer
Mario Bellini for Cassina Pianura Lounge Chairs in Walnut and Leather
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, 'Pianura' lounge chairs with armrests, walnut, leather, Italy, 1971 The ‘Pianura’ lounge chair by Mario Bellini for Cassina, designed in 1971, presents a ...
Leather, Walnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto Artona King Bed with Nightstands
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 'Artona' king bed with nightstands, walnut, metal, leather, Italy, 1975/1979 This meticulously designed 'A...
Metal
Maison Regain Daybed in Solid Elm
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Maison Regain, daybed, solid elm, fabric, France, 1980s. A Maison Regain daybed, whose structure is composed primarily of solid elm, imparts a sense of warmth and organic texture to...
Fabric, Elm
Cattelan Italia 'Argo' Oval Dining Table in Travertine
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cattelan Italia 'Argo' table, travertine, Italy, 1980 Architectural dining table made by Cattelan Italia in 1980. This model 'Argo' dining table shows a slender oval tabletop, beaut...
Travertine
Postmodern Gerard van den Berg Florence Sofa for Montis, Buck Leather
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gerard van den Berg designed the Florence sofa for Dutch manufacturer Montis during the height of Postmodern experimentation with organic furniture forms. Known alternately as "The R...
Leather, Foam
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Post modern space age gloss white laminate queen platform bed with headboard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Post modern space age gloss white laminate queen platform bed with headboard. Custom fabricated queen bed with headboard that has blanket or pillow storage. Labeled made in 1989 in U...
Steel
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
Ubald Klug for De Sede 'Terrazza' Landscape in Olive Green Leather
By Ubald Klug, De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ubald Klug for De Sede, DS-1025 'Terrazza' landscape sofa element, patinated olive green leather, Switzerland, 1970s. Waterfall shaped sofa in olive green leather by the Swiss manu...
Leather
Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina 'Toledo' Single Beds in Padouk and Leather
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, 'Toledo' single beds, padouk, maple, leather, metal, Italy, 1975 Created by the Italian master Carlo Scarpa, this bed clearly demonstrates his studies...
Metal
Tito Agnoli Set of Six 'Ilex' Dining Chairs in Solid Oak
By Tito Agnoli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Tito Agnoli for Tarpac Data International, set of six 'Ilex' dining chairs, oak, lacquered metal, Italy, 1980s This pristine set of six dining chairs exemplifies the furniture desig...
Metal
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia 'Tobio' Dining Table in Red Travertine
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B Italia
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, 'Tobio' dining table, leather, red travertine, Italy, design 1974 Gorgeous dining table designed by the iconic duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa....
Travertine
Vintage French Post Modern Console Table - Circa 1980s - Maple Entry Table
Located in Decatur, GA
Vintage post modern squiggle leg console table, France circa 1980s. Gorgeous from any angle. Finished on all sides allowing it to float in a room. Very good original condition with m...
Maple
De Sede ‘DS-15’ Modular Sofa in Patinated Brown Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, sectional sofa with ottoman, model 'DS-15', leather, Switzerland, 1970s. This high-quality sectional sofa designed by De Sede in the 1970s contains six modular elements. It...
Leather
Postmodern Banana Floor Lamp by Heico, Plastic, Germany, 1980s Design
By Heico
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern floor lamp in the shape of a banana. An object in style of postmodern design and art movements like memphis. A unique object and rare eye-catcher. This lamp is shaped lik...
Plastic
RR126 Radiophonograph Turntable by the Castiglionis for Brionvega Red Edition
By Brionvega, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Seattle, WA
Brionvega RR126, A.K.A. the “Musical Pet.” Designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965, this red edition is in good condition with honest wear and has been fully service...
Steel
Italian Sculptural King Size bed with Integrated Nightstands in Ash
Located in Waalwijk, NL
King Size bed, ash, wood, Italy, 1970s A captivating and sculptural double bed, made in Italy in the 1970s. This piece has amazing quality, not only visible in the design itself but...
Ash
$1,400 / set
Matteo Grassi Dining Chairs in Leather and Steel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Matteo Grassi, set of four dining chairs, leather and steel, Italy, 1980s. Sophisticated set of four dining chairs designed by Italian designer Matteo Grassi in the 1980s. These cha...
Steel
Single-Pendant Chainmail Droplet Sculptural Chandelier 80 cm, brass finish
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Single Pendant Chainmail Droplet Sculptural Chandelier is a beautiful hand made light piece. A chainmail web in a brass finish hugs the lamp’s canopy; as the knit becomes tighter, th...
Steel
Illum Wikkelsø for Ryesberg Møbler 'Apollo' Lounge Chair in Leather
By Illum Wikkelsø, Ryesberg Møbler
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Illum Wikkelsø for Ryesberg Møbler, lounge chair model 'Apollo', leather, lacquered wood, Denmark, 1970s This distinctive lounge chair by Illum Wikkelsø is of high-quality both in t...
Leather, Wood
Vintage Wrought Iron Chandelier Candleholder by Ehlén Johansson for Ikea, 1990s
By IKEA
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Wrought Iron Chandelier Candleholder by Ehlén Johansson for Ikea, 1990s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 I have ...
Wrought Iron
$5,850 / set
Postmodern Italian Pair of Bed or Side Tables
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Bed tables or side tables, chrome-plated steel, plastic, Italy, 1970s These side tables, suitable for use as bedside tables, were produced in Italy in the 1970s and reflect the era’...
Steel, Chrome
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto Italian Solid Wood Velvet Fabric "Artona" Sofas
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design set of two sofa from the “Artona” series designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto in the 1970s, with a wooden frame featuring decorative bands...
Fabric, Wood, Velvet
Mario Bellini for Cassina Set of Eight 'Cab' Dining Chairs in Brown Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, set of eight 'cab' dining chairs, model '412', leather, plastic, Italy, design 1976 Beautiful set of eight 'Cab' dining chairs chairs in luxurious brown l...
Leather, Plastic
Italian Dining Chairs in Red Saddle Leather and Stained Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining chairs, saddle leather, stained beech, Italy, 1970s This lovely pair of dining chairs embodies an austere aesthetic, yet the meticulous choice of materials and exceptional cr...
Leather, Beech
Willy Rizzo 'TRG' Circular Yellow Coffee Table
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Willy Rizzo, TRG (Tavolo Rotondo Girevole) coffee table, lacquered wood, stainless steel, design 1969 The TRG (Tavolo Rotondo Girevole), designed by Willy Rizzo in 1969, is a master...
Stainless Steel
$142,000 / set
Paul Evans for Directional Sculpted Bronze Dining Chairs
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans for Directional, dining chairs, model PE-106, epoxy bronzed resin over steel, fabric, United States, circa 1970 These dining chairs are designed by Paul Evans for Directi...
Bronze, Steel
Italian Architectural Wall Unit in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wall unit or wardrobe, walnut, Italy, 1970s This striking wall unit from the 1970s reflects a bold modernist approach with an architectural appearance. Crafted from rich walnut, the...
Walnut
Hand-Carved Alabaster Fruit Sculptures Pear and Apple Collectible 1980s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Italian Hand-Carved Alabaster Fruit Sculptures – Pear & Apple, Vintage Collectible Objects of Art Circa 1980s. A refined and collectible pair of vintage Italian fruit sculptu...
Alabaster
Italian Postmodern Dining Table in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining table, walnut, Italy, 1980s This Italian dining table from the 1980s is a beautiful example of straightforward quality and honest design. Crafted in rich, honey toned walnut,...
Walnut
Pierre Chapo 'T35C' Aban Table in Elm
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, dining table, model 'Aban T35C', solid elm, France, 1970s This table is one of the early editions designed by Pierre Chapo, known for his hallmark use of solid elmwood...
Elm
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
White Nicoletti Salotti Post Modern Italian Leather Low lounge chair ottoman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cream white Nicoletti Salotti Post Modern Italian Leather lounge chair with ottoman. Very fun Beautiful pop art long leather chair and foot rest. Has unique back supports and legs up...
Leather, Wood
De Sede 'DS-31' Swivel Armchair in Black Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, lounge chair model 'DS-31', leather, chrome-plated metal, Switzerland, 1970s A design by De Sede that features a simple yet stately construction. A comfortable sitting expe...
Leather
$1,201 / item
Postmodern Modern Black Round Chandelier Art Nouveau
Located in Berlin, DE
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of postmodernism and experience pure elegance with our breathtaking black chandelier decorated with crystals. This work of art of lighting m...
Crystal, Metal
Vibrant, Heavy Murano Glass Aquarium Sculpture with Multicolored Millefiori Fish
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Vibrant, Heavy Murano Glass Aquarium Sculpture with Multicolored Millefiori Fish, circa 1980s. A beautifully executed hand-blown Murano glass aquari...
Blown Glass
Howard Keith 'Cloud' Sofa Upholstered in Blue Velvet
By Howard Keith
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Howard Keith for HK Furniture, 'Cloud' sofa, velvet, plastic, wood, United Kingdom, 1970s Stunning Howard Keith “Cloud” sofa featuring a sculptural...
Velvet
De Sede ‘DS-15’ Modular Sofa in Patinated Brown Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, 'DS-15' sectional sofa, patinated leather, Switzerland, 1970s. This high-quality sectional sofa designed by De Sede in the 1970s contains five regular elements, two corner ...
Leather
Jean Claude Dresse Coffee Table with Geometric Sculptural Base in Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jean Claude Dresse, coffee table, brass, glass, Belgium, 1970s This captivating coffee table by Jean Claude Dresse is deeply reflective of the design trends that emerged in the 1970...
Brass
Post modern bright white Gloss Laminate waterfall 6 Drawer long Dresser
By Lane Furniture, Memphis Milano
Located in Brooklyn, NY
beautiful post modern bright white gloss laminate waterfall front 6 drawer long dresser, circa 1980. Very clean inside and out. Look at photos. all drawers have metal glides with sto...
Laminate, Plywood
$18,700 / set
Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen 'Pantonova' Sofa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen, modular sofa model 'Pantonova' with side tables, chrome-plated steel, fabric, walnut, Denmark, 1970s This sectional sofa, composed of four elements a...
Steel, Chrome
Vintage Wooden Barley-Twist Hourglass with Hand-Blown Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
A handsome vintage hourglass featuring a solid wood frame with classic barley-twist turned supports and a faceted hexagonal top and base. The hourglass contains hand-blown glass bulb...
Glass, Wood
Vladimir Kagan Wide Angle Tangent Sofa, Model 506 In Tan Chenille
Located in Culver City, CA
This is the Tangent sofa by Vladimir Kagan—designed in 2001 for Preview, during that glorious late-career era when Kagan was no longer asking permission from anyone, least of all geo...
Chenille
A brass multi-pronged arc floor lamp with marble base, mid 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
A stunning Mid-Century / postmodern "Hydra" articulated floor lamp in gilt chrome and marble, USA, Circa 1980. Features five bombastic brass curved arms that emerge from a central cy...
Marble, Metal, Brass
De Sede Large Daybed or Lounge Set in Patinated Brown Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, daybed, leather, Switzerland, 1970s This De Sede daybed/lounge set includes two parts: a lounge seat and an additional ottoman-style section, allowing for versatile configu...
Leather
Mid-Century Janni van Pelt Style Black Bar Cart, Wire Grid Glass, Two Tier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Modernist Dutch bar cart in the manner of Janni van Pelt, rendered in a spare rectilinear form that reflects the discipline of postwar Dutch design. The tubular black enameled metal ...
Metal, Enamel
1st edition Super-Oblong sectional sofa design Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
1st edition Superoblong sectional Sofa designed by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini, Italy. First edition with inlets filled with polystyrene spheres. Measurements: 325 cm x 155 cm...
Fabric, Polystyrene
Italian Post-Modern Sectional Corner Sofa in Cognac Brown Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular corner sofa, leather, Italy, 1970s A spacious L-shaped modular Italian corner sofa, upholstered in firm cognac leather. The cushions are generously padded with a rounded, pl...
Leather
Vladimir Kagan “Matinee” Sofa /Daybed for American Leather
By Vladimir Kagan, American Leather
Located in Roanoke, VA
Beautiful "Matinee" sofa that doubles as daybed designed by Vladimir Kagan for American Leather. The sofa converts effortlessly into daybed by removing the bolster back and side bol...
Textile
Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate 'Blop' Lounge Set in Original Fabric
By Rossi di Albizzate, Carlo Bartoli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carlo Bartoli for Rossi di Albizzate, pair of two-seat sofa with coffee table, model 'Blop', original velvet, lacquered wood, Italy, 1972 A postmodern design by Italian master of a...
Velvet
$479Sale Price / set|33% Off
Set of 2 THONET S320 Stacking Chairs designed by Ulrich Boehme & Wulf Schneider
By Ulrich Bohme, Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Set of 2 Thonet S 320 Armchairs in stained reddish-brown plywood and chrome plated Steel, Germany, 1980s A striking set of four original Thonet S 320 armc...
Chrome
IPE Cavalli Italian Sectional Sofa in Colorful Striped Fabric
By Ipe Cavalli
Located in Waalwijk, NL
IPE Cavalli, sectional sofa, fabric, steel, Italy, 1970s This exceptional sectional sofa by IPE Cavalli, crafted in Italy during the 1970s, is a true masterpiece of design and comfo...
Steel
$728Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern German Lumibär Bear Floor Lamp by Klein & Leidig for Flötotto, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
The Lumibär is a design classic from Flötotto. The bright bear. Not just something for the children's room. The design is so simple that it also fits wonderfully as a light object...
Plastic
Organically Shaped Post-Modern Sectional Sofa in Black Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular sofa, leather, Europe, 1980s This sofa is fully executed in a black leather that contributes to a unified look. The construction consists of four elements. The sofa embraces...
Leather
Rare Paul Evans for Paul Evans Studio 'PE72' Cabinet in Sculpted Bronze
By Paul Evans
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans for Paul Evans Studio, cabinet, model 'PE72', epoxy bronzed resin over laminate, smoked glass, aluminum, mirrored glass, laminate, United States, 1972 This rare illumina...
Slate, Bronze, Steel
Italian Postmodern Warrior Wall Lamp by Emanuele Ricci for Sidecar Artemide
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare warrior wall lamp from the italian manufacturer sidecar (artemide) based on a design by emanuele ricci from the early 90s. the name is reflected in the appearance of this lamp,...
Metal
Paul Evans for Directional 'PE 68' Wall Unit in Bronzed Resin and Glass
By Paul Evans
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans, Paul Evans Studio for Directional, wall shelves, model 'PE 68', epoxy bronzed resin over wood, glass, United States, 1970s Grand wall unit by Paul Evans, designed for Di...
Glass, Resin, Wood