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.
Unusual Folk Art / Pop Art Pepsi Cola Decorative Brief Case, France, 1990's
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Unusual Pop Art Pepsi Cola Decorative Brief Case Artist Unknown, France, 1990's Exterior is lined with French Pepsi Cola Cans Interior is lined with French Cartoons Very Interestin...
Aluminum
Ludmila Bench in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Ludmila Bench in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 100 x D 40 x H 42 cm. Materials: Upholstery, Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. Our ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Faceted Postmodern Style Coffee Table in Hand-Lacquered Custom RAL Colors
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Coffee table lithic collection explores the tension between primitive, rock-like formations and refined, architectural silhouettes. This set features a low-profile coffee table and a...
Wood, Lacquer
$1,720Sale Price|20% Off
Frank Gehry for Knoll "Hat Trick" Armchair
By Frank Gehry, Knoll
Located in Skokie, IL
Frank Gehry for Knoll "Hat Trick" Armchair The iconic "Hat Trick" chair was designed by Frank Gehry for Knoll International. Constructed of hard white maple veneers in 5cm wide, 1mm...
Maple, Plywood
RR126 Radiophonograph Turntable by the Castiglionis for Brionvega Red Edition
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Brionvega
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
Monumental three-tier Post-Modern wooden coffee table, Italy, 1980s
Located in Argelato, BO
This coffee table embodies the bold aesthetic of 1980s Italian postmodern design through a functional nest-like structure. The piece unfolds across three staggered, concealed levels,...
Metal
Artemide ‘Logico Triple’ Pendant Light by Gerhard Reichert & Michele De Lucchi
By Artemide
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare, extended length "Logico Triple" ceiling pendant, designed in 2006 by Gerhard Reichert & Michele De Lucchi for Italian lighting manufacturer Artemide. This uniquely shaped and a...
Blown Glass
Percival Lafer 'MP 87' Lounge Chair in Reddish-Brown Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Percival Lafer, lounge chair, model ‘MP-87’, leather, chrome-plated steel, rope, Brazil, 1971 The MP-87 lounge piece is conceived by Brazilian designer Percival Lafer in the 1970s....
Steel, Chrome
Kwok Hoi Chan for Steiner Pair of Dining Chairs in Red Leather
By Kwok Hoi Chan, Gilbert Steiner
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Kwok Hoi Chan for Steiner, pair of dining chairs, leather, lacquered steel, France, circa 1970 A postmodern design by Chinese designer Kwok Hoi Chan known for his works that are imm...
Leather
Set of 4 Postmodern German Kreuzschwinger Bar Stools by Till Behrens, 1980s
By Till Behrens
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant design classic by Prof. Till Behrens in the Bar stool version. The further development of the free wing. The stools are made entirely of steel rods, which have been mounted ...
Metal
Chi Wing Lo ‘Tiche’ Coffee Table for Giorgetti, Italy, 1990s
By Giorgetti S.p.A., Chi Wing Lo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant and sculptural “Tiche” coffee table designed by Chi Wing Lo for Giorgetti, Italy, circa 1990s. This sophisticated piece exemplifies Giorgetti’s masterful blend of craftsmansh...
Glass, Stained Glass, Fruitwood
A SHABBY-CHIC BAROQUE NEO-CLASSICAL Sculptural Bronze TABLE LAMP, France 1980.
By Philippe Anthonioz
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant and sculptural very large table lamp (or small floor lamp) of organic, plant inspiration, Post-Modernist, Neo-Baroque, rectangular base and vertical axis with sculpted bronze body with gunmetal patina, in the spirit of Philippe Anthonioz...
Bronze
Mario Bellini for Cassina 'Pianura' Lounge Chair in Walnut
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, 'Pianura' lounge chair, walnut, fabric, Italy, 1971 The ‘Pianura’ lounge chair by Mario Bellini for Cassina, designed in 1971, presents a compact yet scul...
Fabric, Walnut
Zveva Bench in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Zveva Bench in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 100 x D 40 x H 42 cm. Materials: Upholstery, Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. Counte...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood, Hardwood, Beech
Radboud Van Beekum Lounge Chair Black Leather by for Pastoe Post Modern, 1980
Located in Vienna, AT
FM62 lounge leather chair by Radboud Van Beekum for Pastoe Post Modern, 1980 Dutch minimalistic lounge chairs in black saddle leather. Designed with geometric precision, these chair...
Steel
Italian Wood Fabric "Artona" Sofa Design Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 1970s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design three-seater sofa from the “Artona” series designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto in the 1970s with solid wood frame and layers in different...
Fabric, Wood
Babylone Bench in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Babylone Bench in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 122 x D 40 x H 48 cm. Materials: Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. This product is...
Upholstery, Foam, Beech
1980s Postmodern Pink Marble Coffee Table
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Postmodern Pink Marble Coffee Table. Circa 1980s Features a square-shaped top with concave edges and a soft pink color with gorgeous ...
Marble
Bruno Mathsson & Piet Hein Super-Ellipse Table with Fabiaan Van Severen Chairs
By Piet Hein, Bruno Mathsson, Fritz Hansen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Conference or dining room set consisting of Fabiaan Van Severen dining chairs with Bruno Mathsson and Piet Hein for Fritz Hansen Super-Ellipse table Fabiaan Van Severen, dining ch...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
$3,187Sale Price|25% Off
Mid century post modern danish thick orange leather 3 seat pillow sofa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid century post modern danish thick fully upholstered coral tone leather 3 seat sofa clean. Very clean sofa amazing thick orange / tan leather. Fol...
Leather
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
Post modern mahogany Gloss faux wood Laminate waterfall 6 Drawer Dresser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful post modern faux mahogany wood grain gloss laminate waterfall front 6 drawer dresser, circa 1980. Very clean inside and out. Look at photos. all drawers have metal glides w...
Laminate, Plywood
$499Sale Price / item|50% Off
Post Modern Black Leather UNO chairs with chrome tube frame Archizoom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Black leather and tubular cantilever chrome "Uno" chair made by Marcatre and designed in 1973 by Paolo Deganella and Gilberto Corretti members of the Italian "Archizoom" group in Flo...
Chrome
Opera Bench in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Opera Bench in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 120 x D 40 x H 42 cm. Materials: Upholstery, Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. Inspir...
Beech, Hardwood, Wood, Foam, Upholstery
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
Set of 4 Sculptural High Back Dining Chairs, Europe 1980s
Located in Utrecht, NL
This stunning set of dining chairs embodies an era of bold, sculptural furniture with a focus on comfort and organic form. Postmodernism in the 1980s embraced a playful approach to d...
Wood, Fabric
Joe Colombo for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Black Leather and Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, 1963 The ‘Elda’ chair is one of the most well-known designs of Italian designer Joe Colombo. This lounge ch...
Leather, Fiberglass
Tortona Pouf in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Tortona Pouf in Solid Beech, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: Ø 42 x H 50 cm. Materials: Upholstery, Solid beech, particle board, and HR foam. A pouf whose...
Hardwood, Wood, Foam, Upholstery
Modern to Postmodern Low-Slung Love Seat & Chair Burnt Orange & Aluminum Detail
Located in Topeka, KS
Fabulous vintage Modern to Postmodern very low slung sofa or loveseat & chair fully upholstered in a burnt orange velvet fabric with rolled-barrel shaped ruched backs & arms,...
Aluminum
$69Sale Price|71% Off
Vintage Handmade Miniature Metal Chair with Stick Figure Person Motif
Located in Amityville, NY
Unique handmade vintage miniature chair made from metals with mixed finishes. Geometric in form with a round, concave seat atop an angular, square frame, likely intended to hold an i...
Metal
A Fauteuil à Corbeille Bronzed Steel Chair By Raymond Morales, France, Ca. 1990s
Located in Peabody, MA
A rare Fauteuil à Corbeille or “Flower Basket” chair by the French sculptor Raymond Morales (1926-2004). The chair seat and back are comprised of hundreds of stamped steel rosettes i...
Steel
Longue Chair Zyklus By Peter Maly For COR 1980s
By Peter Maly
Located in Čelinac, BA
Peter Maly Zyklus Longue Chair For COR 1980s
Chrome
Bar Stools in Metal and Red Corduroy Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Bar stools, metal, velvet, Europe, 1970s. Exquisite barstools in red velvet upholstery. Due to the soft seat and back, these chairs provide a very pleasant seating comfort. The five...
Metal
Johan Bertil Häggström Tubular Lounge Chair for Swed-Form, Sweden, 1970s
By Swed Furn, Johan Bertil Häggström
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A lounge chair by Johan Bertil Häggström for Swed-Form, produced in Sweden in the 1970s. An example of Swedish postmodern design, the piece is built around a tubular chrome frame tha...
Metal
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
Postmodern Pepper and Salt Shaker from Ide-Bank, Norway, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Pepper and Salt Shaker from Ide-Bank, Norway, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials:...
Plastic
$1,560Sale Price|35% Off
Pair of 1970's Italian Travertine Coffee/Side Tables
Located in Bern, CH
Pair of identical 1970’s Travertine Coffee / Side Tables. Marked beneath tabletop: 'Made in Italy'. Solid travertine tabletop and base. Perfect use as side tables, bedside tables or...
Travertine
Lattice Flower Lamp, Small Luminous by Pestacle Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Lattice Flower Lamp, Small Luminous by Pestacle Studio Dimensions: Base: D 4 x H 7 cm, Flower Bulb: L 7-8 x H 7-8 cm, Total aprox: W 8 x D 8 x H 15 cm. Materials: Wood. All our lamp...
Wood
1970s Hill Manufacturing Bent Lucite Chair
By Charles Hollis Jones, Hill Manufacturing
Located in New Windsor, NY
The chair is constructed of clear and bright bent Lucite. The seat retains its original tag, Hill Manufacturing Corp, Industrial Terminal, Garnerville, NY. Circa 1970-80. This partic...
Upholstery, Acrylic, Lucite
Vintage Pastel Green Ceramic Ashtray, Postmodern Design, Circa 1980
Located in Toronto, CA
A stylish pastel green ceramic ashtray from the 1980s, reflecting the playful yet functional aesthetic of postmodern design. The piece features a simple round form with three rests, ...
Ceramic
Neri & Hu 3T09 Bronze Structure and Ivory Fabric 3 Modules Wall Lamp for Cassina
Vintage German Postmodern Alta Mira Series Ceramic Vase by Gilbert Portanier
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage German Postmodern Alta Mira Series Ceramic Vase by Gilbert Portanier for Rosenthal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. ...
Ceramic
Ettore Sottsass Style Memphis Group Metal & Acrylic Lamp Set
By Pierre Cardin, Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Bensalem, PA
This listing is for the set please look at pictures for overall detail stunning black electroplatied metal with acrylic rings feel free to reach out with any questions
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Mixed Woods Valet / Desk Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A finely crafted mid-century modern valet or desktop storage box executed in contrasting mixed hardwoods, likely teak with lighter maple or birch accents. The box features clean Scan...
Wood
Massive Tessellated Stone Floor Vase in the Style of Marquis of Beverly Hills
By Marquis Collection of Beverly Hills 1
Located in San Diego, CA
Massive Tessellated Stone Floor Vase in the Style of Marquis of Beverly Hills, circa 1980s. This impressive, tessellated stone floor vase, in the style of Marquis of Beverly Hills an...
Stone
Noe Duchaufour-Lawrence Steel and Upholstered "Borghese" Sofa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Borghese sofa by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance. Designed in 2018 and Inspired by the stone pines of the Villa Borghese in Roma. The metal structure reproduces the network of branches and s...
Fabric
A Radical MURANO Glass TABLE LAMP by FRANCO RAGGI, by FONTANA ARTE, Italy 1970
By Fontana Arte
Located in PARIS, FR
A large and airy table lamp, Post-Modernist, Shabby-Chic, Memphis, circular base in cast aluminum with integrated dimmer, 2 axes supporting 2 sheets of glass with white diffusing dec...
Metal, Chrome
1980s Post Modern Clock Telephone
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage 1980s telephone and clock combo. Very clever design. Beautiful dark mauve color with a radial black dial, gold tone hour hands, red second hand. Clock works with o...
Plastic
Hero Lamp Stainless Steel, Brass Plated Finish, Stone Ball, Sculptural Lamp
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Hero Lamp is a sculptural floor lamp virtuously crafted in stainless steel with a brass plated finish which holds a stone globe that gives off a warm candle-like light. This unique...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Orange Ceramic Table Lamp by Louis Drimmer, France, Late 20th Century
Located in Barntrup, DE
French orange ceramic table lamp by Louis Drimmer from the late 20th Century. This colorful Post-Modern table lamp features an impressive lamp base - pebble-shaped irregularly stacke...
Brass
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
1980s Rounded Brass Mirrored Front Nightstand Side Tables
By Karl Springer, Ello Furniture
Located in Bensalem, PA
This listing is for a pair of Ello Furniture rounded brass nightstands with tinted mirrored front and top. I also have a floating king bed and tall b...
Brass
Bitossi Ceramiche Blue Sun Figure by Aldo Londi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Toronto, ON
From Aldo Londi’s Rimini Blu series, this radiant sun-faced figure glows with hand-stamped motifs and crystalline glaze, equal parts folk charm and modernist icon. All Bitossi ceram...
Ceramic
Black Ceramic Perpetual Face Vase in the Style of Piero Fornasetti by TMS 2005
By Piero Fornasetti, TMS
Located in Troy, MI
Multi face ceramic vase in black by TMS Inc Vitruvian Collection 2005 Perpetual face design in the style of Piero Fornasetti Signed and dated to lower edge 8 inch diameter 9.5 inc...
Ceramic
Alessandro Mendini Quilted Wall Hanging Tapestry Interflex, Italy, 1993
By Alessandro Mendini, Interflex
Located in Vienna, AT
Alessandro Mendini Quilted Wall Hanging Tapestry Interflex, Italy, 1993 Dimensions 104" x 62" x1" This large wall hanging tapestry designed by Al...
Cotton
Pr. Italian Brown Leather and Black Metal Postmodern Arm Chairs by Cidue 1970s
By Cidue
Located in New York, NY
Chic pair of architecturally designed post modern arm chairs made in Italy by Cidue, circa 1970's. The chairs feature high quality brown leather seat and back rests, and enameled bl...
Steel
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
Pop art Post modern white Gloss Laminate custom 6 drawer dresser or credenza
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful post modern custom made White gloss laminate 6 drawer dresser or credenza circa 1980. Very clean inside and out almost like new. Look at photos. There is (3) drawers on the...
Laminate, Plywood
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
Postmodern Coat Rack designed by Rutger Andersson for Ikea circa 1980's
By IKEA
Located in New York, NY
Classic 1980's post - modern design made in Sweden by Ikea. This piece was designed by Rutgers Andersson, it features 8 hooks at the top, a center pole, and three legs. Solid, sturdy...
Metal
Very cool pop art Post Modern table lamp with colorful Resin Pretzels sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Very cool pop art Post Modern lamp featuring a central frosted white light column supporting a vertical stack of resin pretzels. Each pretzel topped with a crystalline granular textu...
Resin, Acrylic
Postmodern Maitland Smith Style Tessellated Mactan Stone Coffee Table. C 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern Maitland Smith Style Tessellated Mactan Stone Coffee Table. Circa 1980s Features four independent peach, emerald, and ivory geometric stone bases with built-in slots to ho...
Stone