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.
$4,522 / item
Pilota Cord Brown Pearl Beige Lounge Chair by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Pilota cord brown pearl Beige lounge chair by Pulpo Dimensions: D 65 x W 75 x H 75 cm Materials: leather, cord, faux fur, wool, powder coated meta...
Metal
Horn Collection Post-Modern Dining Table Green Polyurethane Plastic 1970s
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Horn Collection, dining table, lacquered polyurethane plastic, Germany, 1970s Created for the Horn collection in the seventies, this well-formed table is made entirely from polyuret...
Plastic
Jean Nouvel 'Less' table for Molteni - Italy, 1996
Located in London, GB
The Less steel table is part of a family of functional furniture created for the Fondation Cartier offices in Paris. Its graphic silhouette, abstract design and lightness exemplify J...
Steel
An ABSTRACT POST-MODERN Relief PAINTING by JEAN-CLAUDE LETHIAIS, France, 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An abstract relief painting, black center, different shades of orange, pink, red, purple around, with a green surrounding line, post-modern, abstract, forme-libre, oil on wooden pann...
Wood, Paint
Italian Modern Karl Springer Style Travertine Biomorphic Coffee Table
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Mario Bellini, Romeo Rega, Karl Springer
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Karl Springer Style Travertine Free Form Coffee Table. Beautifully designed Italian Modern travertine free form or amoeba coffee table or cocktail table. This shapely ...
Travertine
$18,661 / item
Boomerang Sideboard by Arturo Verástegui
Located in Geneve, CH
Boomerang sideboard by Arturo Verástegui Dimensions: D 200 x W 90 x H 50 cm Materials: walnut wood, metal, Negro Monterrey marble. Walnut with black electro-painted metal and Ne...
Marble, Metal
Terra Tall Black Planter With Oiled Wood Base by Indigenus
Located in Geneve, CH
Terra Tall Black Planter With Oiled Wood Base by Indigenus Designed by Laurie Wiid van Heerden Dimensions: W 60,2 x H 130 cm. Materials: Stone and wood. Weight: 82 kg. Different col...
Stone
Hala Zeist Halogen Table Lamp Post Modern 1980s Holland
By Hala Zeist
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice futuristic Post Modern Table lamp . Good quality lamp . Halogen ,comes with a good working dimmer .
Metal
$8,290 / item
Mobile Kinetic Sculpture by Max Lipsey
Located in Geneve, CH
Mobile Kinetic Sculpture by Max Lipsey Dimensions: D 350 x W 350 x H 350 cm. Materials: Steel and lacquer. The mobile is available in different colors and sizes on request. Please c...
Steel
Round Elk Tine Series Antler Wall Mirror by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Round Elk Tine Series Antler Wall Mirror by The Peak Antler Dimensions: D 91.44 x H 91.44 cm Materials: glass, naturally shed antlers Based in, produced and shipped from the US. Av...
Other
Onion Fruit Bowl, Designed by Nathalie du Pasquier in 1985 for Memphis Milano
Located in Beirut, LB
ONION fruit bowl, Designed by Nathalie du Pasquier in 1985 for the collection Memphis Milano, in Ceramic. The product is purchased with guarantee stamp. Printed on bottom: Memphis Mi...
Ceramic
Postmodern White Metal Set of Six Flush Mounts by Blauet, Barcelona, 1980s
By Blauet
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Pretty Postmodern Spanish Set of Six white metal Flush Mounts by Blauet. Model: Birimbao-2. These fixtures were designed and manufactured in Barcelona (Spain) by Blauet during 1980s....
Metal
$1,465 / item
Twist Echino Chandelier by LAFABLIGHT
Located in Geneve, CH
Twist Echino Chandelier by LAFABLIGHT Dimensions: D 87 x H 125 cm Materials: Wooden structure woven with ecru cotton, textile cable with metal/wood rosette. LAFABLIGHT was born from...
Metal
Unique Sculptural Pair of Lounge Chairs in Metal and Red Leather, Italy 1960s
Located in Hellouw, NL
A bold architectural presence characterises this pair of vintage chairs, likely dating to the late 1960s or early 1970s. Sculptural and angular, they reflect the experimental energy ...
Steel
$3,302 / item
Brok Cabinet by Pastform
Located in Geneve, CH
Brok Cabinet by Pastform Dimensions: D 42,5 x W 190 x H 46 cm Materials: Stained and varnished wood. The furniture in the picture is made in Natura. Available in different wood colo...
Wood
$1,220 / item
Caramel Medium Sonora Linen Table Lamp by NASSI
Located in Geneve, CH
Caramel Medium Sonora Linen Table Lamp by NASSI Dimensions: W 35 x D 35 x H 58 cm. Materials: Lampshade: coated iron, warm white Cotton Lining. Base: wood-fired clay with beeswax fi...
Clay, Cotton
Maitland Smith Tesselleted Stone And Brass Chaise Longue
By Casa Bique, Karl Springer, Robert Marcius, Enrique Garcel, Maitland Smith
Located in Houston, TX
Maitland Smith Tessellated Stone And Brass Chaise Longue. Offered is an outstanding two part chaise longue created by Maitland Smith in the 1980's of tessellated marble and brass. Th...
Marble, Brass
Vasa Velizar Mihich acrylic abstract sculpture triangle multicolor signed.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice and sweet multicolored triangle by the well known artist Vasa .
Acrylic
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Post Modern Milo Baughman Style Smoked Glass & Bent Chrome Coffee Table
Located in Madison, WI
This minimalist, Post Modern modern table in the manner of Milo Baughman would look great in a Modern or Mid-Century decor. This table is versatile and holds many books or magazines, and has a very sleek aesthetic. It features classic chic bent chrome...
Chrome
1980's Modernist Gastone Rinaldi Side Chair for Thema Italy 1 with Leather Seat
By Thema Italy 1, Gastone Rinaldi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Modernist Gastone Rinaldi side chair for Thema Italy 1. This chair has a white enameled metal frame and a tan leather seat. In original condition, with heavy signs of wear including ...
Metal
$5,441 / item
Horizon #5 Stoneware Lamp by Elisa Uberti
Located in Geneve, CH
Horizon #5 stoneware lamp by Elisa Uberti Unique Limited series of 8 numbered copies + 1 AP Dimensions: D 40 x W 20 x H 65 cm Materials: white Stoneware This product is handmade...
Stoneware
Rare Lucite Table Sculpture in the Style of Vasa Mihich
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple table sculpture, solid 4.25" x 3.5" x 18.75" from thick to thin Lucite, in the style of Vasa Mihich, circa 1980s. A geometric translucent sculpture made of Lucite with a taper...
Lucite
Set of 2 Japanese Postmodern Stainless Steel Kettle
Located in Hamburg, DE
Japanese Postmodern Stainless Steel Kettle, Set of 2, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 Additional information: Materials: Metal, Pla...
Metal
Pierluigi Spadolini for 1P 'Boccio' Round Dining Table in Resin
By Pierluigi Spadolini, Permaflex
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierluigi Spadolini for 1P (Permaflex), 'Boccio' dining table, polyurethane resin, Italy, 1972 This dining set is designed by Italian architect and designer (1922-2000) Pierluigi Sp...
Resin
Gold Nebula Hand Painted Pendant Lamp by Mirei Monticelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Nebula hand painted pendant lamp by Mirei Monticelli Dimensions: D 60 x W 60 x H 60 cm Materials: Banaca fabric Also available in hand pai...
Fabric
$4,645 / item
Tour Floor Lamp by G.Luce
Located in Geneve, CH
Tour Floor Lamp by G.Luce Dimensions: W 75 x D 49 x H 174 cm Materials: Natural Brushed Oak and Percalline Lampshade. Weight: 8.6 Kg. G.Luce is the result of a thirty-year history...
Oak
$7,800 / item
Explosion Proof Mining Lamp, 1970s Germany
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Your new favorite conversation starter just crawled out of a mine shaft and into the spotlight. Straight from industrial Germany in the 1970s, this explosion-proof mining lamp once l...
Metal
Weishäupl Lounge Chair, Black Wood & Leather, Postmodern Design, 1980
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
An unusual and intelligently designed lounge chair in the postmodern style of the 80s. The frame of the chair, made of black wood, is fixed using tightly tensioned steel cables and a...
Leather
$480Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Brass Table Lamp with Brass Shade
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and unique Post-Modern brass table lamp with brass shade, circa 1980s. The lamp has heavy solid brass construction with a beaut...
Brass
$10,325Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of "Totem" Sconces Attributed to Maria Pergay
By Maria Pergay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of "Totem" sconces attributed to Maria Pergay. Made of oval shaped stainless steel and brass ram skull. Inside is mirror polished and exterior is brushed finish. Rewired for USA...
Stainless Steel, Brass
Limited Edition Memphis Post-Modern Porcelain Teapot and Cups by J. Mihalik Art4
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare and beautiful limited edition Memphis style post-modern porcelain teapot and and six cups by Juraj Mihalik for Art4 Ceramics of Slovakia, circa 1980s. The set in very good cond...
Porcelain
$1,209 / item
White Alabaster Edna Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
White Alabaster Edna Table Lamp by Simone & MarcelMarcel Dimensions: D 15 x W 44 x H 46 cm. Materials: Cotton, brass and white alabaster. Also available in different marbles and cer...
Alabaster, Brass
$1,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
Champagne Flutes Glasses Italian Designer Carlo Moretti, Set of 10, 2 Sets Avail
Located in New York, NY
Two (2) sets of (10) available, as per listing. An exquisite, chic, and collectable set of ten (10) hand-crafted Italian Champagne flute gla...
Crystal
Large Postmodern Geometric Bar Cabinet in Custom Lacquer
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
A large-scale architectural postmodern cabinet defined by bold stepped geometry and strong volumetric composition. Composed of offset cubic forms arranged in an asymmetrical configu...
Wood, Lacquer
Set of 6 Finn dining chairs by Ligne roset, 1990s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Set of 6 Finn dining chairs designed by Thibault Desombre and produced by Ligne Roset, France. Made out of carefully crafted wooden frames with a yellow suede backrest. Striking c...
Suede, Wood
Wink chair by Toshiyuki Kita for Cassina, Italy, 1992
Located in Tel Aviv-Yafo, IL
An icon from the 80s, the Wink chair. Japanese design by Toshiyuki Kita for Cassina, Italy. This specific piece is dated to 1992. Very comfortable loungechair that can be adjusted in...
Fabric
Moser, Czech, Heavy Intaglio Cut Glass, Flower, Glossy and Satin Vase, Signed
By Moser
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing heavy cut work in this beautiful Moser vase. Sand blasted signature in bottom and plastic label in front. Moser. Czech Republic. Nice glossy and satin finish.
Art Glass
$1,348 / item
Oleander Bellini High Stool by Coco Flip
Located in Geneve, CH
Oleander Bellini High Stool by Coco Flip Dimensions: D 34 x W 34 x H 65/75 cm Materials: Timber / Stone tops, Powder-coated steel frame. Weight: 8kg Frame Finishes: Textura Black. ...
Stone, Steel
$1,736Sale Price|20% Off
Post Modern Fiam Italia Curved Glass Coffee Table
By Angelo Cortesi, FIAM
Located in Chicago, IL
Curved waterfall cocktail table by Angelo Cortesi for FIAM. FIAM being the leading glass furniture manufacturer in the world. Waterfall edges on this 1/2” thick tempered glass coffee table...
Glass
Green Indio Marble and Black Steel Morse Shelf by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Indio marble and black steel morse shelf by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 21 x W 80 x H 87 cm Materials: Steel, Green Indio Marble Also available: Different marble and frame optio...
Marble, Steel
Original Proust Armchair by Alessandro Mendini, Italy
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Historical piece of contemporary design, the Proust armchair with carved and hand painted wooden frame, fixed multicolored fabric hand- painted lining ...
Wood
Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Wall Light, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine and moulded pine-veneer wall light designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson and produced by Elysett AB, Sweden, 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 10.25” H x 6” W x 9.25” D Back Plat...
Pine
$1,628Sale Price|29% Off
Attributed Niels Bendtsen Post Modern Crystal and Steel Coffee Table, 1970s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This coffee table is attributed to Danish designer Niels Bendtsen for "2B" in the late 70's. Post-modern and minimalist, the coffee table has a metal structure with four feet connect...
Crystal, Steel
Postmodern White Carrara Marble Flower Stand Pedestal Table, Italy, 1980s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful Italian post-modern pedestal / flower table / plant stand with a white marble base and top and a black metal stem. Made in Italy in the 1980s, in good condition, with mar...
Marble, Carrara Marble, Metal
Val Saint Lambert green carved crystal vase.
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Val Saint Lambert green cut crystal vase. Green cut crystal vase. It features a cylindrical shape that widens slightly toward the top. The design features deep carving that creates a...
Art Glass
Jeff Koons Cracked Egg box/sculpture aluminum .Red 2008
By Jeff Koons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iconic Cracked Egg in aluminum sculpture / box for the LACMA in 2008 . artist Jeff Koons
Aluminum
Postmodern Italian Graffiti Shelf by Rodney Kinsman for Bieffeplast, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Metal shelf from the Italian manufacturer Biefeplast according to a draft from Rodney Kinsman from the 80s. A design classic of the 80s in postmodern formal language. This modular s...
Metal
Pair of Korium Black Leather Lounge Chairs by Tito Agnoli for Matteo Grassi
By Tito Agnoli
Located in Weesp, NL
Stylish Matteo Grassi black leather Korium lounge chairs designed by Tito Agnoli in 1980. The steel frame is covered with black coach hide and the cushions covered with soft comforta...
Leather
Leather Box with "H" Hardware by Hermès Paris, France, ca. 1970s
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Leather Box with "H" Hardware by Hermès Paris, France, ca. 1970s A sophisticated leather box made by Hermès Paris, France, circa 1970s. The piece features a restrained and timeless ...
Bronze
Italian Modern Sculptural Lounge Chair Attributed To Vittorio Introini
By Renzo Zavanella, Saporiti, Olivier Mourgue, Vittorio Introini
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Sculptural Lounge Chair Attributed To Vittorio Introini For Saporiti. This Postmodern chair, stunning from every...
Ultrasuede, Wood
Pop Surrealist Monumental Purple Leather Hand Chair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Monumental purple leather pop surrealist hand chair. Rare piece that was purchased from a Palm Beach estate whom had brought it here from France. Good vintage condition with some co...
Leather
Pierre Cardin Dining Chairs for Roche Bobois, 1970, Set of 4
By Pierre Cardin, Roche Bobois
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Pierre Cardin dining chairs for Roche Bobois, black wood and black leather, France, 1970, set of four. Pierre Cardin desi...
Leather, Wood
Vintage Original Drip Glazed Pottery Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stunning contemporary studio pottery vase is a masterwork of high-contrast glaze and bold sculptural form. Featuring a low-profile, globular silhouette, the vessel is cloaked in...
Pottery
1980s Postmodern Desk Clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita
By Shohei Mihara, Nathalie du Pasquier, George Sowden, Wakita
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic Japanese postmodern vintage desk, mantel, or shelf clock by Shohei Mihara for Wakita. (This design can also be found with markings from NEOS, the clock company that spec...
Metal
Fontana Arte Model 2892 XL Frosted Glass Table Lamp by Daniela Puppa
By Daniela Puppa, Fontana Arte
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Postmodern Table Lighting This striking Postmodern table lamp — Model 2892 by Daniela Puppa for Fontana Arte — showcases a sculptural combination of frosted glass, soft colo...
Glass
Dutch Postmodern Red Side Drinks Table w/Shelf by Erik van Buijtenen for Nebu
By Nebu, Erik van Buijtenen
Located in New York, NY
A Dutch Postmodern red lacquered side drinks table with shelf by designer Erik van Buijtenen for Nebu, circa 1970s, Holland. This Post-Modern / '70s Modern table is round, has a 'Coc...
Composition
Rosso Lepanto Contemporary Oval Marble Dining Table 290/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Rosso Lepanto contemporary oval marble dining table 290/75 For 12 people Dimensions: W 290 x D 160 x H 75 cm. Materials: Rosso Lepanto marble. The collection consists of a round/ova...
Marble
"Coral" Floor Lamp by Bohuslav Horak for Anthologie Quartett, 1980s
By Anthologie Quartett 1, Bohuslav Horák
Located in Hellouw, NL
Sometimes, design escapes classification. This 1988 “Coral” floor lamp by Bohuslav Horák for Anthologie Quartett sits confidently in that space—somewhere between sculpture and object...
Metal
Minimalist Post-Modern Thick Lucite Side Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This sturdy, thick lucite (heavy) minimalist side table will make a sleek addition to any contemporary design project. Use it at the end of a sofa, as a nightstand, or a small coffee...
Lucite
Pair Of Post Modern Ebony Black Architectural Frame Nightstands
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
This striking pair of Post Modern nightstands showcases bold architectural lines and a refined ebony black finish. Designed with a strong rectil...
Wood