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.
Set of Six Ettore Sottsass for Knoll 'Mandarin' Dining Chairs in Memphis & Navy
By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Italian architect Ettore Sottsass, this set of chairs was manufactured by Knoll, resulting in extraordinary quality. Featuring a sculptural ribbon style main body, they r...
Enamel, Steel
No. 221 Hand-Knotted Textile Poster by Lyk Carpet
Located in Geneve, CH
No. 221 Hand-knotted textile poster by Lyk Carpet Homage to the Bauhauswomen Dimensions: W 42 x L 82 cm. Materials: 100% tibetan highland-wool, new pure hand-combed and hand-spun woo...
Wool
$636Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Framed Abstract Painting of City Scape
Located in Delray Beach, FL
The Postmodern Framed Abstract Cityscape Oil Painting is a vivid exploration of urban life through art. It features thick, chunky oil paint textures in vibrant pastel colors, predomi...
Paint
Sergio Giobbi & Patrizia Innocenti 'Sfera' Table Lamp in Yellow Acrylic
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sergio Giobbi and Patrizia Innocenti for Metalmobili, 'Sfera' table lamp, acrylic, chrome-plated steel, cast aluminum, Italy, 1971 This radical designed table lamp is created by the...
Chrome, Aluminum, Steel
Amorphous Post Modern Serpentine Sofa in Terra Cotta Velvet for Weiman
By Weiman
Located in Saint Louis, MO
There's not a single straight line in this sexy Post Modern Serpentine Sofa upholstered in a rich terracotta velvet and made by Weiman. The...
Upholstery, Velvet, Lucite
Postmodern steel free-form table, France 1980s
Located in Antwerp, BE
French postmodern design meets sculptural simplicity in this distinctive steel table from the 1980s. Its free-form silhouette introduces a sense of movement, while the slender tubula...
Steel, Chrome
$3,400 / item
Bone #12 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Bone #12 wall light by Margaux Leycuras One of a Kind, Signed and numbered Dimensions: D 6 x W 44 x H 39cm Material: Ceramic, sand stoneware tops with a po...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Stoneware
Italy Bronze Abstract Sculpture Vanni Viviani Monumentalmente Vostro
Located in Brescia, IT
This is an interesting multiple artwork signed by the author Vanni Viviani, a well known artist of years 80' in Italy. This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1000 pieces; we ca...
Bronze
Postmodern Minimalist Glass Cake Plate, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Minimalist Glass Cake Plate, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Glass Styles: Postmodern Item Type: Vintage, Antiqu...
Glass
Unique Italian Postmodern Iron Armchair
Located in Long Island City, NY
A unique sculptural work that does double duty as a chair, this extravagant wrought iron design is one of a kind. It possesses the playfulness and drama of Garouste & Bonetti’s w...
Iron
Dark Blue Eclipse X-Large Hand-Sculpted Mirror, Laurene Guarneri
Located in Geneve, CH
Dark blue Eclipse X-large hand-sculpted mirror, Laurene Guarneri Limited edition. Handmade. Materials: Dark blue mirror, white glass, sky blue mirr...
Glass, Mirror
Bruce Sienkowski "Eli Armchair" for Charlotte, USA 1991, a Pair
Located in Miami, FL
Rare pair of Eli armchairs with maple wood seat, back and arms attached to a black powder coated steel base. Designed by Bruce Sienkowski for Charlott...
Steel
$2,930 / set
Mamun No.2 Side Table by Studio Kallang
Located in Geneve, CH
Mamun No.2 Side Table by Studio Kallang Dimensions: W 45 x D 35 x H 62.5 cm Materials: Solid Teak, Fluted Glass. STUDIO KALLANG IS A SINGAPORE AND SEATTLE BASED PROJECT FOCUSING ON...
Teak, Glass
$694 / item
Okla Cotton Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Okla Cotton Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 12 x W 24 x H 38 cm. Materials: Cotton. Custom options available on request. Please contact us. All our lamps can be wired...
Cotton
$556Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Green Swedish Postmodern 80s Vintage Nils Gammelgaard Ikea "Ted" Chairs
By Anonima Castelli, Giancarlo Piretti, IKEA
Located in Basel, BS
Great opportunity to have a complete set of 2 of these wonderful 1980s Nils Gaamelgaard for Ikea chairs as a perfect pair of 2 in green! Sold here as a pair. Note: Green cushions wi...
Metal
$964 / item
Hazelnut Strap Chair by Ox Denmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Hazelnut strap chair by Ox Denmarq. Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 78.5 cm. Materials: leather, black powder coated steel. Also available: different col...
Steel
Fontana Arte Style Pedestal Table with Sunburst Wood Top & Chrome & Marble Base
By Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful marble pedestal table with massive sunburst patterned table top, a fat chrome post and a thick white marble base. The top, not original to the table, was found in a Dutch e...
Marble, Chrome
Glass chair in the Manner of Louis Dierra
By Louis Dierra
Located in London, GB
This striking curved glass chair, inspired by the iconic designs of Louis Dierra for the Glass Centre Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, represents a masterful blend of a...
Glass, PVC
Solid Wood and Polished Cast Brass Duas Tabuas Chair by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Solid Wood and Polished Cast Brass Duas Tabuas Chair by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 75 x D 42 x H 100 cm Materials: Solid wood and polished cast brass. Finishes: Solid Imbuia wood or S...
Metal
Midcentury Italian Post Modern Nero Marquina Marble Cube Side Table or End Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An unusual modern geometric design marble cube from Italy, circa 1980s. A super dynamic design accented by extraordinary Nero Marquina marble. You'll love this table in your home. ...
Marble
$1,117 / item
Walnut Peono Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Walnut Peono Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40.6 x H 61 cm. Materials: Brass, acrylic and walnut wood. Also available in different marbl...
Brass
Italian Designer Postmodern Black Lacquer Wood and Leather Side Chair
By Calligaris
Located in New York, NY
Very beautiful and chic Italian Modern style or Postmodern period black lacquer wood and leather side or desk chair(s), circa late-20t...
Leather, Wood
$4,396Sale Price|30% Off
Pair of Art Deco Style Leather and Chrome/Aviator Lounge Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
PAIR of Industrial Art Deco style round back lounge chairs with chrome frame and black leather upholstery.
Chrome
Italian Modern Stepped Travertine Table Base-Pedestal After Angelo Mangiarotti
By Up & Up, Mario Bellini, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Houston, TX
Italian modern stepped Travertine pedestal or table base after Angelo Mangiarotti. Beautiful Italian Angelo Mangiarotti style travertine pedestal, ...
Travertine
Four Glamorous Brass and Grey Barstools, Midcentury, France, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Brass and grey barstools, midcentury, France, 1970s Beautiful restored brass barstools with grey corduroy top that swivels. Adds glamour to any room. Pi...
Brass
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
Sunshine Mariposa Outdoor Lounge Chair by Cuero Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Sunshine Mariposa Outdoor Lounge Chair by Cuero Design Dimensions: D 86 x W 87 x H 92 cm. Materials: Upholstery and metal. Finish: Oyster upholstery and grey frame. Weight: 12 kg. A...
Metal
Mid-Century Post Modern Large Wall Mirror or Console Table Shelf by Jay Spectre
By Jay Spectre
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large, rare and impressive wall mirror designed by Jay Spectre in the 1980's. It consists of a faux marble finish on wood with a very large round mirror. Frame could easily be pain...
Mirror, Wood
Postmodern 1980s Art Deco Revival Style Console/ Entry Table. Circa 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Postmodern 1980s Art Deco Revival Style Console/ Entry Table. Circa 1980s Features two Art Deco-inspired soft pink columns supporting a 5/8" thick removable glass top. In e...
Glass, Plaster, Wood
$694 / item
Lounge Jade Green Wall Sconce by MUG
Located in Geneve, CH
Lounge Jade Green Wall Sconce by MUG Dimensions: Ø 8,5 x H 25 cm (customizable height) Materials: Borosilicate glass, Mouth-blown glass, LEDs, Alumin...
Aluminum, Bronze, Pewter
Wendell Castle, Armchair, Mahogany, Velvet, USA, 1997
Located in High Point, NC
A beige velvet and textured black-painted mahogany armchair designed and produced by Wendell Castle, USA, 1997. Seat Height (inches): 18” Arm Height (inches): 27.38" All items shi...
Velvet, Mahogany
Medium Light Indigo Night Twilight Single Pendant Lamp by Atelier Robotiq
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Light Indigo Night Twilight Single pendant lamp by Atelier Robotiq Dimensions: D 55 x H 49 cm Materials: Resin-impregnated industrial fiber. Available in different colors: Lig...
Resin
$16,952Sale Price / item|20% Off
'Carlton' Room Divider and Bookcase by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano, Italy
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in London, GB
Probably the most iconic of all Ettore Sottsass' designs, the colourful Carlton is half room divider, half bookcase and full size sculptural marvel. Des...
Laminate, Wood
Drapery Table made in Italy from Silver Traverte 51" diam designed by Yaniv Chen
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Known for his signature sense of nostalgia, designer Yaniv Chen shares the story behind the Drapery Table—an evocative piece carved in Italy from a single block of travertine. Produc...
Travertine
$1,223 / item
Capsule Golden Wall Light by Square in Circle
Located in Geneve, CH
Capsule Golden wall light by Square in Circle Dimensions: D5 x W5.5 x H40 cm Materials:Brushed brass/ opaque glass Other finishes available. Perfect ...
Brass
$6,995 / item
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...
Steel
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
$5,954 / item
Round Volcano Nuances Rug by Gandia Blasco
Located in Geneve, CH
Round Volcano Nuances Rug by Gandia Blasco Design by Patricia Urquiola Dimensions: W 250 x H 300 cm. Materials: Fiber composition: Felt base (75% wool + 2...
Wool, Natural Fiber
$12,168 / item
Ash Kyra Bench by Nish Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash Kyra Bench by Nish Studio Dimensions: W 51.5 x D 207 x H 47.5cm. Materials: Carbon stained + Sand Blasted Ash **Price without cushion. N I S H is a Cape Town based Fashion and ...
Other
4 x Castelli "PENELOPE" Dining Chairs By Charles Pollock Italy 1980
By Charles Pollock, Anonima Castelli
Located in DE MEERN, NL
Introducing a captivating set of four vintage Penelope Chairs by Charles Pollock for Anonima Castelli, Italy 1980. These iconic chairs exude timeless elegance and impeccable craftsma...
Metal, Chrome
Vintage Omega Stainless Steel Hand-Wound Wristwatch circa 1960
By Omega
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Vintage Omega Stainless Steel Hand-Wound Wristwatch circa 1960 A timeless example of mid-century Swiss watchmaking, this vintage Omega watch dates from the early 1960s and embodies ...
Stainless Steel
Original De Sede DS 10/23 Sofa Couch Zweisitzer leder schwarz
By De Sede
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes De Sede DS 10/23 Zweisitzer Sofa aus schwarzem Leder zum Verkauf an. Das Sofa ist mit hochwertigem Echtleder bezogen und zeic...
Leather
Large Patrick Nagel Vintage 1980s Female Portrait Poster in New Frame
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Effortlessly bridging pop-art allure and refined modernism, this pair of 1980s Patrick Nagel portrait posters makes a bold visual statement. Each print features Nagel’s signature aes...
Canvas, Paper, Acrylic
$88Sale Price|20% Off
Decorative geode and black glass jewelry box by Don Drumm, late 20th century
By Don Drumm
Located in View Park, CA
A very unique decorative jewelry box hand-crafted of black glass, mirror, iron, and geode by Don Drumm, late 20th century. The geode boasts a bevy of brilliant blues, from cerulean t...
Rock Crystal, Iron
Rare set of Three Michael Graves Bent Wood and Steel Barstools
Located in Chicago, IL
Rare set of three steam-bent maple wood and steel framed post modern barstools designed by NYC architect and designer Michael Graves. Graves often featured a modernist aesthetic wit...
Steel
$847 / set
White Brut Body Sconces by Di Fretto
Located in Geneve, CH
White Brut Body Sconces by Di Fretto Dimensions: W 26 x D 10 x H 27 cm Materials: White Faience The Body appliques are the 2 sides of the sculpture of a w...
Faience
Italian Pair of Armchairs in Marble and Red Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of armchairs, marble, lacquered iron, leather, walnut, Italy, 1970s. Striking conference or dining chairs, each exuding a postmodern charm that seamlessly blends boldness with ...
Marble, Iron
Postmodern W.O. Table Lamp by Sacha Ketoff for Aluminor, France, 1980s
By Sacha Ketoff
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare, postmodern table lamp from the French manufacturer Aluminor after a design by Sacha Ketoff from the 80s. This draft was created in a competition as part of the exhibition "Lum...
Metal
Modern Style Aurora Chair Sculpted in Walnut Finish No Arms, Upholstered Seat
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
The Aurora collection aka Dawn marks a new exiting moment in our design history, in where we dove deep in to the creativity unknown, to create a collection that would be able to hold...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Faux Leather, Cane, Hardwood, Walnut
One for the Recession Wall Lamp by Ingo Maurer, 1985
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Weesp, NL
Rare Ingo Maurer 1985 wall lamp one for the Recession in great vintage condition as can be seen in the images. This beautiful heart will be shipp...
Metal
Postmodern Armchair, Design by Franco Poldaretti Caccia Alla Volpe, Italy 80s
Located in Lucija, SI
Post-Modern side, dining or desk armchair from the Caccia alla volpe furniture series, Italy 80s. Designed by Franco Poldaretti In very good condition.
Velvet, Wood
Pair of Large 1980s Table Lamps, Pier Giuseppe Ramella for Arteluce Model Tikal
By Arteluce, Pier Giuseppe Ramella
Located in München, DE
Pair of large 1980s table lamps by Pier Giuseppe Ramella model Tikal. Made for Arteluce. Made in Italy. Pier Giuseppe Ramella was a well-known Italian designer and architect. Typi...
Metal
Italian Zen Terra Floor Lamp by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, 1980s
By Artemide
Located in Hamburg, DE
The Zen Terra standing lamp from the Italian manufacturer Artemide and by Ernesto Gismondi. Due to the height of just over 200cm and the large, curved reflector shell, this floor la...
Metal
Holy Crap (Artist's Book by Rob Pruitt)
Located in New York, NY
First edition of American post-conceptual artist Rob Pruitt’s exuberantly irreverent project book, published in an edition of 1000 in 2010 by 38th Street Publishers. Per the publishe...
Paper
Postmodern Set of Three Gold Metal Wall Sconces by Estiluz, Barcelona, 1990s
By Estiluz, Leonardo Marelli, Estiluz Lighting
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty Postmodern Set of Three Gold Metal Wall Sconces by Leonardo Marelli for Estiluz. Model: A-2044 Gold These fixtures were designed and manufactured in Barcelona (Spain) by Estil...
Metal
$1,200 / set
Pair of Post-Modern Artichoke Table Lamps 1980s
By Jonathan Adler, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and sculptural set of ceramic artichoke lamps. Although post-modern in essence, these lamps resonate with a variety of styles from modernist, coastal to organic modern. T...
Ceramic
$258 / item
Plate Classic Forest Pendant Lamp by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
Plate Classic Forest Pendant Lamp by +kouple Dimensions: Ø 18,4 x H 20,8 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel. Available in different color options. The PVC cord length is 200 cm. Pl...
Steel
Lounge Chair in Camel Yellow Leather with Metal Base
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lounge chair, leather, metal, Europe, 1980s Modern and beautiful armchair. This chair is made in a modest way, and is both crisp and warm at the same time. The metal frame holds a l...
Metal
$4,195 / item
Mottle Two Glass Globe Pendant by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Mottle Two Glass Globe Pendant by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 15.2 x W 29.2 x H 127 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Available in raw brass, aged brass, burnt brass, or brushed brass. ...
Brass
$4,232Sale Price / item|20% Off
Profana Sculptural Floor Lamp • Handmade Edition Steel • by Pedro Paulo-Venzon
Located in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina
According to Giorgio Agamben, to profane is to bring into the human realm that which was only devoted to the gods. This discussion about inversion is the point of departure for Prof...
Steel