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.
Postmodern Rug by by Masland Carpets c 1980's
Located in New York, NY
Classic 1980's Hollywood Regency, Art Deco Revival, Post Modern style bespoke carpet, rug by noted American maker Masland. The carpet is constructed of spun nylon, it is in very goo...
Nylon
Rare Pair of Post-Modern Adjustable 'Orbit' Lamps by Ron Rezek
By Ron Rezek
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare pair of adjustable 'Orbit' lamps by Ron Rezek, circa 1980. High-end Post-Modern design featuring adjustable height swing arms and 2 light intensity settings: full, half, off. T...
Aluminum, Steel
Post Modern Sofa by Robert and Trix Haussmann for Knoll 1980's
By Knoll, Robert and Trix Haussmann
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Post Modern sofa designed by Robert and Trix Haussmann for Knoll as part of The Lounge Seating series, circa 1980's. The upholstered box form sofa rests on an aluminum ...
Aluminum
Nerone & Patuzzi for Gruppo NP2 'C10T' Coffee Table in Wood and Crystal Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Nerone & Patuzzi for Gruppo NP2, produced by Forme & Superfici, coffee table, wood, glass, Italy, numbered A61/100, Italy, 1970s Designed by the Italian duo Nerone and Patuz...
Glass, Wood
Postmodern Gerard van den Berg Loge Chairs for Montis, Cognac Leather, 1980
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gerard van den Berg designed the Loge chair for Dutch manufacturer Montis in 1980, employing a continuous shell construction that merges seat, back, and armrests into a unified sculp...
Chrome
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
Vintage Italian Postmodern Brera W Wall Lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos
Located in Hamburg, DE
The brera w is the wall lamp version from the brera series by flos based on a design by achille castiglioni. a simple and elegant wall light in glass and chrome. The egg-shaped lamp...
Metal
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
Custom Pop art post modern 3 door beige Pill shaped credenza sideboard
By Ello Furniture, Memphis Milano
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pop art post modern 3 door beige colored Pill shaped rounded ends credenza sideboard. Very light tan beige color gloss laminate credenza custom made circa 1980 has 3 cabinet doors wi...
Laminate, Wood
Ettore Sottsass Memphis Knoll 80s Eastside Two Sofas +1 Lounge Chair, SET 3 PCS
By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll
Located in Basel, BS
The Eastside sofa and chair are quintessential pieces of 1980s postmodern design from Ettore Sottsass, the founder of Memphis. The Eastside collection takes cues from Biedermeier st...
Metal, Aluminum
$13,535Sale Price / set|20% Off
Angelo Mangiarotti for Agapecasa Oak Leather Dining Chairs 3T Model, Italy 2000s
By Angelo Mangiarotti, AgapeCasa
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Set of eight Italian post modern dining chairs model 3T designed by Angelo mangiarotti from 1978 with oak frame and leather seat. Produced by Agapecasa with the designer’s and manufa...
Leather, Oak
1980s Knoll Jorge Pensi Amat Toledo Chair Spain Postmodern
By Amat-3, Jorge Pensi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Toledo chair stackable designed by Jorge Pensi for Amat 3 Spain for Knoll Organic and streamlined shape lightweight cast aluminum. Unmarked. Dye cast alum...
Aluminum
Paul Pallucco Attr. Panchetta Con Tavolino E Portariviste Postmoderno Anni 80
By Paolo Pallucco & Mireille Rivier
Located in Taranto, IT
Questa panchetta multifunzionale rappresenta perfettamente lo spirito del design postmoderno italiano degli anni Ottanta, con le sue forme scultoree e la combinazione di elementi pra...
Wood
Paul Evans for Directional 'Cityscape' Floor Lamp
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans for Directional, 'Cityscape' floor lamp, model PE-4010 from the PE200 series, chrome-plated steel, brass, United States, circa 1975 This distinctive floor lamp from the ...
Brass, Steel, Chrome
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
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
Postmodern Wire Lounge Chair Armchair Sälen, Knut & Marianne Hagberg, Ikea, 1982
By K and M Hagberg, IKEA
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful wire loungechair with armrests from the 1980s. This is the model „Sälen“, designed in 1982 by Knut & Marianne Hagberg for Ikea Sweden. The chair has been produced for on...
Metal, Steel
Maison Regain Dining Table in Elm
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Maison Regain dining table, elm, France, 1970s This dining table by Maison Regain is a refined example of French design from the 1970s, defined by its solid construction and express...
Elm
1970s Post-Modern Lounge Chairs in Beige Patterned Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Modular lounge chairs, fabric, wood, Belgium, 1970s These superb modular lounge chairs originate from 1970s Belgium and beautifully capture the post-modern spirit of the era, marked...
Fabric
Desk, White Lacquered Wood, Post-Modern Design, Panorammma, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
A sleek, white-polished, sculptural piece conjuring the presence of a grand piano. Piano Desk evokes an intricate fusion of the grace in artistic expression and the discipline of w...
Wood
Postmodern Tessellated Stone Pedestal
Located in Houston, TX
1980s Tesselated stone pedestal.
Travertine
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
Post modern Italian black leather sofa in the style of Nicoletti Salotti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Italian black leather 3 seat long sofa in the manner of Nicoletti Salotti. Very clean sofa high quality leather and very comfortable modern design. Located in Brooklyn NYC 11...
Leather
Sculptural Side Table & Stool, Hand-Carved Green Onyx Marble Conglomerate
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult stool/ side table; a hand sculpted stone from a Mexican marble and Mexican onyx conglomerate, remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials in a ...
Onyx
Post modern mahogany Gloss faux wood Laminate waterfall 2 Drawer nightstand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful post modern faux mahogany wood grain gloss laminate waterfall front 2 drawer nightstand, circa 1980. Very clean inside and out. Look at photos. all drawers have metal glide...
Laminate, Plywood
Memphis First Chair by Michele de Lucchi circa 1983
Located in Oakland, CA
Early production Memphis First chair designed by Michele de Lucchi this chair that was purchased by the original owner who was working at the de Lucchi design studio in the 1980s in ...
Metal
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
Vintage Burlwood King Canopy Bedframe, Henredon Scene Two
Located in Lutz, FL
Vintage Postmodern Henredon Scene Two Burlwood King Size Canopy Four Poster Bed. What canopy bed dreams are made of. Beautiful Burlwood headboard and rails accented with zebra wood o...
Mirror, Ash, Olive, Zebra Wood, Burl
$4,850 / item
Empat Arched Console Table Cherry Red
Located in New York, US
Elegant, deep detailing gives the Empat console table a sculptured appearance that makes it an artistic accent as well as a functional table. Its graceful arches add interest without...
Resin, Plywood
Brutalist Round Dining or Center Table in Black Stone Look Resin
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining or center table, resin, Northern-Europe, 1970s. A striking example of 1970s design, this deep black table embodies a bold yet refined aesthetic. Crafted entirely from resin, ...
Resin
Mario Bellini for Cassina Pianura Lounge Chairs in Walnut and Leather
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
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
Single Amisco Stool
Located in New York, NY
Single Amisco stool
Metal
Post-Modern Slatted High Back Dining Room Chairs by Pietro Costantini, 1980s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant set of six Post-Modern slatted high back dining room chairs. Design by Pietro Costantini. Striking Italian design from the 1980s. The clear lacquered maple frame...
Leather, Maple
Rare Pierre Chapo Set of Eight S11 Dining Chairs in Sipo Wood and Leather
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, rare set of eight dining chairs, model S11, sipo wood, leather, France, circa 1966 A set of eight chairs in solid sipo wood, which makes this set so rare, with cognac...
Leather, Wood
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
$2,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Post Modern Cantilever Swing Chairs by Herbert and Jutta Ohl for Rosenthal Linie
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Rare set of 4 1980s Post-Modern Cantilever Swing Chairs. Designed in 1982 by Herbert and Jutta Ohl for German Manufacturer Rosenthal Studio Lini...
Metal
Post Modern Knoll Swivel Desk, Office, Chairs 11 Available
By Knoll, Don Chadwick
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Knoll swivel desk chair(s) from the 1970's, in rich brown formed foam upholstery, on five star base. The chair swivels a full 360, and the base is on double wheel coaster...
Plastic
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
Polifemo Floor Lamp by Carlo Forcolini for Artemide, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
During the 1980s, Artemide produced an Italian postmodern floor lamp crafted by the renowned designer Carlo Forcolino. This lamp features...
Metal
Gaetano Pesce limited edition Greene Street chair for Vitra Italy / 1995
By Gaetano Pesce, Vitra
Located in Skokie, IL
Gaetano Pesce limited edition Greene Street chair for Vitra Italy / Switzerland, 1984 / 1994. This example 70 /100 pieces produced. Materials: resin reinforced with fiberglass, stee...
Steel
Jan de Jong Rare Custom Table in Dark Green Lacquered Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jan de Jong, custom table and stools, lacquered wood, the Netherlands, 1970s An exceptional dining ensemble by Jan de Jong, comprising a monumental table and six matching stools. De...
Wood
$1,837Sale Price|25% Off
Pair Post Modern taupe white laminate 3 Drawer chrome nightstands
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Mid Century taupe white laminate and chrome Nightstands 3 Drawers. Beautiful condition inside and out. Circa 1970 - 3 Drawer Nightstands all drawers have metal glides all smo...
Chrome
$1,400Sale Price|35% Off
1980s Laminated waterfall Scroll table by Jeffrey Craig
Located in Toronto, CA
A large vintage laminated waterfall scroll coffee table from the 1980s. It was created in Canada by renowned expert Jeffrey Craig, known for crafting high-quality laminated furniture...
Laminate
$396Sale Price / item|20% Off
Postmodern Sectional Sofa Bench by Steelcase
By Steelcase
Located in New York, NY
Phenomenal sectional sofa, bench, or single chair set made by Steelcase, circa 2002. The pieces have tubular chrome feet, which support a thick and heavy board, to which a thick upho...
Chrome
Credenza / Sideboard, Hand-Carved White Onyx, Sculptural Design, Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Carved from solid onyx, the Eoli Credenza is a sculptural storage piece shaped by the idea of wind in motion. Its form recalls slow, continuous forces: erosion, pressure, flow. The...
Onyx
Pair of Alias Italy Black Chrome spaghetti stools by Giandomenico Belotti
By Alias, Giandomenico Belotti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Alias Italy Black Chrome spaghetti stools by Giandomenico Belotti. Black rubber woven seat and back with a chrome tube frame. Made in Italy circa 1980. Located in Brooklyn NY...
Chrome
Monumental Gail Markiewicz Hand Built Sculptural Ceramic Vessel, Signed
By Markiewicz
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A monumental hand-built ceramic vessel by noted American ceramic artist Gail Markiewicz. Constructed from individually textured and impressed clay sections joined together in the art...
Ceramic, Pottery
Modernist accent chair in black cowhide and ebonized oak, late 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
A modernist accent chair by Paul Marra in ebonized oak and laser-cut black cow hide, probably circa late 20th century or early 21st. The oak frame is re...
Fabric, Wood
Postmodern Sculptural Curved Serpentine Sectional Snake Sofa
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Monumental serpentine snake sectional sofa in the style of Vladimir Kagan and Milo Baughman. This unique modular curved sofa consists of three interlocking sections reupholstered in ...
Upholstery, Ultrasuede, Wood
David Hockney, A Diver from Paper Pools Lithograph
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Exciting Hockney A Diver from Paper Pools Lithograph. This is a wonderful exciting lithograph, Original Exhibition Poster for The Australian National Gallery Canberra, Paper Pools, 1...
Paper
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Marble and Glass End / Side Tables by Kaiser Newman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A handsome matching set of glass drink tables designed and produced by Kaiser Newman in the 1990s. The tables features a black polished stone base and a spun aluminum stem with glass...
Granite, Aluminum, Brass
Two abstract metal floor sculptures by Tony Almén and Peter Gest for Ikea 1990
By IKEA
Located in München, DE
Pair of original limited abstract metal Ikea floor sculptures from 1990. In good condition. Suitable for all living areas and very decorative. Design by Tony Almén and Peter Gest. Ik...
Metal
$3,480Sale Price|55% Off
Library Shelf System Hook System by Pagani and Angelo Perversi, Italy, 1987
Located in Vienna, AT
Graphical shelf system called 'Hook System' by Pagani & Perversi, Italy 1987 Dimensions are 82.32" x 39.37" x 12.99". Very rare Library shelf system by Luciano Pagani and Angelo Perversi...
Steel
USM Haller 2x2 Storage Cabinet, Pure White, Modular Swiss Design, 1960
By Usm Haller
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Authentic USM Haller 2x2 storage cabinet / media console in Pure White, featuring two flip-up doors for clean, unobstructed access and the iconic modular Swiss design. This versatil...
Steel, Chrome
Mid-Century Post Modern Loveseat or Sofa Produced by Preview Furniture
By Preview
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sculptural base with floating front sofa made by Preview circa 1992. It features the original tweed fabric in good condition. Could use cleaning before use.
Fabric
Vintage Chinese Tibetan Silver Overlay Porcelain Body Teapot With Foo Dog Finial
By Michael Graves (b.1934), Alessi
Located in San Diego, CA
A vintage Chinese / Tibetan silver overlay porcelain body teapot with foo dog finial, circa the 1970s. The pot is in very good vintage conditi...
Sterling Silver
Pair of Floor Lamps/Torchieres by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, USA 1987
By George Kovacs, Robert Sonneman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Illuminate your space with this stunning pair of Floor Lamps/Torchieres by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, crafted in the USA in 1987. These sleek and modern lamps feature a strik...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Hand-Knotted Wool Poseidon Rug by Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in London, London
A whimsical and highly graphic wool rug titled Poseidon and designed by Garouste & Bonetti, its field framed by an animated border of coral-like forms in shades of turquoise, sea gre...
Wool
$5,450 / item
Maison Regain Grid Side Benches in Elm
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Maison Regain benches, elm, France, 1970s Lovely benches by Maison Regain, a lovely example of French design from the 1970s. Made from solid elm wood, the benches emphasize clear co...
Elm
Brazilian Agate Onyx and Wood Round Jewelry Trinket Box, Brazil, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A round Brazilian agate onyx and wood trinket or jewelry box, in the Modern style Post-Modern period, circa-late 20th century, 1980s early 1990s, Brazil. Box has a rich brown wood wi...
Onyx, Agate
Italian modern table lamp Daphine Classic by Tommaso Cimini for Lumina, 2010s
By Lumina, Tommaso Cimini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern table lamp Daphine Classic by Tommaso Cimini for Lumina, 2010s Adjustable table lamp model Daphine Classic in black painted metal. The compact base, complete with a sw...
Metal
Coffee Table by Piero De Longhi Catalan Italia Travertine Glass and Brass 1980s
Located in London, GB
The Dielle coffee table, is a timeless piece designed in 1984 by Piero De Longhi for Catalan Italia is a sophisticated design. The transparent glass top allows you to fully appreciat...
Travertine, Metal, Brass