Post-Modern Furniture
POSTMODERN STYLE
Strictly speaking, postmodern design was a short-lived movement that manifested itself chiefly in Italy and the United States in the early 1980s. The characteristics of postmodern furniture and other postmodern objects included hot-colored, loud-patterned, usually plastic surfaces; strange proportions and weird angles; and a vague-at-best relationship between form and function.
Critics derided postmodern design as a grandstanding bid for attention and nothing of consequence. The fact that, decades later, postmodern design still has the power to provoke thoughts (along with other reactions) proves they were not entirely correct.
Postmodernism 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. In the next decade in Milan, a cohort of designers led by Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendini brought the discussion to bear on design.
Sottsass and Michele de Lucchi, in 1980, gathered a core group of young designers, which would come to include Michael Graves, Marco Zanini, Shiro Kuramata and Matteo Thun, into a design collective they called Memphis. The Memphis Group saw design as a means of communication and they wanted it to shout. That it did: the first Memphis collection appeared in 1981 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. After the initial Memphis show caused an uproar, postmodern design quickly took off in America. The architect Robert Venturi had 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 collection of postmodern furniture includes seating, decorative objects, lighting fixtures and more.
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Style: Post-Modern
Vintage Italian Monolithic Green Marble Coffee Table, 1970s
Located in View Park, CA
A vintage Italian monolithic marble coffee table, circa 1970s. In the style of Angelo Mangiarotti. Shades of juniper and pine with subtle moments of oxblood. Minor signs of age but n...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble
Barbara Brenner Porcelain Vase for Rosenthal
Located in Miami, FL
Large organic postmodern porcelain vase by Barbara Brenner for Rosenthal, 1980s.
Category
Late 20th Century German Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Edifice #39 Stoneware Lamp by Elisa Uberti
Located in Geneve, CH
Edifice #39 stoneware lamp by Elisa Uberti
Unique Piece
Dimensions: H 55 cm
Materials: white stoneware
This product is handmade, dimensions may vary.
After fifteen years in f...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Yeti Sofa by Vladimir Naumov
By Missana
Located in Geneve, CH
Yeti Sofa by Vladimir Naumov
Dimensions: Width 202 - Depth 110 - Height 82 - Seat 44 cm
Materials: Pine wood structure, plywood and tablex.
Foam CMHR (high resilience and flame re...
Category
2010s Spanish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Foam, Pine, Plywood
Stunning Custom Contemporary Modern Sideboard with Henry David Potwin Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning custom contemporary modern sideboard with colorful abstract figurative painting. This handmade sideboard was custom made in Houston, Texas in collaboration with surrealist p...
Category
2010s American Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Oak
Stellar Grape Pendant Big Aubergine Acetato Champagner by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Stellar grape pendant big Aubergine Acetato Champagner by Pulpo
Dimensions: D61 x H158 cm
Materials: handblown glass coloured ,powder coated steel.
Also available in different f...
Category
2010s German Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Steel
Black Acid Bronze Vase by Lupo Horiōkami
Located in Geneve, CH
Black acid bronze vase by Lupo Horio¯kami
Dimensions: diameter 20 x height 13 cm
Materials: Bronze medium acid
“The artwork [...] arises when the mind is willing to accept reali...
Category
2010s Italian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Chouchou Marble White Stool by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Chouchou Marble White Stool by Pulpo
Dimensions: D35 x W30 x H43 cm
Materials: ceramic
Also available in different Colours. Please contact us.
Whether stool or storage table, piece...
Category
2010s German Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Chouchou Round Sand Coffee Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Chouchou Round Sand Coffee Table by Pulpo
Dimensions: D55 x H45 cm
Materials: ceramic
Also available in different Colours.
Chouchou bears the contours of an antique column – ...
Category
2010s German Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Alwa Two Blue Black Side Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Alwa Two Blue Black Side Table by Pulpo
Dimensions: D38 x H44 cm
Materials: casted glass; powder coated steel
Also available in different finishes. Please contact us.
Normally, gl...
Category
2010s German Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Steel
Aegean Iris Mirror by Tom Palmer
Located in Geneve, CH
Aegean Iris Mirror by Tom Palmer
Dimensions: D 120 x H 5 cm
Mterials: Glass, Resin
Also Available: Other sizes and variations available, please contact us.
The Iris mirrors are hand...
Category
2010s British Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass, Resin
Ceiling Lamp Spider 5 Still Arms by Serge Mouille
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceiling Lamp Spider 5 Still Arms by Serge Mouille
Dimensions: D195 x H70 cm
Materials: Brass, Steel, Aluminium
One of a King. Numbered.
Also available in different colour. Please con...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Ginkgo Chandelier by Veronica Mar
Located in Geneve, CH
Ginkgo chandelier by Veronica Mar
Dimensions: D66 x H50 cm.
Materials: Brass,
One of a King
Also available in different dimensions.
The Ginkgo biloba is regarded as a sacred...
Category
2010s Spanish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Brass
TRN D1 Pendant Lamp I by Pani Jurek
By Pani Jurek
Located in Geneve, CH
TRN D1 pendant lamp I by Pani Jurek
Dimensions: D 5 x W 35 x H 37.5 cm
Material: Hand glazed ceramic.
Available in other colors.
A fascination with Jan Tarasin paintings and graphi...
Category
2010s Polish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Cleopatra Dressing Unit by Esvee Atelier
By Esvee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cleopatra dressing unit by Esvee Atelier
Dimensions: D 40 x W 90 x H 180 cm
Mirror dimensions: L 40 x H 155 cm
Materials: Solid teak wood, solid brass, mirrored glass.
Cleopatr...
Category
2010s Indian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
XVII Sherman Lounge Chair by Arturo Verástegui
Located in Geneve, CH
XVII Sherman lounge chair by Arturo Verástegui.
Dimensions: D 82 x W 109 x H 81 cm.
Materials: oak wood, leather.
Lounge chair made of white oak or burnt finish white oak option...
Category
2010s Mexican Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Leather, Oak
Rougier 3300 Wall System
Located in Hingham, MA
This incredibly rare and sculptural post-modern (Memphis vibe) wall unit/entertainment center was designed and produced by Roger Rougier of Canada. See original brochure.
It is in e...
Category
1980s Canadian Vintage Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood, Glass, Lacquer
Anemone Pendant Lamp by Mirei Monticelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Anemone pendant lamp by Mirei Monticelli
Dimensions: D 35 cm
Materials: Banaca fabric
Available in other colors.
The simple elegance of the Anemone Pendant Lamp provides an eye...
Category
2010s Italian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric
Silverwave Octane by Arthur Vallin
Located in Geneve, CH
Silverwave octane by Arthur Vallin.
Limited edition.
Dimensions: W 55 x D 55 x H 45 cm.
Materials: silverwave marble.
Finishing: Matte Un-honed.
French Artist, Designer, and C...
Category
2010s Italian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble
Object 049 Pearl Pouf by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 049 Pearl Pouf by NG Design
Dimensions: D64 x W51 x H41 cm
Materials: Boucle upholstery, Solid Oak
Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and col...
Category
2010s Polish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Oak
80s Postmodern Sottsass Style Memphis Rosewood Walnut Steel Accent Side Table
Located in Elloree, SC
A one-of-a-kind Memphis style accent side table in the manner of Ettore Sottsass. This is a piece—of rosewood, walnut, and steel—so well made that when looked upon it immediately cal...
Category
1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Steel
Pair of Pearl Necklace Pendant Lights, Ludovic Clément d’Armont
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of pearl necklace pendant lights - Ludovic Clément d’Armont
Every creation of Ludovic Clément d’Armont can be made to order in any requested dimensions. Please contact us for cu...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Object 048 Armchair by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 048 armchair by NG Design
Dimensions: D 100 x W 100 x H 78 cm
Materials: Boucle upholstery, solid oak
Also available: All of objects available in different materials and ...
Category
2010s Polish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Oak
Temple Dining Table by Emre Yunus Uzun
Located in Geneve, CH
Temple dining table by Emre Yunus Uzun
Dimensions: D 210 x W 90 x H 72 cm
Materials: Brushed oak wood.
Custom sizes and finishes available.
Temple Collection consists of three compl...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Oak
Liquid Ocean Wall Light by Atlier 001
Located in Geneve, CH
Liquid ocean wall light by Atlier 001
Dimensions: D40 x H8 cm
Materials: Hand-blown glass, Aged Brass.
Also Available: In different finishes.
All our lamps can be wired accord...
Category
2010s English Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Tazón Alto Galeana Bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne
Located in Geneve, CH
Tazón Alto Galeana bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne
Limited Edition of 10 + 1 AP
Dimensions: D 25 x W 25 x H 12.5 cm
Material: alabaster
Galeana is a collection of 6 objects designe...
Category
2010s Mexican Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Alabaster
Cataract Chair II by Raka Studio
By Raka Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Cataract chair II by Raka Studio
Dimensions: D 66 x W 89 x H 101.5 cm
Material: ash wood, velvet
A side/filler chair made in solid Ashwood by bending wood. Three of the legs hav...
Category
2010s Pakistani Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Ash
Stunning Custom Contemporary Abstract Modern Sideboard with Nathan Sing Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning custom contemporary modern sideboard with a two-toned abstract Southern desert landscape by Texas artist, Nathan Sing. This handmade sideboard was custom made in Houston, Te...
Category
2010s American Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Oak
101 Coffee Table by Raka Studio
By Raka Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
101 coffee table by Raka Studio
Dimensions: D 91.5 x W 122 x H 40.6 cm
Material: ash wood, glass
Raka is three brothers and their self-taught skill to design and to existence at...
Category
2010s Pakistani Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass, Ash
David Mazel Tov LifeGuard Chair, Handcrafted Maple Coastal Inspiration Seating
Located in Montreal, Quebec
This chair is named in honor of the famous lifeguard. David Mazel Tov is a design focused on perspectives and it allows two people to co-exist in a space with different points of vie...
Category
2010s Canadian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Rattan, Maple
Caterpillar, Floor Lamp Sculpture, Vincent Darré and Ludovic Clément d’Armont
Located in Geneve, CH
Caterpillar, floor lamp sculpture, Vincent Darré and Ludovic Clément d’Armont
Blown glass, textile, brass.
Dimensions: 22 x 105 x 30 cm.
Created in cooperation with designer Vin...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Sweet Thing I, Unique Bronze Sculptural Lamp, Signed by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique bronze sculpted table lamp - signed by William Guillon
Sweet Thing I
Dimensions: 39 x 17 x 17 cm
Weight: 2.5 kg.
Bronze
Unique Lamp Edition 1/1, signed
Bulb E27, 540 lum...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Grey Hand-Painted Brass Screen, Jan Garncarek
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand-painted cloth in a full brass frame. It is delicate and beautiful solution to divide the space. Each screen is different and unusual because of the painting created by the artis...
Category
2010s Polish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Blue Hand Painted Screen, Jan Garncarek
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand painted cloth in a full brass frame. It is delicate and beautiful solution to divide the space. Each screen is different and unusual because of the painting created by the artis...
Category
2010s Polish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Triangular Memphis Style Inspired Lacquered 'Boca Desk' by Leon Rosen for Pace
Located in PAU, FR
Triangular, almost sail-shaped desk in high gloss lacquered walnut with three drawers. The desk is mounted on cylindrical black lacquered legs, with one prominent tapered black lacqu...
Category
1980s American Vintage Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Hand Painted Screen, Jan Garncarek and Ewelina Makosa
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand painted cloth in a full brass frame. It is delicate and beautiful solution to divide the space. Each screen is different and unusual because of the painting created by the artis...
Category
2010s Polish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
KRS III, Table Lamp, Signed William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
KRS III, table lamp, signed William Guillon
Limited edition of 12
Signed and numbered
Solid aluminium, smoke nickel / copper finish.
Sand-blasted / Polished
Dimensions: 64 x 19 ...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
KRS II Table Lamp, Signed William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
KRS II table lamp, signed William Guillon
Limited edition of 12
Signed and numbered.
Solid aluminium, smoke nickel / copper finish.
Sand-blasted / Polished
Dimensions: 64 x 19 ...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
KRS I, Table Lamp, Signed William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
KRS I - table lamp - signed William Guillon
Limited edition of 12
Signed and numbered
Solid aluminium, smoke nickel / copper finish.
Sand-blasted / Polished
Dimensions: 89 x 23 x 23 ...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Ashes to Ashes B6, Bronze Chandelier Signed by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze ashes to ashes candleholder
Signed William Guillon
Limited edition of 99
Signed and numbered
Solid burnt oak / solid bronze
Dimensions: 44 x 9.5 x 9.5 cm (height with can...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Unique Cast Bronze Chandelier Hand-sculpted by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Cast Bronze Chandelier Sculpted by William Guillon
LV-426
Dimensions: H 135 x 55 x 55 cm
Materials: Cast bronze, Porcelain
Dimensions can be customized, please contact u...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Stunning Custom Abstract Postmodern LOVE Sideboard with Resin Pill Foot
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning custom abstract postmodern sideboard with the letters L-O-V-E spelled on the door fronts. This handmade sideboard was custom made in Houston, Texas in collaboration with con...
Category
2010s American Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Oak
Abet Laminati magnetic cubes
By Paul Kelley
Located in Bexleyheath, GB
Following on from the success of my copper cubes of recent years I am pleased to start a new collaboration with Abet Laminati on this set of 20 magnetic coloured cubes.
Influenced b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Magnets
6 Cognac Leather Ed Archer Chairs by Philippe Starck for Driade / Aleph
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
The Ed Archer dining chair was designed by Philippe Starck in 1986 for Driade / Aleph. The cognac leather “full dress”, that reaches the floor, strongly opposes to the only polished ...
Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Kaluva Coffee Table by Esvee Atelier
By Esvee
Located in Geneve, CH
Kaluva coffee table by Esvee Atelier
Dimensions: D 90 x W 156 x H 50 cm
Materials: Solid teak wood, solid brass.
Kaluva is a coffee table design inspired by the floating state o...
Category
2010s Indian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Start Trek TNG Ten Forward Suspension Chairs Set by Paul Boulva for Artopex
Located in Chattanooga, TN
We can neither confirm nor deny that these Paul Boulva suspension chairs have seen screen time on Start Trek: The Next Generation, but the teal color resemblance to the Ten Forward c...
Category
1980s Canadian Vintage Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Faux Leather
Vintage Postmodern Dakota Jackson Vik, Ter 1 Orange Dining Chairs Set of 8
Located in Topeka, KS
Awesome vintage Postmodern Dakota Jackson Vik–Ter 1 dining chairs comprised of black iron frames, orange molded plywood seat and backs, and maple veneer. Beautiful condition, keeping...
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Iron
Contemporary Kilim Rapallo Designed by Piotr Niklas / Hand-Woven
Located in WARSZAWA, 14
The RAPALLO kilim opens a series inspired by the Memphis Milano aesthetic, which defined the colorful design style of the 1980s and 90s. The designer. Piotr Niklas, in his own unique...
Category
2010s Polish Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Wool
Octagonal Tessellated Mactan Stone Fossil Mirror, Attributed to Maitland Smith
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Octagonal Tessellated Mactan Stone Fossil Mirror, Attributed to Maitland Smith
Mactan stone is a fossilized stone quarried off the islands of the Philippines. It is quarried, cut, p...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Stone, Brass
Post Modern Italian Dining Chairs, Set of 6
Located in Raleigh, NC
A minimal Postmodern design to these dining chairs. Made in Italy circa 1970s. All in good condition with minimal loss to the chrome in places. These offer a clean look with a wonder...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Unidentified Walnut Dining Table
Located in El Paso, TX
Solid walnut circular dining table with piramid circular pedestal.
Natural walnut finish with a coat of clear lacquer for protection.
Category
2010s Mexican Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Tavolino2 Smoky Grey Side Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Tavolino2 Smoky Grey Side Table by Pulpo
Dimensions: D135.5 x W59.5 x H40 cm
Materials: Glass, aluminium
All color combinations available on request. Please contact us.
Clear lines...
Category
2010s German Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Stunning Custom Contemporary Modern Sideboard with David Hardaker Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning custom contemporary modern sideboard with colorful abstract figurative painting. This handmade sideboard was custom made in Houston, Texas in collaboration with artist David...
Category
2010s American Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Oak
Postmodern Vintage Shogun Black White Table Lamp Mario Botta Artemide 1986 Italy
By Mario Botta
Located in Vienna, AT
Postmodern authentic vintage table lamp from metal in black white bicolor color by Mario Botta for Artemide 1986, Italy.
An iconic and timeless table lamp with personality in black ...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal
Eberhard Bank Carving, Sculpture of Two Dolomite Seals, on Black Obsidian Base
By Eberhard Bank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This an amazing carving by the German certified artist Eberhard Bank. This sculpture is of two seals in white dolomite on snowflake black obsidian , seals are marked with monogram EB...
Category
20th Century German Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Stone
Cream Morandi Vase by Adèle Clèves
Located in Geneve, CH
Cream Morandi vase by Adèle Clèves
Dimensions: D 17 x W 17 x H 31 cm
Materials: Ceramic.
Adèle Clèves was born in Paris in 1989, after studying in the Beaux Arts and Archeology ...
Category
2010s French Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Minimalist Outdoor Chair in Stainless Steel "Yuu" by Samuel Lamas
By Samuel Lamas
Located in Brasilia, DF
This award winning timeless outdoor seating in stainless steel and colored nautical ropes is designed with in architectonic and geometric reasoning. Framed in a square mesh, the sha...
Category
2010s Brazilian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Stainless Steel
Minimalist Outdoor Chair in Stainless Steel "Haruka" by Samuel Lamas
By Samuel Lamas
Located in Brasilia, DF
This award-winning timeless outdoor seating in stainless steel is designed with in architectonic and geometric reasoning. Framed in a square mesh, the shape and continuity of structu...
Category
2010s Brazilian Post-Modern Furniture
Materials
Stainless Steel
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This Rare Set of 100 Alessi Vases Includes Designs by Scores of International Artists
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.
29 Incredible Pools
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool, even if you don't particularly care for swimming. So go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
Remembering Alessandro Mendini, a Towering Figure in Italian Design
Aided by photos taken of the maestro in his Milan studio, we honor the influential design talent who died last month at 87.
This Hotshot Duo Is the Design World’s Next Big Thing
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