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.
Green Marble Postmodern Center Table with Teal Steel Base
By Maison Leleu, René Herbst, Warren McArthur, (After) Gio Ponti, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Round Top, TX
Marble and Welded Steel Center Table A teal-painted welded steel base in a French Industrial Modernist style, topped with a green marble round top. The height is a few inches talle...
Marble, Steel
Jeanne Pierre Picheny inspired Pop Art Blue Jeans Coffee Table, France 1980s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a Jeanne Pierre Picheny inspired Pop Art Table, featuring a female shaped body in Blue Jeans. The Coffee Table is done in resin with the glass top. Made...
Glass, Resin
"Vlieger" or "Kite" Table in Red Granite by Louk Straver for Castelijn
By Castelijn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Asymmetric, Post Modern, "Vlieger" or "Kite" table, designed by Louk Staver for Castelijn, 1980's. Louk Straver, a name synonymous with innovation, created the Kite Table as a tribut...
Granite
Italian Modern Bronze Octopus Center Table
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Bronze Octopus Center Table. This stunning Italian sculptural bronze table in the shape of an octopus is expertly detailed and comes with a 59 inch glass top. This v...
Bronze
Anthony Redmile Bespoke Octagonal Pedestal Table, London 1970s
Located in Houston, TX
1970s Octagonal pedestal table produced by the London workshop of Anthony Redmile. The top is a hand-painted faux-malachite surface and edged with c...
Malachite, Metal
$13,294 / item
Luca Coffee Table Large by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Luca coffee table large by Umberto Bellardi Ricci Dimensions: D 55” x W 34” x H 13.5 in Materials: Travertine, bronze legs. Umberto Bellardi Ricci i...
Travertine, Bronze
$39,363 / item
Helle Hardwood Dual Base Dining Table by Bowen Liu
Located in Geneve, CH
Helle Hardwood Dual Base Dining Table by Bowen Liu Dimensions: D 40 x W 120 x H 30 cm Materials: Hardwood, White Oak, Stainless Steel Based in, produced and shipped from the US. Th...
Stainless Steel, Other
$14,400Sale Price|20% Off
Karl Springer Goatskin Dining Table With Custom Chrome Drum Base
Located in Culver City, CA
This dining table is simply stunning. A goatskin dining table designed by Karl Springer from the 1980s features a creamy goatskin top with hides that are both tan and nude in color with slight color variations in the hides that only come with real goatskin pieces. This large goatskin top rests on a circular chrome drum base that is a custom base for the table. This stunning table came out of a prominent home in Century City and the provenance is available upon request. The dining table top still has the original Karl Springer paper label which was included in the original wrapping of the piece / order tag, which has been affixed to the bottom by the original owner for provenance. This wrapping tag has significantly faded with time, but you can still make out the name Karl Springer at the top (especially if you snap a photo and bump up the contrast). This dining table, as photographed, looks incredible with the Guido Faleschini for Pace Collection dining chairs -- which is the exact combination the family had been using since the 1980's. With the striking chrome base, this dining table would look great with Milo Baughman thinline...
Chrome
$6,517 / item
Green High Table by Studio Christinekalia
Located in Geneve, CH
Green high table by Studio Christinekalia Dimensions: W 110 x D 210 x H 75 cm. Materials: Wood, mappa burl veneer, solid brass. This dining piece is a bold chromatic statement ...
Brass
Contemporary High Polished Bronze Coffee Table by Colo Studio, France
By Art Decor
Located in London, GB
Bonze coffee table 'Radiant' by Colo studio, 2022 Material: Bronze, golden polish Dimensions: H 33 x 119 x 72 cm Year: 2022 Limited and numbered edition of 8 pieces + 4 AP, handmade...
Bronze
Carlo Scarpa "Argo" Oval Table for Simon Gavina, 1975
By Simon Furniture, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa "Argo" oval table for Simon Gavina, Roman travertine, Italy, 1975. The "Argo" travertine console-table is part of the 'Ultrarazionale' ...
Travertine
MEMPHIS "KYOTO" Terrazzo End Table(s) / Shiro Kuramata (Japan)
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Reminds you of that old-fashioned candy called "Roman Nougat", doesn't it? The white concrete base is the nougat; the colored random glass fragments are the jellies of different fla...
Concrete
$24,717 / item
Helle Hardwood Dining Table by Bowen Liu
Located in Geneve, CH
Helle Hardwood Dining Table by Bowen Liu Dimensions: D 40 x W 72 x H 30 cm Materials: Hardwood, White Oak, Stainless Steel Based in, produced and shipped from the US. The award-wi...
Other, Stainless Steel
$2,200
Blocks Coffee Table
Located in Mérida, MX
The Blocks coffee table was inspired by the construction context in Mexico, a reinterpretation of an authentic multitask table by mexican workers: cast blocks and a multi-material top. These pieces are hand carved by artisans from the region in mexican stones...
Stone
Mid Century Italian Post Modern Travertine Marble Dining Table or Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A beautiful dining table or center table from Italy circa 1980's. The table features a travertine slab X-base with a thick clear glass top.
Travertine
$3,150Sale Price|30% Off
Industrial Walnut and Blackened Steel Table
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: Bridge table A refined, chamfered walnut top rests upon a robust steel architectural foundation, creating a bridge like expression of structure and span. Dimensio...
Steel
Custom Listing / Set of 2 Andrea and Luca Coffee Table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Andrea and Luca coffee table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci Dimensions: Andrea: D 94 x W 71 x H 28 cm. Luca: D 140 x W 86.5 x H 32 cm. Materials: Travertine, bronze legs. Umbert...
Travertine, Bronze
Helle Cast Glass Fire Polished Hand Sanded Coffee Table by Bowen Liu
Located in Geneve, CH
Helle Cast Glass Fire Polished Hand Sanded Coffee Table by Bowen Liu Limited Edition of 8 + 1 prototype + 2 A.P. Dimensions: D 18 x W 56 x x H 13 cm Materials: Cast Glass Based in,...
Other
$10,701 / item
Small Andrea Nesting Table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Andrea Nesting table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci. Dimensions: D 74 x W 56 x H 18 cm. Materials: Travertine, bronze legs. Umberto Bellardi Ricci is an Italian sculptor and ar...
Travertine, Bronze
Contemporary Polished Bronze Round Coffee Table by Colo Studio, France
By Art Decor
Located in London, GB
Bonze Round Coffee Table by Colo Studio Limited and numbered edition of 8 pieces + 4 AP, handmade in France. Bespoke dimensions and patinas upon request. Material: Bronze, golden p...
Bronze
Custom Italian Travertine Coffee Table, Marble Center Table Table, Side Table
Located in İnegöl, TR
POST MODERN TRAVERTINE MARBLE COFFEE TABLE Type of Marble: Travertine Dimensions: 52" x 35 x 16" Leg Model: Travertine Customizable: Available! Production Time: 3-4 Weeks Shipping C...
Travertine, Marble
Parchment coffee table pedestal by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in Milano, IT
Grey-green parchment oval and geometric living room table by Aldo Tura - 1970s Italian design . A masterpiece of elegance and craftsmanship, this geometrically shaped living room tab...
Wood, Parchment Paper, Glass
Attila Coffee or Low Centre Table by Jean-Michel Wilmotte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Attila table by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Interesting proportions. Tall coffee table or low centre table. Referenced and documented.
Steel
$4,798 / item
Ibiza Dining Metal Table by Laurence Du Tilly
Located in Geneve, CH
Ibiza Dining Metal Table by Laurence Du Tilly Dimensions: D 120 x H 75 cm Materials: Metal Also available in two hundred different colors from the RAL color chart, please contact us...
Metal, Other
Contemporary Polished Bronze Circular Coffee Table by Colo Studio, France
By Art Decor
Located in London, GB
Bonze Round Coffee Table by Colo Studio Limited and numbered edition of 8 pieces + 4 AP, handmade in France. Bespoke dimensions and patinas upon request. Material: Bronze, golden p...
Bronze
Set of 2 Andrea and Luca Coffee Table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Andrea and Luca coffee table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci Dimensions: Andrea: D 94 x W 71 x H 28 cm. Luca: D 140 x W 86.5 x H 34.29 cm. Materials: Travertine, bronze legs. Umb...
Travertine, Bronze
Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper White Carrara Marble Eros Triangle Center Table
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Skipper
Located in Almelo, NL
Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper White Carrara Marble "Eros" Triangle Centre Table 1970 This is a rare, iconic triangle table designed by Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper in the 1970s. ...
Carrara Marble
Italian Modern Stepped Travertine Table Base-Pedestal After Angelo Mangiarotti
By Mario Bellini, Angelo Mangiarotti, Up & Up
Located in Houston, TX
Italian modern stepped Travertine pedestal or table base after Angelo Mangiarotti. Beautiful Italian Angelo Mangiarotti style travertine pedestal, ...
Travertine
Attila Coffee or Low Centre Table by Jean-Michel Wilmotte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Attila table by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Interesting proportions. Tall coffee table or low centre table. Referenced and documented.
Steel
Orchedia Coffee Table Mazzei Massimo Molozzi 80s Italian
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Orchedia coffee table Designed by Massimo Morozzi for Mazzei. Glitter green and silver. Repainted and mint condition. Measures: Table height 36cm/14.2".
Wood
$2,983 / item
Luna 130 Metal Console Table by Laurence Du Tilly
Located in Geneve, CH
Luna 130 Metal Console Table by Laurence Du Tilly Dimensions: D 130 x W 37 x H 85 cm Materials: Metal Also available in two hundred different colors from the RAL color chart, please...
Metal, Other
Post Modern Italian Marble Center Table
By Up & Up, Mario Bellini, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Houston, TX
Post Modern Italian Marble Center Table. This large Italian Mario Bellini style (51 inch) marble table can be used as a center table or din...
Marble
Bohemian Low Basse Oval Metal Table by Laurence Du Tilly
Located in Geneve, CH
Bohemian Low Basse Oval Metal Table by Laurence Du Tilly Dimensions: D 160x80 x H 35 cm Materials: Metal Also available in two hundred different colors from the RAL color chart, ple...
Metal, Other
21st Century Sculptural Barok Center Table, Hand Hammered Brass by Mavo Atelier
By Mavo Atelier
Located in Trofa, PT
The Barok Coffee Tables bring a sculptural presence to contemporary interiors. Designed as a pair, their curved, organic lines create a dialogue between strength and softness — a stu...
Brass
$3,900Sale Price|54% Off
Sunburst Mushroom Table in Green and Blue, Louis Durot, 1990's
By Louis Durot
Located in Culver City, CA
This table is absolutely stunning! A mushroom table, hand crafted by pop artist Louis Durot. This post modern piece of art came from the personal collection of Gisele Person who was his former sales and Marketing director...
Lacquer
$6,078 / item
M Console Table by Goons
Located in Geneve, CH
M console table by Goons. Dimensions: W 122 x D 270 x H 74 cm. Materials: Wood. Dimensions can be adjusted +/- 10 cm. Goons is located in Paris, France. All of their designs...
Wood
$2,512 / item
Luna 110 Metal Console Table by Laurence Du Tilly
Located in Geneve, CH
Luna 110 Metal Console Table by Laurence Du Tilly Dimensions: D 110 x W 37 x H 85 cm Materials: Metal Also available in two hundred different colors from the RAL color chart, please...
Metal, Other
$10,854 / item
Pica Table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Pica table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci Dimensions: D 30" x W 72" x H 29 in Materials: aluminium mill finish, glass tabletop (grey glass or bron...
Aluminum
Sirocco Polished Marble Center Table
Located in Houston, TX
Sirocco marble center table.
Marble
$10,631 / item
Petra Centrer Table by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Petra Centrer Table by Madheke Dimensions: D 157.4 x W 90 x H 40 cm. Materials: leather, brass. Finish options: Leather Naturalle Whisky, Veneer New Line 2020.02 & Medium Brushed An...
Leather
$11,441 / item
Boho Oval Dining Metal Table by Laurence Du Tilly
Located in Geneve, CH
Boho Oval Dining Metal Table by Laurence Du Tilly Dimensions: D 240x120 x H 75 cm Materials: Metal Also available in two hundred different colors from the RAL color chart, please co...
Metal, Other
Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper White Carrara Marble "Eros" Round Center Table
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Skipper
Located in Almelo, NL
Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper White Carrara Marble "Eros" Round Centre Table 1970 This round table is an iconic piece designed by Angelo Mangiarotti for skipper in the 1970s. The '...
Carrara Marble
Tangram modular table, Massimo Morozzi, Cassina, 1988
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Tangram Table, designed by Massimo Morozzi for Cassina in the 1980s, is an iconic example of innovative design. This unique table is composed of four modules that can be configur...
Wood
$10,792 / item
Luca Coffee Table Small by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Luca coffee table small by Umberto Bellardi Ricci Dimensions: W 71.1 x D 109.24 x H 22.9 cm Materials: Travertine, bronze legs. Umberto Bellardi...
Travertine, Bronze
$31,013 / item
Ovoid Table by Cal Summers
By Cal Summers
Located in Geneve, CH
Ovoid Table by Cal Summers Dimension: W 140 x D 113 x H 23 cm Materials: Patinated Steel. Cal Summers is a British designer who makes bespoke handmade fu...
Steel
Rosso Lepanto Contemporary Marble Square Table M/S 150 by Angelo Alinea
Located in Geneve, CH
Rosso Lepanto Contemporary Marble Square Table M/S 150 by Angelo Alinea Dimensions: D 150 H 75 cm Materials: Marble Angelo is the essence of a square table in natural stone, a sculp...
Marble
$25,844 / item
Coffee Table by Marmi Serafini
Located in Geneve, CH
Coffee Table by Marmi Serafini Designed by Arthur Vallin Dimensions: D 60 x W 120 x H 30 cm Materials: Brass, Marble Range 10 Available in other marbles and metals. Marmi Serafini is...
Marble, Brass
$3,348Sale Price|25% Off
Light blue and purple and vintage 1980s Italian postmodern coffee table
By Saporiti
Located in Milano, MI
Gorgeous coffee table produced in the 1980s by Saporiti Italia. Irregularly shaped rounded top lacquered navy green, with purple lacquered base and supporting feet in light blue embo...
Metal
$6,202 / item
Pica Sola Table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Pica sola table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci Dimensions: D 36" x W 36" x H 29 in. Materials: aluminum mill finish, glass table top (grey glass or bronze glass optional) Dimensions c...
Aluminum
Set of 3 Divergente Textured Black Marble Table with Split Top by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Divergente tables by Andres Monnier One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 100 x D 160 x H 70 cm / W 90 x D 80 x H 70 cm Materials: black marble. 1 x Divergente Dos table 2 x Diverge...
Marble
$3,582 / item
Luna 150 Metal Console Table by Laurence Du Tilly
Located in Geneve, CH
Luna 150 Metal Console Table by Laurence Du Tilly Dimensions: D 150 x W 37 x H 85 cm Materials: Metal Also available in two hundred different colors from the RAL color chart, please...
Metal, Other
$4,692 / item
Cure 06 Low Table by Sundo Yoon
Located in Geneve, CH
Cure 06 low table by Sundo Yoon Dimensions: D 68 x W 95 x H 33 cm Materials: Scratch and hand brushed on Aluminum. Cure Series - Sundo Yoon 'The Cure ...
Aluminum
Italian Modern Astrolabio Center Table By Oscar Tusquets
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Center Table By Oscar Tusquets. We offer this iconic Italian modern Oscar Tusquets Astrolabio for Aleph-Driade Center Table or dining table. This table was designed by...
Bronze
Heavy Water Gueridon in Welded Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor
Located in Geneve, CH
Heavy Water Gueridon in Welded Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel by Julian Mayor Limited Edition of 8 + 4AP. Dimensions: D 100 x W 100 x H 89 cm. Materials: Mirror-polished stainless ...
Stainless Steel
$1,113 / item
Large Marble Table by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Marble Table by Deetee Home Dimensions: D 30.48 x H 55.88 cm Materials: Stoneware To craft timeless, luxury furniture and objects that celebrates India’s rich artisanal herita...
Stoneware
$10,149 / item
Balance Round Table by Dovain Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Balance round table by Dovain Studio Dimensions: H 79 x Ø 120 cm Materials: Estremoz white marble Dovain Studio Creative direction by Sergio Prieto, a Spanish artist-designer w...
Marble
Deposit 50% / Set of 2 Andrea and Luca Coffee Table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Andrea and Luca coffee table by Umberto Bellardi Ricci Dimensions: Andrea: D 94 x W 71 x H 28 cm. Luca: D 140 x W 86.5 x H 32 cm. Materials: Travertine, bronze legs. Umbert...
Travertine, Bronze
$7,365 / item
Small Ita Center Table by Estudio Prosa
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Ita Center Table by Estudio Prosa Dimensions: W 80 x D 60 x H 26 cm Materials: Wood. Available in Cedro Arana, Jequitiba, Muiracatiara, or Cumaru wood options. Please contact ...
Wood
$7,917 / item
Toy Coffee Table by Panorammma
Located in Geneve, CH
Toy Coffee Table by Panorammma Dimensions: ⌀ 70 x H 40 cm Materials: Blue Calacite, Pink and Black Monterrey Marble, Caramel and Green Onyx Rounded pillars of blue calcite, pink ma...
Marble, Onyx, Other
$12,017 / item
Sevva Round Table by Guillaume Alan
Located in Geneve, CH
Satin round table by Guillaume Alan Dimensions: D100 x W100 cm x H100 cm Materials: ash-wood, brushed finish Also available in different colours. French interior design has ...
Ash