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.
Vico Magistretti for De Padova 'Vidun' Dining Table with Colorful Geometric Base
By Vico Magistretti, DePadova 1
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vico Magistretti for De Padova, 'Vidun' round dining table, stained beech, glass, Italy, 1986 Although the object appears immediately playful because of its vivid coloration and exp...
Glass, Beech
Giuseppe Rivadossi Round Dining Table in Oak 130cm/51in
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi, dining table, oak, steel, Italy, 1970s Giuseppe Rivadossi’s mastery of material and construction is beautifully expressed in this dining table. Architecturally c...
Steel
Grand Monumental Modernist Dining Table in Pine 1970s 400cm/157in
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Large dining or multifunctional table, pine, Europe, 1970s An exceptionally large table (400cm/157in) with monumental proportions. The design of this table is balanced by a beautifu...
Pine
Luciano Frigerio 'Luky' Dining Table in Hammered Brass and Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luciano Frigerio 'Luky' dining table, glass, brass, Italy, 1980s A striking "Luky" dining table by renowned Italian designer Luciano Frigerio, embodying the sculptural elegance and...
Brass
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Trestle Dining Table in Oak
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, oak, Italy, 1970s A masterful expression of Italian craftsmanship, this exceptional oak dining table was designed by Giuseppe Rivadossi an...
Oak
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Dining Set in Carved Pine
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, unique set of seven dining armchairs with table, solid pine, Italy, 1970s This unique dining ensemble is among the finest works we have en...
Pine
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Trestle Dining Table in Chestnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi dining table, chestnut, Italy, 1970s A striking dining table handcrafted by Giuseppe Rivadossi in solid chestnut wood. Created in Italy dur...
Chestnut
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia 'Tobio' Dining Table in Red Travertine
By B&B Italia, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, 'Tobio' dining table, leather, red travertine, Italy, design 1974 Gorgeous dining table designed by the iconic duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa....
Travertine
Vintage German Postmodern Profilsystem Series Desk or Dining Table, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Simple dining or desk from the profile system collection from Flötotto. A very simple and functional design. The table comes from the profile system collection, which is known from ...
Metal
Gianfranco Fini for Poltronova 'Regolo' Square Dining Table in Pine and Glass
By Poltronova
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianfranco Fini for Poltronova, 'Regolo' dining table, pine, glass, Italy, 1975 This dining table by Gianfranco Fini for Poltronova, introduced in in 1975, is a truly special piece ...
Glass, Pine
Postmodern Italian Oak Dining Table, Sottsass Inspired, Fat Cylindrical Legs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian oak dining table embodies the playful spirit of Postmodern design with exaggerated proportions inspired by Ettore Sottsass and the Mem...
Oak
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
Dining Table in the Form of a Draped Cloth by Marzio Cecchi, Italy, mid-1970s
Located in New York, NY
A rare sculptural dining table by Italian architect Marzio Cecchi (Capalle, Florence, 1940 – New York, 1990), executed in the mid-1970s as a unique private commission. Accompanied by...
Cotton, Resin
Pierre Chapo 'Sfax' T21E Dining Table in Solid Elm 160cm/62.99in.
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, 'Sfax' dining table, model 'T21E', elm, France, 1970s This table is one of the early editions designed by Pierre Chapo, known for his hallmark use of solid elmwood and...
Elm
Important round table made of onyx and black Marquina marble with a sun-shaped inlay
Located in NAPOLI, NP
A notable Italian table from the 1980s, crafted from natural onyx and Nero Marquina marble, featuring a large, inlaid circular top and a striking central pedestal base. The countert...
Onyx
Italian Post-Modern Polished Beige or Cream Marble Pedestal Dining Table C.I.M
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Made in Italy in the late 1970s or early 1980s, a simple design, but stunning in its large scale, warmth and functionality, a large pedestal base, cream or beige, marble dining table...
Marble
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti 'Paracarro' Dining Table in Glass and Mosaic
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, 'Paracarro' dining table, glass, concrete, chrome-plated steel, mosaic, Italy, 1970 This sculptural dining table is designed by Giovanni Offredi for S...
Concrete, Steel, Chrome
Vico Magistretti for De Padova 'Vidun' Dining Table with Colorful Geometric Base
By DePadova 1, Vico Magistretti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vico Magistretti for De Padova, 'Vidun' dining table, stained beech, glass, Italy, 1986 Although the object appears immediately playful because of its vivid coloration and exposed m...
Glass, Beech
1970s Italian Travertine Dining, Conference Table, Desk, Rectangle Post-Modern
By Stone International, Willy Rizzo
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Simple is so often better! This elegant rectangular dining table shows us that. Filled and polished travertine-marble, with just the right amount of attractive natural grain. And a b...
Travertine, Marble
Brueton Chrome and Glass Cylindrical Pedestal Dining Table, 1980
By Brueton
Located in Chicago, IL
Brueton Chrome and Glass Cylindrical Pedestal Dining Table, 1980’s. Polished chrome base. Measures glass 44” diameter 25.25” tall
Chrome
Vintage 1980s Postmodern Nero Marquina Marble Dining Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Absolutely stunning veining on this black marble dining table. Even the base has intricate veining on all four sides, it’s hard to pick a favorite angle. We also had the lacquer pro...
Marble
1980s Italian Fior Di Pesco Marble Postmodern Vintage Dining Table
Located in Chicago, IL
A classical marble with a muted, tonal palette of soft grey with tints of rose and teal, strongly accented by stunning veins in pearl white, blush, raisin, and the rich peach that gi...
Marble
Zero Rectangular Dining Table in Epoxy Resin & Crystal Clear Glass by WeDO
Located in Geneve, CH
Zero Rectangular Dining Table in Epoxy Resin & Crystal Clear Glass by WeDO Dimensions: D 100 x W 210 x H 75 cm. Materials: Epoxy resin, glass, and paint. Customizations are availab...
Epoxy Resin, Glass, Paint
Pierre Chapo 'T35C' Aban Table in Elm
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Chapo, dining table, model 'Aban T35C', solid elm, France, 1970s This table is one of the early editions designed by Pierre Chapo, known for his hallmark use of solid elmwood...
Elm
Artedi Post Modern Marble Glass Dining Table
By Artedi
Located in Sheffield, MA
Made in Italy, this 20th century glass, marble and brass accented dining table by noted Italian furniture maker, Artedi, makes a statement in ...
Marble, Brass
Large Italian Verde Marble Stone Rectangular Pedestal Dining Table
Located in Elkton, MD
Postmodern Italian dining table in verde marble, late 20th century. Rectangular slab top in richly veined marble, showing deep green tones with white veining and natural burgundy in...
Marble
$2,742Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern 80s Milo Baughman Chrome + Glass Extendable Dining Table / Desk table
Located in Basel, BS
Incredible postmodern extendable smoked glass and chrome dining table, also perfect for use as a desk table. Excellent size for any space, can form into a square when the leaves are...
Chrome
$2,240Sale Price / item|20% Off
Post Modern Luna Dining Table, Oval Dining Table For 6 People
Located in İnegöl, TR
Natural wood veneered on MDF. Dimensions: Lenght: 72" Width: 36" Height: 29" Custom colours are available!
Other
1980s Maitland Smith Tessellated Stone Dining Table
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Indulge in the timeless elegance of this exquisite dining table, dating back to the 1980s. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this piece showcases a stunning hand crafted finish, ensuring a rich, lustrous appearance that highlights its intricate design. This tessellated Mactan stone table...
Cast Stone
$8,880Sale Price|40% Off
SuperCalif Crystal Dining Table by Luigi Massoni for Galotti & Radice, 1970s
By Galotti & Radice, Luigi Massoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
SuperCalif Crystal Dining Table by Luigi Massoni for Galotti & Radice, 1970s. Oval Glass Top Dining Table, on four fluted glass L-shaped supports. Provenance: New York City Coll...
Glass
1980s Maitland Smith Mactan Tessellated Stone Brass Dining Table
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Indulge in the timeless elegance of this exquisite Sculptural Maitland Smith Style, Tessellated Mactan Stone Brass & Beveled Glass Dining Table. Dating back to the 1980s.. Crafted wi...
Stone, Brass
Horn Collection Post-Modern Dining Table in Red 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
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Giovanni Offredi Steel and Concrete Dining or Center Table for Saporiti
Located in Miami, FL
Round glass top dining or center table with concrete base and postmodern designed steel supports by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Itália, 1980s. The steel beams supporting the glass...
Concrete, Steel
1990's Postmodern Italian Frosted Glass Dining Table by Calligaris
By Calligaris, Philippe Starck, Ello Furniture
Located in Burbank, CA
Vintage 1990's dining table for sale. It was manufactured by Calligaris, and was made in Italy. It's in excellent condition, and has a solid wood frame with frosted glass inserts. Th...
Glass, Wood
$2,996Sale Price|25% Off
Postmodern Dining Table Geometrical Base Round & Glass Top Style Memphis Group
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Postmodern dining table w/geometrical pedestal base & scalloped edge glass top in the style of the Memphis Group. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this...
Metal
Jan Vlug Rare Dining Table in Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jan Vlug, dining table, walnut, metal, brass, Belgium, 1970s Glorious and rare dining table with characteristic and stunning executed tabletop. The table is made by Belgian designer...
Metal
Gaetano Pesce, Nobody's Perfect Zerodesegno Dining Table, Multicolor Resin
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare and exceptional Gaetano Pesce Nobody's Perfect Zerodesegno dining table. Tubular resin legs support a sturdy resin grid top with a resin "tab...
Resin
Dining table Filicudi by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta - 1990s
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Filicudi dining table designed by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta in the 1990s. This magnificent round pearwood table features a stunning patterned laminate tabletop. The combination of...
Wood
Contemporary Riviera Bar Chair in Lacquered Ivory metal for Outdoors
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Contemporary Riviera Day Bed in Earth lacquered metal for Outdoors
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
1980s Sculptural Helix Spiral Swivel Top Glass Dining Table
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, dining table you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best, it being a most spectacular and beautifully-presented table. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The beautiful table is a statement piece and packed with personality!! In the style of Danny Lane. The vintage helix spiral...
Stainless Steel
Midcentury Italian Post Modern Travertine Marble Rectangular Dining Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A simple modern travertine marble dining table circa 1980s. It features solid slab Travertine construction with thick apron edge. Gorgeous highly grained Italian travertine. Clean re...
Travertine
Rare Italian Oval Dining Table Attributed to Paolo Portoghesi
Located in Chicago, IL
This monumental Italian oval dining table, attributed to Paolo Portoghesi, is the kind of piece designers reach for when a room needs a true anchor—something that defines the space r...
Ebony, Mahogany
Cicla Unique Dining Table in Solid Oak Wood by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Cicla Unique Dining Table in Solid Oak Wood by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 80 x W 120 x H 72 cm. Materials: Solid oak wood. Available in different finishes and materia...
Oak
Contemporary Riviera Armchair in lacquered Salmon metal for Outdoors
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
1980s Sculptural DIA Dining Circular Oval Glass Table and 8 Chairs, Set of 9
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1980s dining set. The ultra rare set exudes an air of luxury and refinement. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The lu...
Steel
Contemporary Riviera Bar Chair in Lacquered Mint metal for Outdoors
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Italian Dining Table in Oak with Aluminum Inlays 250cm/98.43in.
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining table, oak, aluminum, Italy, 1980s This Italian table, dating from the 1980s, is made in oak and has a long rectangular top with softly rounded edges. Narrow aluminium secti...
Aluminum
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
Superb Post modern gloss lacquer tan round oval dining table with 1 leaf
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Post modern gloss lacquer tan round dining table with 1 leaf. Taupe gloss Lacquered expanding oval dining table with one leaf that seats 4-6 chairs. Has curved popsicle shaped legs. ...
Wood, Lacquer
Lorenzo Burchiellaro Dining Table in Copper
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lorenzo Burchiellaro, dining table, copper, wood, Italy, 1960s This dining table, crafted in the 1960s by Italian designer and sculptor Lorenzo Burchiellaro (1933-2017), stands as a...
Copper
1970s Italian Postmodern Rosso Levanto Marble Dining Table
Located in North Hollywood, CA
An exceptional 1970s Italian Postmodern dining table crafted entirely from richly veined Rosso Levanto marble. This monumental piece showcases the bold sculptural presence and refine...
Marble
$3,022 / item
Organic Modern Center Table Catus in Green Guatemala
Located in Lisbon, PT
Catus center table is unique in its conception with Organic Modern inspiration. Natural Stone is unrepeatable in its individuality, this way each Catus table is unique featuring the ...
Travertine, Marble, Metal
Vittorio Livi for FIAM Italy Curved Glass Waterfall Table
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Vintage Glass Coffee Tables A refined and highly collectible curved-glass waterfall table by Vittorio Livi for FIAM Italy, crafted in the 1980s using FIAM’s pioneering glass...
Glass
Organic Modern Side Table Catus in Terrazzo Sage Marble
Located in Lisbon, PT
Open since 1997 and based in Lisbon, Portugal, a country with a long crafts tradition, Mambo Unlimited Ideas' design team researches for innovation and creativity developments around...
Travertine, Marble, Metal
Contemporary Riviera Day Bed in Ivory lacquered metal for Outdoors
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
Folio Table XL by De Castelli, Aluminium, Post-Modern Design, Italy
Located in Geneve, CH
Folio Table XL in Aluminium by De Castelli. Dimensions: W 398 x D 125 x H 75 cm. Materials: Aluminium. Design by Draw Studio. The Folio Table XL is an architectural statement piece ...
Metal, Aluminum
Postmodern Vintage Marble Dining Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Stunning marble dining table with channel bases. This table is so solid and can be used as table for 6 or maybe a desk? The perfect blend of neutrals - ivory gray brown.
Marble
Contemporary Riviera Chair in Lacquered Salmon metal for Outdoors
Located in Lisbon, PT
Our newly unveiled collection is meticulously handcrafted in Portugal. Departing from conventional norms, we embrace a palette of unconventional materials, including different marble...
Metal
1980s Sculptural Clover Artistic Pedestal Dining Table
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, rare, hand sculpted and painted dining or versatile table you could hope to find. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. J...
Glass, Plaster, Wood
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Dining Table in Oak
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, dining table, oak, Italy, 1970s Giuseppe Rivadossi once again proves his great eye for materialization and technicality this table is exem...
Oak