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.
Giuseppe Rivadossi Round Dining Table in Oak 150cm/58.86in.
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi, dining table, oak, Italy, 1970s Giuseppe Rivadossi’s mastery of material and construction is beautifully expressed in this dining table. Architecturally composed...
Oak
Postmodern “Grid” Aluminum & Glass Dining Table by Robert Josten
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition, New Glass Top Materials: Cast Aluminum, Black-Painted Steel, New Glass Top This striking 1970s dining table by Robert Josten features a highly...
Aluminum, Steel
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Trestle Dining Table in Oak
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe 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
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
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
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Dining Set in Carved Pine
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe 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
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
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
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
A Spectacular RADICAL POST-MODERN Office or Dining TABLE, France 1980
Located in PARIS, FR
A spectacular dinner or conference table with 3 extensions; circular without extensions, organic "Forme Libre" with extensions, Post-Modern, Memphis, Constructivist, with a tripod ba...
Wood
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
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia 'Tobio' Dining Table in Red Travertine
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B Italia
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
Mario Bellini Round 'Il Colonnato' Table in Massive Red Persian Travertine 150cm
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, 'Il Colonnato' center or dining table, massive red Persian travertine, Italy, 1977 Designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina in 1977, Il Colonnato is a striki...
Travertine
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
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
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
$1,250Sale Price|50% Off
Post modern round maple butcher block dining table on chrome base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Post modern round maple butcher block dining table on chrome base. Has a 1.75" thick solid maple butcher block round table top. Chrome base is in excellent condition with 4 adjustabl...
Chrome
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
Pastoe Dining Table in Lacquered Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining or center table, lacquered wood, The Netherlands, 1970s Crafted by Pastoe, this geometric table stands as a testament to modern design sensibilities. This pedestal dining tab...
Wood, Lacquer
Architectural Dining Table in Black Stone Top & Champagne Bronze Lacquer
By JLC
Located in New York, NY
Conceived as a study in repetition, proportion and material contrast, this contemporary architectural dining table pairs a dramatic Cosmic Black stone top with two sculptural pedesta...
Marble, Metal
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
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
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
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 29” tall
Chrome
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
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
$14,500 / item
Large Deep Black Steel Dining Table
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: Marianas table The Marianas table is an expansive presence in a room. Featuring a tabletop constructed from Richlite, a paper-based material infused with resin, the ...
Steel
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
Tensegrity Dining Table by Theodore Waddell for Cassina
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. Italy. Matching coffee table available. Glass top with chrome base.
Chrome
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
Post Modern Tessellated Stone Leaf Motif Split-Base Dining Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Tessellated Stone, Original Glass Top This sculptural dining table features a striking split-base design crafted from tessellated s...
Stone
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
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
$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
$2,357 / item
Nomos Dining Table by Norman Foster for Tecno, 1990s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
This dining table was designed by Sir Norman Foster for Tecno. Originally designed for use in his London office, this design became a succes and is a classic still for sale today. ...
Chrome
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
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 Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe 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
Danish 1960s Table in Oak with Tubular Trestle Base
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Desk or dining table, oak, beech, Denmark, 1970s This elegant table is a beautiful example of Scandinavian design from the 1970s, marked by its simplicity and thoughtful constructio...
Beech, Oak
$1,750Sale Price|50% Off
Post modern Knoll white laminate racetrack dining table by joe d'urso
By Joe D'Urso, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Post modern Knoll white laminate racetrack dining table by joe d'urso. Simple design oval conference or dining table with white laminate top and rubber edge molding that sits on 4 st...
Steel
1990's Postmodern Italian Frosted Glass Dining Table by Calligaris
By Ello Furniture, Calligaris, Philippe Starck
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
$8,880Sale Price|40% Off
SuperCalif Crystal Dining Table by Luigi Massoni for Galotti & Radice, 1970s
By Luigi Massoni, Galotti & Radice
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
Ettore Sottsas Ospite Table Zanotta Postmodern, 1980s
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Ettore Sottsass's Ospite dining table. Designed in 1984 and produced by Zanotta. Painted brier veneer top and three brass silver legs.
Brass
Pierre Chapo - Variable Geometric Dining Table
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Stratford, CT
The Chapo Variable Geometric table is an eye-catching, elegant elm dining table. It can be extended by adding four extension leaves, increasing its length from 50" to 89". The width ...
Elm
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
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
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
Dakota Jackson “Wonder” Lacewood Extending Dining Table 12 Ft
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A monumental "Wonder" extending dining table designed by Dakota Jackson and made in Long Island City, New York. The rare bespoke dining table has 2 extending leaves measuring over 12...
Hardwood, Maple
Post Modern Travertine Marble Pedestal Dining Table Made in Italy c. 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Post Modern dining table, made in Italy circa 1970/80's. The table is constructed of travertine marble, and features a large rectangular top which rests on a rectangular ...
Marble
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
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
$2,666Sale 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
1970s Post-Modern Chrome and Glass Dining Set by Daystrom, 5 Pieces
By Chromcraft, Bassett Furniture, Daystrom Furniture, Giotto Stoppino
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Exuding bold elegance and unapologetic mid-century charm, this four-piece dining ensemble encapsulates 1970s modernist glamour. A quartet of sculptural Daystrom “scoop” chairs—sinuou...
Chrome
Post-Modern Green, Red And Beige Sculptoric Marble Italian Dining Table, 1980s
Located in Madrid, ES
Sculptural dining table in different marbles with a square glass top. Italy, 1980s. The different stones that make up the base are red marble, green Indian marble, white Carrara mar...
Limestone, Carrara Marble, Levanto Marble, Verde Antico Marble
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "L5" Center Table for Goppion, 1983
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa "L5" Center Table for Goppion, Metal and Glass, Italy, 1983. Designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Goppion, this center table belongs to the Bisante series, ...
Metal
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 Solid Oak Round Kai Dining Table by Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Toronto, ON
Contemporary round wood dining table featuring a solid natural oak top, sculptural rounded wood legs and a lacquered metal support structure. The Kai Dining Table by Mambo Unlimited ...
Metal
Monolithic Italian Postmodern Large Dining Table in Walnut Wood 280cm/110in
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining table, walnut, Italy, 1970s Elegant Italian dining table from the 1970s, crafted in walnut and characterized by its slender, architectural design. The long rectangular top ap...
Walnut
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
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