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.
Italian Modern Polished Travertine Pedestal
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Polished Travertine Pedestal. Offered is an Italian Post Modern Mangiarotti style travertine pedastal with beautiful variegation and a highly polished surface. This lo...
Travertine
Mid Century Italian Post Modern Off White Plaster Pedestal Table after Sirmos
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful off white textured pedestal. Heavy plaster rock form in very good condition.
Plaster
Post Modern Memphis Style Wavy Steel Plant or Speaker Stand, 5 Available
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Fun and wavy post modern metal plant stands or speaker stands. These stands are made of steel with a wavy 3 bar design and have a fresh coat of black paint on them. Look great indivi...
Steel
Postmodern Green Marble Dining Table Base / Pedestal. Circa 1980s.
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern Green Marble Dining Table Base / Pedestal. In the Stone iternational Italy Style. Circa 1980s. Feature a Postmodern / Minimalist design, displaying beautiful marble veins....
Marble
A Pair of Postmodern Travertine Pedestals. Circa 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
A Pair of Postmodern Travertine Pedestals. Circa 1980s Feature a minimalist design and square polished travertine bases with beautiful stone grain In excellent original condition, w...
Travertine
$1,680 / item
Aura Sculptural Metal Pedestal by Veliento
Located in Geneve, CH
Aura Sculptural Metal Pedestal by Veliento. Dimensions: 40 x 40 x 50 cm Materials: Hand textured Metal. All pieces are made to order. Custom finishes available, please contact us fo...
Metal
Postmodern Plaster Sculpture Pedestal / Plant Stand
By Sirmos, Emilio Terry
Located in Round Top, TX
Minimalist plaster pedestal or plant stand, circa 1980s with stippled Organic Modern texture. Plaster furniture enjoys a long history, with the earliest attribution to Emilio R. Te...
Plaster
Postmodern Tessellated Stone Pedestal
Located in Houston, TX
1980s Tesselated stone pedestal.
Travertine
Pair of Sculptural Travertine Display Pedestals in the Post-Modern Style, 1980s
Located in Odense, DK
Elegant pair of travertine pedestals crafted in a clean architectural form. Featuring square tops and stepped bases, the design highlights...
Travertine
Wide & Tall Mid Century Italian Modern Dark Green Marble Pedestal or Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A simple yet elegant green marble pedestal table from Italy circa 1980's. It features beautiful veining of solid slab marble construction. ...
Marble
Postmodern Tessellated Stone Side Entry Table with Drawer by Maitland Smith
Located in San Diego, CA
Tessellated stone pedestal / side table entry ,end tall table by Maitland Smith, circa 1970s. Gorgeous piece in great condition. The piece was made in the Philippines and can be used...
Stone
Black Pedestal Column, Marble, Circa Late-20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A black and white 'Nero Marquina' marble pedestal column or end/side/drinks table, Postmodern design period, circa late-20th century. Piece can be used to support art/sculpture, as a...
Marble
Postmodern Triangular Pedestal in Black Lacquered Wood & Chrome
Located in Astoria, NY
Postmodern Black Lacquered and Chrome Illuminated Triangular Pedestal, with frosted Plexiglas to the top and chrome base. 40" H x 35" W x 12" D. Provenance: From a 422 East 72nd St...
Chrome
Modern Multifunctional 'X' Steel Side Table and Rack (Display Model)
By Erik Johnson, Argosy Designs
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: X Rack The X Rack is an elegant, minimal, and modern object that is both sculptural and functional - a crisp silhouette creating the illusion that the form and its c...
Steel
Ron Arad Postmodern "Hotel Zeus" TV Stand for Zeus Milano, Italy, 1980s
"Hotel Zeus" TV stand designed in 1992 by Ron Arad. Made in Italy for Zeus, a design collective with a similar spirit to the influential 1980s Memphis desig...
Metal
Octagon Plaster Dining Table Pedestal
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Unique octagonal pedestal, plaster over wood, faux finished to look like verdigris copper. Can be used as a table base or oversized pedestal. Base is in overall excellent vintage c...
Plaster
$2,855 / item
Block Pedestal by DUISTT
Located in Geneve, CH
Block Pedestal by DUISTT Dimensions: W 35 x D 35 x H 100 cm Materials: Black Limed Oak, High Gloss Black Lacquered Wood and Bronze The BLOCK pedestal is a strong piece composed of ...
Bronze
Monumental Memphis Styled Lucite Light Up Column Pedestal
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A Lucite Memphis styled column pedestal finished in a gun metal gray hammer coating with step up base and thick frosted Lucite light up top and foot control switch the top diameter i...
Lucite
$1,325Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern black ceramic pedestal in the style of BONDIA, Italy, 1980s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Postmodern column or pedestal in glazed black ceramic, Italy, 1980s. Made entirely and from a single piece of ceramic in a glossy black finish. Neoclassical style, emulating the colu...
Ceramic
Postmodern White Carrara Marble Flower Stand Pedestal Table, Italy, 1980s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful Italian post-modern pedestal / flower table / plant stand with a white marble base and top and a black metal stem. Made in Italy in the 1980s, in good condition, with mar...
Marble, Carrara Marble, Metal
Italian Mario Bellini Style Fluted Travertine Pedestal or Table Base
By Mario Bellini, Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Mario Bellini style fluted travertine pedestal or table base. This stunning postmodern honed travertine pedestal is substantial enough for a ...
Travertine
$2,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 3 post modern pink laminate hexagon pedestals or plinths
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of 3 post modern pink laminate hexagon pedestals or plinths All in great condition The largest is 42” high at 18” diameter Listing is for th...
Laminate
$1,680 / item
Aura Sculptural Metal Pedestal by Veliento
Located in Geneve, CH
Aura Sculptural Metal Pedestal by Veliento. Dimensions: 40 x 40 x 50 cm Materials: Hand textured Metal. All pieces are made to order. Custom finishes available, please contact us fo...
Metal
$2,456 / item
Jura Pedestal by Ah Um Design Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Jura Pedestal by Ah Um Design Studio Handmade Dimensions: D 29.2 x W 33 x H 38.1 cm. Materials: Walnut wood, oil finish. Available in other finish options. Please contact us. This ...
Walnut
Post-Modern Italian Travertine Marble Frosted Glass Illuminated Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Simple, sleek, elegant and well-made - an illuminated travertine-marble pedestal. This pedestal was made in Italy in the mid to late 1970s and imported into the US thereafter. Featur...
Marble, Travertine
A Pair of Postmodern Marble Pedestals. Circa 1980s.
Located in Miami, FL
A Pair of Postmodern Marble Pedestals. Circa 1980s. Circa 1980s Feature a Postmodern / Brutalist design, rounded edges, textured raw stone fronts and backs, and polished tops and sid...
Marble
$2,500 / item
Modern Multifunctional 'Y' Steel Side Table and Rack
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: Y Rack The Y Rack is an elegant, minimal, and modern object that is both sculptural and functional - a crisp silhouette creating the ill...
Steel
Modern Multifunctional 'X' Steel Side Table and Rack
By Argosy Designs, Erik Johnson
Located in Treadwell, NY
Collection I: X Rack The X Rack is an elegant, minimal, and modern object that is both sculptural and functional - a crisp silhouette creating the illusion that the form and its c...
Steel
$1,400 / item
1970's Tall Mirror & Oak Hexagon Art Pedestal
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A tall hexagon shape pedestal circa 1970's. Solid oak wood trim on both top and bottom frame the 6 mirrored side panels and top. This piece is solid. Top surface measures 7-1/2" X 7...
Mirror, Oak
Large Tessellated Stone and Brass Pedestal
By Casa Bique, Karl Springer, Enrique Garcel, Maitland Smith, Robert Marcius
Located in Houston, TX
Large tessellated stone and brass pedestal. This shapely postmodern pedestal is perfect for a sculpture, bust or vase.
Stone
Midcentury Italian Post Modern off White Plaster Cube Pedestal or Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Heavy textured plaster pedestal from Italy circa 1990s. Casted plaster table in bone white color. Very good condition and ready to use.
Plaster
RL 11 Cylindrical Pedestal in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
RL 11 Cylindrical Pedestal in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 38 x H 114 cm. Materials: Brushed aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or polished aluminum. Prices may...
Aluminum
$5,758 / item
Carat XL Pedestal in Hand-Polished Stainless Steel
Located in Beirut, LB
A monumental expression of geometric form, the Carat Extra Large Pedestal stands as the definitive masterpiece of the collection. Its commanding presence offers a bold sculptural i...
Stainless Steel
Small She's Lost Control Pedestal in Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
She's Lost Control Pedestal in Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 22 x H 56 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated cast bronze, quartzite stone One of my first artistic shocks came from Dalí’s Elephants...
Quartz, Bronze
French Plaster Spiral Column or Pedestal on Wooden Base
Located in Chicago, IL
This 1980s French pedestal features a playful spiral silhouette rendered in plaster and set on a sturdy wooden base. Its totemic shape and soft ochre finish lend architectural intere...
Plaster, Wood
Plaster Postmodern Pedestal, 1970
Located in Chicago, IL
Plaster Postmodern pedestal, 1970.
Plaster
Contemporary Ceramic Pedestal Tables by Clément Brazille, France
Located in London, GB
Pedetal Tables by Clément Brazille Material: Stoneware, turquoise glaze Dimensions: H 33 x Ø 27 cm / H 42 x Ø 27 cm / H 51 x Ø 27 cm Year: 2025 Unique pieces, dated and signed. -- B...
Stoneware
RL 11 Cylindrical Pedestal in Licorice Glossy Varnished Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
RL 11 Cylindrical Pedestal in Licorice Glossy Varnished Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 38 x H 114 cm. Materials: Varnished aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or polished ...
Aluminum
$25,210 / item
Source Bois Déchiré Sculptural Basin by Meubles Thouret
Located in Geneve, CH
Source Bois Déchiré Sculptural Basin by Meubles Thouret. Numbered and signed by the artists. Delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity. Dimensions: D 48 x H 91 cm. Materials: Oak,...
Metal
Pair Maitland Smith Tessellated Marble Brass Pedestals
Located in Houston, TX
Late 20th Century pedestals: tessellated marble over wood frame with brass spheres and trim.
Marble, Brass
Eero Saarineen Set of Two Black and White Low Tables in Wood and Aluminum 1990s
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of two coffee tables with a black pedestal base in painted die-cast aluminum and an oval-shaped top in white lacquered wood. These two tables were manufactured in the 1990s in the style of the designer Eero Saarinen Eero Saarinen was a Finnish-born-American architect born on August 20, 1910. Son of an architect and sculptor, Eero went to public schools in Michigan and in 1929 joined Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris to study studied sculpturing. Later he studied architecture at Yale University from 1931 to 1934 and won a chance to travel around Europe and North Africa from 1934 to 1935. Eero started off his professional life from the United States by doing research about housing and city planning with the Flint Institute of Research and Planning in Michigan, in 1936. After working here for two years he joined his father’s firm in 1938. The first international recognition for Eero came during his collaboration with his father. It started off with a chair design and later in time, this duo of father and son managed to win many other competitions for their innovative designs and projects. Furthermore, he went on with furniture design for quite a long period of time. After the death of his father in 1950, Saarinen founded his own firm ‘Eero Saarinen & Associates’ in Birmingham, worked there until the time of his death in 1961. During this time he dedicated a huge chunk of his time for furniture design and other home furnishing design ideas. Some of his major architectural structures and contributions to the field of design are: the Bell Labs...
Aluminum
$1,469 / item
Medium Piedra Pedestal by Algo Studio
By Algo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Piedra Pedestal by Algo Studio Designed by Diego Garza Dimensions: D 37 x W 30 x H 48 cm Materials: Formica, paper paste coating, plywood structure. These side tables ...
Formica, Plywood, Paper
$6,851 / item
Uniquely Shaped Pedestal by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Uniquely Shaped Pedestal by Dainte Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 35 cm. Materials: Crystal. This asymmetrical crystal display pedestal is fine...
Crystal
Italian Modern Pedestal Column in Wood Painted as Stone, 1990s-2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern pedestal column in wood painted as stone, 1990-2000s Pedestal column with base and square top in wood, painted in gray as if it were s...
Wood
$1,398 / item
Short Piedra Pedestal by Algo Studio
By Algo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Short Piedra Pedestal by Algo Studio Designed by Diego Garza Dimensions: D 30 x W 35 x H 35 cm Materials: Formica, paper paste coating, plywood structure. These side tables a...
Formica, Plywood, Paper
$3,866 / item
Royal Ebony Pedestal by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Royal Ebony Pedestal by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 110 cm. Materials: Polished brass, lacquer and Royal ebony. Also available in brushed brass. Please contact us. A...
Brass
$8,403 / item
Cubic Crystal Pedestal by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Cubic Crystal Pedestal by Dainte Dimensions: D 28 x W 29 x H 38 cm. Materials: Crystal. This clear crystal display pedestal is finely crafte...
Crystal
Handcrafted Design High Pedestal Table Set, 1990's France
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Handcrafted Design High Pedestal Table Plant Stand set of 2. Made in France, 1990's period. Hand formed and woven slender steel base with a marble stone look inlay on the top...
Metal
Postmodern Marbleized Laminated Pedestal. Circa 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Postmodern Marbleized Laminated Pedestal. Circa 1980s Features a minimalist, fully faux stone-pattern laminated frame. In excellent, near mint original condition with very mi...
Formica, Wood
1980s Postmodern Faceted Plaster Pedestal or Sculpture Stand
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A striking Postmodern pedestal featuring an architectural faceted silhouette and textured plaster-like finish. The geometric form tapers inward at the center before expanding to a br...
Plaster
Postmodern Brass Plant Stand in the Style of Karl Springer
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A striking Postmodern plant stand or display pedestal crafted in polished brass, featuring an architectural arrangement of cylindrical supports rising from three elegantly curved leg...
Brass
Post Modern Octagonal Lacquered Pedestal
By Karl Springer, Marquis Collection of Beverly Hills 1, Maitland Smith, Enrique Garcel, Casa Bique
Located in Houston, TX
Post Modern Octagonal Lacquered Pedestal. Offered is a beautiful Hollywood Regency or Post Modern Lacquered Pedestal. This stunning pedestal is the perfect accent to display your pri...
Wood
RL 09 Cylindrical Pedestal in Licorice Glossy Varnished Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
RL 09 Cylindrical Pedestal in Licorice Glossy Varnished Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 38 x H 80 cm. Materials: Varnished aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or mirror-pol...
Aluminum
Medium She's Lost Control Pedestal in Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium She's Lost Control Pedestal in Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 24 x H 66 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated cast bronze, quartzite stone One of my first artistic shocks came from Dalí’s Elephants...
Quartz, Bronze
Carat S Pedestal in Hand-Polished Stainless Steel Design
Located in Beirut, LB
A monumental expression of geometric form, the Carat Small Pedestal is the smallest of the Carat lines. Its commanding presence offers a bold sculptural interpretation of architectu...
Stainless Steel
RL 09 Cylindrical Pedestal in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
RL 09 Cylindrical Pedestal in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 38 x H 80 cm. Materials: Brushed aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or mirror-polished aluminum. Pric...
Aluminum
1970's Mirror & Oak Hexagon Art Pedestals 30" Tall
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A pair of hexagon shape mirrored pedestals, circa 1970's. Solid oak wood trim on both top and bottom frame the 6 mirrored side panels and top. Top surface measures 7-1/2" X 7-1/2"
Mirror, Oak
$2,585 / item
Asos Stand Large Pedestal in Wood Veneer by Hermhaus
Located in Geneve, CH
Asos Stand Large Pedestal in Wood Veneer by Hermhaus Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 70 cm Materials: Wood veneer Asos pedestals are ideal for displaying your unique sculptures and obje...
Wood
Post Modern Curtis Jeré Brass and Smoked Glass Pedestal Signed 1984
By C. Jeré Artisan House, Curtis Jeré
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Any object placed atop this 1984 Curtis Jeré Pedestal is highlighted and enhanced. Sophisticated glamour from every angle. This sultry Post Modern pedestal features concave angled sides that float over a similarly shaped black base. The brass glows warmly and with distinction. Smoked Glass top sets a dark backdrop and brings attention to the object displayed. A chic modern pedestal that will enhance and elevate the design esthetic of any room. Signed Jeré 1984. Accessories pictured not included. Want to see more beautiful things? Scroll down below and click "View All From Seller" or favorite our shop to get your 1stDibs on our new inventory. Photographed along with and also currently available in our shop- Vladimir Kagan Nautilus Swivel Chair & Custom Ottoman in Ivory Holly Hunt Alpaca Pair of Directional Post Modern Swivel Chairs in Soft Camel Teddy Bear Fabric Vladimir Kagan Zoe Sofa...
Brass
RL 11 Cylindrical Pedestal in Polished Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
RL 11 Cylindrical Pedestal in Polished Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 38 x H 114 cm. Materials: Polished aluminum. Available in brushed, varnished, or polished aluminum. Prices m...
Aluminum