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.
Play Time Toy Table, Stone and Onyx, 100cm Diameter
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Rounded pillars of blue calcite, pink marble, caramel onyx and green onyx carry a black marble top to create Play-time Table; An elegant rendition of children’s furniture. A piece m...
Stone, Onyx, Marble
Play Time Toy Table Oval, Stone and Onyx
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Rounded pillars of blue calcite, pink marble, caramel onyx and green onyx carry a black marble top to create Play-time Table; An elegant rendition of children’s furniture. A piece m...
Stone, Marble, Onyx
Pair of 1970s Chrome and Glass Side Tables
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A captivating pair of 1970s chrome and glass side tables in the style of Milo Baughman and John Mascheroni. Showcasing the refined minimalism of sophisticated mid-century modern desi...
Chrome
Italian Side Tables in Metal and Round Granite Top
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Side tables, granite, metal, brass, Italy, 1980s These side tables feature a red granite tabletop in round format. The granite shows a vivid surface. A brass pedestal ends in a blac...
Granite, Metal, Brass
Rodolfo side table 90s Y2K style Baleri Italia
By Enrico Baleri, Baleri Italia
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Rodolfo side table designed by Enrico Baleri for Baleri Italia. This table was published in the 90s. Half transparent table top and steel legs in polished finish. Really good exampl...
Steel
Postmodern Glass Top Side Table with Black Sphere Faux Marble Lacquer Base 1980s
Located in Toronto, CA
A sculptural Postmodern pedestal side table in the Memphis style, circa 1980s, featuring a high-gloss black lacquered base with stepped plinth detail and a floating tempered glass to...
Glass, Wood, Lacquer
Cult Stool, Sculptural Side Table, Mexican Onyx Marble Conglomerate
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult stool/ side table; a hand sculpted stone from a Mexican marble and Mexican onyx conglomerate, remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials in a ...
Onyx, Marble
Cult Stool, Sculptural Side Table, Mexican Green Onyx
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult stool/ side table; a hand sculpted stone from a Mexican marble and Mexican onyx conglomerate, remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials in a ...
Onyx
$787 / item
Side Table 01 by Iranzo
Located in Geneve, CH
Side Table 01 by Iranzo Dimensions: D 85 x W 85 x H 45 cm. Material: Epoxy resin & polypropylene Available in: White / Black - at the same price Light pink / Blue / Pastel green / ...
Epoxy Resin
Travertine Square Cube Post Modern side end table or Plinth
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Travertine Square Post Modern Cube side or end table. Beautiful Stone cube table all solid Travertine hollow inside. Great condition. Listing is for (1) Table. Local Pick up avai...
Travertine
Eclipse Olo Sculptural Nightstand / Side Table, with compartments
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Rings of white onyx tower in a light gradient descent to create Olo Eclipse Nightstand. This iteration of our beloved nightstand hides two secret compartments which are revealed with...
Stone, Marble, Onyx
Italian Side Table in Metal and Round Granite Top
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Side table, granite, metal, brass, Italy, 1980s This side table features a red granite tabletop in round format. The granite shows a vivid surface. A brass pedestal ends in a black ...
Granite, Metal, Brass
$1,960Sale Price / set|30% Off
Postmodern Smoked Chrome Glass Cocktail Tables by DIA, '90s, Set of 2
Located in New York, NY
A set of two (2) designer 1990s Post-Modern 'smoked' gray-charcoal chrome round bi-level cocktail/coffee tables with cylindrical legs...
Chrome
Brueton “Gepetto” Side Table, Designed by Stanley Jay Friedman, Circa 1990
By Brueton, Stanley Jay Friedman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Brueton “Gepetto” Side Table, Designed by Stanley Jay Friedman USA, circa late 1980s–1990s Red-stained ash wood, inset black glass top 23.5" diameter x 21" H This sculptural Gepetto...
Glass, Ash
$3,200 / item
Cult Stool, Sculptural Side Table, Blue Calacite
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult stool/ side table; a hand sculpted stone from a Mexican Blue Calacite, remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials in a modernist manner. The p...
Stone
Post-Modern Memphis Style Side Table Fontana Arte, solid Glass, Italy 1980s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Mid-Century Memphis Style Side Table Fontana Arte, solid Glass, Italy 1980s- very heavy, very solid. perfect condition.
Glass
Organic Post-modern Wooden Steven Chase Side Tables, Pair
By Steven Chase 1
Located in Miami, FL
Organic Post-modern Wooden Steven Chase Side Tables, Pair Offered for sale is a pair of organic Post-modern side tables by Steven Chase The tables have natural wood trunk bases wit...
Metal
Eclipse Olo Sculptural Nightstand / Side Table
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Rings of white onyx tower in a light gradient descent to create Olo Eclipse Nightstand. Without compartments..
Stone, Onyx, Marble
Vintage Post Modern Round Travertine Stone Pedestal Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Italian Travertine Stone This vintage Italian pedestal table is a striking example of Post Modern minimalism, crafted entirely from ...
Travertine
Play Time Toy Table, Mexican White Onxy Stone, 70cm Diameter
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Rounded pillars of white Mexican onyx carry a white marble top to create Play-time Table; An elegant rendition of children’s furniture. A piece meticulously hand-sculpted from stone...
Stone, Onyx, Marble
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Glass Top Side or End Table by Becker Designs, 1990s
Located in Miami, FL
Postmodern black lacquered steel side or end table with three stacked pieces of glass designed and manufactured by Becker Designs USA circa 1990s. Height to top of glass 19-5/8”.
Steel
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
$419Sale Price / set|40% Off
Pair of Pierre Vandel Paris side tables, 1970s
Located in STRASBOURG, FR
Pair of Pierre Vandel Paris side tables circa 1970, black lacquered aluminum structure, gold band inclusion, original beveled glass resting on black rubber glides. All in good condi...
Aluminum
Postmodern Design Bamboo Side Table by Axel Vervoordt, Belgium 1980's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Postmodern Design Bamboo Side Table by Axel Vervoordt. Made in Belgium, 1980's / 90's period. Wood construction with tops in bamboo finish. Square two tier side table. This c...
Bamboo
Cult Stool, Sculptural Side Table, Mexican White Onyx / Marble
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Cult stool / side table; a hand sculpted stone from an incredibly particular stone; Mexican White Onyx, remits to primal sculptural-architectural language while displaying materials ...
Onyx
Rare Adjustable Cassina 'Kick' Side Table by Toshiyuki Kita
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Rare 1980’s Cassina 'Kick' side table by renowned Japanese designer Toshiyuki Kita. Constructed of powder coated charcoal gray steel with black lacquered with rubber edges. Design w...
Steel
$650 / item
Italian Coffee Tables in Granite and Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Coffee tables, granite, brass, black lacquered steel, Italy, 1980s These Italian side tables showcase a rectangular brown granite tabletop with a striking, vivid surface. The granit...
Granite, Metal, Brass
Siniya of Merzouga Aluminium Side Table by Bureau of Entropy
Located in Geneve, CH
Siniya of Merzouga Aluminium Side Table by Bureau of Entropy. Limited edition of 20 pieces + 4 Artist's Proof. Dimensions: W 42 x D 42 x H 46 cm. Materials: Aluminium. Siniya of Mer...
Aluminum
Dutch Postmodern Red Side Drinks Table w/Shelf by Erik van Buijtenen for Nebu
By Nebu, Erik van Buijtenen
Located in New York, NY
A Dutch Postmodern red lacquered side drinks table with shelf by designer Erik van Buijtenen for Nebu, circa 1970s, Holland. This Post-Modern / '70s Modern table is round, has a 'Coc...
Composition
Olo Nightstand Sculptural Side Table with compartments
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Rings of blue calcite, pink marble, black marble and green onyx tower to create Olo Nightstand Sculptural Side Table; a piece meticulously hand-sculpted from stones endemic to Mexico...
Stone, Onyx, Marble
Postmodern Rnd Tessellated Mactan Stone Side Table 4 Sphere Style Maitland Smith
Located in Topeka, KS
Fabulous postmodern tessellated Mactan rough edge stone round pedestal base side table with 4 polished spheres and a round beveled glass top in th...
Stone
$957Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Side Table in Beech Plywood by Ekornes Stressless, Norway 1980s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this losting you will find a sleek, playful triangle side table by Ekornes and their Stressless line. Crafted out of beechwood in a lovely warm light wood color. Excellent quality...
Plywood
Vintage brass side tables - set of 2, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage brass Z-shaped side table or plant stand with smoked glass. Good condition. Late 1970s - Belgium Height: 55cm Diameter: 34cm Ref.: 25071811
Brass
Silos Small Side Table in Steel, Paper & Vegetable Tanned Leather by UNIQKA
Located in Geneve, CH
Silos Small Side Table in Steel, Paper & Vegetable Tanned Leather by UNIQKA Designed by Studiopepe Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 45 cm. Materials: Vegetable-tanned leather, paper,...
Steel
$840Sale Price / set|43% Off
Post-Modern Cantilever Side Tables by Interlude Home, Pair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Pair of gray tone birdseye maple top, chrome base cantilever side tables. These tables are great for multiple seating styles and can be very convenient for long sofas or benches. Goo...
Chrome
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Marble and Glass End / Side Tables by Kaiser Newman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A handsome matching set of glass drink tables designed and produced by Kaiser Newman in the 1990s. The tables features a black polished stone base and a spun aluminum stem with glass...
Granite, Aluminum, Brass
$691Sale Price|53% Off
Maitland Smith Wedge Coffee Table, Mactan Stone & Glass, 1980s
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Vintage 1980s, this wedge-shaped tessellated Mactan stone coffee table exudes sculptural grandeur with textured sophistication. The top is triangular glass, clear and generously si...
Stone
Set Of 2 Epicure XIII White Marble & Antique Brass Side Tables by Grzegorz Majka
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Epicure XIII White Marble & Antique Brass Side Tables by Grzegorz Majka Limited Edition Of 8 Sets. Dimensions: D 50 x W 60 x H 55 cm. Materials: Solid brass and white m...
Marble, Brass
Memphis Milano Hyatt Table by Ettore Sottsass
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in Toronto, ON
Imposing and superb, Hyatt by Ettore Sottsass evokes the structure of the classical column with the “capital” equal to the base. A side table that certainly does not go unnoticed for...
Metal, Chrome
Midcentury Italian Post Modern Nero Marquina Marble Cube Side Table or End Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An unusual modern geometric design marble cube from Italy, circa 1980s. A super dynamic design accented by extraordinary Nero Marquina marble. You'll love this table in your home. ...
Marble
$3,080
Butt Stool
Located in Mérida, MX
Solid wood stool sculpted by hand into a butt shape as a symbol of equality (we all have butts).
Wood
Pucci De Rossi for H Dolin Stuart Signed Battista Occasional Table, 1987
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Pucci De Rossi for H Dolin Stuart Signed Battista Occasional Table, 1987 A delightful postmodern sculptural side table with an interlocking charcoal color metal base with glass top ...
Metal
$2,717 / item
Pins Round Side Table with Spheres by Marioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Pins Round Side Table with Spheres by Marioni Dimensions: D 65 x H 65 cm. Materials: Brass details, 4 spheres and glazed ceramic base. Back painted...
Brass
Italian Postmodern Dark Green Marble Side Table
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Postmodern side drinks table with a grey gun-metal frame and dark green marble top, circa 1990s, Italy. A great table for drinks/cocktails in a convenient size. Very good condition as shown in images and video. All Dimensions: 21.75" Height to top of marble top. 23.5" Height to top of table frame. 14.5" Square frame Marble measures: 11.57" Square. Marble sphere ashtray box...
Marble, Metal
Memphis Table By Shiro Kuramata Sally Glass Chrome Rolling Table, 1987
By Memphis Group, Shiro Kuramata
Located in Vienna, AT
Round rolling table sally by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis, 1987 Dimensions are 30.31" x 23.35" x 23.35" Iconic table 'Sally' by Shiro Kuramata, Japan, 1987 for Memphis. Comprised of ...
Metal, Chrome
$1,424 / item
Alvorada Side Table by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Alvorada Side Table by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio Dimensions: W 62 x D 35 x H 55 cm Materials: Woven wicker, Polished stainless steel. ABOUT Giácom...
Stainless Steel
$1,053 / item
Cubo Side Table by Edoardo Lietti Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Cubo Side Table by Edoardo Lietti Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: D 32 x W 32 x H 32 cm. Materials: Birch plywood. Weight: 8 kg. All objects are self-m...
Birch, Plywood
Wave Bedside Table in Powder Coated Aluminium by Julien Vidame
Located in Geneve, CH
Wave Bedside Table in Powder Coated Aluminium by Julien Vidame. Dimensions: W 50 x D 40 x H 195 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminium. Available in Dull Black, Shiny White, or Silve...
Aluminum
Original USM Haller Beistelltisch Fritz Haller Nachttisch Design
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen USM Haller Nacht-/ Beistelltisch mit Schublade und geräumigen Ablagefach zum Verkauf an. Zustand: Guter gebrauchter Zustand mit altersbedingten Gebrau...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
$15,804 / item
Autunno Bronze Side Table by Marsica Fossati
Located in Geneve, CH
Autunno Bronze Side Table by Marsica Fossati Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 55 cm. Materials: Bronze. Dimensions and finishes available upon request. A sculptural table where nature m...
Bronze
Set of 2 Luxurious ART-DECO MODERNIST NIGHSTANDS by MAISON JANSEN, France, 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant pair of rectangular nightstands, Art-Déco, Modernist, Cubist, Bauhaus, Shabby-Chic, in wood lacquered in buttery cream, enhanced with...
Bronze
$28,400 / item
Olaf Mint Green Cast Glass Side Table by Fred and Juul
Located in Geneve, CH
Olaf Mint Green Cast Glass Side Table by Fred and Juul Dimensions: D 20 x W 20 x H 50 cm. Materials: Colored cast glass. Different colors are ...
Glass
$4,454 / item
Ludovica Table by Ayres
Located in Geneve, CH
Ludovica Table by Ayres Dimensions: W 41 x D 41 x H 48 cm. Materials: Red Travertine. At AYRES we design utilitarian objects and furniture with a primary aesthetic. Our basic shap...
Marble
Tord Bjorklund Post-modern Side or Coffee Table, Memphis Style, Sweden, 1980s
By Tord Bjorklund, IKEA
Located in Vienna, AT
A round folding Memphis style coffee / side / occasional flip-top table in yolk-yellow. Designed in 1986 by Tord Björklund for Ikea. This collapsible table is made of metal, has love...
Metal
Postmodern Square Blue End Side Drink Table Memphis Style, Small
By Marco Zanini, Memphis Group
Located in New York, NY
A cool, chic, small royal blue side/end/drinks table, Postmodern period, Memphis style, after designer Marco Zanini, circa late-20th century, 1980s. A monochromatic table in wood and...
Laminate, Wood
Set of 3 Leon Rosen for Pace Brass Glass & Travertine Post Modern Side Tables
By Leon Rosen, Pace Furniture Company
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 3 Leon Rosen for Pace circular side tables. This is a lovely set of post modern side table featuring a 3 material design in glass, brass, and travertine stone. The round gla...
Brass
Three Curved Seperate Structure Wood and Bronze Side Table by Ultramobili
Located in Geneve, CH
Jeanjean Chestnut Burl Side Table by Ultramobili Dimensions: D 80 x H 36 cm Materials: Chestnut Burl, Bronze. Oval occasional table with shaped rounded edges and top insert in nat...
Bronze
$502 / item
Object 084 Side Table by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 084 Side Table by NG Design Dimensions: ⌀ 28 x H 50 cm Materials: Powder-Coated Steel Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. A...
Steel
Postmodern Side Table, Blue Metal and Glass, Cone Base, Germany, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern side table with heavy base and glass tabletop. The round tabletop is made of glass and is fixed to the shaft by two chrome-plated metal discs and a screw. The screw head ...
Metal
Rotating Top Maitland Smith Tessellated Travertine Side Tables with Brass Inlay
Located in Saint Louis, MO
If you are a fan of travertine stone tables or one who is drawn to a more neutral airy palate this pair of travertine Maitland Smith rotating top side tables with brass inlays speaks your language. Hours of Artisan hand work from top to bottom. Hand cut and hand selected travertine rectangles are hand laid to spark interest creating contrast and depth with an array of tones. The travertine tables come to life with vertical sense of uplifting light and purifying energy. The best part is the rotation and delivery. Double your table space with a chic and elegant gentle push certain to impresses any guest. Wow. Rotating travertine top easily swivels 360 degrees for a sexy and dramatic addition of usable table space. Table tops continue the movement with hand laid travertine tiles dressed with a modern brass oval embellishment. Looks and brains that seduce. 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 - Adrian Pearsall Angular Settee in Cafe au Lait Bouclé c. 1980 Mom & Pop Pair Vladimir Kagan Wingback Swivel Chairs & Ottomans in Ivory Bouclé Vladimir Kagan Bilbao Swiveling Chaise Lounge in Luxurious Latte Bouclé Post Modern Caterpillar Two Tone Bench with Chrome Legs in Ivory & Latte Bouclé Pair of Milo Baughman Style Mid Century...
Travertine, Brass