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.
Midcentury Postmodern Clear Glass Block End Table or Side Table after Sottsass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very cool architectural design from the 1980s. It features heavy solid glass block construction with thick clear glass top.
Glass
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
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
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
Play Time Toy Table Oval, Hand-carved Stone and Onyx, Mexico
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
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, Marble, Onyx
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
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
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
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
Alessandro Mendini, Sirfo Goose Table, Zanotta, Italy, 1986
By Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta
Located in Krefeld, DE
Alessandro Mendini “Sirfo” side table for Zanotta Edizioni, Italy, 1986. Iconic postmodern design piece, also known as the “Goose Table”. The ...
Aluminum
Olo Nightstand Sculptural Side Table
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
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
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
Cult Stool, Sculptural Side Table, Hand-Carved Blue Calacite, Mexico
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
Chrome Spiral Coil Table by Pace
Located in New York, NY
Classic coil base side, or end table by Pace, circa 1970's. The bright chrome base supports the original plate glass inter top, this example is in very good, original, clean and read...
Chrome
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, Marble, Onyx
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
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
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
Eclipse Olo Sculptural Nightstand / Side Table, 45 cm
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
Post Modern Glass and Acrylic Side Table in Manner of Shlomi Haziza, c. 1980s
Located in Peabody, MA
Postmodern glass and acrylic side table in the manner of Shlomi Haziza, c. 1990s. The top is beveled glass. The colored acrylic elements are faceted, creating a prismatic effect.
Glass, Acrylic
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
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
Play Time Toy Table, Mexican White Onxy Stone, 120cm 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
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
1980s Heavy Metal Chrome Elephant Floor Lamp as Side Table Postmodern Design
Located in München, DE
Very rare chrome metal elephant as a floor lamp or table lamp. Great postmodern design from the 1980s. Made entirely of chromed metal, very high quality and solid. Many details su...
Metal, Chrome
Postmodern Square Blue End Side Drink Table Memphis Style, Small
By Memphis Group, Marco Zanini
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
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
Postmodern Granite and Black Tubular Steel Base Coffee or Side Tables, a Pair
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of postmodern black powder-coated V-shaped tubular steel base tables with solid granite marble tops from the 1980s. Can be arranged in a multitude of variations: side tables, coffee tables, or stacking shelves...
Granite, Metal
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
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
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
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
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
MEMPHIS "KRISTALL" Side Table / Michele De Lucchi
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Kristall by Michele De Lucchi is an eccentric service table with its vaguely zoomorphic look, like a head, a body and paws. It takes its cue from the excursion module of the Apollo X...
Metal
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
Pina High Light Grey Brass Side Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Pina high light grey brass side table by Pulpo Dimensions: D 34 x H 52 cm Materials: glass; brass and steel Also available in different colours. Sebastian Herkner’s distinctively t...
Brass, Steel
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
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
Memphis Milano Hyatt Table by Ettore Sottsass
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
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
Modern Oak and Aluminum Table
By Argosy Designs, Erik Johnson
Located in Treadwell, NY
J CONSOLE Spray-finished aluminum shown in oyster white with optional oak top and brass rails Dimensions: 12” W x 17” D x 20” H Made-to-order
Aluminum, Brass
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
Stainless Steel Side Table by Petra Madalena
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless Steel Side Table by Petra Madalena Dimensions: W 30 x D 25 x H 50 cm Materials: stainless steel (5mm) Weight: 20 kg (± 5 kg for packaging) Elevate the ambiance of your hom...
Stainless Steel
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
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 IKEA, Tord Bjorklund
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
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
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
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
Hand-Sculpted Contemporary Crystal Table
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand-sculpted contemporary crystal table Crystal table Handcrafted decor made from crystal Measures: W 90 x H 90 x D 44.5 cm Hand-sculpted in crystal and glass A versatile table for the living room. Playfully and uniquely designed with pure geometric forms and three legs, the table fits right in whether placed next to the couch or the lounge chair. Use in pair with the smaller crystal table...
Crystal
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
MEMPHIS "CONTINENTAL" Side Table / Michele De Lucchi (Italy) / Postmodern Style
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
This playful and eclectic side table was designed in 1984 by Michele De Lucchi. The unique silhouette of this piece is crafted of engineered wood a...
Laminate, Hardwood
Set of Two Faceted Postmodern Low Tables in Hand-Lacquered Custom RAL Colors
By JLC
Located in NEW YORK, NY
This collection of lithic low tables explores the tension between primitive, rock-like formations and refined, architectural silhouettes. This set features a low-profile coffee table...
Wood, Lacquer
Round Top and Rectangular Base Gummy Pink Onyx Side Table by RAFFINATO
Located in Geneve, CH
Gummy Pink Onyx Side Table by RAFFINATO Dimensions: Ø 50 x H 50 cm. Materials: Pink onyx. This table is available in different stone options: White Travertine, Rosso Levanto, Amethy...
Onyx
Marble side table by Vico Magistretti for Cattelan Italia
By Cattelan Italia, Vico Magistretti
Located in Athens, Attiki
Round glass and marble coffee table by Vico Magistretti for Cattelan, 1980s, Excellent condition Dimensions: height 60 cm including handle, diameter 60
Marble, Metal
Lucia Side Table in Black Powder Coated Iron by Animate Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Lucia Side Table in Black Powder Coated Iron by Animate Objects. Dimensions: W 50 x D 50 x H 65 cm. Materials: Iron, Black Powder Coated. This side table is named after Lucia Moholy...
Iron