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.
$2,805 / item
Volta Side Table 50 by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Volta Side Table 50 by Wentz Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 55 cm Materials: Wood, Plywood, MDF, Veneer, Steel The Volta table references nature in its im...
Steel
Kaizo Oto for Dia Postmodern Memphis Style Console Table
By Design Institute America, Kaizo Oto
Located in Miami, FL
Steel, brass, chrome and glass console table in the Memphis style by Kaizo Oto for Design Institute of America. Glass is 3/4”.
Steel, Chrome
Postmodern Artifici Table designed by Paolo Deganello for Cassina 1985
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Artifici coffee table, designed by Paolo Deganello for Cassina, 1985. Two Table top of superimposed glass plates, with exchangeable graphic inlets from textile, legs in natural wood...
Cast Stone
Original USM Haller Schreibtisch neu lackiert schwarz Design Tisch
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten mehrere USM Haller Schreibtische mit neu lackierter Tischplatte (hier in schwarz) zum Verkauf an. Wir haben mehrere Tische auf Lager, die wir auf Kundenwunsch aufarbeiten ...
Steel
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
Square Honed Montclair Danby Marble Center Table
Located in Houston, TX
Square honed Montclair Danby marble center table featuring a tapered, square column.
Marble
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
$619 / item
Object 015 Console Table by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 015 console table by NG Design Dimensions: D75 x W20 x H75 cm Materials: Powder coated steel. Also available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on de...
Steel
$514 / item
Cyborg Side Table by Mati Sipiora
Located in Geneve, CH
Cyborg Side Table by Mati Sipiora Dimensions: D 37 x W 52 x H 65 cm Materials: Steel. Finish: Glossy Powder Coating Paint. Weight: 7 Max Capacity: 9 KG ...
Steel
Interconnected Form Deep Green and Ivory Marble Coffee Table by Antonio De Marco
Located in Geneve, CH
Necklace Mod 2 Verde Notte And Adria Venato Coffee Table by Antonio De Marco Dimensions: D 120 x W 128 x H 40 cm. Materials: Verde Notte and Adria Venato marbles. Available in diff...
Marble
Italian Postmodern Black Marble Sculptural Coffee Table with Fluted Pedestals
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Mario Bellini, Roche Bobois
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A striking Italian Postmodern coffee table crafted in richly veined black marble, featuring a sculptural bowed or bullnose top raised on boldly fluted pedestal supports. Executed in ...
Marble
Ugo La Pietra Side Table Flessuosa Series Busnelli Italy, Post Modern 1985
By Ugo La Pietra, Ettore Sottsass, Busnelli
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare table from the Flessuosa series by Ugo La Pietra for Busnelli, Italy, 1985 Museal table by Ugo La Pietra, one of the former founding members of famous...
Wood
Organic Modern Dinner Table Catus in Green guatemala Marble
Located in Lisbon, PT
Catus dinner 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
$3,800Sale Price|34% Off
Postmodern Bamboo Desk in Red Formica, Italy, Circa 1985
By Memphis Group, Andrea Branzi, Archizoom Associati
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare Red (oxblood red) Formica bamboo desk, Italy, circa 1985 Dimensions are: 55.12" x 29.92 x 15.74". A Postmodern desk or console table, perfect and stylish, comprised of for...
Bamboo, Formica
Explore III Calacatta And Bronze Limited Edition Coffee Table by Grzegorz Majka
Located in Geneve, CH
Explore III Calacatta And Bronze Limited Edition Coffee Table by Grzegorz Majka Limited Edition Of 8 Pieces. Dimensions: D 94 x W 180 x H 35,5 cm. Materials: Solid bronze and Calaca...
Marble, Bronze
Kanzitō Unique Side Table in Oak Wood & Travertine Stone by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Kanzitō Unique Side Table in Oak Wood & Travertine Stone by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 50 cm. Materials: Oak wood and travertine. Available in different...
Oak
$6,257 / item
Dolmen Console by Ginger & Jagger
Located in Geneve, CH
Dolmen Console by Ginger & Jagger Dimensions: D 50 x W 160 x H 87 cm. Materials: Lacquer. Finish: Lacquered in Miosotis, in gloss finishing. This product is suitable for custom...
Lacquer
$5,271 / item
Small Untitled Side Table by Henry D'ath
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Untitled Side Table by Henry D'ath Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 55 cm Materials: Wood. Available finishes: Black ink. Carved by hand from a ...
Wood
$7,136 / item
Delano 5064 Desk by Redeco
Located in Geneve, CH
Delano 5064 Desk by Redeco Dimensions: W 160 x D 60 x H 77 cm Materials: Mdf structure. One soft closing drawer, Structure in Palissandro Santos veneer with polyester matt finish. In...
Marble
Pair of 1980s Postmodern Green Figured Marble Side Tables
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
A pair of 1980s postmodern side tables crafted in highly figured green marble. The stone displays sweeping forest-green and slate-gray veining against a pale celadon ground, giving e...
Marble
Ibuju Side Table 01 in Colombian Woven Yaré Natural Fiber by Fango Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ibuju Side Table 01 in Colombian Woven Yaré Natural Fiber by Fango Studio Dimensions: H 40 cm x W 30 cm x L 45 cm. Materials: Colombian woven yaré natural fiber Available in differe...
Natural Fiber
Set of 2 Nemo & Dory Side Table by Studio Indigene
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Nemo & Dory Side Table by Studio Indigene Dimensions: Nemo: ⌀ 33 x 54 cm / Dory: ⌀ 41 x 41 cm Materials: Reclaimed Teak Wood. Colors Brown; Natural Wooden Finish Nemo & Dor...
Wood
Postmodern Profilsystem Coffee Table by Elmar Flötotto for Flötotto, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Simple coffee table from the Profilsystem collection from Flötotto. A very simple and functional design that is broken up by the gray table surface. The table comes from the profile...
Metal
Black Marble Long Slate Dining Table Signed by Frédéric Saulou
Located in Geneve, CH
Marble Long Slate Dining Table Signed by Frédéric Saulou Designer: Frédéric Saulou. Materials: Trélazé black slate. Dimensions: 75 x 300...
Slate
$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
$3,062 / item
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
Jephson Robb, Bernhardt Design Pair Quiet Side Tables Laminate Stainless Steel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of side or occasional designed by Jephson Robb an manufactured by Bernhardt Design. In white laminate on stainless steel bases. Simple and subtle det...
Stainless Steel
$4,951 / item
Frequency Side Table by Sebastián Angeles
Located in Geneve, CH
Frequency Side Table by Sebastián Angeles Material: Bronze, Silver Patina Dimensions: W18 x D21 x H47 cm Weight: 7 kg Love is a powerful emotion that can bring people together and c...
Silver, Bronze
$5,529 / item
SSC103-1 Console Table by Stone Stackers
Located in Geneve, CH
SSC103-1 console table by Stone Stackers Limited edition of 5 products. Dimensions: W 92 x D 39 x H 81 cm. Materials: Patagonia and Marquina marbles. Marble Structure: Patagonia ...
Marble
$12,542 / item
Ut 02 Cowhide and Walnut Sofa by Sing Chan
Located in Geneve, CH
Ut 02 Sofa by Sing Chan Dimensions: W 76 x D 135 x H 67 cm Materials: Cowhide, North American Black Walnut, waxing. Sing Chan ( Chinese: 陈星宇/Xingyu Chen), the founder of SINGCHAN D...
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage coffee table by Roche Bobois, 1980s
By Roche Bobois
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage wooden and black glass coffee table by Roche Bobois with storage space and bottle holders. Cool coffee table from the 1980s. 1980s - France Good overall condition with nor...
Glass, Wood
$10,485 / item
Large Bold Coffee Table by Mohdern
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Bold Coffee Table by Mohdern Dimensions: W 140 x D 80 x H 30 cm (Marble Tray Included ⌀ 52 cm) Materials: Solid Ash Bold is a refined collect...
Ash
Epicure II Venom Quartzite Limited Edition Coffee Table by Grzegorz Majka
Located in Geneve, CH
Epicure II Venom Quartzite Limited Edition Coffee Table by Grzegorz Majka Limited Edition Of 8 Pieces. Dimensions: D 101,6 x W 147 x H 33 cm. Materials: Venom quartzite and aluminum...
Other, Aluminum
Postmodern Sofa or Console Table with Mirror Top & Black Lacquered Pedestal Base
Located in Topeka, KS
Magnificent vintage Postmodern sofa or console table comprised of a black lacquered pedestal base with beveled edges & gold base trim and a rounded rectangular shaped top with gold trim edges and mirror surface. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. No outstanding flaws found. There are some scratches on mirror top & pedestal as you would expect for age. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century. Mirror, Mirror on the…. Sofa Table?? That’s right folks! It doesn’t get any more 1980’s than this little gem!!! Only the coolest houses had furniture with mirror...
Composition
$2,988 / item
Large Lagoa Table by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Lagoa Table by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio Dimensions: W 70 x D 70 x H 35 cm Materials: 10mm extra clear fusing glass top, 10mm extra clear cur...
Glass
Goatskin Long Chic Lacquered Console Table with Chrome Base Karl Springer Style
Located in Bensalem, PA
Amazing console circa 1980s lacquer over goat skin with chrome surrounds in the manner of Karl Springer
Goatskin, Fiberglass, Lacquer
Postmodern Side Coffe Table 1980s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Postmodern Side Coffe table Italy 1980s
Metal
Italian Postmodern Dining Table in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining table, walnut, Italy, 1980s This Italian dining table from the 1980s is a beautiful example of straightforward quality and honest design. Crafted in rich, honey toned walnut,...
Walnut
$15,172 / item
Stainless Steel Pebble Coffee Table by NITUSH AROOSH
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless Steel Pebble Coffee Table by NITUSH AROOSH Dimensions: W 150 x D 80 x H 40 cm Materials: Stainless Steel (Grade 304) Finish: Antique & Polished Available in different fini...
Stainless Steel
Italian postmodern wooden dining table with with semicircular feet, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern wooden dining table with with semicircular feet, 1980s Rectangular dining table entirely in wood. The top has sides with a semicircular profile, the load-bearing s...
Wood
1970s Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin pair of end, side or coffee tables
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Pair of 1970s Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin parsons style end/side or coffee tables. Both are labeled and stamped with the manufacturing date, ...
Plywood
Piano Desk by Panorammma, Blue Lacquered Wood, Post-Modern Design, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
A sleek, blue-polished, sculptural piece conjuring the presence of a grand piano. Piano Desk evokes an intricate fusion of the grace in artistic expression and the discipline of wo...
Wood
$2,200
Blocks Coffee Table
Located in Mérida, MX
The Blocks coffee table was inspired by the construction context in Mexico, a reinterpretation of an authentic multitask table by mexican workers: cast blocks and a multi-material top. These pieces are hand carved by artisans from the region in mexican stones...
Stone
$8,030 / item
Jura Coffee Table by Ah Um Design Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Jura Coffee Table by Ah Um Design Studio Handmade Dimensions: D 118.1 x W 85 x H 33 cm. Materials: Mahogany wood, oil finish, hand-glazed tiles. Available in other wood and tile opt...
Mahogany
Cherry Dining Table by Gisbert Pöppler, Red Lacquered Aluminum
Located in Geneve, CH
Cherry dining table by Gisbert Pöppler Dimensions: D 180 x W 180 x H 74 cm Materials: red lacquered aluminum The refreshing red is not the origin of this dining table’s name, bu...
Aluminum
Monolit Side Table, Stainless Steel by Cezar Moldovan x Arbore
Located in Geneve, CH
Monolit Side Table, Stainless Steel by Cezar Moldovan x Arbore Dimensions: W 45 x D 45 x H 45 cm. Material: Stainless steel. Metal finishes: Brushed stainless steel. The Monolit Si...
Stainless Steel
1970s Maitland Smith Tessellated Fossil Stone Swivel Tier Drum Coffee Table
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1970s with this Maitland Smith Tessellated Stone swivel coffee table. The ultra rare table exudes an air of luxury and refineme...
Stone
$11,343 / item
Red Green Onyx Coffee Table by OS and OOS
By Oskar Peet and Sophie Mensen
Located in Geneve, CH
Red green onyx coffee table by OS and OOS. Dimensions: 55 x 47 x 40 cm. Materials: Onyx and verde smaragd. Studio OS and OOS is design stu...
Onyx
$2,840 / 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
$2,015 / 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
Early Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis Burled Wood Desk with Cast Aluminum Legs
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An early Gerard Van Den Berg desk for Montis. The design is almost Saporiti meets Sottsass in appearance, and the table is expertly crafted from handsome burled wood with cast alumin...
Aluminum
$11,210 / item
Mar Dining Table by Laluz
Located in Geneve, CH
Mar Dining Table by Laluz Dimensions: W 123 x D 240 x H 77 cm Materials: Bronze, Polyurethane. Weight: 150 kg. LaLuz Design is a young, dynamic company that specializes in the produ...
Bronze
$42,128 / item
Folio Table by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Folio Table by De Castelli Dimensions: W 298 x D 110 x H 75 cm Materials: DeMarea Brass Other dimensions and versions are available. Please contact us for any request. The Folio tab...
Brass
Dining Table with Trestle Base in Solid Pine Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining table, solid pine, Europe, 1980s This dining table showcases a beautifully simple yet robust construction, crafted entirely from solid pinewood. Its design is centered around...
Pine
1980s Sculptural Eye Shaped Coffee Table in Fossil Marble
Located in London, London
A sculptural low table in dark fossil stone or marble, dating to the late 20th century. The organically shaped top is supported by four substantial cylindrical and panel-form legs, ...
Marble
$6,187 / item
Fragment Side Table in Resin & Marble by Fict Studio
By Fict Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Fragment Side Table in Resin & Marble by Fict Studio Dimensions: D 33 x W 33 x H 45 cm. Materials: Resin and marble. Jang Hea-Kyoung is a Seoul-based artist and designer whose p...
Marble
1980s Postmodern Lucite Waterfall Vanity Desk With Chair
Located in Elkton, MD
Vintage Lucite waterfall desk dating to the 1970s–1980s. The desk features a clean-lined waterfall silhouette constructed from thick, clear acrylic, accented with an inset glass top ...
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
Postmodern Floating Foax Goatskin & Glass Cocktail Table
By Karl Springer, J. Wade Beam, Milo Baughman
Located in Bensalem, PA
Very unique, floating top coffee table with faux goat skin lacquered finish & 3/4” glass top please look at pictures and video for overall details. Feel free to reach out with any qu...
Glass, Fiberglass, Lacquer
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