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.
Postmodern Minimalist Metal Fruit Bowl, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Minimalist Metal Fruit Bowl, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Silver Period: 1980s Item Type: Vintage...
Metal
$788Sale Price|20% Off
Richard Meier Silver-Plate Architectural Skyscraper Bowl For Swid Powell 90's
Located in North Miami, FL
This iconic 1992 silver plate skyscraper bowl was designed by Richard Meier for Swid Powell. Made In Italy. It is an iconic design by an iconic architect. It was produced in 2 sizes ...
Silver Plate
Large Emilia Castillo Silver-Plate & Jasper Inlay Serving Bowl, Mexican Silver
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Striking vintage serving tray designed and manufactured in Taxco, Mexico in the 1980s by celebrated silversmith and designer Emilia Castillo. This sculptural piece is executed in han...
Silver, Silver Plate, Brass
Postmodern Italian Rare Salad Bowl and Server Set
Located in San Diego, CA
A set of postmodern Guzzini salad bowl and servers. Large clear plastic bowl with a transparent green rim. Marked. Italy, 1980s
Plastic
Richard Meier for Swid Powell Stainless Steel Bowl/Centerpiece
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful post modern design by the well known architect Richard Meier. Measure: 10 inches.
Stainless Steel
Set Of 2 RL 03 Mini Bowls in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 RL 03 Mini Bowls in Brushed Aluminum by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 9 x H 4 cm. Materials: Brushed aluminum. Available in brushed brass, brushed aluminum, or silver-plated brushe...
Aluminum
$3,242 / item
Le Mani Bowl by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Mani bowl by Marcela Cure Dimensions: W 42 x D 42 x H 15 cm Materials: Resin and Stone Composite The latest addition to our CORPOREA Collection is the Le Mani bowl. Given its...
Stone
Postmodern German Cycla Series Stainless Steel Bowl Peter Maly, Wilkens, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern German Cycla Design Series Stainless Steel Bowl with lids by Peter Maly for Wilkens, 1980s
Stainless Steel
$466 / item
Dots Lime Green Fruit Bowl by Aksu, Suardi
Located in Geneve, CH
Dots Lime Green Fruit Bowl by Aksu, Suardi Dimensions: Ø 41 x H 12 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 1 kg. Available in different color options. P...
Other
Large Black Octagon Salad Bowl by Arcoroc France
Located in Fairfield, CA
A large vintage black octagonal salad bowl. Made out of black milk glass. Great postmodern design and geometric angles. Made in France by Arcoroc in th...
Glass
Patricia Urquiola 2005 Alessi
Located in Sharon, CT
For Alessi, by Patricia Urquiola, an irregular abstract geometric bowl with pentagon facets formed in Stainless Steel. Fully signed on Bottom.
Stainless Steel
The Bread Crook in Natural Ash Wood & White Porcelain by Frau Caze
Located in Geneve, CH
The Bread Crook in Natural Ash Wood & White Porcelain by Frau Caze Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 15 cm. Materials: Ash wood and porcelain. Available in different wood options. Porcelain is m...
Porcelain, Ash
Unique Bowl #11 in Crystal and Silver with Gemstones by Szkło Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Bowl #11 in Crystal and Silver with Gemstones by Szkło Studio. One of a Kind. Dimensions: W 15 x D 14 x H 18 cm. Materials: Lead-free crystal glass, silver, gemstones (Citrine...
Crystal, Multi-gemstone, Amethyst, Malachite, Silver
Vintage Terra Series Bowl by Wolf Karnagel for Rosenthal, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Terra Series Bowl by Wolf Karnagel for Rosenthal, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials...
Ceramic
Vintage Ceramic Bowl, 1970s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Ceramic Bowl, 1970s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979. Additional information: Materials: Ceramic Style: Postmodern Color: Beige Item Type: Vintage, Antique or...
Ceramic
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Italian Polished Marble Shell Shaped Bowl
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-century Italian polished marble fruit bowl / centerpiece, circa 1980s. The bowl is in very good vintage condition and measures 11.5"W x 10"D x 3"H. It would make a great centerpi...
Marble
$748Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Ten Smoked and Crimson Murano Glass Dessert Bowls in the style of Zecchin
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1920s - 1930s. This is an elegant set of serving bowls. This set is in the style of Vittorio Zecchin for Cappellin or Venini. Its color is particular as its a straw-...
Murano Glass
Studio Pottery Post Modern Abstract Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Miami, FL
Studio Pottery Post Modern Abstract Centerpiece Bowl Offered for sale is a large studio pottery ceramic bowl finished in post-modern designs and...
Ceramic
Set Of 2 RL 03 Mini Bowls in Brushed Brass by CASPAL
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 RL 03 Mini Bowls in Brushed Brass by CASPAL Dimensions: Ø 9 x H 4 cm. Materials: Brushed brass. Available in brushed brass, brushed aluminum, or silver-plated brushed bras...
Brass
$514Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Seven Crystal Serving Bowls by Taddei Sestini for Kristall Krisla
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This is an elegant set of serving bowls, that looks like it's made out of ice. It has a peculiar grip, as shown in the pictures, that allows to keep one bowl on two fingers. This set was designed by the architect Taddei Sestini for the company Kristall Krisla...
Crystal
$542Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Eleven Bohemian Crystal Dessert Bowls by Jozef Stanik
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
1960s. This is an elegant set of serving bowls by Jozef Stanik. The bowls are in Bohemian crystal with pure gold rims and feature a curved base, that works non only as a base but a...
Crystal
Pair of David Tisdale Post Modern Memphis Bowls
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of David Tisdale post modern memphis bowls. Black one has hand inscribed signature.
Aluminum
$6,281 / set
Set of 12 Plates by Casa Alfarera
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 12 Plates by Casa Alfarera Dimensions: Dinner plates 25 cm in diameter Salad/dessert plates 20 cm in diameter Bowls 15 in diameter Materials: stoneware Hand-thrown Dominican ...
Stoneware
Cylindrical Base Varnished Silver-Nickel Plated Bowl by AVLU
Located in Geneve, CH
Kubbe Bowl, Varnished Silver-Nickel Plated Silverware by AVLU Dimensions: D 15 x H 16 cm Materials: Varnished Silver-Nickel Plated. Avlu Design was founded in Ankara in 2023 by ...
Silver, Nickel
$3,577 / item
Tazón Bajo Galeana Bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne
Located in Geneve, CH
Tazón Bajo Galeana bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne Limited Edition of 10 + 1 AP Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 9 cm Material: alabaster Galeana is a collection of 6 objects designed b...
Alabaster
Round Top & Cylindrical Base Varnished Gold Brass Plated Bowl by AVLU
Located in Geneve, CH
Kubbe Bowl, Varnished Brass Silverware by AVLU Dimensions: D 15 x H 16 cm Materials: Varnished Brass. Avlu Design was founded in Ankara in 2023 by Interior Architect Selin Demir...
Brass
Rumble Handmade Fruit Bowl in White Marble by MANTA Handmade Stone Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Rumble Handmade Fruit Bowl in White Marble by MANTA Handmade Stone Design Limited Edition of 6 Pieces. Dimensions: D 26 x W 48 x H 42 cm. Materials: Marble. MANTA is the design bra...
Marble
$3,183 / item
Sukhasana II Bowl by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Sukhasana II bowl by Marcela Cure. Dimensions: W 40.5 x D 28 x H 13 cm. Materials: resin and stone composite. Our Sukhasana II is our bowl version of our Sukhasana sculpture, in...
Stone
$466 / item
Dots Milky White Fruit Bowl by Aksu, Suardi
Located in Geneve, CH
Dots Milky White Fruit Bowl by Aksu, Suardi Dimensions: Ø 41 x H 12 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 1 kg. Available in different color options. Prices may vary. This product is...
Other
$2,982 / item
Onyx Twosidestory Bowl XL by Lisette Rützou
Located in Geneve, CH
Onyx twosidestory bowl XL by Lisette Rützou Dimensions: D 40 cm Materials: Levanto Bordeaux marble Lisette Rützou’s design is motivated by an urge to articulate a story. Inspir...
Marble
Set of 2 Helice Black Porcelain Bowl by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Helice black porcelain bowl by Studio Cúze Dimensions: W 15 x H 6 cm Materials: porcelain Studio Cúze I am a Berlin based Japanese ceramic artist. I completed the Desi...
Ceramic
$3,183 / item
Sukhasana II Bowl by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Sukhasana II bowl by Marcela Cure. Dimensions: W 40.5 x D 28 x H 13 cm. Materials: resin and stone composite. Our Sukhasana II is our bowl version of our Sukhasana sculpture, in...
Stone
$3,191 / item
La Bocca Bowl by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
La Bocca bowl by Marcela Cure. Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 26 cm. Materials: resin and stone composite. Our La Bocca bowl is inspired by the fascinating and provocative figure o...
Stone
$2,271 / item
Small Sukhasana II Bowl by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Sukhasana II bowl by Marcela Cure Dimensions: W 22.5 x D 30 x H 12.5 cm Materials: Resin and Stone Composite Our Sukhasana II is our bowl version of our Sukhasana sculptur...
Stone
$231 / item
Plain Fruit Bowl by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Plain fruit bowl by Studio Cúze Dimensions: W 29 x H 6.5 cm Materials: ceramic A unique bowl that brightens up your room and knows how to present your fruit in an inimitable way...
Ceramic
$218 / item
Helice Fruit Bowl by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Helice fruit bowl by Studio Cúze. Dimensions: W 27 x H 6.5 cm. Materials: ceramic. The Helice Fruit Bowl is an all-white bowl with a special quality and a unique handmade patter...
Ceramic
$257 / set
Set of 4 Melt Bowl by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 melt bowl by Studio Cúze. Dimensions: W 12.5 x H 5.5 cm. Materials: ceramic. The Melt Bowl is entirely white and has been given a unique shape and structure. Regarding ...
Ceramic
$748 / item
Twosidestory Bowl by Lisette Rützou
Located in Geneve, CH
Twosidestory bowl by Lisette Rützou Dimensions: D 20 cm Materials: Onyx Lisette Rützou’s design is motivated by an urge to articulate a story. Inspired by the beauty of materia...
Onyx
$2,310 / item
Handmade Nest Copper Sculpture by Le Meduse
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade nest steel sculpture by Le Meduse Unique piece Dimensions: W 50, D 40, H 25 cm Materials: Copper. Each model is unique because it is handmade, it can be reproduced in ...
Copper
Set of 4 Plain Fruit Bowls by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Plain fruit bowls by Studio Cúze Dimensions: W 29 x H 6.5 cm Materials: ceramic A unique bowl that brightens up your room and knows how to present your fruit in an inim...
Ceramic
Set of 4 Helice Black Porcelain Bowl by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Helice black porcelain bowl by Studio Cúze Dimensions: W 15 x H 6 cm Materials: porcelain Studio Cúze I am a Berlin based Japanese ceramic artist. I completed the Desi...
Ceramic
Set of 2 Helice Fruit Bowls by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Helice fruit bowl by Studio Cúze Dimensions: W 27 x H 6.5 cm Materials: ceramic The Helice Fruit Bowl is an all-white bowl with a special quality and a unique handmade ...
Ceramic
Air Dried Beechwood Fruit Bowl on Nicely Turned Base Great Present
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely brand new air-dried beechwood fruit bowl on nicely turned base We have cleaned waxed and polished it from...
Beech
Brazilian Contemporary Set of Appetizer Ceramic Bowls by Rodrigo Almeida
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Set of three appetizer ceramic bowls, Brazil, 2014 Brazilian contemporary design by Rodrigo Almeida Measurement Units Centimeters 22cm D x 9.5cm H 21.5cm x 21cm x 6cm H 21.5cm x 21...
Jacaranda, Ceramic
$2,990 / item
Tazón Alto Galeana Bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne
Located in Geneve, CH
Tazón Alto Galeana bowl by Jorge Diego Etienne Limited Edition of 10 + 1 AP Dimensions: D 25 x W 25 x H 12.5 cm Material: alabaster Galeana is a collection of 6 objects designe...
Alabaster
$6,366 / set
Set of 2 La Bocca Bowls by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 La Bocca bowls by Marcela Cure Dimensions: W 32 x D 22 x H 26 cm Materials: resin and stone composite Our La Bocca bowl is inspired by the fascinating and provocative f...
Stone
$6,468 / set
Set of 2 Le Mani Bowls by Marcela Cure
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Le Mani Bowls by Marcela Cure Dimensions: W 42 x D 42 x H 15 cm Materials: Resin and Stone Composite The latest addition to our CORPOREA Collection is the Le Mani bowl....
Stone
Set of 4 Helice Fruit Bowls by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Helice fruit bowl by Studio Cúze Dimensions: W 27 x H 6.5 cm Materials: ceramic The Helice fruit bowl is an all-white bowl with a special quality and a unique handmade ...
Ceramic
Set of 2 Plain Fruit Bowls by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 plain fruit bowls by Studio Cúze. Dimensions: W 29 x H 6.5 cm. Materials: ceramic. A unique bowl that brightens up your room and knows how to present your fruit in an i...
Ceramic
Set of 4 Ceti Serving Bowl by Studio Cúze
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Ceti serving bowl by Studio Cúze. Dimensions: D 9 x W 8 x H 8 cm. Materials: ceramic Ceti is a handmade, white ceramic dispenser that offers a very smooth surface. The ...
Ceramic
$2,310 / item
Handmade Nest Steel Sculpture by Le Meduse
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade nest steel sculpture by Le Meduse Unique piece Dimensions: W 60, D 40, H 30 cm Materials: Iron painted. Each model is unique because...
Stainless Steel, Other