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.
Large Scale Patinated Steel Domino Wall Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large wall lamp designed in the form of an oversized domino tile. Constructed from patinated steel with integrated acrylic diffusers, the piece combines a playful graphic motif wit...
Steel
$8,285 / item
Continuum 900 Wall Sconce by Lost Profile Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Continuum 900 Wall Sconce by Lost Profile Studio Dimensions: W 38 x D 12 x H 90 cm Materials: Brass, Glass, Aluminium, LED Finishes: Aged Brass (w...
Aluminum, Brass, Other
$1,206 / item
Capsule Golden Wall Light by Square in Circle
Located in Geneve, CH
Capsule Golden wall light by Square in Circle Dimensions: D5 x W5.5 x H40 cm Materials:Brushed brass/ opaque glass Other finishes available. Perfect ...
Brass
$1,334 / item
Alba Monocle Exterior Wall Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Alba Monocle Exterior Wall Light by Contain Dimensions: D 8 x W 8 x H 10 cm. Materials: Brass, 3D printed PLA structure and optical lens. Available in d...
Brass, Other
$1,845 / item
Frame Miroir Medium Wall Lamp by Violaine d'Harcourt
Located in Geneve, CH
Frame Miroir Medium Wall Lamp by Violaine d'Harcourt Dimensions: D 11 x W 28 x H 42 cm. Materials: Lacquered steel and paper. Wall light in lacquered steel, made in Portugal, bulb i...
Steel
$522Sale Price|40% Off
Murano Due wall lighting 24 ct Gilt gold , Italy 1990
By Murano Due
Located in La xara, VC
Murano Due lighting is highly sought after for several compelling reasons: • Exceptional Artistic Craftsmanship: Murano Due lights are made using centuries-old hand-blown glass tech...
Murano Glass
$1,416 / item
Lasca Wall Lamp by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Lasca Wall Lamp by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 26 x D 18 x H 37 cm Materials: Cristallo quartzite and cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum Also availabl...
Quartz, Metal
Italian Postmodern Aton Barra Wall Lamp by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare wall lamp from the italian manufacturer artemide after a design by ernesto gismondi from the 80s. a technical design made of aluminum and black plastic. The lamp can be mounted...
Metal
Three Fontana Arte Wall Lights, Gianni Celada, 1980
By Fontana Arte, Gianni Celada
Located in Vienna, AT
Set of three large Postmodern wall lights designed by Gianni Celada for Fontana Arte, 1980. Set at an angle of 45° these large wall lights (model ‚Sisten‘) are made of chromed and la...
Steel, Chrome
No. 13 Circle Green, Grey Contemporary Art Wall Sconce by Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
Circle Blue Grey Wall Sconce by Sander Bottinga. Handmade in brass, leather, wood, and hand-printed and painted linen. Dimensions: H 35 x W 27 x D 23 cm. (A dimmer is inlaid with le...
Brass
$2,800Sale Price / set|39% Off
Pair of Fratelli Martini Bronze Floral Italian 1980s Wall Lamps (5)
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of polished bronze floral wall lamps with overlapping petals. Thick heavy bronze over 10 pounds each. Newly rewired. Made by Italia...
Bronze
$835 / set
White Brut Body Sconces by Di Fretto
Located in Geneve, CH
White Brut Body Sconces by Di Fretto Dimensions: W 26 x D 10 x H 27 cm Materials: White Faience The Body appliques are the 2 sides of the sculpture of a w...
Faience
$1,009 / item
Stadium Round Wall Light by Square in Circle
Located in Geneve, CH
Stadium round wall light by Square in Circle Dimensions: D6 x W11 x H35 cm Materials: Brushed brass/ white frosted glass Other finishes available. A long, rounded bathroom wall ligh...
Brass
$1,400Sale Price|50% Off
1980s Space Age Triangular Murano Glass Flush / Wall Light
By La Murrina
Located in New York, NY
A hand Blown Murano Glass Triangular pyramid clear and white with gold fitting. Made by La Murrumbidgee 1980. Golden brass fixture. Rewired I’m. Three candelabra sockets. Signed.
Brass
$3,991 / set
Set of 2 Natural Stone Wall Light 70 by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Natural Stone Wall Light 70 by Aver Dimensions: W 4 x D 11 x H 70 cm Materials: Natural rocks, high-quality cut crystals, jewelry chains, hand-blown glass, other. Aver Design...
Stone, Crystal, Other
Ostro Ecru Ceramic Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Ostro Ecru Ceramic Wall Sconce by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: D 17 x W 31 x H 31 cm. Materials: Ceramic and glass. Available in different ceramic and marbl...
Marble
$547Sale Price / item|20% Off
Toso wall lighting yellow gold murano glass sign, Italy 1990
Located in La xara, VC
Toso lighting is highly sought after for several compelling reasons: • Exceptional Artistic Craftsmanship: Toso lights are made using centuries-old hand-blown glass techniques from ...
Brass
Postmodern Italian White Pair of Wall Sconces by Targetti Sankey, 1980s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Cool Postmodern White Metal Pair of Wall Sconces or Flush Mounts by Targetti Sankey. Model: 376 Blanco. These fixtures were designed and manufactured in Italy during 1980s These fixt...
Metal
Italian Murano Glass Wall Light Sconce Mauro Marzollo for Itre Italia 1 of 7
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Italy Vetri Di Murano Post Modern style wall light attributed to Mauro Marzollo for Itre Italia. Wall sconce light with a Murano blue glass diffuser on chrome metal mounting. These ...
Murano Glass
Rare Post Modern Mesh Flowers Design Single Sconce, 1980s, Belgium
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Rare Post Modern Mesh Flowers Design Single Sconce, 1980s, Belgium Very elegant and Minimalist wall lamp. Lamp is in very good condition. These lamps works with Halogen light bulb...
Metal
Postmodern Pair of White Glass Metal Wall Sconces by Blauet, Barcelona, 1990s
By Blauet
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Pretty Postmodern Spanish Pair of White metal White glass Wall Sconces by Blauet. Model: Maria 250 White/White. These Wall Lights were made in Barcelona (Spain) by Blauet during 1990...
Metal
Set Of 2 Nueé Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamps by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Nueé Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamps by Grès Éditions Unique Pieces. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 30 x H 40 cm. Base: H 46 cm. Materials: Ecru cotton and ceramic. Weight: ...
Ceramic, Cotton
$1,520 / item
Quartz Wall Sconce II by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Quartz wall sconce II by Aver Dimensions: W 14 x D 16 x H 55 cm Materials: Natural rocks, high-quality cut crystals, jewelry chains, hand-blown glass, other. Also Available: Matte Bl...
Stone, Crystal, Other
Pharos Hand Sculpted Natural Stone Wall Lamp III by Aver
Located in Geneve, CH
Pharos Hand Sculpted Natural Stone Wall Lamp III by Aver Dimensions: D 8 x W 7 x H 75 cm. Materials: Natural stone, metal. Available in different metal finish options. Please contac...
Stone, Metal
Postmodern Set of Three Gold Metal Wall Sconces by Estiluz, Barcelona, 1990s
By Estiluz, Estiluz Lighting, Leonardo Marelli
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty Postmodern Set of Three Gold Metal Wall Sconces by Leonardo Marelli for Estiluz. Model: A-2044 Gold These fixtures were designed and manufactured in Barcelona (Spain) by Estil...
Metal
Small Misalliance Ral Antique Pink Wall Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Misalliance Ral Antique pink wall light by Lexavala Dimensions: D 16 x W 70 x H 8 cm Materials: powder coated aluminium. There are two lengh...
Aluminum
Set of 4 original Memphis style "Jill" Arteluce wall sconces, 1980's
By Perry King and Santiago Miranda, Arteluce
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A set of 4 original Memphis style "Jill " Arteluce wall sconces by Perry King and S. Miranda, available for purchase per piece. The design is cle...
Metal
Pair of Sconces or Ceiling Lamps by Mario Bellini for Artemide, 1970s, Italy
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Pair of Sconces or Ceiling Lamps by Mario Bellini for Artemide, 1970s, Italy Lampshade is in good condition and very clean. This lamp works with E27 light bulb Wired and suitable t...
Plastic, Parchment Paper
$6,000Sale Price / set|50% Off
Set of Five Fratelli Martini Polished Bronze 1980 Italian Wall Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A set of 5 luxurious finely crafted polished bronze floral wall lights by the Italian lighting maker, Fratelli Martini. Newly Rewired. A 6th availab...
Bronze
$997 / item
28sp Wall Lamp by Bocci
Located in Geneve, CH
28sp wall lamp by Bocci Dimensions: Diameter 16.5 x H 11.5 cm Materials: blown glass, electrical components, metal mounting plate Lamping: : 1.5w LED or 20w xenon. Non-dimmable. ...
Metal, Steel, Nickel
$4,525 / item
Tub 65 Wide Alabaster Wall Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Tub 65 Wide Alabaster wall light by Contain Dimensions: D 6 x W 10 x H 65 cm Materials: Alabaster. Also available in different dimensions. All our lamps can be wired according to e...
Alabaster
Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Wall Light, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine and moulded pine-veneer wall light designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson and produced by Elysett AB, Sweden, 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 10.25” H x 6” W x 9.25” D Back Plat...
Pine
Baba Unique Wall Sconce in White Onyx, Glass & Aluminum by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Baba Unique Wall Sconce in White Onyx, Glass & Aluminum by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 10 x W 20 x H 25 cm. Materials: Aluminum, glass, and onyx. Available in differen...
Onyx, Aluminum
$380Sale Price / item|60% Off
Wall Lamp Deco Parete 80s Style Minimalsit
By Tronconi, Giorgio Marianelli
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Wall lamp designed by Raul Barbieri and Giorgio Marianelli for Tronconi. The name is Deco Parete. Black steel painted body. Light beam goes upward and downward. It's set to the ceil...
Steel
Single Sconce by Jean-Pierre Vitrac for Verre Lumière
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This elegant wall light (Model 20572Y) designed by Jean‑Pierre Vitrac for Verre Lumière in the 1980s is a superb example of late‑modern French lighting. It has a lacquered metal fr...
Metal
$789 / item
Tabu P Wall Lamp by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Tabu P Wall Lamp by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 10 x D 10 x H 21 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum Also available in Polished Cast Bras...
Metal
Possess Sculptural Wall Lamp, designed and assembled in Italy by Dario Nasuti
Located in Parma, IT
Conceptual Inspiration: Surrealism and the Capture of Light "Possess" is a sculptural wall sconce that skillfully straddles the line between avant-garde design and surreal art. The ...
Metal
Michelle Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Michelle Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions Unique Piece. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 40 x H 20 cm. Base: H 30 cm. Materials: Jute and ceramic. Weight: 4,7 kg. Elect...
Ceramic, Jute
Italian Postmodern Geco 1 Indoor and Outdoor Wall Lamp for Arteluce, 1990s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Italian Postmodern Geco 1 Indoor and Outdoor Wall Lamp by Luciano Pagani and Angelo Perversi for Arteluce, 1990s Wall or ceiling lights from the italian manufacturer arteluce/flos a...
Metal
$7,356 / set
Set of 2 Femme Sconces by Olivia Cognet
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Femme Sconces by Olivia Cognet Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x H 30 cm Materials: Ceramic. Each of Olivia’s handmade creations is a unique work of art, the snapshot of a precious...
Ceramic
Bergboms, Wall Light, Brass, Sweden, 1970s
By Bergboms
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable brass wall light designed and produced by Bergboms, Sweden, c. 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 17” H x 2.9” W x 12.5” D Back Plate Dimensions (inches): 7.75” H x 1...
Brass
$2,400Sale Price / set|50% Off
Pair of French Sunburst 1990s Lights
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful orange and tea colored resin prisms on a golden brass fixture. Rewired. Six light sources. Can be used on the ceiling or wall.
Brass
Very Rare Sintesi Wall Lamp by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, Italy, 1970s
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Beautiful Italian wall lamp by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide. Metal body with adjustable head. It has an extraordinary shape and is in a very good vintage condition. The lights re...
Aluminum
$754 / item
Le Perle Wall Lamp by Euroluce Lampadari
Located in Geneve, CH
Le Perle Wall Lamp by Euroluce Lampadari Dimensions: D 25 x W 13 x H 23 cm. Materials: Metal and glass. Available in different colors. Prices may vary. All our lamps can be wired ac...
Metal
Postmodern Artemide Pantarei Wall Lamp/ Sconce
Located in New York, NY
This very cool wall or ceiling light was designed in the early 1990s by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide called Pantarei . Rounded glass shade with an aluminum frame. Can be used indoor...
Aluminum
Double Bronze Sconce by Solis Betancourt for Holly Hunt
By José Solís Betancourt 1, HOLLY HUNT
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Aureole double sconce designed by Solis Betancourt for Holly Hunt. The pieces are truly beautiful well designed and executed, very minima...
Bronze
$650 / item
Roger Tallon for Erco 'Spot' Wall Light
By Erco, Roger Tallon
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roger Tallon for Erco, 'Spot' wall light, iron, lacquered metal, metal, plastic, France, 1970s. These wall lamps are icons made by Erco and designed by the French designer Roger Tal...
Metal
Johanna Grawunder Memphis Large Yellow Black Light Wall Lamps (4), Italy 1989
By Memphis Group, Johanna Grawunder
Located in Vienna, AT
Four early Johanna Grawunder lighting panels or sconces for Memphis, Italy, 1989. Dimensions per piece: 43.3"x29.5"x2". Sold and priced individually. New York based designer/archi...
Metal
$1,288 / item
Tabu G Wall Lamp by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Tabu G Wall Lamp by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 17.5 x D 16 x H 35 cm Materials: Cast metal. Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum Also available in Polished Cast Br...
Metal
1980 Gigante for Zerbetto Postmodern Design Fluorescent Wall Lamp
By Boccato Gigante Zambusi, Zerbetto
Located in Brescia, IT
Boccato, Gigante, Zambusi for Zerbetto, 1981 Red wall lamp. Perfect working order. Excellent condition.
Metal
Postmodern Italian Wall Sconce from Targetti, Set of 2
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare wall sconces from the Italian manufacturer Targetti. The design follows a postmodern design language and color scheme. The lights are monochrome in blue, with a different color...
Metal
Swedish Designer, Wall Light, Pine, Velvet, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine and brown velvet wall light designed and produced in Sweden, 1970s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 15” H x 9” W x 12” D Backplate Dimensions (inches): 6.06" H x 6.06" W x 1.75...
Velvet, Pine
$10,325Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of "Totem" Sconces Attributed to Maria Pergay
By Maria Pergay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of "Totem" sconces attributed to Maria Pergay. Made of oval shaped stainless steel and brass ram skull. Inside is mirror polished and exterior is brushed finish. Rewired for USA...
Stainless Steel, Brass
Postmodern Italian Aggregato Braccio Wall Lamp by Enzo Mari & Giancarlo, 1970s
By Enzo Mari, Giancarlo Fassina
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare wall or ceiling light from the Aggregato series by the Italian manufacturer Artemide based on a design by Enzo Mari and Giancarlo Fassina from the 70s. The widely projecti...
Metal
$4,247 / item
Silk #13 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Silk #13 wall light by Margaux Leycuras One of a Kind, Signed and numbered Dimensions: Ø52, H55 cm. Material: Ceramic, sandy stoneware platters with a porcelain slip finish. The ...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Stoneware
DL440 Wall Lamp in Satin Brass with Two Blown Glass Spheres by Daluce
Located in Geneve, CH
DL440 Wall Lamp in Satin Brass with Two Blown Glass Spheres by Daluce Dimensions: D 10,3 x 8,5 x H 65 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Available in different finish options: light s...
Brass
$5,105 / item
Continuum 500 Wall Sconce by Lost Profile Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Continuum 500 Wall Sconce by Lost Profile Studio Dimensions: W 22 x D 9 x H 50 cm Materials: Brass, Glass, Aluminium, LED Finishes: Aged Brass (wa...
Aluminum, Brass, Other
Large Guillerme et Chambron Double Wall Light Sconce
Located in Trensacq, FR
Guillerme & Chambron Double Wall Sconce – Blonde Oak, France, Circa 1970s A beautifully crafted double wall light sconce designed by the renowned French duo Jacques Chambron and...
Metal, Brass
Aphrodite Wall Lamp by André Cazenave, France, 1970
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Rare “Aphrodite” wall lamp by André Cazenave for Atelier A, designed and produced in France circa 1970. Crafted in fiberglass coated with marble powder, the piece presents a striking...
Fiberglass
$2,552 / set
Post-Modern Wall Lights by Boréns, circa 1980
By Boréns Borås
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare Pair of Post-Modern wall lights by Boréns, manufactured in Sweden in the 1970-1980s. White enameled steel body with an aluminum rainbow-shaped layered top which is painted green...
Steel