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.
Rare early K-series (Oba- Q/Ghost) table lamp by Shiro Kuramata (Large)
Located in Centreville, VA
This masterpiece, K-series or another name Oba- Q, epitomizes Japanese post-modernism designed in 1972 by Shiro Kuramata, the Japanese legendary interior designer. Another name Oba ...
Acrylic
Very cool pop art Post Modern table lamp with colorful Resin Pretzels sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Very cool pop art Post Modern lamp featuring a central frosted white light column supporting a vertical stack of resin pretzels. Each pretzel topped with a crystalline granular textu...
Resin, Acrylic
LV-426 Table Lamp in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
LV-426 Table Lamp in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 15 x H 90 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated cast br...
Bronze
Tukiainen Aimo Ossi Kalevi Table Lamp Copper Finland 1970 Post Modern Brutalist
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A freeform copper table lamp designed by Tukiainen Aimo Ossi Kalevi and produced by Oy Moonlight, Finland, 1970s. Bulb Specifications: E-27 Bulb Number of Sockets: 1 All lighting w...
Metal, Copper
$1,401Sale Price|28% Off
Fontana Arte amber , white Italian table lamp “3064”, Daniela Puppa, glass steel
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing and beautiful table lamp, model 3064, designed by Daniela Puppa for Fontana Arte. Daniela Puppa reduces the piece to its basic forms, two inverted trapezoids make up the nec...
Steel, Iron
$1,299 / item
Anden I Opaline Acrylic Table Lamp by Studio Orbeat
Located in Geneve, CH
Anden I Opaline Acrylic Table Lamp by Studio Orbeat Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 12 cm Materials: opaline acrylic, bronze, bulit in dimmer switch and warm LED light. Fittings also av...
Bronze, Other
Modernist Dome Top Table Lamp by Paul Mayen for Habitat
By Paul Mayen, Habitat International
Located in New York, NY
Classic Mod design table lamp designed by Paul Mayer for Habitat. The lamp features a black dome shade with a chrome base. The lamp accepts two standard siz...
Steel, Chrome
Michael Taylor Style Sculptural Modern Plaster Twist Spiral Column Table Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Chunky and substantial Michael Taylor style twisted spiral table lamp, circa 1980's. This architectural column form lamp features a textural warm matte white/cream plaster finish. La...
Plaster
Lovoa Trichilioides Tree African Walnut Torva Table Lamp by Hodan Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Lovoa Trichilioides Tree African Walnut Torva Table Lamp by Hodan Design Dimensions: W 60 x D 20 x H 10 cm Materials: Lovoa Trichilioides Tree African Walnut. Finish color: Charred b...
Walnut
Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide Table Lamp 'Sintesi' in Red
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, table lamp, model 'Sintesi', first edition, Cornalux bulb included, coated iron, coated metal, aluminum, rubber, plastic, Italy, 1976 The founder of A...
Metal, Iron
Postmodern Spanish Chromed Table Lamp by Leonardo Marelli for Estiluz, 1980s
By Estiluz Lighting, Estiluz, Leonardo Marelli
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty and cool Postmodern Chromed Table Lamp by Leonardo Marelli for Estiluz. This Table Lamp was made in Barcelona (Spain) by Estiluz during 1980s. Model M-1131. “Estiluz” original...
Metal
$2,784 / item
Baume #3 White Stoneware Lamp by Elisa Uberti
Located in Geneve, CH
Baume #3 White Stoneware Lamp by Elisa Uberti Limited Edition Of 2 Pieces + 1 AP Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 50/55 cm. Materials: White stoneware. The diameter of this piece is approximate...
Stoneware
Large Brass Table Lamp Signed G. Autier France, 1970s
By G. Autier
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Exceptional 1970s handcrafted design table lamp base by G. Autier, France. High quality geometrical brass sculpture. Incised signature G Autier Measures: Brass body height 11.4" in...
Brass
Mule Deer Antler Large Table Lamp by The Peak Antler
Located in Geneve, CH
Mule Deer Antler Large Table Lamp by The Peak Antler Dimensions: D 40.64 x H 45.72 cm Materials: naturally shed antlers, leather Based in, produced ...
Antler
Post Modern Desk Lamp by Ron Rezek, ca. 1980's
Located in New York, NY
Chic 1980's desk lamp by Ron Rezek, in excellent original, clean and working condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. The hood shade (6.5 in. diam...
Metal
Ingo Maurer, Glatzkopf Table Lamp, Design M, Set of 2, Germany, 1981
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Krefeld, DE
Ingo Maurer, Glatzkopf Table Lamp, Design M, Germany, 1981, Set of 2 Rare early “Glatzkopf” table lamps designed by Ingo Maurer in 1981 and produced by Design M, Munich. This set of ...
Steel
Lily Table Lamp in Wood with Cotton Pleated Shade by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Lily Table Lamp in Wood with Cotton Pleated Shade by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 69 cm. Materials: Brushed oak or solid turned beech wood base paired with a premium pleated ...
Cotton, Wood
$2,866 / item
Mesia Ceramic Table Lamp by Luis Gimeno
Located in Geneve, CH
Mesia Ceramic Table Lamp by Luis Gimeno Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 38 cm Materials: Ceramics, Glass Available colors: Amber / Green All our lamps can be wired according to each cou...
Ceramic, Glass
Rare Gaetano Pesce Resin Lamp
Located in Austin, TX
Rare post modern resin lamp by collectible artist Gaetano Pesce from his Olo series. "Olo" translates to "feeling" in English. Transformer and bulb...
Resin
Set of 2 Vintage Italian Postmodern Meridiana Table Lamps by Paolo, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Set of 2 Vintage Italian Postmodern Meridiana Table Lamps by Paolo Francesco Piva for Stefano Cevoli, 1980s Two elegant table lights from the Italian manufacturer Stefano Cevoli aft...
Metal
80s Rare Set of Vintage Postmodern Brutalist Hivo Van Teal Table Lamps
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
80s Very Rare Set of Vintage Postmodern Memphis Geometric Distressed Glass & Gold Leaf Designer Hivo Van Teal Table Lamps - a Pair Extraordinary and Super Rare Pair of 80s Postmodern Glass and Iron, Stacked, Acid Washed, Distressed Table Lamps...
Metal, Gold Leaf
Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs PostModern Deco Sleek Chrome Bankers Desk Lamp
By Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
1980’s, award winning, postmodern, Memphis.Era, modernist, re-imagined art deco, bankers desk touch lamp Designed by Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs, This stunning, elegant lamp...
Chrome
Ecorce Table Lamp in Ceramic, Copper and Cotton by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Ecorce Table Lamp in Ceramic, Copper and Cotton by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: Ø 37 x H 60 cm. Materials: Handmade ceramic structure detailed with a premium copper finish, cotton sha...
Copper
$3,500 / item
Ron Rezek Galvanized Steel Table Lamp
By Ron Rezek
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Postmodern table lamp by Los Angeles lighting designer Ron Rezek, c.1980s. The lamp features a galvanized steel frame and removable steel shade with brass ring accent that sits at th...
Brass, Steel
Unique Luminaries N12 Sculptural Table Lamp by Maria Loram
By Maria Loram
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Luminaries N12 Sculptural Table Lamp by Maria Loram Dimensions: W 15.2 x D 15.2 x H 38 cm Materials: Ceramics, paper, and lamp parts. Colors: Black/Brown. Custom dimensions a...
Ceramic, Paper
Ettore Sottsas Tahiti Memphis Milano Postmodern
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Ettore Sottsass's Tahiti lamp. Materpiece of 1980s design.
Stainless Steel
Francesco Buzzi Ceriani 'Cuffia' Table Lamp in Black Metal
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Francesco Buzzi Ceriani 'Cuffia' table lamp, aluminum, steel, chrome, Italy, design 1960s The Cuffia table lamp, designed by Francesco Buzzi Ceriani in 1960s Italy, is a refined exa...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
An Important ART-DECO NEOCLASSICAL TABLE LAMP by PHILIPPE BARBIER, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An important elegant table lamp, Post-Modernist, NeoClassical, Shabby-Chic, a black lacquered metal cubic base and a wide spherical body with a final cylindrical lampshade, by Philip...
Metal
Lumenform Table Lamp in Glass and Chrome 1970s
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lumenform table lamp, chrome-plated steel, glass, Italy, 1970s This striking table lamp, crafted by Lumenform in Italy and stands out as a remarkable piece. Its ingenious design cre...
Steel, Chrome
An ART-DECO NEOCLASSICAL POSTMODERN Tin TABLE LAMP, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant architectural table lamp, Post-Modernist, NeoClassical, Shabby-Chic, a matte tin metal cylindrical base and 1 spherical body with a final cylindrical lampshade, in the spi...
Metal
Postmodern Pink Ceramic and Lucite Swirled Table Lamp
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Outstanding vintage postmodern ceramic table lamp. Features a pink glass finish over the twisted rectangular body. 3 way lighting.
Ceramic
Post Modern Brushed Metal Dual Light Table Lamp by Michael Graves
Located in San Diego, CA
Post Modern Brushed Metal Dual Table Lamp by Michael Graves, circa 1990s. Add a bold Postmodern touch with this Brushed Metal Dual Table Lamp by Michael Graves. This lamp is in good ...
Metal
$1,395 / item
Charlie CHATAMBG Table Lamp by Mazzega 1946
Located in Geneve, CH
Charlie CHATAMBG Table Lamp by Mazzega 1946 Dimensions: W 28 x D 28 x H 50 cm. Materials: Polished Chrome. Diffuser: White. Weight: 012 Kg. The roots of Mazzega1946 are in Murano,...
Chrome
Tolomeo Table Lamp Michele De Lucchi Giancarlo Fassina Artemide Italy PostModern
By Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina, Artemide
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Tolomeo Table Lamp, an iconic piece of Italian lighting design. It was designed in 1987 (some sources cite 1989) by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina ...
Aluminum
A mosaic table lamp by BD Lumica, signed, circa 1970
By BD Lumica, Willy Rizzo
Located in View Park, CA
A cityscape table lamp by BD Lumica, probably designed by Willy Rizzo, Spain circa 1970. This lamp features a mosaic esque Paul Evans inspired tiling. Made in Spain.
Metal
Postmodern Vintage Table Lamp from Artimeta, 1980s
By Artimeta
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare table lamp from Artimeta in black, white and chrome. An elegant design with a minimalist foot and postmodern elements. The wide-curved arm, which is stabilized over a simple, b...
Metal
$2,150 / item
Ceiba Lamp
Located in Mérida, MX
This lamp reads as a small ceramic totem that lives somewhere between the domestic object and sculpture. Its compact, archetypal conical silhouette can evoke a popular mexican tree k...
Clay, Resin
$638 / item
Nuit Table Lamp by Studio Indigene
Located in Geneve, CH
Nuit Table Lamp by Studio Indigene Dimensions: ⌀ 21 x H 28 cm Materials: Reclaimed Teak Wood, Brass. Colors Brown, Natural Wooden, Brass Finish. Echoing the archetypical form of a t...
Stainless Steel
No. 11 Circle Blue Grey Contemporary Art Floor Lamp by Sander Bottinga
Located in Geneve, CH
Light object, floor lamp, circle blue grey Handmade in brass, leather, wood and hand printed and painted linen. A dimmer is inlaid with leather. Dimensions: H 146 x W 27 x D 16 cm. T...
Brass
$556Sale Price|20% Off
1970's Postmodern Design Brass Architectural Table Lamp
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Postmodern Hollywood Regency Style Design Brass Architectural Table Lamp, made in the 1970's. All brass base with brown lampshade with gold inner finnish. 2 light points in t...
Brass
An Important POST-MODERN MEMPHIS Floor or TABLE LAMP, France or Italy 1980
Located in PARIS, FR
An enormous table lamp or rather, floor lamp, Post-Modernist, Bauhaus, Memphis, thick triangular base in wood veneered with varnished cork burr, white lacquered metal tube topped wit...
Cork
Pair of 1980s Italian Murano Glass Cone Table Lamps
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Elegant pair of Murano glass lamps crafted in the 1980s with a striking conical form. Each lamp is made with clear and white glass featuring black speckled details that create a refi...
Murano Glass
Caterpillar, Floor Lamp Sculpture, Vincent Darré and Ludovic Clément d’Armont
Located in Geneve, CH
Caterpillar, floor lamp sculpture, Vincent Darré and Ludovic Clément d’Armont Blown glass, textile, brass. Dimensions: 22 x 105 x 30 cm. Created in cooperation with designer Vin...
Brass
1990s Multicolored Lucite and Chrome Time Tunnel Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fantastic cylindrical table lamp with blue and red lucite rings, a mesh interior, and a chrome frame that gives perfect 1990s vibes! In very good vintage condition with wear con...
Chrome
$872Sale Price / set|45% Off
Postmodern Pair of "Delta" Table Lamps by Mario Bertorelle for JM RDM, 1980s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique Italian pair of table lamps by Mario Bertorelle, from 1980s. These pieces were made during the 1980s in Massanzago by JM RMD. These table lamps are named Delta. Delta is the ...
Plastic
$1,543 / item
Green Marble Peono Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Marble Peono Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40.6 x H 61 cm. Materials: Brass, acrylic and green marble. Also available in differ...
Marble, Brass
$2,097Sale Price|29% Off
1980s Modern Table Lamp by Ron Rezek, Anodized Aluminum & Glass
By Ron Rezek
Located in Seattle, WA
A Modern table lamp by Ron Rezek, circa 1980s. Also known as the "Mushroom Lamp." This lamp features blue and red anodized brush aluminum with ...
Metal
Posidoni Bronze and Handblown Glass Table Lamp, 2 Lights, by Emilie Lemardeley
Located in Geneve, CH
Posidoni Bronze and Handblown Glass Table Lamp, 2 Lights, by Emilie Lemardeley Handmade Dimensions: D 28 x W 35 x H 78 cm. Materials: Bronze, hand-blown glass. Posidoni was born fro...
Bronze
Pair of Late 20th Century Two Handles Jar Ceramic Table Lamps
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of large late 20th century two handles jar ceramic table lamps. C 1980s Feature a modernist interpretation of a traditional two handles water j...
Ceramic
Postmodern Philips Table Lamp 1980s
By Philips
Located in Čelinac, BA
Philips Postmodern Table Lamp Germany 1980s
Plastic
Post Modern Memphis Alsy Style Squiggle Form Black Metal Table Lamp c. 1980/90s
Located in New York, NY
Wiggly, and squiggly Post Modern, Memphis school table lamp made in the USA, attributed to Alsy, circa 1980/90's, unsigned. The lamp is in very good, original, clean and working cond...
Metal
Pair of Arfai Ceramic Table Lamps Portugal 1990s
Located in Debrecen, HU
Elegant pair of Portuguese ceramic table lamps produced by Arfai Ceramics in the 1990s. These sculptural lamps combine clean geometric lines with handcrafted ceramic surfaces, creati...
Ceramic, Fabric
$1,079 / item
White Alabaster Pura Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
White Alabaster Pura Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 58 cm. Materials: Brass, cotton and white alabaster. Also available in different marble, wood and alabaster o...
Alabaster, Brass
$2,784 / item
Zenith #2 Lamp by Elisa Uberti
Located in Geneve, CH
Zenith #2 Lamp by Elisa Uberti Limited series of 8 numbered copies + 1AP Dimensions: W 25 x D 15 x H 50 cm Materials: White Stoneware. This product is hand...
Stoneware
$1,005Sale Price|88% Off
Alessandro Mendini Artemide Sidecar Table Lamp Murano Glass Postmodern
By Artemide, VeArt, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alessandro Mendini for Artemide Sidecar table lamp Postmodern Murano glass, 1980s. Exceedingly rare Memphis era design, signed. Gorgeous blush pink, t...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Rare XXL Desk Lamp In The Postmodern Popart Memphis Style of Haba, 90s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Rare XXL desk lamp in the postmodern popart Memphis style of Haba, 90s Very nice and rare postmodern desk lamp from Haba from the 80s, 90s. The flexible lamp can serve both as a des...
Wood
Adjustable Post Modern Halogen Desk Lamp by Holtkotter Made in Germany c. 1980's
By Holtkoetter
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Post-Modern style desk lamp by noted German maker Holtkotter, circa 1980's. The lamp features several adjustments, including a swivel and tilt point at the base, as well...
Brass
Postmodern Heron Lamp by Isao Hosoe for Luxo
By Isao Hosoe
Located in Oslo, NO
Iconic table lamp designed by Isao Hosoe for the Norwegian lamp maker Luxo. Moulded plastic in a lacquered silver coating. The lamp is fully working and in ...
Plastic
$2,205Sale Price / set|20% Off
Post-Modern table lamps by Bruno Gecchelin for Skipper and Pollux, Italy, 1980s
By Skipper and Pollux, Bruno Gecchelin
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Pair of Italian table lamps attributed to Bruno Gecchelin, 1980s. Made of perforated metal lacquered in black and circular glass diffuser finished in 4 different tones, embodying the...
Metal
Tabla table lamp by Mario Barbaglia & Marco Colombo for Italiana Luce, 1988.
By Mario Barbaglia and Marco Colombo, Italiana Luce
Located in Athens, Attiki
Tabla table lamp by Mario Barbaglia & Marco Colombo for Italiana Luce, 1988. Tabla has an extendable adjustable arm, made of lightweight polycarbonate plastic, that pivots on the pea...
Metal