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.
White Marble Flutita Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
White Marble Flutita Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 40 cm. Materials: Cotton and white marble. Also available in different marble and wood options and finishes. ...
Marble
Pure Crystal Glass Nina Amber and Grande Table Lamp by Studio Bojola
Located in Geneve, CH
Pure Crystal Glass Onna Clear and Grande Amber Table Lamp by Studio Bojola Dimensions: D 26 x H 47 cm Materials: Pure lead crystal glass. Color: Amber. Weight: 4.5 kg. NINA, inspir...
Crystal
The Writer's Beacon Aluminium Table Lamp by Bureau of Entropy
Located in Geneve, CH
The Writer's Beacon Aluminium Table Lamp by Bureau of Entropy. Limited edition, numbered & signed. Dimensions: W 26 x D 26 x H 30 cm. Materials: Aluminium. All our lamps can be wire...
Aluminum
Ettore Sottsass "Ashoka" Table Lamp, Postmodern Design, 1981
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
ASHOKA by Ettore Sottsass, which takes its name from the emperor of the Maurya Empire, resembles an unstable stack of playful geometric forms. Though it seems “de-structured,” the la...
Metal
Vintage Boho Origami Resin Table Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Illuminate your space with the sculptural brilliance of this vintage origami-style table lamp. A masterpiece of geometric design, this piece features a complex structure of interlock...
Metal
Vintage Modernist Chrome Table Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This lamp features a bold, sculptural design with a reflective chrome finish. The base consists of a cylindrical pedestal supporting a large, polished metallic sphere, creating a dyn...
Chrome
$3,778 / item
Original L4 Ceramic Table Lamp by Daniel Orozco
Located in Geneve, CH
Original L4 ceramic table lamp by Daniel Orozco Material: Ceramic. Dimensions: D 30 x H 50 cm White ceramic table lamp, with white peaks and palm screen. Handmade by Mexican artisan...
Ceramic
Unique Luminaries N4 Sculptural Table Lamp by Maria Loram
By Maria Loram
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Luminaries N4 Sculptural Table Lamp by Maria Loram Dimensions: W 35.6 x D 21.6 x H 38 cm Materials: Ceramics, paper, and lamp parts. Colors: Gray. Custom dimensions and alter...
Ceramic, Paper
$607 / item
Lingara Table Lamp by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Lingara Table Lamp by Deetee Home Dimensions: W 20.32 x D 20.32 x H 40.64 cm Materials: FRP All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired...
Other
Gyros desk lamp by Emmanuelle Colboc for Artemide, 1980s
By Emmanuelle Colboc
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Spectacular desk lamp with a pendulum system, model Gyros designed by Emmanuelle Colboc in 1985. Produced and made in France by Megalit – Artemide. Memphis style white lacquered meta...
Steel
Pinnacle of Aphelion Aluminum Table Lamp by Bureau of Entropy
Located in Geneve, CH
Pinnacle of Aphelion Aluminum Table Lamp by Bureau of Entropy. Limited edition, numbered & signed. Dimensions: W 36 x D 36 x H 40 cm. Materials: Aluminium. All our lamps can be ...
Aluminum
Italian Yellow and Black Postmodern Desk Lamp
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful 1980s Italian yellow and black Postmodern desk lamp. The lamp has a high-low switch and it takes a small halogen light bulb. Dimen...
Steel
$2,138 / item
Pablo Table Lamp by Daniel Schneiger
Located in Geneve, CH
Pablo Table Lamp by Daniel Schneiger Dimensions: D 23 x W 23 x H 51 cm Materials: Wood and resin Shade is not included. Custom finishes are available. CAST\: A collection of new lig...
Resin, Wood
Leonardi & Stagi 'Bowling' Table Lamp for Lumeform, Italy 1960s
By Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi, Lumenform
Located in Argelato, BO
Franca Stagi; Cesare Leonardi 'Bowling' table light, 1969 H. 25 cm, Ø 22 cm. Made by Lumenform, Scorzè. Sheet metal, painted yellow and white, clear glass, black plastic. Literature: Ferrari...
Metal
Maestrale lamp by Denis Santachiara
Located in PARIS, FR
Denis Santachiara Lampe Maestrale, Ca. 1988 Édition Domodinamica, Italy Aluminum, fabric H. 69 x ø 18 cm This piece is not exactly a lamp but rather a light sculpture that makes the...
Aluminum
Vintage Post Modern Atomic Copper & Aluminum Table Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition
Aluminum, Copper
Small Elephant Leg Parota Wood Lamp with Fabric Shade by Isabel Moncada
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Elephant Leg Parota Wood Lamp with Fabric Shade by Isabel Moncada Dimensions: Ø 48.5 x H 74 cm. Materials: Turned parota wood base and fabric-lined lampshade with fiberglass and polystyrene. Named Pata de Elefante...
Wood, Linen, Fiberglass, Polystyrene
$1,354 / item
White Alabaster Peona Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
White Alabaster Peona Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 61 cm. Materials: Brass, cotton and white alabaster. Also available in different marble, wood and alabaster ...
Alabaster, Brass
$640Sale Price|20% Off
1980s Postmodern Halogen Desk Lamp by Robert Sonneman, Glass & Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Postmodern design halogen desk lamp after Robert Sonneman for Kovacs. Use with halogen light bulb 60 watts max. Dimmer switch with knob to center of base. Dimensions: H 15.25 in. ...
Metal, Brass
$1,062 / item
Venice Rialto Table Lamp by Morici
Located in Geneve, CH
Venice Rialto Table Lamp by Morici Dimensions: W 21 x D 21 x H 46 cm, Lampshade H 20 cm Materials: Wood, inlay veneer. Finish : Gloss brushed polyester. With a clean, minimalist des...
Wood
Grenat Foncé Table Lamp in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Grenat Foncé Table Lamp in Deep Burgundy Glazed Ceramic by Gazar Studio Unique Piece Dimensions: Ø 13 x H 37 cm. Materials: Clay with deep burgundy glaze. All our lamps can be wire...
Clay
Brown Large Table Lamp in Stoneware with Hand-Painted Glaze by Lucas Huillet
Located in Geneve, CH
Brown Large Table Lamp in Stoneware with Hand-Painted Glaze Lucas Huillet Unique Piece Dimensions: D 25 x W 41 x H 45 cm. Materials: Glazed stoneware. Lucas Huillet is an artisan de...
Stoneware
Obsidian Table Lamp in Mirror and Glass with Brass Lighting Fixture by Homa
Located in Geneve, CH
Obsidian Table Lamp in Mirror and Glass with Brass Lighting Fixture by Homa Dimensions: W 42 x D 31 x H 40 cm. Materials: Blown Glass, Smoke Mirror, Bra...
Brass
$12,332 / item
Bigflow Lamp in Red Lacquered Wood by Kimy Gringoire
Located in Geneve, CH
Bigflow Lamp in Red Lacquered Wood by Kimy Gringoire. Dimensions: W 82 x D 22 x H 76 cm. Materials: Red Lacquered Wood. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold...
Wood
Pure Crystal Glass Tello Green and Grande Amber Table Lamp by Studio Bojola
Located in Geneve, CH
Pure Crystal Glass Tello Green and Grande Amber Table Lamp by Studio Bojola Dimensions: D 26 x H 26 cm Materials: Pure lead crystal glass. Color: Green and amber. Weight: 3.5 kg. T...
Crystal
Lamp "Fuoco" by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia, 2000s
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare Gaetano Pesce fuoco lamp for Meritalia. Very few items edited. Molded manufacturer's mark and signature to rooftop written : ‘L’architettura astratta ripetitiva standard globalizzante e legna da ardere? Gaetano Pesce Meritalia...
Epoxy Resin
$600Sale Price|25% Off
1980s Postmodern Travertine Table Lamp by Stone International
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Now available is solid travertine table lamp in overall great condition. No major chips or breaks in the stone. Please note that the shade itself is not included in the sale as it ha...
Travertine
$2,931 / item
Ne600 Lamp, Limited Edition, by MLK Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Ne600 Lamp, Limited Edition, by MLK Furniture Limited Edition of 3 Dimensions: D 20 x W 20 x H 63 cm. Materials: Stainless steel, brass, acrylic. The Ne600 Lamp by MLK Furniture wa...
Brass, Stainless Steel
VF210 Table Lamp In Satin Brass & Blown Glass by Daluce
Located in Geneve, CH
VF210 Table Lamp In Satin Brass & Blown Glass by Daluce Dimensions: Ø 22 x H 32 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Available in different finish options: light satin burnished brass, ...
Brass
Fulcrum Table Lamp in Brass & Mirrored Silver Glass by Bianco Light + Space
Located in Geneve, CH
Fulcrum Table Lamp in Brass & Mirrored Silver Glass by Bianco Light + Space Dimensions: D 28 x W 13 x H 30 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Available in different finish options. Pri...
Brass
$5,348 / item
Beran Antique Brass Large Table Lamp by Bert Frank
Located in Geneve, CH
Beran Antique Brass Large Table Lamp by Bert Frank Dimensions: Ø 36 x H 32 cm. Materials: Brass and alabaster. Base finish: Olive. Available in two different sizes. Available in dif...
Alabaster, Brass
$2,312 / item
Stella di Mare Ceramic Table Lamp by Renzo Maar
Located in Geneve, CH
Stella di Mare Ceramic Table Lamp by Renzo Maar Handmade Dimensions: D 20 x H 48 cm (dimensions are approximate) Materials: Ceramic, white stoneware. Lampshade not included. Made of...
Ceramic
Spider table lamp by Joe Colombo for Oluce
By Joe Colombo
Located in Klintehamn, SE
The Spider table lamp was designed by Joe Colombo in 1965. Lacquered metal base, chromium-plated stem, adjustable reflector in lacquered aluminum. Manufactured by Oluce, Italy. Fine...
Metal, Aluminum
Fungo Table Lamp with a Black Hemispherical Lampshade by Disain1971
Located in Geneve, CH
Fungo Table Lamp with a Black Hemispherical Lampshade by Disain1971 Dimensions: D 40 x H 65 cm Materials: Black, Gold, Bronze / Nero, Oro, Bronzo. Weight: 9 kg. Code: DL1022 Tabl...
Bronze
'Ecate' Table Lamp by Toni Coredro for Artemide
By Artemide, Toni Cordero
Located in Dallas, TX
A vintage 1990s ‘Ecate’ table lamp designed by Toni Cordero for Artemide, reflecting the era’s bold approach to form and material. Defined by its sculptural form, the piece is finish...
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Mademoiselle Hors De Sa Robe Paper Light Sculpture by Papier à êtres
Located in Geneve, CH
Mademoiselle Hors De Sa Robe Paper Light Sculpture by Papier à êtres One of a Kind Dimensions: D 25 x W 25 x H 45 cm. (Dimensions may vary) Materials: Craft paper. Available in 45 a...
Paper
Orbital Array Aluminium Table Lamp by Bureau of Entropy
Located in Geneve, CH
Orbital Array Aluminium Table Lamp by Bureau of Entropy. Limited edition, numbered & signed. Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x H 35 cm. Materials: Aluminium. All our lamps can be wired acco...
Aluminum
Oxidized Bronze and Steel Metallized Lamp by Frederic Texier
Located in Geneve, CH
Oxidized Bronze and Steel Metallized Lamp by Frederic Texier Dimensions: W 24 x D 13 x H 65 cm. Materials: Concrete coated with steel powder and bronze and then oxidized. Metal part...
Bronze, Steel
Pagode Small Table Lamp in Oak Wood & Natural Japanese Paper by Heilig Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Pagode Small Table Lamp in Oak Wood & Natural Japanese Paper by Heilig Objects Dimensions: D 15,3 x W 15,3 x H 22 cm. Materials: Oak wood and natural Japanese paper. All our lamps c...
Oak, Paper
$724 / item
Oak Pipito Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak Pipito Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 40 cm. Materials: Cotton and oak. Also available in different marble and wood options and finishes. Custom options avai...
Cotton, Oak
$2,208 / item
Nuit Table Lamp by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Nuit Table Lamp by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 25 x W 50 x H 70 cm. Materials: Brushed brass, high gloss lacquer and satin fabric. Nuit table lamp is a classic and elegant solution...
Brass
Sweet Thing Tall Lamp in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Thing Tall Lamp in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 40 x H 125-130 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinate...
Bronze
Nova Table Lamp in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Nova Table Lamp in Patinated Cast Bronze by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 24 x H 34 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Patinated cast bron...
Bronze
Italian Table or Desk Lamp in Postmodern Style Steel and Murano Glass by Leucos
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Wonderful arch shaped table or desk lamp by Italian light specialist Leucos. Its base is made of black colored steel. The light bulb itself is placed in an aerodynamically shaped Mur...
Steel
Nickel Plated Brass Invisible Chords Twist Table Lamp by Magic Circus Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Nickel Plated Brass Invisible Chords Twist Table Lamp by Magic Circus Editions Dimensions: H 66 x W 20 cm Materials: Solid brass, borosilicate tube and mouth blown glass. Weight: 5 ...
Brass
$2,312 / item
L 01 Ceramic Table Lamp by Renzo Maar
Located in Geneve, CH
L 01 Ceramic Table Lamp by Renzo Maar Handmade Dimensions: D 18 x H 36 cm (dimensions are approximate) Materials: Ceramic, white stoneware. Lampshade not included. This lamp is a tr...
Ceramic
Lucarne Paper Light Sculpture, One Character, by Papier à êtres
Located in Geneve, CH
Lucarne Paper Light Sculpture, One Character, by Papier à êtres One of a Kind Dimensions: D 22 x W 22 x H 42 cm. Materials: Paper. Sophie Mouton-Perrat and Frédéric Guibrunet have b...
Paper
Deramo Table Lamp in Iron and Custom Glass by Animate Objects
Located in Geneve, CH
Deramo Table Lamp in Iron and Custom Glass by Animate Objects. Dimensions: W 16 x D 16 x H 40 cm. Materials: Iron, brass-plated, Custom Glass. All our lamps can be wired according t...
Brass, Iron
Borgia Table Lamp in Horn, 24K Gold-Plated Brass & Ivory Shantung by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Borgia Table Lamp in Horn, 24K Gold-Plated Brass & Ivory Shantung by Arcahorn Dimensions: D 40 x W 40 x H 64 cm. Materials: Horn, 24K gold-plated brass, and ivory shantung. All our ...
Gold Plate, Brass, Other
$1,144 / item
Medium White Loop Lamp by Iranzo
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium White Loop Lamp by Iranzo Dimensions: D 25 x H 59 cm. Material: Epoxy resin & polypropylene Available in: White / Black - at the same price Light pink / Blue / Pastel gr...
Epoxy Resin
Brass And Alabaster Offset Globe Table Lamp by MATLIGHT Milano
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass And Alabaster Offset Globe Table Lamp by MATLIGHT Milano Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 x H 36 cm. Materials: Brass and alabaster. Handmade In Italy. All our lamps can be wired accor...
Alabaster, Brass
$5,440Sale Price|20% Off
Cressida Bell - 'Harlequin' Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Giant Urn Lampbase with Matching Shade Hand-painted giant urn lamp base with matching shade adorned with different shades of purple, dark blue, and yellow. Cressida Bell...
Brass
Lune Desk Lamp in Black Patinated Bronze by Jules Desdoigts
Located in Geneve, CH
Lune Desk Lamp in Black Patinated Bronze by Jules Desdoigts. Dimensions: D 28 x H 28 cm. Materials: Black-patinated bronze base and watercolor paper lampshade. This lamp, with its b...
Bronze
1 2 3 Table Lamps Post Modern Geometric French Pop Art 1980's
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
1 2 3 Table lamps with geometric and pop art influences of the Post Modern 1980's Enamelled steel in white, red and yellow Manufacturer or des...
Steel
9" Folded Steel Table Lamp with Hand Blown, Frosted Glass Diffuser in Bright Red
Located in York, CA
Concord Tilt Table Lamp: Large in Bright Red Powder-coated Finish The Tilt is a charming accent light that suits any interior. This plug-in fixture is made from folded steel, solid b...
Brass, Steel
$1,775 / item
Wendu Table Lamp by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
Wendu Table Lamp by DAaZ Dimensions: D 46 x H 68 cm. Materials: Aluminum, fabric. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it will be wired for the U...
Aluminum
Contemporary Mushroom Rough Beige Stone Table Lamp by Frederic Saulou
Located in Geneve, CH
Doma table lamp by Frederic Saulou Handmade Materials: Limestone, led. Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 65 cm Frederic Saulou's sculpted design artworks introduce a series of works ...
Limestone
$1,167 / item
Lumina Lamp by Deetee Home
Located in Geneve, CH
Lumina Lamp by Deetee Home Dimensions: W 36.322 x D 36.322 x H 66.04 cm Materials: Stoneware All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold...
Stoneware
Eclisse Table Lamp in Matte Horn, Silk, Black Oak Veneer & Brass by Arcahorn
Located in Geneve, CH
Eclisse Table Lamp in Matte Horn, Silk, Black Oak Veneer & Brass by Arcahorn Dimensions: Ø 50 x H 75 cm. Materials: Horn, silk, brass, and black oak veneer. Also available in a diff...
Other, Brass
Michele De Lucchi "Oceanic" Table Lamp, Post-Modern Metal Design, 1981
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Designed by Michele De Lucchi, the OCEANIC lamp, a mysterious stylized creature, has become one of the most famous icons of the Memphis group thanks to it...
Metal