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.
Guido Faleschini for Mariani Pace Collection Bed Set in Off White Nubuck Leather
By Guido Faleschini, i4 Mariani
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guido Faleschini for Mariani, ‘Pace Collection’ bed, two nightstands and two stools, nubuck leather, chrome-plated brass, enameled steel, Italy, circa 1975 This eccentric bedroom se...
Brass, Steel
Rare Mario Bellini for Cassina 'Le Mura' King Bed in Vibrant Green Corduroy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Bellini for Cassina, 'Le Mura' king bed, corduroy "Phlox" by Raf Simons x Kvadrat, chrome-plated steel, Italy, 1972 The 'Le Mura' line by Mario Bellini was introduced in 1972 ...
Steel, Chrome
Cini Boeri for Arflex 'Tuttoletto' Queen Bed in Oak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Arflex, 'Tuttoletto' queen bed, oak veneer, Italy, 1978 Exceptional piece of furniture designed by Cini Boeri for Arflex in 1978. This monumental bedroom unit present...
Oak
Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau 'Lullaby Due' Bed in White Leather
By Luigi Massoni, Poltrona Frau
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau, 'Lullaby Due' bed, leather, wood, chromed metal, plastic, Italy, designed in 1968 A 360° degrees rotating bed named 'Lullaby Due' features a headres...
Metal, Chrome
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto Artona King Bed with Nightstands
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 'Artona' king bed with nightstands, walnut, metal, leather, Italy, 1975/1979 This meticulously designed 'A...
Metal
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Post modern space age gloss white laminate queen platform bed with headboard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Post modern space age gloss white laminate queen platform bed with headboard. Custom fabricated queen bed with headboard that has blanket or pillow storage. Labeled made in 1989 in U...
Steel
Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina 'Toledo' Single Beds in Padouk and Leather
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, 'Toledo' single beds, padouk, maple, leather, metal, Italy, 1975 Created by the Italian master Carlo Scarpa, this bed clearly demonstrates his studies...
Metal
Hand Crafted Kingsize Headboard by Portladin
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional handcrafted oak headboard, having radiating spokes, suggestive of a sunrise/sunset. The headboard will accommodate a King Size mattress, it is in very good, original, cl...
Oak
$8,325Sale Price|30% Off
Paolo Piva Double Bed King-Size Brass and Steel "Adia" by B&B, 1980s
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Fabulous Adia adjustable platform bed designed by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia in the 1980s. The bed is made of cast steel and textured slate gray powder coated with brushed brass feet....
Brass, Steel
1980s Ello Lighted Mirrored Floating Brass Bed King Size
By Ello Furniture, Karl Springer
Located in Bensalem, PA
Amazing king size Ello brass, and mirrored floating bed with headboard please look at video and pictures for overall detail and condition it also has four lights controlled by a swit...
Brass
1980s Lighted Lucite Acrylic Bed Glowing Headboard
By Karl Springer, Roger Rougier, Neal Small
Located in Bensalem, PA
Extremely awesome queen size arched lighted headboard can easily change to any colored bulb. please look up pictures for overall condition measuremen...
Laminate, Lucite, Hardwood
Marc Held for Prisunic France Daybed in Fiberglass
Marc Held for Prisunic, day bed, fiberglass, rubber, metal, France, 1971 In 1971, the renowned French designer and architect Marc Held crafted an extraordinary day bed for Prisunic....
Acrylic, Fiberglass, Rubber
Post Modern Formica and mirrored king headboard
Located in Sayreville, NJ
King size Pomo headboard White Formica and mirrored Excellent condition
Mirror, Formica
Queen Size Bed Fully Upholstered in Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Queen size bed fully upholstered in aqua green leather and nail-head detail. Measurements: 93 inches high x 67 inches wide x 88 inches deep x 12.50 inches rail height. Mattress spac...
Leather, Wood
Brass and Mirrored Ello Queen Headboard, 1980's
Located in Culver City, CA
1980s Ello Queen Headboard – Miami Vice, But Make It Chic This 1980s postmodern Ello queen headboard is here to make your bedroom feel like a glitzy penthouse in a high-rise overloo...
Brass
Fidji Headboard in Rattan, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS
Located in Geneve, CH
Fidji Headboard in Rattan, Particle Board and HR Foam by POPUS EDITIONS. Dimensions: W 200 x D 15 x H 100 cm. Materials: Rattan frame, particle board, and HR foam. Fabric is not inc...
Foam, Wood, Rattan
Mid-Century Modern Vanessa Bed by Tobia Scarpa for Gavina, Italy, 1950s
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Argelato, BO
The Vanessa bed, designed by renowned Italian architect and designer Tobia Scarpa around 1959 and originally produced for Gavina (and later by Simon by Cassina), is an icon of Italia...
Metal
1980s Postmodern Leather Headboard Nightstands & Lamps King Or Queen Size
By Ligne Roset
Located in San Diego, CA
Majestic Italian postmodern headboard nighstands and lamps very nice and clean condition it all comes appart the long part of the board splits the...
Aluminum
1970s Postmodern Italian Sculptural Queen Size Bed with Nightstands
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful 1970s Italian postmodern, queen-size bed that features nightstands and a headboard with storage, combining style and functionality. The lacquered wood has been refinished a...
Wood, Lacquer
Black Glossy Lacquer Paint, Gradual Seduction Bed By OMER OZTURK
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Glossy Lacquer Paint, Gradual Seduction Bed By OMER OZTURK Dimensions: W 280 x D 245 x H 150 cm. Materials: Black Glossy Lacquer Paint. About: Design, in particular the subtle...
Lacquer
Contemporary Art Bed Helioendimio Silver and Gold Leaf by Luigi Ontani
By Luigi Ontani, Mirabili
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 99 numbered and signed copies. In Helioendimio, beyond the smiling crescent moon, the radiant sun’s gaze meets the eye of the creator who, at the same time, is bo...
Wood
Contemporary Art Bed Helioendimio Silver and Gold Leaf by Luigi Ontani
By Mirabili, Luigi Ontani
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 99 numbered and signed copies. In Helioendimio, beyond the smiling crescent moon, the radiant sun’s gaze meets the eye of the creator who, at the same time, is bo...
Wood
$4,567 / item
SigRe Bed by Dale Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
SigRe Bed by Dale Italia Dimensions: D 213 x W 170 x H 100 cm. Materials: Walnut and upholstery. Bed with solid walnut frame and upholstered headboard. Slats (160 x 200 cm) are not ...
Upholstery, Walnut
Ettore Sottsass & Marco Zanini for Leitner Donau Collection Bed and Nightstand
By Memphis Group, Marco Zanini, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and iconic Italian post-modern Donau Collection bed and matching nightstand designed by master architect and furniture designer Ettore Sottsass (Austria/Italy, 1917-2007) in collaboration with Marco Zanini (Milan, Italy; b.1971) for Leitner Interior Design, circa 1988. Scarce design, bold and dramatic, sculptural-form, exceptionally executed in bird’s-eye maple lacquered and laminated wood, including blue accents and columns that offer a visually striking contrast. Retaining the original manufacturer's label, signed, 195/88. Provenance / Acquisition: Acquired from highly reputable auction house Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas. Design Signature Auction catalog #8110 Dimensions: (approx) Bed: (Twin XL...
Laminate, Wood
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Morna” Bed for Molteni, Italy, 1971
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & C
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Morna” Bed for Molteni, wood and cognac leather, Italy, 1972 The “Morna” bed epitomizes the harmonious fusion of modernist rigor and artisanal warmth. Const...
Leather, Wood
$9,943 / item
Bed with Nighstand by Tomasz Omachel
Located in Geneve, CH
Bed with Nighstand by Tomasz Omachel Dimensions: D 215 x W 275 x H 90 cm. Materials: Ash, Fabric and Brass. Tomasz Omachel (1984) is a self-taught m...
Brass
Marzio Cecchi cantilevered bed by Studio Most, Italy, 1960s
Located in Padova, IT
Rare green enamel cantilever french size bed frame by architect Marzio Cecchi (1940-1990) and produced by his design practice Studio Most. Cecchi could be said to be a practitioner o...
Steel
$3,710 / item
Object 089 Bed Frame by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 089 Bed Frame by NG Design Dimensions: W 200 x D 206 x H 24 cm Materials: Powder-Coated Steel All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. Also availa...
Steel
Fammi Sognare Bed by Valentina Giovando, Wooden & Fabric, Italy
Located in Geneve, CH
Fammi Sognare Bed by Valentina Giovando Dimensions: W 172 x D 201 x H 60 cm. Materials: Wooden structure, Fabric, Metal and brass elements, Sequins, Berglass, Trimming, Nails and Stu...
Zinc, Brass
$29,163 / item
Grun’ Bed by Faina
Located in Geneve, CH
Grun’ Bed by Faina Dimensions: D 237 x W 258 x H 95 cm Material: Textile, foam rubber, sintepon, wood. The distinctive geometry of the Grun' bed reflects its natural inspirations, ...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
$9,859 / item
Gothic Bed by DAaZ
Located in Geneve, CH
Gothic Bed by DAaZ Dimensions: D 248 x W 275 x H 122 cm. Materials: Wood, leather. DAaZ Furniture honors the spirit of adventure. We embrace the escape of the ordinary and revel in...
Wood, Leather
AB7 Full Size Platform Bed in Solid Maple by Atlas Industries
Located in Geneve, CH
AB7 Full Size Platform Bed in Solid Maple by Atlas Industries. Dimensions: Bed: W 137 x L 193 x H 33 cm Platform: H 20.5 cm. Headboard: W 137 x H 71 x D 5 cm. Materials: Solid Mapl...
Wood, Maple
Vittorio Rossi and Luciano Bertoncini for Cjfra 'Zattera' Bed
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vittorio Rossi and Luciano Bertoncini for Cjfra, 'Zattera' bed, fabric, lacquered wood, brass, chrome-plated steel, Italy, 1970s This extraordinary bed, created through the collabor...
Brass, Steel, Chrome
Contemporary Art the Butterfly Bed in Silk Velvet by Carla Tolomeo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Sculpture. Unique pieces hand made by the artist. The silk velvet fabrics and the embroidery are made expressly for the artist, Carla Tolomeo.
Silk
$4,674 / item
Verso Nord Bed by Dale Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Verso Nord Bed by Dale Italia Dimensions: D 227 x W 170 x H 102 cm. Materials: Walnut and upholstery. Bed with solid walnut frame and upholstered headboard. Slats (160 x 200 cm) are...
Walnut, Upholstery
$2,747 / item
Object 005 the Bed by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 005 the bed by NG Design Dimensions: D167 x W208 x H210 cm Materials: powder coated steel. Also available: all of objects available in different materials and colors on deman...
Steel
Queen Size Lacquered Cherry Platform Bed with Storage Headboard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Transform your bedroom into a stylish retreat with this beautifully crafted modern platform bed in a rich lacquered cherry finish. The standout feature is the spacious storage headbo...
Wood
Geometric Sculptural Double Bed designed and assembled in Italy by Dario Nasuti
Located in Parma, IT
The Geometric bed, designed by Dario Nasuti, is a work that explores the balance between the meditative minimalism of Oriental tatamis and the geometric audacity of 1970s Italian des...
Laminate
Ron Seff Brushed Stainless King Headboard
By Ron Seff
Located in Hanover, MA
Incredibly well constructed king size custom headboard entirely clad in brushed stainless steel with stylized art deco stacked ring and polished c...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
$5,104Sale Price|35% Off
Double Round rail bed by Ron Arad for One Off
Located in London, GB
Round Rail bed by designer Ron Arad in double size, with enamelled tubular steel, wire-mesh panels, kee-klamps and six strut horizontal supports. Ron Arad, RDI is a British-Israeli ...
Steel
$13,082 / item
Baixa Bed King by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Baixa Bed King by Wentz Dimensions: D 256 x W 230 x H 72 cm Materials: Wood, Upholstery. Low is WENTZ's first bed and reflects the designer's intention to ...
Upholstery, Wood
Red "Galassia" wooden Bed by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, Italy 1963
By Poltronova, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare and spectacular Galassia post-Modern bed in painted wood, designed by the great Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova. Bibliography: Domus 407 (October ...
Wood
$11,655 / item
Dobra Double Bed by Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Dobra Double Bed by Wentz Dimensions: D 250 x W 172 x H 70 cm Materials: Upholstered bed with wooden structure, elastic straps, hypersoft foam and WE—KNIT covering. Wooden feet with ...
Upholstery, Wood
AB6 Queen Size Platform Bed in Solid White Oak by Atlas Industries
Located in Geneve, CH
AB6 Queen Size Platform Bed in Solid White Oak by Atlas Industries. Dimensions: W 152.4 x L 210.8 x H 116.8 cm. Materials: Solid White Oak and Bronze accents with two integrated draw...
Bronze
$27,414 / item
Stainless Steel Bed by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless steel bed by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 208 x W 226 x H 73 cm Materials: stainless steel, leather Created as an island for living...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Postmodern Italian Tufted Leather Queen Bed by Rossetto Italia
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Postmodern Italian Tufted Leather Queen Bed by Rossetto Italia A postmodern Italian bed frame & headboard beautifully designed by Rossetto Italia. It features soft pouf tuft...
Leather, Wood
AB5 Queen Size Platform Bed in Solid Walnut by Atlas Industries
Located in Geneve, CH
AB5 Queen Size Platform Bed in Solid Walnut by Atlas Industries. Dimensions: W 161.5 x L 225 x H 101.5 cm. Materials: Solid Walnut and MDF platform base. This listing features the A...
Wood, Walnut
$4,634 / item
Essentia Bed by Dale Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Essentia Bed by Dale Italia Dimensions: D 213 x W 170 x H 102,5 cm. Materials: Walnut. Bed with solid walnut frame. Slats (160 x 200 cm) are not included. (excluded) Available in tw...
Walnut
$29,305 / item
Sally Bed by Fred and Juul
Located in Geneve, CH
Sally Bed by Fred and Juul Dimensions: D 203,7 x W 361 x H 120,8 cm. Materials: Oak. The mattress and cushion are not included. Please contact us. Fred&Juul, short for Federico Min...
Oak
$24,845 / item
Let's Play M 180 Bed by Munna
Located in Geneve, CH
Let's Play M 180 Bed by Munna Dimensions: D 220 x W 340 x H 160 cm. Bed Frame: D 210 x W 190 x H 33 cm. Materials: Wood, foam, and upholstery. Finish: Headboard upholstery: Cotton Ve...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Italian Modern Le Bambole Striped Daybed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1976
Located in Vicenza, IT
This Le Bambole day bed was designed by Mario Bellini in 1972 and manufactured by B&B Italia in 1976. It features a tubular steel structure, polyuretha...
Cotton, Foam
$13,737 / item
Bold Love Bed by Mohdern
Located in Geneve, CH
Bold Love Bed by Mohdern Dimensions: W 170 x D 170 x H 75 cm Materials: Fabric, Bouclé Bold is a refined furniture collection designed and produced by the Mohdern brand. The series...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery
$20,183 / item
Louvre Bed by Redeco
Located in Geneve, CH
Louvre Bed by Redeco Dimensions: W 220 x D 223 x H 134 cm Materials: Lightened mdf and mdf structure padded with polyurethane foam in different densities. Pre-upholstery in polyester...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Stanhope Bed by Michael Graves for Memphis Milano
By Michael Graves (b.1934), Memphis Milano
Located in Ravenna, IT
This double bed designed by architect and designer Michael Graves for Memphis Milan in 1982 is an important piece of postmodern design. It also illustrates how Graves himself transfe...
Glass, Wood
$7,849 / item
Bold Double Bed by Mohdern
Located in Geneve, CH
Bold Double Bed by Mohdern Dimensions: W 203 x D 230 x H 97 cm Materials: Fabric, Bouclé Bold is a refined furniture collection designed and produced by the Mohdern brand. The seri...
Fabric, Upholstery, Bouclé
$41,865 / item
Sevva Bed by Guillaume Alan
Located in Geneve, CH
Sevva bed by Guillaume Alan Dimensions: W 340 x D 100 x H 110 cm. Materials: Ash-Wood with Brushed Finish, Iron. Also available in different colors. French interior design ha...
Iron
Vintage Henredon Scene Two Olive Wood Queen Size Headboard
By Henredon
Located in Clarksboro, NJ
Elevate your bedroom with this vintage 1980s Henredon Scene Two queen-size headboard, a sophisticated blend of postmodern design and exceptional craftsmanship. Beautifully crafted in...
Wood, Olive
Italian Modernist Bed "Marlo" designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni
By Molteni & C, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an Exceptionally Rare Modernist bed "Marlo" designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni. It was designed in 1982 as an improved version of the 1970s '...
Steel
$14,771 / item
Oak and Walnut Bau Bed by ONON DETAILS
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak and Walnut Bau Bed by ONON DETAILS Dimensions: W 237.8 x D 210 x H 100 cm. Materials: Oak, Walnut. Large headboard pillow: Italian cowhide leather ONON Details furnitures are c...
Oak, Walnut
$4,341 / item
Leggiadro Bed by Dale Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Leggiadro Bed by Dale Italia Dimensions: D 230 x W 170 x H 100 cm. Materials: Walnut. Bed with solid walnut frame. Slats (160 x 200 cm) are included. Available in two different siz...
Walnut