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.
$19,980 / item
Jell Sofa in Dark Green Fabric by Alter Ego Studio
Located in Castelo da Maia, PT
Jell Sofa in Dark Green Fabric by Alter Ego Studio Dimensions W 260 cm D 120 cm H 85 cm Product features Product options: Upholstery: Available in all Alter Ego leathers and fa...
Stone
$3,781 / item
Nature Burgundy Longue Chair by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Burgundy longue chair by MOWEE Dimensions: D85 x W83 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weigh...
Aluminum
$3,922 / item
Famed Brass Bench by Lagu
Located in Geneve, CH
Famed brass bench by Lagu Designed by Ufuk Ceylan Dimensions: W 150 x D 45 x H 47 cm. Materials: Fabric, Foam, Brass. The Famed bench...harmoniously combi...
Brass
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Petrol, Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair petrol forest green by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 99 x W 68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 25 kg Also avail...
Upholstery, Teak
$19,980 / item
Jell Sofa Black Fabric by Alter Ego Studio
Located in Castelo da Maia, PT
Jell Sofa by Alter Ego Studio Dimensions W 260 cm D 120 cm H 85 cm Product features Product options: Upholstery: Available in all Alter Ego Studio leathers and fabrics. Availab...
Stone
$1,259 / item
Haven Olive Pouf by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven Olive pouf by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D57 x H 40 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Wood. Weight: 9.5 kg Also available in different colours a...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$1,256 / item
Dainty Pouf Pearl Grey, Black by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Dainty Pouf Pearl grey black by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 55 x H 39 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, foam. Weight: 9.5 kg Also available in different colours and fi...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$3,753 / item
Lace Cream Daybed by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace cream daybed by MOWEE Dimensions: D200 x W195 x H60 cm. Material: Polyethylene, stainless steel and polyester. Weight: 60 kg Also available in di...
Stainless Steel, Other
$1,280 / item
Xaloc Chocolate Pouf 50 by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Xaloc chocolate pouf 50 by Mowee Dimensions: D50 x W50 x H43 cm Material: Aluminium, Textile Weight: 7 kg Also Available in different colours and finishes. Xaloc synthesizes...
Aluminum
$16,850 / set
Set of 2 Pearl Aurora Armchairs by Nelson Araujo
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Pearl Aurora Armchairs by Nelson Araujo Dimensions: W 81 x D 69 x H 57 cm Materials: Wood, bouclé and foam. Also available: Misty Beige, Champagne ...
Bouclé, Foam, Wood
$5,490 / item
Haven 3 Seater Jade by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven 3 seater jade by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 220 x W 84 x H 110/40 cm Material: Textile upholstery, foam, spring system, wood Weight: 84 kg Also available in different colour...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$3,341 / item
Cape Lounge Chair Steel Blue by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Cape lounge chair steel blue by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 90 x W 82 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs Weight: 34.5 kg Also avai...
Steel
$4,215 / item
Cover White Double Left Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover White Double Left Modular Sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W148 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm) Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 29 kg. Also available in different co...
Aluminum
$3,934 / item
Nature Navy Right Chaise Lounge by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Navy Right Chaise longue by MOWEE Dimensions: D155 x W76 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 28 kg. Also available in diff...
Aluminum
Orange and Smoked Oak Raf Simons Vidar 3 My Own Chair Footstool by Lassen
Located in Geneve, CH
Orange and smoked oak raf simons vidar 3 my own chair footstool by Lassen. Dimensions: W 56 x D 58 x H 40 cm Materials: Textile Also Available: Other colors available, The My ...
Textile
$3,065 / item
Cover Navy Longue Chair by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Navy Longue Chair by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W91 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 20 kg. Also avai...
Aluminum
$2,254 / item
Goma Bar Chair by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Goma bar chair by Made by Choice with Thomas Sandell Dimensions: 50 x 50 x 105 cm Materials: plywood Also available: upholstery in fabric or leather (category 1 & 3), goma dinin...
Birch, Plywood
$1,514 / item
Lace White Sofa with Cushion by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace white sofa with cushion by Mowee Dimensions: D 66 x W 135 x H 75.5 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless steel Weight: 21 kg Also available in different colours and finishes....
Stainless Steel, Other
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Dark Ochre, Pale Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair dark ochre pale rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 25 kg Also availa...
Upholstery, Teak
$3,789 / item
Nature Black Longue Chair by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature black longue chair by MOWEE. Dimensions: D85 x W83 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 2...
Aluminum
$4,071 / item
Cover Burgundy Divan by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover burgundy divan by MOWEE. Dimensions: D91 x W155 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 30 kg. Also available in different colors and finis...
Aluminum
$2,447 / item
Cover Burgundy Central Modular Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Burgundy Central modular sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W68 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 17...
Aluminum
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Light Green, Petrol, Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair light green petrol fresh peach by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck uphols...
Upholstery, Teak
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Grey Melange by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried Egg left lounge chair grey Melange by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oil...
Upholstery, Teak
$3,335 / item
Cape Lounge Chair Cream by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Cape lounge chair cream by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 90 x W 82 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder co...
Steel
$5,014 / item
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Pale Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair pale rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 99 x W 68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oile...
Upholstery, Teak
$7,187 / item
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D201 x W79 x H 78/46 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Spring system, Solid oiled oak legs, Solid smoked oak legs ...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$3,753 / item
Lace White Daybed by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace white daybed by MOWEE Dimensions: D200 x W195 x H60 cm. Material: Polyethylene, stainless steel and polyester. Weight: 60 kg Also available in different colors and finishes ...
Stainless Steel, Other
$3,781 / item
Nature Cream Longue Chair by MOWEE
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature cream longue chair by MOWEE Dimensions: D85 x W83 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 20 ...
Aluminum
Lace Chocolate Lounge Chair with Cushion by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace chocolate lounge chair with cushion by MOWEE Dimensions: D70 x W66 x H75.5 cm Material: Polyethylene, Stainless Steel Weight: 10.5 kg...
Stainless Steel, Other
$529 / item
Lace Grey Stool by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace grey stool by MOWEE. Dimensions: D43 x H91 cm. Material: polyethylene, stainless steel. Weight: 6.7 kg Also available in different colours and fini...
Stainless Steel
$4,556 / item
Cover Grey Sofa by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover grey sofa by MOWEE Dimensions: D83 x W160 x H81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 32 kg. Also available in differe...
Aluminum
Cape Lounge Chair with Stitches Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Cape lounge chair with stitches forest green by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D95 x W84 x H 80 cm Material: textile upholstery, wooden frame, powder coated black steel legs Weight: 36.5...
Steel
$3,769 / item
Cover Burgundy Right Chaise Lounge by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover Burgundy Right Chaise Longue by MOWEE Dimensions: D 80 x W 155 x H 81 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum and upholstery. Weight: 28 kg. Also available in different ...
Aluminum
$5,014 / item
Fried Egg Right Lounge Chair Petrol by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried Egg Right Lounge Chair Petrol by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 25 kg Also available in differ...
Upholstery, Teak
Fried Egg Right Lounge Chair Sheepskin Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg right lounge chair sheepskin grey by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Sheepskin, Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 25 kg Also ...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Teak
$1,259 / item
Cover Cream Armchair by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover cream armchair by MOWEE. Dimensions: D60 x W62 x H83 cm (seat height 48 cm). Material: aluminium and upholstery. Weight: 5 kg. Also available in different colors and finish...
Aluminum
$1,479 / item
Nature Cream Armchair by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Nature Cream Armchair by MOWEE Dimensions: D60 x W67 x H83 cm (seat height 42 cm). Material: Aluminum, upholstery and Iroko Wood. Weight: 5 kg. Also available in different colors...
Aluminum
$528 / item
Lace White Stool by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace white stool by Mowee. Dimensions: D43 x H91 cm. Material: Polyethylene, Sstainless steel. Weight: 6.7 kg. Also Available in different colours and finishes. Lace is a col...
Stainless Steel
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Dark Ochre by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair dark ochre by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oiled...
Upholstery, Teak
$3,335 / item
Cape Lounge Chair Sprinkles Eggplant by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Cape lounge chair sprinkles eggplant by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D90 x W82 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs Weight: 34.5 kg Als...
Steel
Lace Cream Lounge Chair with Cushion by Mowee
Located in Geneve, CH
Lace cream lounge chair with cushion by Mowee Dimensions: D 70 x W 66 x H 75.5 cm Material: Polyethylene, stainless steel Weight: 10.5 kg ...
Stainless Steel, Other
$5,501 / item
Haven 3 Seater Sand by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven 3 seater sand by Warm Nordic. Dimensions: D220 x W84 x H 110/40 cm. Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Spring system, Wood. Weight: 84 kg Also available in different colours and finishes. Haven is a contemporary sofa with a simple, soft idiom. With its high, embracing back, the sofa creates a sanctuary, where you can sit, gently shielded off from your surroundings, curled up with a book or enjoying an in-depth conversation in your living room. Haven is also ideal for a conference room or lobby, either alone or with two sofas facing each other, thereby expanding the private space. The Haven Lounge Chair and Pouf make the perfect complement. For a perfect holistic impression the Haven range is covered with the exclusive furnishing fabrics, Hero, whose soft, almost felt-like surface complements the sofas organic shape...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Sheepskin Scandinavian Grey by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair sheepskin Scandinavian grey by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: sheepskin, textile or nubuck upholstery, solid oiled teak Weight: ...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Teak
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Sheepskin Patchwork Mix by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair sheepskin patchwork mix by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Sheepskin, Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 25 k...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Teak
Fried Egg Right Lounge Chair Caramel Grey Spicy Brown by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried Egg Right Lounge Chair Caramel Grey Spicy Brown by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 25 kg Also a...
Upholstery, Teak
$7,201 / item
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Cream by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 seater oak cream by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D201 x W79 x H 78/46 cm Material: textile upholstery, foam, spring system, solid oiled oak legs, solid smoked oak legs Weigh...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$1,835 / item
Grace Light Rose Pouf by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Grace light rose pouf by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D77 x H 45 cm. Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Wood. Weight: 15.5 kg. Also available in different colours and finishes. A...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Dark Blue, Cappuccino Brown, Cloudy by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair dark blue cappuccino brown cloudy by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, ...
Upholstery, Teak
Fried Egg Left Lounge Chair Pale Rose, Dark Ochre by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Fried egg left lounge chair pale rose dark ochre by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D99 x W68 x H 68 cm Material: Textile or nubuck upholstery, Solid oiled teak Weight: 25 kg Also availa...
Upholstery, Teak
$1,259 / item
Dainty Pouf Burnt Orange Rusty Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Dainty Pouf Burnt Orange Rusty Rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D55 x H 39 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, foam. Weight: 9.5 kg Also available in different colours ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$1,259 / item
Haven Sand Pouf by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven Sand Pouf by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D57 x H 40 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Wood. Weight: 9.5 kg Also available in different colours and finishes. Please contact...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
$7,187 / item
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Java Brown by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 seater oak java brown by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 201 x W 79 x H 78/46 cm Material: Textile upholstery, foam, spring system, solid oiled oak legs, Solid smoked oak legs...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
$3,335 / item
Cape Lounge Chair Forest Green by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Cape lounge chair forest green by Warm Nordic. Dimensions: D90 x W82 x H 80 cm Material: textile upholstery, wooden frame, powder coated black steel legs Weight: 34.5 kg Also ava...
Steel
Cape Lounge Chair with Stitches Fresh Peach by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Cape lounge chair with stitches fresh peach by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D 95 x W 84 x H 80 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Wooden frame, Powder coated black steel legs Weight: 36....
Steel
$3,170 / item
Dwell Lounge Chair Silk Camel by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Dwell lounge chair silk camel by Warm Nordic. Dimensions: D69 x W66 x H 73 cm. Material: textile or leather upholstery, solid smoked or white oiled oak legs, wooden frame, foam, sp...
Leather, Silk, Foam, Wood, Oak
$1,256 / item
Haven Jade Pouf by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Haven Jade Pouf by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D57 x H 40 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Wood. Weight: 9.5 kg Also available in different colours and finishes. The Haven ...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Mosaic Spicy Brown by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Mr Olsen 3 Seater Oak Mosaic Spicy Brown by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D201 x W79 x H 78/46 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Foam, Spring system, Solid oiled oak legs, Solid smoked oa...
Upholstery, Foam, Oak
Set of 2 Terracota Salvador Chairs by Nelson Araujo
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Terracota Salvador Chairs by Nelson Araujo Dimensions: D 47 x H 75 cm Materials: Wood, Kvadrat Gentle II and Foam. Also Available: Misty Beige colour available, Nelson de ...
Velvet, Foam, Wood
$1,600 / item
Galore Module Pouf Pale Rose by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Galore Module Pouf Pale Rose by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D75 x W75 x H 44 cm Material: Textile upholstery, Powder coated black steel legs, Wooden frame, foam, spring system. Weight...
Steel