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.
Luigi Saccardo 'Topline' Wall Unit in Vibrant Green and Black Color
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luigi Saccardo, 'Beehive' bookcase from the 'Topline' series, lacquered laminated wood, metal, Italy, circa 1976 Back in the seventies, Topline was a newly introduced collection by ...
Metal
Vittorio Introini for Saporiti Wall Unit in Lacquered Ash and Chrome
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vittorio Introini for Saporiti, multifunctional wall unit, black lacquered ash, chrome and white fabric, Italy, 1980s. Rare multifunctional wall unit designed by the Italian design...
Chrome
$789 / item
Mortaise Wall Shelf-700 by Clemence Birot
Located in Geneve, CH
Mortaise wall shelf-400 by Clemence Birot Dimensions: 75 x 25 x 6,5 cm Materials: cork, metal. Clemence Birot started her career in Copenhagen, Denmark, and discovered a design prac...
Metal
$12,253 / item
Mohs Small Tabernacle by Studio Intervallo
Located in Geneve, CH
Mohs Small Tabernacle by Studio Intervallo Dimensions: W 30 x D 53 x H 75 cm Materials: Wooden structure, covered with marbled cotton paper. Mohs is a special element, which ari...
Wood
Green Indio Marble and Black Steel Morse Shelf by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Indio marble and black steel morse shelf by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 21 x W 80 x H 87 cm Materials: Steel, Green Indio Marble Also available: Different marble and frame optio...
Marble, Steel
Dorothee Becker & Ingo Maurer, Uten.Silo, 1970s
Located in London, GB
Make the most of your wall space with the classic plastic, wall storage unit. This iconic design is versatile and practical, perfect for all homes. Designed by Dorothee Becker, this system was first produced and launched on the market in 1969 and a smaller version was issued in 1970 (Uten Silo...
Plastic
Shigeru Uchida Floating Aluminum Wall Cabinets With Sliding Doors
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Shigeru Uchida floating aluminum wall cabinets with sliding doors. Pastoe, Netherlands. Three available, priced separately. Measurements: 35.5” width, 7.25” depth, 10.5” height (e...
Aluminum
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Curved Glass Etagere Shelf
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular glass display shelf having a curved glass body, with 4 glass shelves, each rests on unusual organic formed cast brass supports. The pie...
Brass
Green Indio Marble and Brass Morse Shelf by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Indio marble and brass morse shelf by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 21 x W 80 x H 87 cm Materials: brass, green indio marble Also available: different marble and frame options ava...
Marble, Brass
Input Organiser by Anne Holm and Sigrid Smetana
Located in Geneve, CH
Input organiser by Anne Holm and Sigrid Smetana. Materials: oak. Dimensions: D 6.5 x W 66 x H 44 cm. Input is a flexible organiser with eight movable boxes in different dimensio...
Oak
$3,063 / item
Element Shelf by Idaaf Architects
Located in Geneve, CH
Element Shelf by Idaaf Architects Dimensions: W 125 x D 40 x H 85 cm Materials: Century Old Oak ‘Element’, which combines furniture of different functions, was created under the influence of the Georgian Oda house...
Oak
Post Modern Plate Glass and Brass Wall Mount Shelf, C. 1970's
By Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
Wall mount plate glass shelf, having a thick ( 1" ) top, with brass brackets. Well crafted, sophisticated design, in very good, original condition. Made in the USA in the Italian sty...
Brass
$370 / item
Natural Rondelle Shelf by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Rondelle shelf by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 80 x W 25 x H 18 cm Materials: oak wood. Available in other colors and with or without ste...
Oak
$591 / item
Mortaise Wall Shelf-400 by Clemence Birot
Located in Geneve, CH
Mortaise wall shelf-400 by Clemence Birot Dimensions: 40 x 25 x 6,5 cm Materials: cork, metal. Clemence Birot started her career in Copenhagen, Denmark, and discovered a design ...
Metal
White Carrara Marble and Brass Morse Shelf by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
White Carrara Marble and Brass Morse shelf by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 21 x W 80 x H 87 cm Materials: Brass, White Carrara Marble Also...
Marble, Brass
$336 / item
Coupé Horizontal Shelf by Poiat
Located in Geneve, CH
Coupé horizontal shelf by Poiat. Materials: metal. Dimensions: D 13.5 x W 90 x H 21 cm. Poiat is an established architecture and design office ba...
Metal
$2,274 / item
Medium Round Pine Shelves by David Renault
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium round pine shelves by David Renault. Dimensions: D 160 cm. Materials: pine wood. Available in other wood shades and sizes. Shelves made of solid pine from eco-responsibl...
Pine
$185 / item
Object 095 Shelf by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 095 Shelf by NG Design Dimensions: W 30 x D 20 x H 10 cm Materials: Steel Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. Steel shelf w...
Steel
White Carrara Marble and Black Steel Morse Shelf by Ox Denmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
White carrara marble and black steel morse shelf by Ox Denmarq Dimensions: D 21 x W 80 x H 87 cm Materials: steel, white carrara marble Also available: different marble and frame ...
Marble, Steel
$1,612 / set
Set of 2 Bendy Shelves by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 bendy shelves by Mingardo Dimensions: D95 x W25 x H10 cm //D55 x W25 x H10 cm Materials: Matt brass plated stainless steel Weight: 5-8 kg Also Available in different ...
Brass, Stainless Steel
$1,984 / item
Object 094 Shelf by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 094 Shelf by NG Design Dimensions: W 102 x D 18 x H 37 cm Materials: Steel, Marble Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. Shel...
Marble, Steel
Piazzetta Shelf, Light Grey by Atelier Ferraro
Located in Geneve, CH
Piazzetta shelf, light grey by Atelier Ferraro Dimensions: L33 x W10 x H14 cm Materials: Recycled Aluminium Also Available: Cement Greyand Pebble Grey colors „THE FORM FOLLOW...
Aluminum
Piazzetta Shelf, Pebble Grey by Atelier Ferraro
Located in Geneve, CH
Piazzetta shelf, pebble grey by Atelier Ferraro Dimensions: L35 x W13 x H12 cm Materials: recycled aluminium Also available: cement grey and light grey colors. „The Form Follows Th...
Aluminum
$3,446 / item
Oval Pine Shelves by David Renault
Located in Geneve, CH
Oval pine shelves by David Renault Dimensions: D 200 x H 170 cm Materials: pine wood Available in other wood shades and sizes. Shelves made of solid pine from eco-responsible forest...
Pine
$6,382 / item
Profile Shelf by Derya Arpac
Located in Geneve, CH
Profile shelf by Derya Arpac Dimensions: W 150 x D 30 x H 150 cm Materials: Dougles Fir Also Available: Other materials available, Wall-Hung Shelf Derya Arpac is a Copenhag...
Fir
$185 / item
Object 095 Shelf by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 095 Shelf by NG Design Dimensions: W 30 x D 20 x H 10 cm Materials: Steel Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. Steel shelf w...
Steel
Natural Rondelle Round Shelf by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Rondelle round shelf by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 25 x H 14 cm Materials: oak wood. Available in other colors and with or without steel h...
Oak
$2,169 / item
Small Round Pine Shelves by David Renault
Located in Geneve, CH
Small round pine shelves by David Renault Dimensions: D 140 cm Materials: pine wood Available in other wood shades and sizes. Shelves made of solid pine from eco-responsible forests...
Pine
Mixed Marble and Black Steel Morse Shelf by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Mixed marble and black steel Morse Shelf by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 21 x W 80 x H 87 cm Materials: Steel, sand marble, green indio marble, black marquina marble Also available: Di...
Marble, Steel
Piazzetta Shelf, Cement Grey by Atelier Ferraro
Located in Geneve, CH
Piazzetta shelf, cement grey by Atelier Ferraro Dimensions: L 33 x W 10 x H 14 cm Materials: recycled aluminium Also available: light grey and pebble grey colors. "The form f...
Aluminum
$673 / item
Coupé Vertical Shelf by Poiat
Located in Geneve, CH
Coupé vertical shelf by Poiat. Materials: Metal. Dimensions: D 13.5 x W 37 x H 103 cm. Poiat is an established architecture and design office based...
Metal
Natural Rondelle Round Shelf with Hanger by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural Rondelle round shelf with hanger by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 25 x H 18 cm Materials: oak wood, steel. Available in other colors and with...
Steel
Black Marquina Marble and Black Steel Morse Shelf by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Marquina marble and black steel morse shelf by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 21 x W 80 x H 87 cm Materials: Steel, black Marquina marble Also available: Different marble and frame...
Marble, Steel
$16,849 / item
Pagoda 02 Display Cabinets by Sing Chan
Located in Geneve, CH
Pagoda 02 display cabinets by Sing Chan Dimensions: D 49.5 x H 202 cm Materials: Stainless steel, electroplating. Sing Chan ( Chinese: ???/Xingyu Chen) , t...
Stainless Steel
$2,506 / item
Big Round Pine Shelves by David Renault
Located in Geneve, CH
Big round pine shelves by David Renault Dimensions: D 180 cm Materials: pine wood Available in other wood shades and sizes. Shelves made of solid pine from eco-responsible forests, ...
Pine
$417 / item
Oak Wallie Wall Drawer by Amalie Skov Rahbæk
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak wallie wall drawer by Amalie Skov Rahbæk. Materials: oak, metal. Dimensions: D 22.5 x W 30 x H 10 cm. Available in oak, black oak or walnut. Amal...
Metal
Set of 4 Hold on Yellow Wall Objects by Haus Otto
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 hold on yellow wall objects by Haus Otto Dimensions: D 25 x W 26.5 x H 13 cm Each Materials: recycled foam, wood, textil. Available colours: Pink, yellow, green, blue. The limited edition collectable “Hold On“ is the result of the collaboration between the Stuttgart based art and design duo Haus Otto and the fashion brand Simone Wild. The upholstered wall...
Textile, Foam, Wood
Small Shelf, Lapo Binazzi, 1978
Located in Firenze, IT
Beautiful shelf designed by Lapo Binazzi for a pediatric dental practice in Florence in 1978. It is a unique piece, part of the furniture, all designed by Binazzi. It is made of lami...
Wood
Wood Walnut, Veneer Walnut Natural & Clear Glass Palodia Bookshelf by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Wood Walnut Natural, Veneer Walnut & Clear Glass Centre Table by Madheke Dimensions: D 140 x W 30 x H 195 cm. Materials: Solid walnut construction with natural grain, Intricate hand-...
Wood
Elegant Marble Stone Glass Shelves Wall Mounted Shelving Unit Mikado, Carla Baz
By Carla Baz
Located in Geneve, CH
Elegant Marble Stone Glass Shelves Wall Mounted Shelving Unit Mikado, Carla Baz Dimensions: D 40 X D 200 X H 200 cm. Materials: Entirely handc...
Marble
Set of 2 Hold on Green Wall Objects by Haus Otto
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 hold on green wall objects by Haus Otto Dimensions: D 25 x W 26.5 x H 13 cm each Materials: recycled foam, wood, textil. The limited edition collectable “Hold On“ is the result of the collaboration between the Stuttgart based art and design duo Haus Otto and the fashion brand Simone Wild. The upholstered wall...
Textile, Foam, Wood
$1,206 / item
Mixed Marble and Brass Morse Shelf by OxDenmarq
Located in Geneve, CH
MIxed marble and brass morse Shelf by OxDenmarq Dimensions: D 21 x W 80 x H 87 cm Materials: Brass, marble Also available: Different marble and frame options available, OX DENM...
Marble, Brass
$485 / item
Red Rondelle Round Shelf by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Red Rondelle round shelf by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 25 x H 14 cm Materials: oak wood. Available in other colors and with or without steel hange...
Oak
$3,260 / item
Erro Shelf by Regina Merino and Rodrigo Ordóñez
Located in Geneve, CH
Erro shelf by Regina Merino and Rodrigo Ordóñez Dimensions: D 80 x W 27 x H 52 cm Materials: steel, walnut wood. Shelf made of carbon steel plate with mirror finish, cylindrical...
Steel
$789 / item
Mortaise Wall Shelf-700 by Clemence Birot
Located in Geneve, CH
Mortaise wall shelf-400 by Clemence Birot Dimensions: 75 x 25 x 6,5 cm Materials: cork, metal. Clemence Birot started her career in Copenhagen, Denmark, and discovered a design prac...
Metal
$15,317 / item
Pagoda 02 Display Cabinets by Sing Chan
Located in Geneve, CH
Pagoda 02 display cabinets by Sing Chan Dimensions: D 49.5 x H 202 cm Materials: Stainless steel, electroplating. Sing Chan ( Chinese: 陈星宇/Xingyu Chen), th...
Stainless Steel, Other
Walnut Wallie Wall Drawer by Amalie Skov Rahbæk
Located in Geneve, CH
Walnut Wallie wall drawer by Amalie Skov Rahbæk Materials: Walnut, metal. Dimensions: D 22.5 x W 30 x H 10 cm Available in oak, black oak or walnut. ...
Metal
Natural Rondelle Shelf with Hanger by Storängen Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Natural rondelle shelf with hanger by Storängen Design Dimensions: D 80 x W 25 x H 18 cm Materials: oak wood, steel. Available in other colors and with or without steel hanger. ...
Steel
$2,367 / item
AL-01 Shelf by Orlando Pippig
Located in Geneve, CH
AL-01 Shelf by Orlando Pippig Dimensions: W 31 x D 34 x H 135 cm (Dimensions may vary slightly) Materials: Aluminum Aluminum is often regarded as a cold, unwelcoming material. Its u...
Aluminum
Set of 3, Piazzetta Shelves, Light, Cement and Pebble Grey by Atelier Ferraro
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3, piazzetta shelves, light - cement and pebble grey by Atelier Ferraro Dimensions: L 33 x W 10 x H 14 cm Materials: recycled aluminium „THE FORM FOLLOWS THE REST“: In a ...
Aluminum
$1,276 / item
Cloud Steps Shelves, 12 Steps, by OK Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Cloud Steps Shelves, 12 Steps, by OK Design Dimensions: D 24 x W 96 x H 176 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Cloud Steps is a wall-mounted, light, and poetic shelving system. Wit...
Metal
Set of 4, Blue Valet Coat Hanger & Grey Piazzetta Shelves by Atelier Ferraro
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4, pastel turquoise valet coat hanger & grey ( cement, light, pebble) Piazzetta shelves by Atelier Ferraro Dimensions: L 33 x W 10 x H 14 cm (Shelves), L 35 x W 65 x H 7 cm (...
Aluminum
$25,528 / item
Pagoda 01 Display Cabinets by Sing Chan
Located in Geneve, CH
Pagoda 01 display cabinets by Sing Chan Edition Of 15 + 2 AP Dimensions: D 70 x H 190 cm Materials: Stainless steel, electroplating. Sing Chan ( Chinese: 陈星...
Stainless Steel, Other
$905 / item
Oak Knaegt Coat Rack by Rikke Palmerston
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak Knaegt coat rack by Rikke Palmerston. Materials: Oak, leather. Dimensions: D 28.5 x W 87.5 x H 3.5 cm. Available in oak or black oak. Rikke Palmerston is a talented up-and-...
Leather, Oak
$185 / item
Object 095 Shelf by NG Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Object 095 Shelf by NG Design Dimensions: W 30 x D 20 x H 10 cm Materials: Steel Also Available: All of objects available in different materials and colors on demand. Steel shelf w...
Steel
$359 / item
Cloud Steps Shelf by OK Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Cloud Steps Shelf by OK Design Dimensions: D 24 x W 96 x H 52 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Cloud Steps is a wall-mounted, light, and poetic shelving system. With its unique z...
Metal
Gate 01 Table by Sing Chan - Stainless Steel, Post-Modern Design
Located in Geneve, CH
The gate 01 table by Sing Chan Edition Of 20 + 2 AP Dimensions: W 320 x D 100 x H 75 cm Materials: Stainless steel, electroplating. Sing Chan ( Chinese: 陈星宇/Xingyu Chen), the found...
Stainless Steel, Other
Black Oak Wallie Wall Drawer by Amalie Skov Rahbæk
Located in Geneve, CH
Black oak Wallie wall drawer by Amalie Skov Rahbæk Materials: Oak, metal. Dimensions: D 22.5 x W 30 x H 10 cm Available in oak, black oak or walnut. ...
Metal
Set of 2 Hold On Pink Wall Objects by Haus Otto
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Hold On Pink Wall Objects by Haus Otto Dimensions: D25 x W26.5 x H13 cm Each Materials: recycled foam, wood, textil. Available Colours: Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue. Please contact us The limited edition collectable “Hold On“ is the result of the collaboration between the Stuttgart based art and design duo Haus Otto and the fashion brand Simone Wild. The upholstered wall...
Textile, Foam, Wood
$220 / item
Pina Hat Shelf by OK Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Pina Hat Shelf by OK Design Dimensions: D 35 x W 68 x H 13 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Available in black, white, sea green, pigeon blue, or dusty peach. Please contact us. ...
Metal