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.
Textured Black Sculptural Ceramic Small Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Textured Black Sculptural Ceramic Small Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 24 x H 20 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Dakota Crystal Candle Holder Handsculpted Contemporary Crystal
Located in Geneve, CH
Dakota crystal candle holder T-Light holder Handcrafted decor made from crystal Measures: L 9 x H 16.5 x D 9cm Handsculpted in crystal The Reflections Copenhagen t-light holde...
Crystal
$2,331 / item
Large Candle Holder Sculpture by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Candle Holder Sculpture by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 28 x H 38.1 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded by artist Asl...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Textured Black Sculptural Ceramic Large Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Textured Black Sculptural Ceramic Large Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 27.9 x H 30.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic st...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Textured Black Sculptural Ceramic Medium Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Textured Black Sculptural Ceramic Medium Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 24 x H 25.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic stu...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Design Rituals Kaen Candle in Beige Natural Wax by Monics+Vieira
Located in Geneve, CH
Design Rituals Kaen Candle in Beige Natural Wax by Monics+Vieira. Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 12 cm. Materials: Natural wax blend, Cotton wick, Premium fragrance oils. Free from para...
Other
Medium Candle Holder by Six Dots Design in Sanded Aluminum, UK
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Candle Holder by Six Dots Design Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 11 x W 8 x H 2 cm Materials: Sanded raw aluminum. This sand cast aluminium candle holder is expressive, raw and t...
Aluminum
Post-Modern Small Candle Holder by Six Dots Design, Sanded Aluminum
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Candle Holder by Six Dots Design Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 6 x W 5 x H 2 cm Materials: Sanded and oiled aluminum. This sand cast aluminium candle holder is expressive, raw a...
Aluminum
Small Candle Holder Sculpture by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Candle Holder Sculpture by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 22.8 x H 20.3 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded by artist A...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
$435 / item
Candelabro 4 Candleholder by Camila Apaez
Located in Geneve, CH
Candelabro 4 Candleholder by Camila Apaez Unique Materials: Stoneware, Red Clay Dimensions: ⌀ 7 x H 20 cm Ila Ceramica emerged from a process of inner inquiry where ceramics became ...
Clay, Stoneware
$300Sale Price / set|20% Off
Postmodern Solid Polished Rosewood Pair of Candleholders Arch
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare and beautiful solid polished rosewood pair of handcrafted candle holders with 1.5" mouth opening for tea candles or candles with beautiful craft...
Rosewood
$1,036 / item
Matte Black Ceramic Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Matte Black Ceramic Candle Holder by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: W 24 x H 20 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded by artist A...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
$1,295 / item
Medium Candle Holder Sculpture by Maku Ceramic
Located in Geneve, CH
Medium Candle Holder Sculpture by Maku Ceramic Dimensions: Ø 22.8 x H 30.4 cm Materials: Ceramic, Stoneware, Clay Maku Ceramic is an Istanbul-based ceramic studio founded by artist ...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Design Rituals Kaen Candle in White Natural Wax by Monics+Vieira
Located in Geneve, CH
Design Rituals Kaen Candle in White Natural Wax by Monics+Vieira. Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 12 cm. Materials: Natural wax blend, Cotton wick, Premium fragrance oils. Free from para...
Other
Metal Heart Candleholder in Patinated Solid Brass by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Metal Heart Candleholder in Patinated Solid Brass by William Guillon Hand Sculpted, Dated and Signed Dimensions: Ø 3,5-4 x H 5-6 cm (custom dimensions upon request) Materials: Solid ...
Brass
Design Rituals Kaen Candle in Brown Natural Wax by Monics+Vieira
Located in Geneve, CH
Design Rituals Kaen Candle in Brown Natural Wax by Monics+Vieira. Dimensions: D 15 x W 15 x H 12 cm. Materials: Natural wax blend, Cotton wick, Premium fragrance oils. Free from para...
Other
Post-Modern Large Candle Holder by Six Dots Design, Sanded Aluminum
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Candle Holder by Six Dots Design Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 18 x W 9 x H 2 cm Materials: Sanded raw aluminum. This sand cast aluminium candle holder is expressive, raw and ti...
Aluminum
Set of 3 Runner Stones Candleholders by J. Hill's Standard
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Runner Stones Candleholders by J. Hill's Standard Dimensions: D 20 x H 10 cm (each). Materials: Glass Available in a range of beautiful colors. Drawn by Nigel Peake and ki...
Other
$1,224 / item
Runner Stones Candleholder by J. Hill's Standard
Located in Geneve, CH
Runner Stones Candleholder by J. Hill's Standard Dimensions: D 20 x H 10 cm. Materials: Glass Available in a range of beautiful colors. Drawn by Nigel Peake and kiln cast in glass,...
Other
$565 / item
Eva Polished Brass Candleholder by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Eva Polished Brass Candleholder by Mingardo Dimensions: D 12 x H 35.5 cm Materials: Natural polished brass Variations in material and size are available. Please contact us for more...
Brass
$435 / item
Candelabro 3 Candleholder by Camila Apaez
Located in Geneve, CH
Candelabro 3 Candleholder by Camila Apaez Unique Materials: Stoneware, Red Clay Dimensions: ⌀ 7 x H 20 cm Ila Ceramica emerged from a process of inner inquiry where ceramics became ...
Stoneware, Clay
$364 / item
Incisioni Lumino Candle Holder by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Incisioni Lumino candle holder by Purho Dimensions: D12 x W8 x H3.5 cm Materials: Glass, Brass Other colours and finishes are available. Purho is a new protagonist of made in I...
Brass
Set of 4 Incisioni Lumino Candle Holders by Purho
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Incisioni Lumino candle holders by Purho Dimensions: D12 x W8 x H3.5 cm each Materials: Glass, Brass Other colours and finishes are available. Purho is a new protagoni...
Brass
Sculptural Solid Oak Wooden Candle Holder R:2
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The surrealism inspired Acer candle holder R:2 features architectural cubic volumes and semi arched voids. Designed by Aad Bos and hand crafted in Amsterdam from solid oak wood and s...
Steel
Natural Rock Crystal Candle Holders by Phoenix
Located in New York, NY
Pair of natural rock crystal candle holders with polish brass stands. Created by Pheonix Gallery, NYC. Custom size and finish upon request.
Rock Crystal
Ellipses Handmade Crystal Candle Holder
Located in Glendale, CA
Ellipses is a modern hand-cut crystal candlestick with an exquisite combination of abstract dark gray and clear crystal parts. The black balls around the base make it a stunning and ...
Crystal
Carrara Home Design Candle Holder in Portoro Marble
Located in Carrara, MS
Organic and elegant shapes for this candle holder with sinuous lines. "Candle Holder by CARRARA_HOME_DESIGN® can accommodate different formats of candles, to create relaxing moments...
Marble
$235 / item
H 5.91 in Dm 5.12 in
Modern Metropolis S Candle Holder Sculpture Raku Ceramic White Crakle
By LAAB Milano
Located in monza, Monza and Brianza
Metropolis sculptures represent civilization at different stages, starting from contained elements of smaller dimensions getting taller. The cracklè exalt the geometric shapes of these candle holders, result of the Japanese Firing...
Ceramic
$310 / item
H 7.09 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in
Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture Hand-Built Ceramic Candle Holder by Darren Dai
By Darren Dai
Located in London, GB
Pilgrim on the Wing is a hand-built ceramic candle holder by Chinese artist Darren Dai, created in his Jingdezhen studio — the historic heart of Chinese porcelain making. Known for b...
Ceramic
Pair of sculptural brutalist candle holders
Located in Diest, BE
Pair of sculptural brutalist candle holders Spain 1960s
Iron
Ceramic mermaid statuette / candle holder, Italy
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Magnificent ceramic mermaid statuette / candle holder, Italian production from the 2nd half of the 20th century. The mermaid's tail forms the handle of the candle holder. In the styl...
Ceramic
Vintage Orrefors Sweden Crystal Votive Candle Holder
By Orrefors
Located in New York, NY
1980's Scandinavian modern crystal votive candle holder. Hand crafted in Sweden and signed on bottom, Orrefors.
Crystal
Ikea Candle Holder
By IKEA
Located in Bern, CH
Set of 3 'Konfetti' Post-Modern candlesticks by Anna Efverlund for IKEA dating from the 1990's. In three varying sizes and colours. Design: Anna Efverlund Produded: IKEA Height: 30cm...
Metal
Original Waterford Cut Crystal Ball Candle Holder
Located in Germantown, MD
An Original, discontinued Waterford Cut Crystal Ball Candle Holder in excellent condition. Measures 4" in diamter and stands 3.5" tall. This item...
Crystal
$320 / set
H 7.5 in W 6.5 in D 2.2 in
Pair of Sculptural Brass and Black Ring Candle Holders, Postmodern, 1980s
Located in Toronto, CA
Strikingly architectural and refined, this pair of Postmodern candleholders exemplifies the sculptural sophistication of 1980s European design. Each piece features a bold black circu...
Metal, Brass
Set Of 2 Majorelle Candleholder by Studio Lel
Located in Geneve, CH
Majorelle Candleholder by Studio Lel Dimensions: D 10 x H 9 cm / D 9 x H 9 cm Materials: Lapis Lazuli Lél is an artistic collective dedicated to preserving and evolving the 16th...
Lapis Lazuli