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.
$3,441 / item
Tub 65 Alabaster Wall Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Tub 65 Alabaster wall light by Contain. Dimensions: D 4 x W 4 x H 65 cm Materials: Alabaster Also available in different dimensi...
Alabaster
$12,950 / set
Set of 2 Sconces Bridge Wall Lamps by Olivia Cognet
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Sconces Bridge Wall Lamps by Olivia Cognet Dimensions: W 50 x D 25 x H 35 cm Materials: Ceramic. Non electrified. Each of Olivia’s handmade creations is a unique work of ar...
Ceramic
Swedish Designer, Sconces, Brass, Rattan, Sweden, c. 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass and rattan sconces designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Sold with Lampshade. Dimensions stated are of Wall Light with S...
Brass
$1,446 / item
Link Two Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Link Two Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 13.5 x W 11.5 x H 46 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Different finishes available: raw brass, aged brass, burnt brass a...
Brass
Magda I Wall Lamp in Brass, Aluminum & Fluted Glass by Studio Marine Breynaert
Located in Geneve, CH
Magda I Wall Lamp in Brass, Aluminum & Fluted Glass by Studio Marine Breynaert. Dimensions: W 10 x D 13.5 x H 34 cm. Materials: Solid brass, Solid aluminium with clear fluted glass s...
Aluminum, Brass
TF400 Wall Lamp in Satin Brass with Orientable Tubular Diffuser by Daluce
Located in Geneve, CH
TF400 Wall Lamp in Satin Brass with Orientable Tubular Diffuser by Daluce Dimensions: D 13,3 x 6 x H 20 cm. Materials: Brass. Available in different finish options: light satin bur...
Brass
$1,271 / item
Fly Brass Dome Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Fly Brass Dome Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 20.5 x W 21.5 x H 21.5 cm. Materials: Brass. Different finishes available: raw brass, aged b...
Brass
A SCULPTURAL PLASTER TABLE LAMP by LOIC BEUCHET for ATELIER SEDAP, France 1980
Located in PARIS, FR
A rare spectacular and important sculptural table lamp, figuring a white curtain sculpted in a rectangular white block of plaster, coming with a minimal cylindrical white shade. This...
Plaster
$1,120Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Postmodern Round Murano Glass Ceiling Lights or Sconces, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. Made in Murano glass and metal. They are vintage, therefore they might show slight trace of use, but they can be considered as in excellent original condition ...
Metal
Aster Neon Wall Lamps by Rodolfo Bonettto for Lumi, 1980s, Set of 2
By Lumi, Rodolfo Bonetto
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Pair of neon wall lamps designed by Rodolfo Bonetto for Lumi in the 1980. The lamps are made from painted metal and plastic body. the cylindrical shade contains a T8 neon lamp and ca...
Metal
$3,033 / item
Planette Wall 18 Alabaster Wall Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Planette Wall 18 Alabaster Wall Light by Contain Dimensions: Ø 18 x H 22 cm. Materials: Alabaster and brass. Also available in different finishes and dimensions (Ø12 cm / Ø16,5 ...
Alabaster, Brass
$28,047 / item
Low Tide Wave Wall Light by Katrien Van Der Schueren
Located in Geneve, CH
Low Tide Wave Wall Light by Katrien Van Der Schueren Dimensions: W 91.44 x D 20.32 x H 101.6 cm Materials: Sculpted in concrete and plaster with LEDs Based in, produced and shipped ...
Concrete, Other
Light Object 014 Wall with 1 Light Tube in Brass by Naama Hofman
By Naama Hofman
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Object 014 Wall with 1 Light Tube in Brass by Naama Hofman. Dimensions: W 21 cm x D 10 x H 81 cm. Materials: Brass, Acrylic tube. Light: flexible LED strip light, 16W, 24V. Al...
Brass
Nickel The Silent Backstage Atmosphere Wall Lamp V2 by Magic Circus Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Nickel Plated Brass The Silent Backstage Atmosphere Wall Lamp V2 by Magic Circus Editions Dimensions: W 10 x D 15 x H 54.8 cm Materials: Solid brass and mouth blown glass. Weight: 2...
Brass
$968 / item
Golden Aballs A Wall Lamp by Parachilna
Located in Geneve, CH
Golden Aballs A Wall Lamp by Parachilna Dimensions: W 14 x D 18 x H 29 cm Materials: Handmade ceramic body, Blown opal matt glass diffuser. Weight: 1.7 kg ABALLS A Wall lamp. Base...
Ceramic, Glass
Set of 4 original Memphis style "Jill" Arteluce wall sconces, 1980's
By Arteluce, Perry King and Santiago Miranda
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A set of 4 original Memphis style "Jill " Arteluce wall sconces by Perry King and S. Miranda, available for purchase per piece. The design is clea...
Metal
Swedish Designer, Sconces, Brass, Metal, Glass, Sweden, c. 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass, metal and glass sconces/ wall lights designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1960s. Dimensions of Back Plate (inches) : 2.73 x 0.98 x 0.56 (Height x Width x Depth) So...
Brass, Metal
$2,310 / item
Tango Sconce by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Geneve, CH
Tango sconce by Paul Matter Dimensions: W 30 x D 30 x H 73 cm Materials: Brass. Available in different finishes. Tango is born from playful experimentation with vintage lightin...
Brass
Kerr Unique Wall Sconce in Black Marble, Glass & Aluminum by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Kerr Unique Wall Sconce in Black Marble, Glass & Aluminum by Andres Monnier Unique Piece Dimensions: D 14 x W 20 x H 30 cm. Materials: Aluminum, glass and marble. Available in diffe...
Marble, Aluminum
Postmodern Sculpture Torchiere Wall Sconce Rudi Stern “Let There Be Neon” Style
Located in Chicago, IL
Postmodern Sculpture Torchiere Wall Sconce Rudi Stern “Let There Be Neon” Style - Pair These postmodern triangle lamps would beautifully decorate your wall with their red glow. The ...
Metal, Aluminum
$2,928 / item
Étendu Wall Light by Studio Lampent
Located in Geneve, CH
Étendu Wall Light by Studio Lampent Dimensions: D 70 x W 70 x H 13 cm Materials: Acrylic sheets, LED lights, birch frame. Limited edition of 3 copies, numbered and signed All our la...
Birch, Acrylic
$3,955 / item
Tub 85 Alabaster Wall Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Tub 85 Alabaster wall light by Contain Dimensions: D 4 x W 4 x H 85 cm. Materials: Alabaster. Also available in different dimensions. Please contact us. All our lamps can be wi...
Alabaster
Terre Matt Speckled Grey Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Terre Matt Speckled Grey Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions Unique Piece. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 30 x H 22 cm. Base: H 30 cm. Materials: Ecru cotton and ceramic. Weight: 2,4 kg. ...
Ceramic, Cotton
$1,446 / item
Drop Brass Wall Sconce Two by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Drop Brass Wall Sconce Two by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 23 x W 18 x H 51 cm. Materials: Brass. --Different finishes are available: raw brass, aged bra...
Brass
Copper The Silent Backstage Atmosphere Wall Lamp V1 by Magic Circus Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Copper Plated Brass The Silent Backstage Atmosphere Wall Lamp V1 by Magic Circus Editions Dimensions: W 15 x D 22 x H 82.6 cm Materials: Solid brass and mouth blown glass. Weight: 4...
Brass
$1,003 / item
Meia Lua Wall Lamp by Studio Orth
Located in Geneve, CH
Meia Lua Wall Lamp by Studio Orth Dimensions: W 28 x D 10 x H 28 cm Materials: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum Finishes: Polished Cast Brass or Polished Cast Aluminum ...
Metal
Halo Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Halo Matte Cream White Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions Unique Piece. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 30 x H 22 cm. Base: H 30 cm. Materials: Ecru cotton and ceramic. Weight: 2,6 kg. El...
Ceramic, Cotton
VIBE corallo square luminous lamp in resin by MOĆI Collective
Located in Como, Italy
The VIBE luminous lamp captures the motion of waves at sunset, merging art and design into an immersive light experience. Sculpted in glossy crystal-resin with chromatic gradients, i...
Steel
Brown and Semi-Opaque Ochre Marbled Glass, Brass Light Sculpture by Marie Jeunet
Located in Geneve, CH
Symbiose 01 Light Sculpture by Marie Jeunet Dimensions: H 36 x L 25 cm Materials: Bronze hammered glass sheet, Semi-opaque ...
Brass
$1,703 / item
Frame Alu Brut M Wall Lamp by Violaine d'Harcourt
Located in Geneve, CH
Frame Alu Brut M Wall Lamp by Violaine d'Harcourt Dimensions: D 11 x W 28 x H 42 cm. Materials: Raw steel and paper. Wall light in lacquered steel, made in Portugal, bulb included: ...
Steel
$980 / item
Small Drop Brass Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Drop Brass Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 15.5 x W 15.5 x H 30.5 cm. Materials: Brass. Different finishes available: raw brass, aged brass...
Brass
IP Link 410 Polished Brass Wall Light by Emilie Cathelineau
Located in Geneve, CH
IP Link 410 Polished brass wall light by Emilie Cathelineau Dimensions: D4.5 x W5 X H41 cm Materials: Solid brass, Polished Brass, LED, Polycarbonate. Others finishes and dimensio...
Brass
$618 / item
Twain Ex Antique Pink Wall Light by Lexavala
Located in Geneve, CH
Twain Ex antique pink wall light by Lexavala Dimensions: W 16 x D 16 x H 13 cm Materials: brass or stainless steel ring touching the glass. There...
Brass
$3,593 / item
Serpentine Sconce in Ceramic by Farrah Sit
By Farrah Sit
Located in Geneve, CH
Serpentine Sconce in Ceramic by Farrah Sit. Dimensions: W 10.2 x D 10.2 x H 53.3 cm. Materials: Ceramic. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA it ...
Ceramic
Set of 4 wall lamps blue and white Murano glass 1970 mid-century italian
By Poliarte
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Set of 4 Murano glass wall sconces 1970s production. Metal frame and overlapping geometric printed glass in two colors, white and light blue. Good condition, patina and surface mark...
Art Glass
$30,800 / item
Coral Wave Wall Light by Katrien Van Der Schueren
Located in Geneve, CH
Coral Wave Wall Light by Katrien Van Der Schueren Dimensions: W 91.44 x D 20.32 x H 101.6 cm Materials: Sculpted in concrete and plaster with LEDs Based in, produced and shipped fro...
Concrete, Other
$1,470 / item
Frame Alu Brun S Wall Lamp by Violaine d'Harcourt
Located in Geneve, CH
Frame Alu Brun S Wall Lamp by Violaine d'Harcourt Dimensions: D 11 x W 24 x H 35 cm. Materials: Laquered steel and papered. Wall light in lacquered steel, lacquered, made in Portuga...
Steel
Libellula Contemporary Brass Wall Light by Jan Garncarek
Located in Geneve, CH
Libellula Contemporary Brass Wall Light by Jan Garncarek Dimensions: D 14 x W 12 x H 50 cm Material: Brass, glass. Information: weight: 7 kg / 33 lb voltage: 120V, 240V lamping: 1 X...
Brass
$2,216 / item
Marquise Orion 3 Wall Lamp by MM Lampadari
Located in Geneve, CH
Marquise Orion 3 Wall Lamp by MM Lampadari Dimensions: D 45 x W 24 x H 87 cm. Materials: Fabric and metal. All our lamps can be wired according to each country. If sold to the USA ...
Metal
Posidoni Bronze and Handblown Glass Sconce by Emilie Lemardeley
Located in Geneve, CH
Posidoni Bronze and Handblown Glass Sconce by Emilie Lemardeley Handmade Dimensions: D 10 x W 18 x H 70 cm. Materials: Bronze, hand-blown glass. Posidoni was born from an immersion ...
Bronze
$2,088 / item
Alba Simple Wall XL Alabaster Light by Contain
Located in Geneve, CH
Alba simple wall XL Alabaster light by Contain Dimensions: Ø 22 x H9.5 cm Materials: Alabaster structure and optical lens. Available in Ø15, Ø22, Ø28 cm. Socket: G9 Wattage: M...
Alabaster
$1,925 / item
Jellyfish Cousin Wall Lamp by Fresh Glass
Located in Geneve, CH
Jellyfish Cousin Wall Lamp by Fresh Glass Dimensions: W 60 x D 5 x H 80 cm. Materials: Glass, Stainless Steel. Luminaire color: Colourless, grey, green. Light: Led 2700/3000К CRI>90...
Stainless Steel
Postmodern Period Wall Light Sconce Spotlight or Desk Lamp
Located in New York, NY
A small Postmodern period wall light sconce, spot-light, or small desk lamp, with adjustable head and neck, circa late-20th century. Light can also hang on wall (see image #15.) Ligh...
Plastic
$1,260 / item
Square Slim 64 Wall Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Square Slim 64 Wall Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 8 x W 8 x H 64 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel...
Alabaster, Copper
$3,850 / set
Pair Of Murano Glass Sconces By Mazzega
By Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Murano Glass Sconces By Mazzega. Offered is a lovely pair of Post-Modern Murano glass sconces designed by Carlo Nason for Mazzega, and retain their original label. This pai...
Murano Glass
Terre Matt Speckled Grey Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions
Located in Geneve, CH
Terre Matt Speckled Grey Ceramic Table Lamp by Grès Éditions Unique Piece. Dimensions: Lampshade: Ø 30 x H 22 cm. Base: H 30 cm. Materials: Jute and ceramic. Weight: 2,4 kg. All our...
Ceramic, Jute
VIBE verde como square luminous lamp in resin by MOĆI Collective
Located in Como, Italy
The VIBE luminous lamp captures the motion of waves at sunset, merging art and design into an immersive light experience. Sculpted in glossy crystal-resin with chromatic gradients, i...
Steel
$2,345 / item
Stainless Steel Wall Lamp 1 by Georgiev Kiril
Located in Geneve, CH
Stainless Steel Wall Lamp 1 by Georgiev Kiril Dimensions: W 150 x H 142,5 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. All our lamps can be wired accordi...
Stainless Steel
$2,625 / item
Mineral Tige 30 Hanging Lamp by SLIDE Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Mineral Tige 30 Hanging Lamp by SLIDE Studio Dimensions: Ø 30 x H 80 cm. Materials: Polyethylene and brass. Available in different sizes. Prices may vary. This product is suitable f...
Brass, Other
$875 / item
Link Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper
Located in Geneve, CH
Link Glass Globe Wall Sconce by Lamp Shaper Dimensions: D 11.5 x W 11.5 x H 30.5 cm. Materials: Brass and glass. Different finishes available: raw b...
Brass
$2,858 / item
Ad Geo Wall Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Ad Geo Wall Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: D 15 x W 9 x H 70 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt ...
Alabaster, Copper
Wireless Oval Small Table Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Wireless Oval Small Table Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: ⌀ 18 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt...
Alabaster, Copper
Postmodern Italian Model Pao W Sconce by Matteo Thun for Arteluce, 1990s
By Matteo Thun
Located in Hamburg, DE
The wall lamps version of the Pao series of lamps by Matteo Thun. The Pao lamps impress with their characteristic diffuser of frosted glass. However, it is rather the material combi...
Glass, Wood
$1,061 / item
Wireless Moon Large Table Lamp by United Alabaster
Located in Geneve, CH
Wireless Moon Large Table Lamp by United Alabaster Dimensions: ⌀ 24 cm (Customizable Height) Materials: Alabaster, Copper (Matt Black finish) Also Available: Satin Gold, Nickel, Matt...
Alabaster, Copper
$4,270 / item
Ash #7 Wall Light by Margaux Leycuras
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash #7 wall light by Margaux Leycuras One of a Kind, Signed and numbered Dimensions: D 6 x W 56 x H 54 cm Material: Ceramic, black stoneware with patinated gold enamel. The piec...
Enamel
Light Object 030.1 Wall Lamp in Waxed Brass by Naama Hofman
By Naama Hofman
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Object 030.1 Wall Lamp in Waxed Brass by Naama Hofman. Dimensions: W 17 x D 13 x H 17 cm. Materials: Brass, Glass. Light: 5 Watt G9 LED 110V/220V. All our lamps can be wired a...
Brass
Organic Shape, Slice of Mono Clear Quartz Sconce by Christopher Boots
Located in Geneve, CH
Petra I Mono Clear Quartz Sconce by Christopher Boots Dimensions: D 10 x W 30 x H 30 cm. Materials: Aged brass, slices of polished clear quartz. Available in clear, rose, or smoky q...
Quartz, Brass
Contemporary Aged Brass Wall Sconce, Plus One Large Lamp by Paul Matter
By Paul Matter
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary Aged Brass Wall Sconce, Plus One Large Lamp by Paul Matter PLUS Series is a new range of appliqués by Paul Matter that feature a ...
Brass
Light Object 030.2 Wall Lamp in Waxed Brass by Naama Hofman
By Naama Hofman
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Object 030.2 Wall Lamp in Waxed Brass by Naama Hofman. Dimensions: W 25 x D 13 x H 25 cm. Materials: Brass, Glass. Light: 5 Watt G9 LED. All our lamps can be wired according t...
Brass
Contemporary Unique Form Triple Smoky Quartz Sconce by Christopher Boots
Located in Geneve, CH
Petra I Triple Smoky Quartz Sconce by Christopher Boots Dimensions: D 12 x W 30 x H 60 cm. Materials: Aged brass, slices of polished smoky quartz. Available in clear, rose, or smoky...
Quartz, Brass