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.
The Prism Illusion: A Vintage Dhurrie Masterpiece of Modern Opulent Geometry
Located in Dallas, TX
79607 Vintage Indian Dhurrie Rug, 06'00 x 09'00. The Prism Illusion: A Vintage Dhurrie Masterpiece of Modern Opulent Geometry. This handwoven cotton vintage Dhurrie is a study in cul...
Wool, Cotton
$3,120Sale Price|20% Off
New Post-Modern Transitional Pink-Gray Area Rug with Contemporary Feminine Style
Located in Dallas, TX
30330 New Modern Transitional Pink-Gray Area Rug with Contemporary Feminine Style, 09'00 x 11'08. Soft and sumptuous, this transitional area rug transforms any interior it graces int...
Wool, Silk
$1,000 / item
Hand Tufted Block Rug by Hatsu
Located in Geneve, CH
Hand Tufted Block Rug by Hatsu. Dimensions: D 213 x W 152.4 cm Materials: Wool. Hatsu is a design studio based in Mumbai that creates modern lighting that are unique and immediatel...
Wool
$442 / item
Small Green Rombo Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Green Rombo rug by Studio MLR Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 90 x L 140 cm Available in 3 sizes: W90 x L140, W170 x L240, W75 x L200 cm. Available in grey, mo...
Wool, Jute
$4,874 / item
Cuori Rug I by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Cuori rug I by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 0.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, melange yarn Named after the Italian word for “heart“, this rug is part of a refined col...
Wool
Dark Rif Thick Pile Carpet Made in Nepal for The Rug Company
Located in New York, NY
Chic geometric thick pile carpet made in Nepal for The Rug company. The rug features a geometric white chain link pattern on a rich dark brown ground. The carpet is well crafted of w...
Wool, Silk
$15,000
Wool Silk Modern Tibetan Rug
Located in New York, NY
Late 20th century part silk part wool Tibetan carpet in warm brown and gold hues. Measures: 11'9" x 14'10".
Wool, Silk
New Contemporary Olive Geometric Textured Carpet with Modern Raised Design
Located in Dallas, TX
31186 New Modern Geometric High-Low Rug with Earthy Hues, 09'11 x 14'03. Modern geometric high-low rugs from India are contemporary area rugs characterized by bold geometric designs ...
Wool
New Contemporary Blue Textured High-Low Carpet with Post-Modern Raised Design
Located in Dallas, TX
31187 New Modern Geometric High-Low Rug, 09'03 x 12'04. This hand-knotted wool modern high-low rug in a captivating blue color is a contemporary masterpiece that merges geometric pre...
Wool
Postmodern Designer Rug, hand- knotted 100% wool, India 1990s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a gorgeous Postmodern rug with abstract pattern. It features a beautiful palette of colours, from medium dark grey, severa...
Wool
New Contemporary Moonlit Dusk Modern Ikat Rug, 09'07 x 13'10
Located in Dallas, TX
30349 New Moonlit Dusk Modern Ikat Rug, 09'07 x 13'10. This hand knotted wool Moonlit Dusk Modern Ikat rug from India is a stunning creation that marries traditional craftsmanship wi...
Wool
Modern White Hand-loomed Bamboo Silk Minimalist Neutral Rug
Located in New York, NY
The Bonn collection has a luxe aesthetic and a Minimalist personality. It is a well-constructed, cost-effective, high performance collection. Express lead times and extensive customi...
Bamboo
White Contemporary Bamboo Silk Hand Woven Minimalist Neutral Rug
Located in New York, NY
The Bonn collection has a luxe aesthetic and a Minimalist personality. It is a well-constructed, cost-effective, high performance collection. Express lead times and extensive customi...
Bamboo
New Silver Modern Damask Contemporary Rug, 06'10 x 09'08
Located in Dallas, TX
31142 New Silver Lace Modern Gray Damask Rug, 06'10 x 09'08. The hand-knotted wool Silver Lace Modern Damask rug is a stunning example of contemporary craftsmanship blended with the ...
Wool
$500 / item
Green Rombo Runner Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Rombo runner rug by Studio MLR. Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 75 x L 200 cm Available in 3 sizes: W 90 x L 140, W 170 x L 240, W 75 x L 200 cm. Available in ...
Wool, Jute
Vintage Indian Dhurrie Rug with Postmodern Cubist Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77913 Vintage Indian Dhurrie Rug with Postmodern Cubist Style 01'10 x 03'01. Full of tiny details and a bold expressive design combined with vibrant colors and tribal style, this han...
Cotton
Vintage Indian Dhurrie Rug with Postmodern Cubist Style
Located in Dallas, TX
?77912 Vintage Indian Dhurrie Rug with Postmodern Cubist Style 01'10 x 03'01. ??Full of tiny details and a bold expressive design combined with vibrant colors and tribal style, this ...
Cotton
Minimalist Contemporary Natural Bamboo Silk White Hand-Loomed Large Square Rug
Located in New York, NY
The Bonn collection has a luxe aesthetic and a Minimalist personality. It is a well-constructed, cost-effective, high performance collection. Express lead times and extensive customi...
Bamboo
Modern Minimalist Solid White Neutral Hand Loom Semi Plush Rug
Located in New York, NY
The Bonn collection has a luxe aesthetic and a Minimalist personality. It is a well-constructed, cost-effective, high performance collection. Express lead times and extensive customi...
Bamboo
Minimalist Contemporary Natural Bamboo Silk White Hand-Loomed Square Rug
Located in New York, NY
The Bonn collection has a luxe aesthetic and a Minimalist personality. It is a well-constructed, cost-effective, high performance collection. Express lead times and extensive customi...
Bamboo
Silver and Powder Blue Natural Silk Hand-knotted Rug with Subtle Design in Stock
Located in New York, NY
The Rumi collection master weavers artfully re-spin and hand-knot the finest remnants of sustainable sari-silk to create the breakthrough Rumi Silk collection. These remarkable patte...
Silk
Light Blue Solid Color Hand-Loomed Bamboo Silk Plush Rug
Located in New York, NY
The Bonn collection has a luxe aesthetic and a Minimalist personality. It is a well-constructed, cost-effective, high performance collection. Express lead times and extensive customi...
Bamboo
$500 / item
Rust Rombo Runner Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Rust Rombo runner rug by Studio MLR Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 75 x L 200 cm Available in 3 sizes: W 90 x L 140, W 170 x L 240, W 75 x L 200 cm. Available in gr...
Wool, Jute
$4,030 / item
Deserto Rug I by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Deserto rug I by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other color. A captivating motif of sinuous lines swirling o...
Wool
$1,430 / item
Large Rust Rombo Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Large rust Rombo rug by Studio MLR Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 170 x L 240 cm Available in 3 sizes: W 90 x L 140, W 170 x L 240, W 75 x L 200 cm. Available in gr...
Wool, Jute
$442 / item
Small Rust Rombo Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Small rust Rombo rug by Studio MLR Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 90 x L 140 cm Available in 3 sizes: W90 x L140, W170 x L240, W75 x L200 cm. Available in grey, mos...
Wool, Jute
$4,030 / item
Deserto Rug II by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Deserto rug II by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other color. A captivating motif of sinuous lines swirling ...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Pietra Rug II by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Pietra rug II by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. A captivating design by architect and designer...
Wool
$1,430 / item
Large Green Rombo Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Large green Rombo rug by Studio MLR Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 170 x L 240 cm Available in 3 sizes: W 90 x L 140, W 170 x L 240, W 75 x L 200 cm. Available in g...
Wool, Jute
$500 / item
Grey Rombo Runner Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey Rombo runner rug by Studio MLR Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 75 x L 200 cm Available in 3 sizes: W90 x L140, W170 x L240, W75 x L200 cm. Available in grey, mo...
Wool, Jute
$442 / item
Small Grey Rombo Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Grey Rombo rug by Studio MLR. Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 90 x L 140 cm Available in 3 sizes: W 90 x L 140, W 170 x L 240, W 75 x L 200 cm. Available in gr...
Wool, Jute
$4,030 / item
Settanta Rug III by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Settanta rug III by Giulio Brambilla. Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm. Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk. Available in other colors. Boasting a modern geometric design of st...
Wool
$1,430 / item
Large Grey Rombo Rug by Studio MLR
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Grey Rombo rug by Studio MLR. Materials: 65% wool, 35% jute. Dimensions: W 170 x L 240 cm. Available in 3 sizes: W 90 x L 140, W 170 x L 240, W 75 x L 200 cm. Available in ...
Wool, Jute
$4,030 / item
Pieghe Rug i by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Piegue rug I by Giulio Brambilla. Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm. Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk. Available in other colors. Boasting an abstract design distinguished by...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Settanta Rug II by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Settanta rug II by Giulio Brambilla. Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm. Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk. Available in other colors. Boasting a modern geometric design of str...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Pieghe Rug II by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Pieghe rug II by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. Boasting an abstract design distinguished by a...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Spieghe Rug III by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Spieghe rug III by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. A fascinating combination of tradition and i...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Spieghe Rug II by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Spieghe rug II by Giulio Brambilla. Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm. Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk. Available in other colors. A fascinating combination of tradition and...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Pieghe Rug III by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Pieghe rug III by Giulio Brambilla. Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm. Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk. Available in other colors. Boasting an abstract design distinguished ...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Spieghe Rug I by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Spieghe rug I by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. A fascinating combination of tradition and inn...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Black Frammenti Rug by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Frammenti rug by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. Custom sizes and colors also available. ...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Pink Frammenti Rug by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Frammenti rug by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. Custom sizes and colors also available, E...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Beige Frammenti Rug by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Frammenti rug by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. Custom sizes and colors also available. ...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Curve Rug I by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Curve rug I by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. A striking design of strong visual impact by art...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Curve Rug iii by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Curve rug III by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. A striking design of strong visual impact by a...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Pietra Rug III by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Pietra rug III by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. A captivating design by architect and designe...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Pietra Rug I by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Pietra rug I by Giulio Brambilla. Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm. Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk. Available in other colors. A captivating design by architect and design...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Curve Rug II by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Curve rug II by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. A striking design of strong visual impact by ar...
Wool
$4,030 / item
Settanta Rug I by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Settanta rug I by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 1.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. Boasting a modern geometric design of strong ...
Wool
$4,874 / item
Fiori Rug II by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Fiori rug II by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 0.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, melange yarn A captivating composition inspired by Georgian art, this exquisite rug is ...
Wool
$4,874 / item
Cuori Rug II by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Cuori rug II by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 0.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, melange yarn Named after the Italian word for “heart“, this rug is part of a refined co...
Wool
$4,874 / item
Cuori Rug III by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Cuori rug III by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 0.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, melange yarn Named after the Italian word for “heart“, this rug is part of a refined c...
Wool
$4,874 / item
Fiori Rug III by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Fiori rug III by Giulio Brambilla. Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 0.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, melange yarn. A captivating composition inspired by Georgian art, this exquisite rug ...
Wool
$4,874 / item
Fiori Rug I by Giulio Brambilla
Located in Geneve, CH
Fiori rug I by Giulio Brambilla Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 x H 0.5 cm Materials: NZ wool, melange yarn A captivating composition inspired by Georgian art, this exquisite rug is a...
Wool
$4,158 / item
Blue 1984 Rug by Betta K
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue 1984 rug by Betta K Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 cm Materials: New Zealand wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. Betta K is a mulitmedia artist, experimenting with dif...
Wool
$4,158 / item
Green 1984 Rug by Betta K
Located in Geneve, CH
Green 1984 rug by Betta K Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 cm Materials: New Zealand wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. Betta K is a mulitmedia artist, experimenting with di...
Wool
$4,158 / item
Pink 1984 Rug by Betta K
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink 1984 rug by Betta K Dimensions: D 300 x W 200 cm Materials: New Zealand wool, bamboo silk Available in other colors. Betta K is a mulitmedia artist, experimenting with dif...
Wool
$1,663 / item
Grey Tact Rug by Shazeen
Located in Geneve, CH
Grey Tact rug by Shazeen Materials: 90% wool, 10% cotton. Dimensions: W 170 x L 240 cm Available in 3 sizes: W 90 x L 140, W 170 x L 240, W 200 x L 300 cm. Available in off white and...
Wool, Cotton
$1,814 / item
White Tact Rug by Shazeen
Located in Geneve, CH
White tact rug by Shazeen Materials: 90% wool, 10% cotton. Dimensions: W 170 x L 240 cm Available in 3 sizes: W 90 x L 140, W 170 x L 240, W 200 x L 300 cm. Available in off white an...
Wool, Cotton
$2,570 / item
Tint Rug by Shazeen
Located in Geneve, CH
Tint rug by Shazeen Materials: 80% bamboo silk, 20% cotton. Dimensions: W 170 x L 240 cm Available in 3 sizes: W90 x L140, W170 x L240, W200 x L300 cm. Growing up as a child experie...
Cotton, Bamboo