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.
$12,319Sale Price|20% Off
New Modern Blue Berber Beni Mrirt Moroccan Rug with Expressionist Style
Located in Dallas, TX
21168 Rare Modern Blue Beni Mrirt Moroccan Rug, 12'03 x 13'08. An exquisite masterpiece of modern Moroccan weaving, this hand-knotted wool Beni Mrirt rug is a portal to a dreamscape—...
Wool
$1,680Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Boujad Moroccan Masterpiece of Tribal Elegance
Located in Dallas, TX
74776 Vintage Red Boujad Moroccan Rug, 04'05 X 11'09. Discover the allure of Boujad rugs, originating from the vibrant city of Boujad in the Khouribga region—a once pivotal pilgrimag...
Wool
$2,719Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Berber Moroccan Rug with Postmodern Boho Chic and Memphis Style
Located in Dallas, TX
21051, vintage Berber Moroccan rug with Postmodern boho chic and Memphis Style 06'11 x 10'00. This hand-knotted wool vintage Berber Moroccan rug features a compartmental design sprea...
Wool
Chromatic Reverie: Turkish Tulu Masterpiece, Sacred Bloom of Modern Distinction
By Georgia O'Keefee, Judy Chicago
Located in Dallas, TX
51863 New Colorful Turkish Tulu Rug, 09'05 x 12'10. Radiant, daring, and unapologetically sensuous, this hand-knotted wool contemporary Tulu shag rug captures the spirit of modern ar...
Wool, Angora
Vintage Berber Moroccan Boucherouite Rug with Bohemian Tribal Style
Located in Dallas, TX
21532 vintage Berber Moroccan Boucherouite rug with Bohemian Tribal style 03'03 x 04'10. Showcasing an expressive tribal design, incredible detail and texture, this hand knotted cott...
Wool, Cotton
New Purple Berber Beni Mrirt Moroccan High-Low Rug, 08'06 x 13'08
Located in Dallas, TX
21164 New Purple Beni Mrirt Moroccan High-Low Rug 08'06 x 13'08. This hand-knotted wool modern Beni Mrirt Moroccan rug is a splendid embodiment of the rich traditions of Moroccan wea...
Wool
$4,639Sale Price|20% Off
1980's Berber Beni M'Guild Moroccan Carpet with Modern Style
By Beni M'Guild, Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in Dallas, TX
21304 Vintage Berber Beni M'Guild Moroccan rug with Bohemian Tribal Style 05'10 x 11'07. Showcasing a bold expressive design, incredible detail and texture, this hand knotted wool vi...
Wool
$1,360Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Berber Moroccan Azilal Rug with Contemporary Abstract Style
Located in Dallas, TX
74526 Vintage Berber Moroccan Rug with Contemporary Abstract Style. More than the asymmetrical beauty found in the geometric pattern, this hand-knotted wool contemporary abstract Mor...
Wool, Cotton
$1,512Sale Price|20% Off
Colorful Vintage Berber Moroccan Azilal Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
20625 Vintage Boucherouite Moroccan Azilal Rag Rug, 03'05 x 06'02. Azilal rag rugs, also recognized as Azilal Boucherouite rugs, epitomize sustainable craftsmanship originating from ...
Wool
$1,079Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Berber Boucherouite Moroccan Shag Rug, Hallway Runner with Tribal Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77356, Vintage Berber Boucherouite Moroccan runner with Postmodern Tribal style, Shag Hallway runner 04'04 x 10'00. This hand knotted wool vintage Berber Boucherouite Moroccan runner...
Wool
The Fractured Continuum: Modern Moroccan Masterpiece of Deconstructivist Rhythm
By Berber Tribes of Morocco, Peter Eisenman
Located in Dallas, TX
80563 New Contemporary Pakistani Moroccan Rug, 10'00 x 13'11. The Fractured Continuum: A Modern Moroccan Masterpiece of Deconstructivist Rhythm. At once cerebral and inviting, this hand knotted wool Moroccan rug from Pakistan embodies a rare convergence of nomadic warmth and intellectual design. Its presence feels intentional—an object that doesn’t simply occupy space, but reshapes it. Rooted in Berber visual language yet refracted through a postmodern lens, this exquisite work of art speaks to collectors who seek pieces that challenge convention while retaining a sense of grounded authenticity. The striking composition unfolds in layered bands of beige and blue, where abrash creates a shifting, almost atmospheric terrain. These horizontal striations establish a quiet continuity, evoking the passage of time, landscape, and memory. Within this ground, the diamond lattice emerges—an iconic symbol of protection and femininity in Moroccan tradition—its repetition suggesting continuity, lineage, and the safeguarding of life’s inner spaces. Interrupting this order, elongated chevron bands descend vertically in a sequence of fine zigzag lines, disrupting the field with calculated tension. This interplay between horizontal calm and vertical intervention introduces a deliberate fracture, echoing the principles of deconstructivist thought—where structure is questioned, fragmented, and reassembled. The result is an avant-garde creation that feels alive with movement, a visual dialogue between stability and disruption, tradition and reinterpretation. Its graphic clarity and conceptual depth make it particularly compelling within interiors shaped by architectural rigor and philosophical intent. One can easily imagine it grounding a space influenced by the intellectual frameworks of Peter Eisenman...
Wool
1990’s Colorful Purple Beni MGuild Berber Moroccan Carpet with Modern Style
By Beni M'Guild, Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in Dallas, TX
20959 Vintage Purple Beni MGuild Moroccan Rug, 06'01 x 09'04. Crafted by the skilled hands of Berber women from the Ait M'Guild tribe in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Beni Mguild r...
Wool
$5,559Sale Price|20% Off
New Beni Mrirt Turquoise Moroccan Kilim Rug with a Raised Design, 08'02 x 11'06
Located in Dallas, TX
21162 New Modern Beni Mrirt Moroccan High-Low Rug, 08'02 x 11'06. This stunning hand-knotted wool modern Beni Mrirt Moroccan high-low rug encapsulates the essence of contemporary art...
Wool
Late 20th Century Vintage Zemmour Moroccan Kilim Runner
Located in Dallas, TX
21714 Vintage Zemmour Moroccan Kilim Runner, 01'03 x 16'01. Full of tiny details and tribal style, this hand-woven wool vintage Zemmour Berber Mo...
Wool
$10,080Sale Price|20% Off
The Chromatic Grid: A Modern Moroccan Masterpiece of Geometric Expression
By Mark Rothko, Paul Klee, Gunta Stölzl
Located in Dallas, TX
80697 Modern Moroccan Color Block Rug Inspired by Gunta Stolzl, 10'05 x 13'10. Presenting a resplendent testament to artistic audacity and daring creativi...
Wool
$1,399Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Berber Moroccan Rug with Color Block Design
Located in Dallas, TX
21066, vintage Berber Rehamna Moroccan rug with color block pattern and Cubist style. Drawing inspiration from Paul Klee, Sonia Delaunay, and Theo van Doesburg, this hand knotted woo...
Wool
$2,480Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Berber Moroccan Kilim Rug with Modern Cabin Style, Flat-weave Kilim Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
20417 Vintage Berber Moroccan Kilim Rug with Modern Cabin Style, Flat-weave Kilim Rug. Displaying clean lines and a bold colorway, this hand-woven vintage Berber Moroccan Kilim rug c...
Wool
$4,215Sale Price|20% Off
New Contemporary Moroccan Area Rug with Postmodern Style in Pastel Colors
Located in Dallas, TX
80633, new contemporary Moroccan Area rug with Postmodern style in pastel colors. Pastel hue diamonds appear suspended against a gray hued backdrop...
Wool
Post Modern Moroccan Boucherouite Boujad Berber Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Woven by using exclusively recycled yarns of various type, ranging from cotton to lurex, Boucherouite Berber rugs represent a unique facet of Moroccan textile art...
Cotton
Abstract Chequerboard Design Moroccan Boucherouite Boujad Berber Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Woven by using exclusively recycled yarns of various type, ranging from cotton to lurex, Boucherouite Berber rugs represent a unique facet of Moroccan textile art...
Cotton
Vintage Berber Moroccan Azilal Rug, Cozy Boho Chic Meets Tribal Enchantment
Located in Dallas, TX
21763 Vintage Neutral Moroccan Azilal Rug, 05'04 x 05'06. Step into the enchanting realm of Azilal rugs, where each strand tells a story meticulously crafted by skilled artisans amid...
Wool
Vintage Berber Moroccan Azilal Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
21613 Vintage Berber Moroccan Azilal Rug, 03'11 x 06'03. With its simplicity, boho chic style, incredible detail and texture, this hand knotted wool vintage Berber Moroccan Azilal ru...
Wool
$7,840Sale Price|20% Off
New Berber Beni Mrirt Moroccan Rug with Raised Design, 10'02 x 12'09
Located in Dallas, TX
21166 New Beni Mrirt Moroccan High-Low Rug 10'02 x 12'09. This hand-knotted wool modern Beni Mrirt Moroccan rug is a striking example of the intricate artistry that has been revered ...
Wool
$4,399Sale Price|20% Off
Large Turkish Moroccan Area Rug, Playful Postmodern Meets Magical Maximalism
Located in Dallas, TX
53176 Modern Style Turkish Moroccan Rug, 09'00 x 13'00. Playful Postmodern meets magical Maximalism in this hand knotted wool Turkish Moroccan rug. The intriguing chevron design and ...
Wool
New Contemporary Moroccan Area Rug, Classic Chevron Meets Retro Postmodern
Located in Dallas, TX
52993 New Modern Chevron Moroccan Rug, 08’10 x 12'07. Emanating modern style with incredible detail and texture, this hand knotted wool Turkish Morocc...
Wool
$3,639Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Beni M'Guild Moroccan Rug with Retro Postmodern Style
By Beni M'Guild, Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in Dallas, TX
20971, vintage Beni M'Guild Moroccan rug with Retro Postmodern style. This hand knotted wool vintage Beni M'Guild Moroccan rug features a series of expanded diamonds composed from th...
Wool
$2,279Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Berber Moroccan Kilim Rug with Modern Cabin Style, Flat-weave Kilim Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
20461 Vintage Berber Moroccan Kilim Rug with Modern Cabin Style, Flat-weave Kilim Rug 03'07 x 12'00. Displaying nomadic charm and time-softened colors, this hand-woven vintage Berb...
Wool
Vintage Graphic Azilal Moroccan Berber Rug
Located in Milan, IT
A truly unusual Azilal rug, quite finely knotted in wool on a foundation of industrial cotton, with a pattern of vertical stripes in black, blue and red against an ivory background. ...
Wool
Moroccan Colorful Abstract Boujad Berber Prayer Rug
Located in Milan, IT
A very unusual Berber rug from the Boujad region, located on the foothills of the central High Atlas mountains of Morocco, characterised by two distinct directional patterns, suggest...
Cotton
Post-Modern Moroccan Abstract Pointillist Boujad Berber Rug
Located in Milan, IT
A very unusual Berber rug from the Boujad region, located on the foothills of the central High Atlas mountains of Morocco, distinguished by an horizontally arranged pointillist patte...
Cotton