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.
Post-Modern Wall Unit in Glass and Travertine
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wall unit, travertine, glass, Europe, 1970s Elegant and architectural wall unit crafted during the 1970s, composed of travertine supports and glass shelves. The design is defined by...
Travertine
Paul Evans for Directional 'PE 68' Wall Unit in Bronzed Resin and Glass
By Paul Evans
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans, Paul Evans Studio for Directional, wall shelves, model 'PE 68', epoxy bronzed resin over wood, glass, United States, 1970s Grand wall unit by Paul Evans, designed for Di...
Glass, Resin, Wood
Vittorio Introini for Proposals Wall Unit in Steel and Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vittorio Introini for Proposals wall unit or library, glass, steel, brass, Italy, 1970s This exceptional made-to-order wall unit was designed by Vittorio Introini and manufactured b...
Steel
Memphis Milano Carlton Shelf by Ettore Sottsass
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Toronto, ON
An absolute icon of Memphis designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981, Carlton fully represents the programmatic intention of the group: the desire to transgress with an irreverent, unorth...
Laminate, Wood
Post Modern Oak Bookshelf Shelving Unit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition This postmodern oak shelving unit from the 1980s offers a striking blend of display, storage, and functional versatility. The open architectura...
Oak
$3,480Sale Price|55% Off
Library Shelf System Hook System by Pagani and Angelo Perversi, Italy, 1987
Located in Vienna, AT
Graphical shelf system called 'Hook System' by Pagani & Perversi, Italy 1987 Dimensions are 82.32" x 39.37" x 12.99". Very rare Library shelf system by Luciano Pagani and Angelo Perversi...
Steel
Vintage Post Modern Chrome & Glass Etagere Bookshelf
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Polished Chrome, Original Glass Shelves This striking Post-Modern étagère features a clean architectural chrome frame paired with i...
Chrome
Postmodern German Metal Wall Shelf from Radius Design, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Metal wall shelf from Radius Design. A design with an industrial design language. The materiality and workmanship are particularly eye-catching. Galvanized sheet steel that is folde...
Metal
Pia Manu Hand Crafted Room Divider in Burnished Concrete and Stained Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pia Manu, room divider, burnished concrete, stained glass, steel, Belgium, 1970s This unique piece of art is assembled in the workshop of Pia Manu and is a great testament to their ...
Concrete, Steel
Postmodern American Studio Craft Sculptural Wood Display Console Shelf 1990s
Located in Troy, MI
American studio craft sculptural shelf or console table circa 1990s Unique Memphis inspired step design executed in ash and walnut with dovetail joinery and lower wave stretcher So...
Wood
Postmodern Manhattan 5th Avenue CD Rack Tower from Koziol, Germany, 1990s
By Koziol
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern Manhattan Series 5th Avenue CD Rack Tower from Koziol, Germany, 1990s
Plastic
Bronze and Glass Etagere Shelf by Milo Baughman c. 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Architectural, voguish, stylish freestanding shelf unit, design attributed to Milo Baughman. This model is particularly chic in the brass, bronze finish, it is more commonly found i...
Bronze
Large "Peter" Shelving Unit by Niels Gammelgaard for Ikea, 1980s
Located in Lyon, FR
Large freestanding chrome-plated metal shelving unit, “Peter” model, designed by Niels Gammelgaard for IKEA, 1980s. Practical and sturdy, the shelves are made of perforated metal wit...
Metal
W2320 Wall Hanging Shelf in Honduras Rosewood Burl Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
W2320 Wall Hanging Shelf in Honduras Rosewood Burl Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 35 x W 69 x H 2,5 cm. Materials: Honduras rosewood burl. All wall shelves include steel pin...
Wood
W0118 Wall Hanging Shelf in Mulberry Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
W0118 Wall Hanging Shelf in Mulberry Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 28 x W 100 x H 2,5 cm. Materials: Mulberry wood. All wall shelves include steel pin holders for discreet ...
Wood
$5,821 / item
Mid-Century inspired Bookshelf by Pastform
Located in Geneve, CH
Mid-Century Bookshelf by Pastform Dimensions: D 45 x W 150 x H 200 cm. Materials: Stained and varnished wood. Available in different wood color finishes: Whiskey, Rum, BPA, Nobel, B...
Wood
W2403 Wall Hanging Shelf in Teak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
W2403 Wall Hanging Shelf in Teak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 25,5 x W 138,5 x H 4 cm. Materials: Teak wood. All wall shelves include steel pin holders for discreet mounti...
Teak
$1,680Sale Price / item|20% Off
Italian Vintage Bookcase in green Bamboo, Rattan and Brass
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant 80's ItalianDiscover the timeless elegance of this refined vintage Italian bookcase, made of bamboo and rattan, which is a perfect exa...
Brass
$10,068 / item
Differ Shelf by Lisa Brustolin
Located in Geneve, CH
Differ Shelf by Lisa Brustolin Dimensions: W 66 x D 44 x H 134 cm Materials: Epoxy Resin Differ Shelf is a bookshelf featured by high contrasts, the ho...
Epoxy Resin
W1254 Wall Hanging Shelf in European Walnut Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
W1254 Wall Hanging Shelf in European Walnut Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 19,5 x W 255 x H 2,5 cm. Materials: Walnut wood. All wall shelves include steel pin holders for di...
Walnut
$795 / 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
W2380 Wall Hanging Shelf in Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
W2380 Wall Hanging Shelf in Oak Wood by Jörg Pietschmann Dimensions: D 27 x W 212 x H 23 cm. Materials: Oak wood. All wall shelves include steel pin holders for discreet mounting. P...
Oak
$256 / item
Wally Big Ultra Blue Shelf by +kouple
Located in Geneve, CH
Wally Big Ultra Blue Shelf by +kouple Dimensions: D 5,3 x W 2,5 x H 1,7 cm. Materials: Powder-coated steel. Available in different color options. Available in two different sizes. ...
Steel
$3,310 / item
Ju Shelf by Estudio Prosa
Located in Geneve, CH
Ju Shelf by Estudio Prosa Dimensions: W 90 x D 90 x H 25 cm Materials: Wood. Available in Cedro Arana, Jequitiba, Muiracatiara, or Cumaru wood options. Please contact us. The Prosa...
Wood
$4,876 / item
Yellow Bookcase by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Yellow Bookcase by Rejo Studio. Dimensions: D 200 x W 50 x H 168 cm. Materials: wood. Also available in different colour. REJO is a design stu...
Wood
$2,135 / item
Ash Comet Floating Shelf by David Tragen
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash Comet Floating Shelf by David Tragen Dimensions: W 110 x D 14.5 x H 7 cm Materials: Ash. Weight: 3 kg. Comet catches the movement of light across the sky, in this angular, scul...
Ash
Postmodern "The Colonnades" Shelving Unit by Pascal Mourgue for Artelano, 1990s
Located in Rouen, FR
Totemic shelving unit designed by Pascal Mourgue for Artelano in the 1990s, part of the iconic Colonnades collection. A sculptural piece that blurs the line between furniture and ar...
Glass, Oak
$4,876 / item
Red Bookcase by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Red Bookcase by Rejo Studio Dimensions: D 180 x W 45 x H 145 cm Materials: Wood Also Available in different colour. REJO is a design studio based in Ri...
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
$32,667 / item
Proportions of Stone Shelf 03 by Lee Sisan
Located in Geneve, CH
Proportions of Stone Shelf 03 by Lee Sisan Dimensions: W 120 x D 40 x H 200 cm Materials: Stainless steel, natural stone Each piece is made to order and u...
Stone, Steel
Postmodern Italian Graffiti Shelf by Rodney Kinsman for Bieffeplast, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Metal shelf from the Italian manufacturer Biefeplast according to a draft from Rodney Kinsman from the 80s. A design classic of the 80s in postmodern formal language. This modular s...
Metal
"Angelo Necessario" wall shelf by Paolo Pallucco and Mireille Rivier, 1988
By Paolo Pallucco & Mireille Rivier, Pallucco
Located in Renens, CH
Rare "Angelo Necessario" wall shelf by Paolo Pallucco et Mireille Rivier, Pallucco Italy 1989. "Angelo Necessario" wall shelf by Paolo Pal...
Metal
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Memphis style floor shelf in plastic, 1980s
Located in STRASBOURG, FR
Superb Memphis-style display unit in ABS plastic, with colors reminiscent of Gerrit Rietveld's creations, in very good condition.
Plastic
Wave Bookshelf in Powder Coated Aluminium by Julien Vidame
Located in Geneve, CH
Wave Bookshelf in Powder Coated Aluminium by Julien Vidame. Dimensions: W 50 x D 35 x H 135 cm. Materials: Powder-coated aluminium. Available in Dull Black, Shiny White, or Silver Va...
Aluminum
Ettore Sottsass Cantone Corner Shelves, Italy, 1981
Located in Dronten, NL
Striking “Cantone” corner cabinet designed by Ettore Sottsass, an iconic example of the Italian postmodern master’s sculptural and architectural approach to furniture. This piece emb...
Silver
A RADICAL POST-MODERN MEMPHIS SHELVING SYSTEM, France, 1980
Located in PARIS, FR
A radical shelving system or bookcase, Post-Modern, Constructivist, Memphis, Bauhaus, geometric asymmetric structure in steel lacquered in anthracite, with 5 shelves in glass suspend...
Brass, Bronze, Steel
$14,153 / item
BIS Bookshelf by MOB
Located in Geneve, CH
BIS bookshelf by MOB Limited editions of 15 + 1 prototype Designer: Benjamin Ossa (Chile) Dimensions: H 210 x D 50 x W 210 cm Material: Cherry tree veneer 18mm, steel chrome unions, reflective brown glass The BIS project for MOB seeks to be installed as a sort of island in space, accentuating its semi-translucent composition and operability on both sides of the furniture. In some way this "screen" modifies the space, divides it and conditions its use, allowing to dispose objects or not, on both sides of the furniture. Thanks to the use of reflective glasses as separators; the objects and the traffic can be observed from the opposite side. Its modular, basic and simple way, together with the use of transparency, try to connect conceptually with the use of the oriental screen...
Steel
Wall Shelf, Lacquered Wood Ring Form, Post-Modern Design, Panorammma, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Ring Shelf is a free-standing, asymmetric, laquered wood ring. This object’s variations in form along with the dynamic composition of aluminum sheets that the ring encompasses open t...
Marble, Aluminum
$8,983 / item
Showcase Cabinet, by Paul Heijnen
Located in Geneve, CH
Showcase cabinet, 2x2 by Paul Heijnen (2011) Dimensions: H131 x L80 x W50 cm Materials: Steel, oak, glass. Available in different varieties/stains, Each cabinet is made to or...
Steel
“Abracadabra” Shelving Unit by De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi for Zerodisegnio 1990
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Almelo, NL
An iconic large-scale postmodern shelving unit from the “Abracadabra” series, designed by De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi and manufactured by Zerodisegnio, Italy, 1990s. A striking archit...
Metal, Aluminum
Stained Birch XL CNSTR Cabinet by Paul Heijnen, Hand-Crafted in NL
Located in Geneve, CH
CNSTR cabinet, stained birch XL by Paul Heijnen (2009) Dimensions: H230 x L200 x W65 cm Materials: Stained birch Also available in, oak, natural birch, walnut, and other varieti...
Birch, Oak
Vintage 1980s Postmodern Lucite Lighted Freestanding Etagere Shelving Unit
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A vintage postmodern lucite etagere. This is a lovely 1980s freestanding shelving unit with an all lucite construction. Both the top and the bottom of the frame features a bubbled te...
Lucite
$5,696 / item
LXV Wall Shelf by Aaron Scott
Located in Geneve, CH
LXV wall shelf by Aaron Scott Dimensions: D 22 x W 56 x H 41 cm Materials: Walnut. Also available in other woods: bleached cherry, ebonized cherry, ebonized walnut. Brooklyn-...
Walnut
Metal shelf Verspanntes Regal design Wolfgang Laubersheimer, Pentagon Group 1984
By Pentagon Group, Wolfgang Laubersheimer
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
One Postmodern shelf „Verspanntes Regal“ designed by Wolfgang Laubersheimer for Pentagon Group in 1984. early edition of the 'Verspanntes Regal', therefore without makers bedge or ...
Steel
$13,171 / item
Talea Bookcase by De Castelli
Located in Geneve, CH
Talea Bookcase by De Castelli Dimensions: W 115 x D 32 x H 234 cm Materials: Orbitale DeLabré Copper, Other Stainless Steel and Brass versions are available. Other variations of this...
Copper, Other
$1,391 / item
D300 Shelve by MLK Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
D300 Shelve by MLK Furniture Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 40 cm. Materials: Aluminum. Also available in brass, copper, or stainless steel. D300 Shelves answers the following issue; ...
Aluminum
Jack Cartwright for Founders Walnut, Tubular Chrome and Glass Shelving Unit
By Founders Furniture Company, Milo Baughman, Directional, Jack Cartwright
Located in New Windsor, NY
Splendid walnut, tubular chrome and glass Founders shelving unit designed by Jack Cartwright. Circa 1970-80. The highest of the glass shelves can be adjusted and the drawers and cabi...
Chrome
Antonio Citterio x B&B Italia "Domus 03" Wall Unit
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in Astoria, NY
Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia "Domus 03" Wall Unit, wood and steel frame with red acrylic sliding door opening to multi-level shelves above bottom drawer. 63.5" H x 94.5" W x 31"...
Steel
$12,016 / item
Shelf by Olivia Cognet
Located in Geneve, CH
Shelf by Olivia Cognet Dimensions: W 210 x D 15 x H 20 cm Materials: Ceramic. Module of 3 parts. Each of Olivia’s handmade creations is a unique work of art, the snapshot of a preci...
Ceramic
$1,731 / item
Kinko Shelf in Stainless Steel by Zincutec
Located in Geneve, CH
Kinko Shelf in Stainless Steel by Zincutec Dimensions: D 17 x W 25 x H 170 cm. Materials: Stainless steel. Available in brass or stainless steel. Available with one, two, or three s...
Stainless Steel
Ring Circular Shelf in Black Marble, Travertine & Aluminum by Panorammma
Located in Geneve, CH
Ring Circular Shelf in Black Marble, Travertine & Aluminum by Panorammma Dimensions: D 29 x W 163 x H 151 cm. Materials: Black marble, travertine, and aluminum. Each edition’s patte...
Travertine, Marble, Aluminum
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Rectangular Gold Aluminum Console Table with Two Glass Shelves, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This shelving unit is made in anodized aluminum and glass. It can be used as a divider. It may show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but it can be consi...
Aluminum
$3,303Sale Price|30% Off
Post modern industrial freestanding shelving unit, Italy 1970s
By Coen de Vries, Tomado, Pilastro
Located in ECHT, NL
Modular metal shelving unit. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Is has three sections. Made in the style of Pilastro, Artimeta and Tomado. The shelves can be placed on different heights. By...
Metal
$700 / item
Parade 3 Shelves Oxide Red by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Parade 3 shelves Oxide Red by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D100 x W30 x H104 cm Material: Powder coated steel Weight: 12 kg Also available in different...
Steel
$1,099 / item
Dream/Reality Shelf by Six Dots Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Dream/Reality Shelf by Six Dots Design Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 23 x W 37 x H 33 cm Materials: Raw aluminum. Six Dots designs and makes bespoke furniture in North London. We want...
Aluminum
Italian Postmodern Sculptural Wall Shelf by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta 1980
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Alfiere étagère by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta, 1980 This rare Italian postmodern sculptural wall shelf was designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1980 for Zanotta. Known as the Alfiere éta...
Marble, Chrome
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
$4,538 / item
Laminated Ash Genie Floating Shelf by David Tragen
Located in Geneve, CH
Laminated Ash Genie Floating Shelf by David Tragen Dimensions: W 120 x D 66 x H 19 cm Materials: Ash (Laminated). Weight: 3 kg. If you’re looking to conjure up something special fo...
Ash
$606Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Tempered Glass and Steel Etagere by Gallotti & Radice with a Shelf
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s - 1980s. This etagere / side table is made in tempered glass and features a glass shelf and steel parts. It may show slight traces of use since it's vintage, bu...
Steel
$3,955 / set
Set of 3 D300 Shelve by MLK Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 D300 Shelve by MLK Furniture Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 115 cm. Materials: Aluminum. Also available in brass, copper, or stainless steel. D300 Shelves answers the followi...
Aluminum