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.
$8,707 / item
CF LT07.5 Low Table by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF LT07.5 low table by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 38 x D 38 H 40 cm Materials: Wood, Plastic The top of low tables changes its colour according to the point of view. S-Steel structure available Biographical notes Beppe Caturegli...
Plastic, Wood
$17,415 / set
Set of 2 Cf Lt07.5 Low Tables by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 CF LT07.5 low tables by Caturegli Formica. Dimensions: W 38 x D 38 H 40 cm Materials: Wood, Plastic The top of low tables changes its colour according to the point of view. S-Steel structure available Biographical notes Beppe Caturegli...
Plastic, Wood
$8,707 / item
CF LT07.5 Low Table by Caturegli Formica
Located in Geneve, CH
CF LT07.5 low table by Caturegli Formica Dimensions: W 38 x D 38 H 40 cm Materials: Wood, Plastic The top of low tables changes its colour according to the point of view. S-Ste...
Plastic, Wood
Coffee Table from the Venice Collection by Alexey Drozhdin
Located in Geneve, CH
Coffee table from the Venice Collection by Alexey Drozhdin Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 42 cm. Materials: glass, oak shape. A young designer and artist Alexey Drozhdin creates e...
Glass, Oak
$2,012 / item
Copacabana Center Table by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Copacabana center table by Domkapa. Materials: black texturized stainless steel, bamboo wood. Dimensions: W 105 x D 105 x H 19 cm. Also available in different materials. Copa...
Stainless Steel
$2,365 / item
Green and Blue Babel One Coffee Table by Babel Brune
Located in Geneve, CH
Green and Blue Babel One coffee table by Babel Brune. Dimensions: D 42 x W 130 x H 30 cm. Material: Charred brushed oak wood, oil finish, powder-coated steel. An iconic piece, t...
Steel
Satin Glass "Isom Tall" Coffee Table, Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Satin glass "Isom Tall" coffee table, Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: 50 H x 43 W x 50 D cm Materials: Solid colored glass Different colors and sizes are av...
Glass
Satin Glass Prisma Circle 70 Coffee Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Satin glass Prisma circle 70 coffee table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D70x H35 cm Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 24.7 kg. Also available: Glass: clear white / clear gr...
Glass
Satin Glass Prisma Tall 50 Coffee Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Satin glass Prisma tall 50 coffee table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D 50x H 50 cm Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 20.5 kg. Also available: Glass: clear white / clear gr...
Glass
Mirror Prisma Tall 45 Coffee Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Mirror Prisma tall 45 coffee table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D 45 x H 45 cm Materials: Mirror. Weight: 8.5 kg. Also available: Mirror silver (stainless steel), mirror gold (br...
Mirror
Steel Prisma Circle 70 Coffee Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Steel prisma circle 70 coffee table by Sebastian Scherer. Dimensions: D70x H35 cm. Materials: Steel. Weight: 13 kg. Also Available: Steel (matt): snow white / light sand / sun yellow...
Glass
Steel Prisma Tall 45 Coffee Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Steel Prisma tall 45 coffee table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D45x H45 cm Materials: Steel. Weight: 8 kg. Also Available: Steel (matt): snow white / light sand / sun yellow ...
Glass
Blue Clear Glass Poly Square Coffe Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Blue glass poly square coffe table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D60 x W30 x H40 cm Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 12.7 kg. Also Available: Colours:Clear white (tran...
Glass
Green Satin Glass Poly Square Coffe Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Green satin glass poly square coffe table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D60 x W30 x H40 cm Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 12.7 kg. Also Available: Satin white / sati...
Glass
Black Clear Glass Poly Oblong Coffe Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Black clear glass poly oblong coffe table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D120 x W30 x H40 cm Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 34.4 kg. Also Available: Colours:Clear white (...
Glass
White Clear Glass Poly Oblong Coffe Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
White clear glass poly oblong coffe table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D120 x W30 x H 40 cm Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 34.4 kg. Also available: Colours: Clear white...
Glass
Clear Glass Prisma Tall 50 Coffee Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Clear glass Prisma tall 50 coffee table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D50x H50 cm Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 20.5 kg. Also Available: Glass: clear white / clear gree...
Glass
Satin Glass Prisma Tall Coffee Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Satin glass prisma tall 45 coffee table by Sebastian Scherer. Dimensions: D45x H45 cm. Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 16.4 kg. Also Available: Glass: clear white / clea...
Glass
Clear Glass Prisma Circle 70 Coffee Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
Clear glass prisma circle 70 coffee table by Sebastian Scherer Dimensions: D70x H35 cm Materials: Solid coloured glass. Weight: 24.7 kg. Also Available: Glass: clear white / clear gr...
Glass
White Satin Glass Poly Oblong Coffe Table by Sebastian Scherer
Located in Geneve, CH
White satin glass poly oblong coffe table by Sebastian Scherer. Dimensions: D 120 x W 30 x H 40 cm. Materials: solid colored glass. Weight: 34.4 kg. Also available: colors:clear whit...
Glass
$1,812 / item
Black "Table" Table by Roberta Rampazzo
Located in Geneve, CH
Table table by Roberta Rampazzo. Current Production. Dimensions: W 50 x D 50 x H 52 cm Materials: MDF 20 mm, Glass. With the letters of the word "table", the designer created a...
Other
$3,753 / item
Yellow Lovely Table by Roberta Rampazzo
Located in Geneve, CH
Lovely table by Roberta Rampazzo Current Production Dimensions: D 70 x H 52 cm Materials: steel, paint The Lovely side table is a special piece, handmade and with an unique des...
Steel
$3,753 / item
Blue Lovely Table by Roberta Rampazzo
Located in Geneve, CH
Lovely table by Roberta Rampazzo. Current Production. Dimensions: D 70 x H 52 cm. Materials: Steel, Paint. The Lovely side table is a special piece, handmade and with an unique...
Steel
$2,847 / item
Chakra Table by Roberta Rampazzo
Located in Geneve, CH
Chakra table by Roberta Rampazzo Current Production Dimensions: W 50 x D 50 x H 55 cm Materials: Piguês white marble Also available: Nero Marquina, Piguês white Designed with simple but strong lines, the table Chakra represents our constant search for material and spiritual balance. The graphic expression of high and low points reflects this union and brings stability to the table. Its continuous lines symbolize the flow of this energy. The choice of the materials also shows the harmony between the lightness of the base and the marble. A very easy-going table...
Marble
$3,753 / item
Turquoise Lovely Table by Roberta Rampazzo
Located in Geneve, CH
Lovely table by Roberta Rampazzo Current Production Dimensions: D 70 x H 52 cm Materials: steel, paint The Lovely side table is a special piece, handmade and with an unique des...
Steel
$9,660 / item
Olivia Emperador Neave Coffee Table by Nish Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Olivia Emperador Neave Coffee Table by Nish Studio Dimensions: W 87.4 x D 41.8 x H 34.6 cm. Materials: Olivia Emperador Marble. Prices based on polished finish with no detailing. Oth...
Marble
Set of 3, Kolho Original Coffee Table & Lounge Chairs, Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3, Kolho original coffee table & lounge chairs, Diamon Black by Made By Choice MDJ Kuu - Kolho Collection with Matthew Day Jackson Dimensions: 98 x 48 x 45 cm (Coffee Table)...
Birch, Plywood
$2,471 / item
Airisto Sofa Table, Stained Black by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Airisto sofa table, stained black by Made By Choice with Joanna Laajisto Dimensions: W96cm, D35cm, H45 cm Materials: Solid Ash Finishes: Natural Ash / Painted Black Also Availa...
Wood, Ash
$12,426 / item
Kheper K02 Coffee Table by Monogramma
Located in Geneve, CH
Kheper K02 coffee table by Monogramma Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 45 cm Materials: Travertino Silver (honed and sandblasted). Monogramma What really brings together is not so m...
Marble
$12,426 / item
Kheper K02 Mix Coffee Table by Monogramma
Located in Geneve, CH
Kheper K02 mix coffee table by Monogramma Dimensions: D 45 x W 45 x H 45 cm Materials: Travertino Romano Classico (honed), Port Saint Laurent (honed and sandblasted). Monogramma...
Marble
$4,236 / item
Alwa Three Big White Coffee Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Alwa three big white coffee table by Pulpo Dimensions: D56 x H35 cm Materials: Casted and hand blown glass Also available in different colours. Nor...
Glass
$3,730 / item
Alwa One Big Smoky Grey Black Coffee Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Alwa One Big Smoky Grey Black Coffee Table by Pulpo Dimensions: D56 x H35 cm. Materials: Casted glass; powder coated steel. Also available in different finishes. Normally, glass i...
Steel
$3,589 / item
Chouchou Round White Coffee Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Chouchou round white coffee table by Pulpo Dimensions: D 55 x H 45 cm Materials: ceramic Also available in different Colours. Chouchou...
Ceramic
$3,589 / item
Chouchou Round Sand Coffee Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Chouchou round sand coffee table by Pulpo Dimensions: D55 x H45 cm Materials: Ceramic Also available in different Colours. Chouchou bears the...
Ceramic
$3,718 / item
Alwa One Big Green Black Coffee Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Alwa one big green black coffee table by Pulpo. Dimensions: D56 x H35 cm. Materials: casted glass; powder coated steel Also available in different finishes. Normally, glass ...
Steel
$5,083 / set
Set of 2 Triplo Coffee Tables by Mason Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Triplo Coffee Tables by Mason Editions Designed by Martina Bartoli. Dimensions: Ø 54 cm x H 52.5 cm (each). Materials: Ash solid wood and metal. Available in different colors and finishes. A design based on the concept of dissecting a flat rest surface into three different heights, to obtain three tops. Versatile, functional and fun, Triplo is available in six different colour combinations. A delightfully practical design, this Triplo triple table...
Metal
Triplo Black and White Coffee Table by Mason Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Triplo Black and White Coffee Table by Mason Editions Designed by Martina Bartoli. Dimensions: Ø 54 cm x H 52.5 cm. Materials: Ash soli...
Metal
Triplo White and Orange Coffee Table by Mason Editions
Located in Geneve, CH
Triplo White and orange coffee table by Mason Editions Designed by Martina Bartoli. Dimensions: Ø 54 cm x H 52.5 cm. Materials: Ash solid wood a...
Metal
$2,847 / item
Healing Table by Tero Kuitunen
Located in Geneve, CH
Healing table by Tero Kuitunen. Material: natural stones, steel, brass. Dimensions: D45 x H65 cm. Limited edition of 3 By putting an energy stone in the middle of a table I wan...
Stone, Metal, Brass
$9,660 / item
Olivia Emperador Neave Coffee Table by Nish Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Olivia Emperador Neave Coffee Table by Nish Studio Dimensions: W 41.8 x D87.4 x H 34.6 cm. Materials: Olivia emperador marble. N I S H is a Cape Town based Fashion and Furniture des...
Marble
$14,167 / item
Epang 03 Coffee Table by Sing Chan
Located in Geneve, CH
Epang 03 coffee table by Sing Chan Dimensions: W 80 x D 70 x H 25 cm Materials: Manual sculpture, teak, black paint, waxing. Sing Chan ( Chinese: 陈星宇/Xingyu...
Teak, Paint
$2,329 / item
SST012 Low Table by Stone Stackers
Located in Geneve, CH
SST012 low table by Stone Stackers Dimensions: D66 x W38.5 x H41 cm Materials: Marbles: Marble structure: Port laurent Marble top: Carrara Weight: 26 kg An appealing asymmetr...
Marble
$9,837 / item
Colouring Table by Os and Oos
By Oskar Peet and Sophie Mensen
Located in Geneve, CH
Colouring table by OS and OOS Dimensions: ø 55 x 40 cm Materials: Rosso levante and salomé / carrara and concrete / red mdf and rosso verona The table might be slightly different ...
Marble
Black Fenix Laminate Soround Coffee Table 75 by Nur Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Fenix laminate soround coffee table 75 by Nur Design Materials: metal, fenix laminate Dimensions: D 75 x W 75 x H 49 cm Also available in different s...
Metal
Oiled Oak Arc Coffee Table 66 by Ditte Vad and Julie Bertrup
Located in Geneve, CH
Oiled oak arc side table 66 by Ditte Vad and Julie Bertrup Materials: oak, nano laminate Dimensions: D 66 x W 66 x H 38 cm Also available in different sizes and materials: ash, oa...
Laminate, Oak
Oiled Oak Arc Coffee Table 89 by Ditte Vad and Julie Bertrup
Located in Geneve, CH
Oiled Oak Arc Coffee Table by Ditte Vad and Julie Bertrup Materials: Oak, Laminate Dimensions: D 89 x W 89 x H 38 cm Also available in different si...
Laminate, Oak
Concrete Soround Coffee Table 60 by Nur Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Concrete Soround coffee table 60 by Nur Design Materials: metal, fibre concrete Dimensions: D 60 x W 60 x H 49 cm Also available in different sizes and materials: nano laminate, ...
Concrete, Metal
Beige Fenix Laminate Soround Coffee Table 75 by Nur Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Fenix Laminate Soround coffee table 75 by Nur Design Materials: Metal, Fenix Laminate Dimensions: D 75 x W 75 x H 49 cm Also available in different d...
Metal
Beige Fenix Laminate Soround Coffee Table 60 by Nur Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Fenix Laminate Soround coffee table 60 by Nur Design Materials: Metal, Fenix Laminate Dimensions: D 60 x W 60 x H 49 cm. Also available in different sizes. The founders, ...
Metal
$15,532 / item
Cut and Fold Coffee Table by dAM Atelier
By dAM Atelier
Located in Geneve, CH
Cut and fold coffee table by dAM Atelier Dimensions: L78 x W48 x H40 cm. Materials: Verde Alpi Mable. Cutting and folding means creating a whole...
Marble
$28,476 / item
T2 Coffee Table by John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
T2 coffee table by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 35.5 x 155 x 55.9 cm Materials: carved blackened Maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Byers creates ge...
Maple
$5,189 / set
Set of 3 Trestle Collection by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 Trestle Collection by Mingardo Dimensions: D20 x W10 x H42,4 cm D96 x W80 x H32 cm D96 x W32 x H80 cm Materials: Nat. Or wengé oak wood structure. Satin nat. Brass/or copper rods top. Iron Also Available in different finishes. The tables of Trestle collection are composed by an oak wood folding structure (diameter 30-25 mm) realized with a natural or wengè finish, and a completely handmade top plan, made by a complex weave of metal rods curved and welded. Also available with the structure in varnished iron. On request, the top can be made out of with a plain metal...
Brass, Copper, Iron
$1,623 / item
Trestle Coffee Table by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Trestle coffee table by Mingardo Dimensions: D 96 x W 80 x H 32 cm Materials: Ral 9005 black varnished iron structure and rods top Weight: 26 ...
Iron
$12,167 / item
Pilar Coffee Table by INDO-
Located in Geneve, CH
Pilar coffee table by INDO- One of a kind Dimensions: Ø 99 x H 38.1 cm Materials: Oxidized oak, Nero Marquina Marble top Also available in other materials. Each piece is carefully ...
Stone
$9,578 / item
Pilar Coffee Table by INDO-
Located in Geneve, CH
Pilar coffee table by INDO- One of a kind Dimensions: Ø99 X H38.1 cm Materials: Maple with ombre finish. Also available in other materials. Each ...
Maple
$13,073 / item
Pilar Coffee Table Large by INDO-
Located in Geneve, CH
Pilar coffee table by INDO- One of a kind Dimensions: Ø 132.1 X H 38.1 cm Materials: Maple, Hardwood top, Ombre finish Also available in other materials. Each piece is carefully ha...
Hardwood, Maple
$12,943 / item
Unique Signed Table by Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique signed table by Jörg Pietschmann Table, Santos Palisander, teak, T1305 Measures: H 37.5 x W 160 x D 35 cm tabletop 4.5 cm Extremely elegant tabletop of rosewood (Santos palisa...
Palisander, Teak
$6,070 / item
Arte Center Table by Jean-Baptiste Van den Heede
Located in Geneve, CH
Arte center table by Jean-Baptiste Van den Heede Signed Unique Piece Dimensions: L 130 x D 63 x H 43 cm Materials: Olive Wood Design tables from the ARTE collection in walnut wood with metal legs or legs in oak and hand-carved natural stone. Each piece of furniture is signed and unique for its characteristics such as solid wood and hand-carved stone. Each piece of furniture is packed in a wooden box for maximum care. Hand carved olive wood...
Wood, Olive
$4,083 / item
Perspectiva Coffee Table II by Colección Estudio
Located in Geneve, CH
Perspectiva coffee table II by Colección Estudio. Dimensions: D 56 x W 95 x H 52 cm. Materials: oak wood, grey wool felt. Also available in eboniz...
Felt, Oak
Price Upon Request
'Side Table 9' Side Table by Peter Shire, 1984
By Peter Shire
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Vintage side table by Peter Shire, 1984. Birch solid core plywood and laminate. Exact dimensions avail. Upon request. *other models available Peter Shire: Peter Shire is an LA...
Laminate, Plywood