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.
Contemporary High Polished Bronze Coffee Table by Colo Studio, France
By Art Decor
Located in London, GB
Bonze coffee table 'Radiant' by Colo studio, 2022 Material: Bronze, golden polish Dimensions: H 33 x 119 x 72 cm Year: 2022 Limited and numbered edition of 8 pieces + 4 AP, handmade...
Bronze
Burned and Black Stained Solid Oak Lahmu Coffee Table by Sizar Alexis
By Sizar Alexis
Located in Geneve, CH
Burned and Black Stained Solid Oak Lahmu Coffee Table by Sizar Alexis Dimensions: W 118 x D 90 x H 28 cm Materials: Burned and Black Stained Solid Oak. About: Sizar Alexis is a Swe...
Oak
Sweet Fuchsia Amore Coffee Table by Giò Colonna Romano
Located in Geneve, CH
Sweet Fuchsia Amore Coffee Table by Giò Colonna Romano Dimensions: D 70 x W 160 x H 46 cm. Materials: Polyethylene and tempered glass. Weight: 50 kg. Available in a standard version...
Other
Pair of Chic 'Caisson' Solid Brass and Black Lacquer End Tables by Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of chic 'Caisson' brass and black lacquer end tables by Design Frères. Solid (not plated) brass frames pared with durable lacquer tops (coasters still recommended). Great as end...
Brass
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia Postmodern Freeform Coffee Table, 1980s
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional postmodern free form coffee table By Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia Italy, 1980s Red lacquered tiger...
Metal
$3,094 / item
Teo Pink Shades 90 Coffee Table by VUUN ITALIA
Located in Geneve, CH
Teo Pink Shades 90 Coffee Table by VUUN ITALIA Dimensions: D 93 x W 93 x H 28 cm. Materials: Extralight glass with gold mirror base. Available in different sizes and finishes. Plea...
Glass
$2,850Sale Price|25% Off
Post-Modern Laquered Picasso Art Cocktail Table
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Vintage cocktail table with a lacquered Picasso's "large stiff life with pedestal table" top. Circa 1970's or 80's. Gorgeous statement piece with bold colors and gloss black hourgla...
Brass
Porfido Coffee Table by Piero Gilardi for Gufram Limited Edition, 1974
By Piero Gilardi, Memphis Group, Gufram Furniture
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare limited edition table by Piero Gilardi from 1974. This is an early piece numbered 27/500 Measurements are 38 x 26 x 14 inches. Resembling an ancient engraved piece of stone, i...
Polystyrene
Walnut SSU Coffee Table L by Veermakers, Post-Modern Design, Sweden
Located in Geneve, CH
Walnut SSU Coffee Table L by Veermakers Dimensions: W 172 x D 110 x H 30 cm. Materials: Walnut Premium with a satin clear hard wax oil. About: After years of successful collaborati...
Walnut
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Large Post Modern Coffee Table with Formica Base and Textured Glass Top
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular two tier triangular coffee table, having a glossy black Formica base, with a thick ( 1 in. ) deeply textured plate glass top. The base feat...
Glass, Laminate
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
Post Modern Enamel and Glass Coffee Table Dated '91 Probably Made in Italy
By Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves (b.1934)
Located in New York, NY
Intriguing Post Modern, Memphis style coffee table having opposing curved bases, of turquoise and white enameled metal, which support the th...
Metal
Karl Springer Mark II White Leather w/Gunmetal Inlay Coffee Table, 1986
Located in Chicago, IL
Karl Springer Mark II White Leather with Gunmetal Inlay Coffee Table. Smooth white leather lacquered in white shiny finish with clear glass top. Original paperwork shown in pictures...
Metal
Square Fornasetti Coffee Table with Sun Motif, 20th Century
By Fornasetti
Located in New York, NY
Large square coffee table by Fornasetti featuring the iconic sun motif and a subtly wavy perspex tabletop set on an iron base. The tabletop bears a facsimile signature.
Iron
Original USM Haller Couchtisch Nachttisch Beistelltisch stahlblau
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen kleinen USM Haller Couch-/ Nacht- oder Beistelltisch in stahlblau zum Verkauf an. Der Tisch steht auf kleinen Nivelierfüßen mit denen Bodenunebenheiten...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Post modern coffee table with a hidden rotating bar, Germany 1980s
By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass
Located in ECHT, NL
Post modern square coffee table. Made from white lacquered MDF. It has a hidden bar inside. By turning the center, it unlocks. It has a self rising mechanism that pushes the center u...
Metal
$42,715 / item
Foliage Bronze Coffee Table by Marsica Fossati
Located in Geneve, CH
Foliage Bronze Coffee Table by Marsica Fossati Dimensions: D 75 x W 75 x H 35 cm. Materials: Bronze. Crafted with exquisite detail and precision, this table is shaped in the form of...
Bronze
Original USM Haller Couchtisch Fritz Haller schwarz coffee table
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen Couchtisch vom Schweizer Traditionshersteller USM Haller zum Verkauf an. Der Tisch, der der hier in der begehrten schwrzen Ausführung angeboten wird, v...
Steel, Chrome
Feline IV Sky Night Quartzite And Bronze Unique Coffee Table by Grzegorz Majka
Located in Geneve, CH
Feline IV Sky Night Quartzite And Bronze Unique Coffee Table by Grzegorz Majka Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 119 x W 170 x H 35,5 cm. Materials: Sky Night quartzite and solid bronze. ...
Stone, Bronze
Elliot Littmann Betsy Cafe Coffee Table for Driade, 1992
By Driade
Located in Miami, FL
Glass top coffee table with 1/2" tempered crystal glass on silver gray painted steel rod designed by Elliot Littmann and manufactured by Driade, 1992.
Steel
Pierre-Elie Gardette, Large Sculptural Coffee Table, Slate, France, 1960s
By Pierre-Elie Gardette
Located in High Point, NC
A large slate-veneered fiberglass coffee table or center table, designed and produced by Pierre-Elie Gardette, France, 1960s.
Slate
Kanyon Oval Oak And Travertine Coffee Table by Studio Kali
Located in Geneve, CH
Kanyon Oval Oak And Travertine Coffee Table by Studio Kali Dimensions: D 52 x W 140 x H 37 cm. Materials: Oak, veneer, and travertine. ...
Travertine
Rare “Tovaglia” Coffee Table, 1969 – Attributed to Studio Alchimia
Located in Wheat Ridge, CO
Rare “Tovaglia” Coffee Table, 1969 – Attributed to Studio Alchimia A striking example of Italian Radical Design, the Tovaglia coffee table (Italian for “tablecloth”) blurs the bound...
Fiberglass
$2,977 / item
Oslo Coffee Table by Shou
Located in Geneve, CH
Oslo coffee table by Shou. Dimensions: W 100 x D 60 x H 42 cm. Materials: Tempered smoked glass, leather and wooden stick. The coffee table is p...
Leather, Glass, Wood
Barbera Heron Round Coffee Table, Modern Solid Bronze Base with Stone Top
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Designed by Daniel Barbera, the Heron coffee table, is a muscular sandcast solid bronze base with four organic forms rising from the base to support...
Granite, Marble, Metal, Aluminum, Bronze
Postmodern Side Coffe Table 1980s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Postmodern Side Coffe table Italy 1980s
Metal
Jean Claude Dresse Rectangular Coffee Table in Off-White Resin
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jean Claude Dresse, coffee table, resin, lacquered steel, Belgium, 1970s This eccentric coffee table is a masterful creation by Belgian designer Jean Claude Dresse. Every inch of th...
Steel
Large Travertine Mid Century Italian Modern Trapezoidal Glass Cocktail Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An extra long coffee table from Italy circa 1970's. It features 2 triangular travertine pedestals supporting a thick clear glass top.
Travertine
70s Tiled Top Coffee Table by Tue Poulsen
By Tue Poulsen, Haslev Mobelsnedkeri
Located in Toronto, CA
A table of solid oak wood with handmade ceramic tile inlay, designed by Danish artist designer Tue Poulsen for Haslev Mobelsnedkeri. Strong, org...
Ceramic, Wood
Salvador Dali Leda Low Table, Limited Edition Black Label Sculpture by BD
By BD Barcelona Design, Salvador Dalí
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Elevate your space with the rare and exquisite Salvador Dali Leda low table, a true masterpiece of art and design. Designed by the surrealist master himself and manufactured by BD, t...
Marble, Brass
Vintage postmodern American grasscloth triangle coffee table, 1980s
Located in Hastings, GB
Postmodern grasscloth triangular coffee table, USA 1980s. Made from a heavyweight fiberglass material, with a lacquered grasscloth finish Dimensions: width 104cm, depth 55cm, height...
Grasscloth, Fiberglass
$5,950 / item
Scrolled Pencil Bamboo Coffee Table, Italy, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural Italian coffee table from the 1970s composed of tightly wrapped pencil bamboo over a curved wood form. The silhouette curls into wide scrolled legs, creating an open base ...
Bamboo
Postmodern Laminated Two Tiered Kidney Shaped Coffee Table
Located in Houston, TX
Postmodern laminated two tiered kidney shaped coffee table. This fantastic post modern laminate cocktail table or coffee table was executed in fant...
Laminate
$436Sale Price|20% Off
Post-Modern Four Post Glass Top Coffee Table
Located in Trenton, NJ
This vintage 1980s postmodern coffee table embodies the bold architectural spirit of the era. A thick square glass top floats elegantly ...
Composition
1990s Postmodern Glass Waterfall Sculptural Black Circular Wood Coffee Table
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Postmodern Glass Waterfall Edge Sculptural Coffee Table. Stunning table features a graceful waterfall edge opposite an end gracefully supported by a black pyramid on triangle foot, w...
Steel
$6,683 / item
Una Coffee Table by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Una Coffee Table by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio Dimensions: W 110 x D 110 x H 25 cm Materials: Wood. ABOUT Giácomo Tomazzi graduated in architecture...
Wood
Contemporary Polished Bronze Circular Coffee Table by Colo Studio, France
By Art Decor
Located in London, GB
'Radiant' Coffee Table by Colo Studio Limited and numbered edition of 8 pieces + 4 AP, handmade in France. Bespoke dimensions and finishes upon request. Material: Bronze, golden po...
Bronze
$35,419 / item
Shell Calacatta Midnight Coffee Table by Etamorph
Located in Geneve, CH
Shell Calacatta Midnight Coffee Table by Etamorph Dimensions: W 150 x D 85 x H 35 cm. Materials: Calacatta Midnight. Carved from a block of natural stone and manually honed. Differe...
Stone
$5,530 / item
Salvante S1 Side Table by Piotr Dąbrowa
Located in Geneve, CH
Salvante S1 side table by Piotr Dabrowa Unique Piece Dimensions: D 50 x H 50 cm Materials: Rosa Portogallo marble, Rosa Peralba marble. Also available in other marbles. Salvan...
Marble
Tommaso Barbi Postmodern Italian Brass Faux Tusk Coffee Table
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Tommaso Barbi Postmodern Italian Brass Faux Tusk Coffee Table This coffee table measures: 51.25 wide x 37.5 deep x 16.5 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we ca...
Brass
Blue Patinated Resin Coffee Table Inspired by Jean Pierre Picheny
Located in Brussel, BE
An astonishing coffee table in blue patinated resin sculpting lying down woman in full denim, supporting a large glass top. Not signed, this piece is inspired by a Pop-Art takeover o...
Glass, Resin
Tecta Coffee Table, Ash & Cherry Wood, One-Off Custom Piece
Located in Krefeld, DE
Coffee table by Tecta, crafted as a one-off custom piece in ash and cherry wood. This finely executed coffee table by German manufacturer Tecta is a unique, custom-made piece showcas...
Ash, Cherry
$1,101Sale Price|44% Off
1980s Cobalt Blue, Coral, Black Tile Top Chrome Leg Coffee Table
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Eye-catching rectangular coffee side table with ten large shiny glazed tiles - each tiles measures 15x15 cm/5.9 in. Glaze in rich cobalt blue, black and almost neon hot coral with sm...
Chrome
$4,231Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Italian Vintage Grey and Cream Marble Nesting Tables-- Set of 3
Located in Basel, BS
Beautiful solid marble nesting tables, with differing heights, to nest accordingly. Can be arranged in many different configurations. Incredible veining on the marble. Stunning set...
Marble
$21,228 / item
Phaux Brass Coffee Table, Signed by Stefan Leo
Located in Geneve, CH
Phaux brass coffee table, Signed by Stefan Leo Brass, etched, patinated Measures: D 120 circular, H 37cm (Other dimensions, materials can be made to order) Atelier Stefan Leo ...
Brass
1980s Paolo Piva Coffee Table, Thick Glass Top, Black Steel Frame
By Paolo Piva
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Paolo Piva style coffee table . Thick Glass top . Black Steel Wire frame . adjustable feet .
Steel
Italian Blue Glass + Chrome Coffee Table Attributed to Cristal Arte, 1970s
By Cristal Arte
Located in Chicago, IL
An Italian coffee table from the 1970s, attributed to Cristal Arte. The rectangular form stretches just over four feet in width, its chromed steel frame housing two tiers of sapphire...
Chrome
Stone International Italian Travertine Marble Coffee, Console, Side Tables, Trio
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An amazing set of filled and polished tops, travertine-marble tables, with natural and porous travertine edging. The simplicity of the design and surface treatments is what makes thi...
Travertine, Marble
Marble Skinny Coffee Table by Prospero Rasulo for Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A sleek and sophisticated coffee table designed by Prospero Rasulo for Zanotta and made in Italy. Cleverly named the Skinny table it has a slim nickel-pla...
Marble, Metal
Set of 2 Mangala Low Table Pieces in Solid Oak and Lava Stone Finish by Pendhapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Mangala Low Table Pieces in Solid Oak and Lava Stone Finish by Pendhapa. Dimensions: W 190 x D 180 x H 35 cm. Materials: Solid oak wood, creme brulee lava stone finish. Thi...
Oak, Wood, Hardwood
$1,500Sale Price|49% Off
Massimo Vignelli "Metafora" Round Table with Base
Located in Chicago, IL
"Metafora" Table with Base attributed to Massimo Vignelli This variation aesthetically frames (and brings together) the movable marble shapes, while functionally providing a more ...
Marble
$882 / item
Bended Black Glass Coffee Table, 2 Available
By FIAM
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This black glass coffee table is made out of 1 piece of curved glass. It has 4 aluminum ball shaped feet that can be taken of. The aluminum parts make th...
Glass
Vintage coffee table by Roche Bobois, 1980s
By Roche Bobois
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage wooden and black glass coffee table by Roche Bobois with storage space and bottle holders. Cool coffee table from the 1980s. 1980s - France Good overall condition with nor...
Glass, Wood
Playful Pop Art "Footsie" Coffee Table
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This 1980s Pop Art "Footsie" coffee table features four elegantly arched mannequin legs supporting a textured Industrial steel top.
Steel
Mid Century Italian Post Modern Memphis Sottsass Style Coffee Table in Black
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A super funky cocktail table design from the 1980's and made in Italy. It features all steel construction with thick clear glass top. Very good ready to use condition.
Metal
Set Of 2 Bolete Coffee Tables in Natural Stone & Wood by Henry D'ath
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Bolete Coffee Tables in Natural Stone & Wood by Henry D'ath In collaboration with Batten and Kamp Dimensions: 1: D 60 x W 95 x H 27 cm 2: D 60 x W 95 x H 33 cm Material...
Stone
Vintage Betty Cobonpue pink pencil reed ribbon coffee or side table, USA 1980s
Located in Hastings, GB
Vintage Betty Cobonpue pale pink pencil reed swagged ribbon coffee or side table, USA 1980s. Really hard to find these in the wild now. It's a great neutral subtle pink- matches well...
Cane
Cristallo Unique Sculptural Coffee Table in Crystal & Quartz by Alex Turco
Located in Geneve, CH
Cristallo Unique Sculptural Coffee Table in Crystal & Quartz by Alex Turco One Of a Kind Dimensions: D 67 x W 79 x H 67 cm. Materials: Crystal and quartz. This sculptural coffee tab...
Crystal, Quartz
New York Low Coffee Table in Black Painted Metal & Ebony Wood by Quinti Sedute
Located in Geneve, CH
New York Low Coffee Table in Black Painted Metal & Ebony Wood by Quinti Sedute Dimensions: D 75 x W 115 x H 23 cm. Materials: Metal and ebony wood. New York - Lounge collection with...
Metal
Postmodern Coffee Table by Pia Manu, Iron and Slate, Belgium, 1980s
By Pia Manu
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
This coffee table exemplifies the material-driven postmodern design language that emerged in Belgium during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Produced by Pia Manu, the piece reflects a...
Slate, Iron
$3,718 / item
Alwa One Big Amber Black Coffee Table by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Alwa one big amber black coffee table by Pulpo Dimensions: D56 x H35 cm Materials: casted glass; powder coated steel Also available in different finish...
Steel