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.
Link-Terra 240 Sintered Stone And Powder-Coated Aluminum Dining Table by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Link-Terra 240 Sintered Stone And Powder-Coated Aluminum Dining Table by SNOC Dimensions: D 100 x W 240 x H 75 cm. Materials: Aluminium and sintered stone. Available in two differe...
Stone, Aluminum
Gate 02 Table by Sing Chan: Stainless Steel, Post-Modern Design
Located in Geneve, CH
The gate 02 table by Sing Chan Edition Of 10 + 2 AP Dimensions: W 420 x D 100 x H 75 cm Materials: Stainless steel, electroplating. Sing Chan ( Chinese: 陈星宇/Xingyu Chen), the found...
Stainless Steel, Other
$28,271 / item
Sanayi313 Table by Sanayi 313
Located in Geneve, CH
Sanayi313 table by Sanayi 313 Unique Piece Dimensions: W 300 x D 120 x H 75 cm Materials: Black lacquered legs with laths, ash. SANAYI313 is an Istanbul-based interdisciplinar...
Ash
Rosso Lepanto Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 130/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Rosso Lepanto Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 130/75 Dimensions: 130 x 75 cm Materials: Rosso Lepanto Angelo is the essence of a round table in...
Marble
$17,364 / item
MG209 Plank Dining Table by Malte Gormsen
Located in Geneve, CH
MG209 Plank Dining Table by Malte Gormsen Dimensions: D 100 x W 240 x H 72 cm. Materials: Oak. Available in Nature, Raw Nature, Light Nature, Grey Nature, and Dark Nature. Malte Go...
Oak
Lyora 250 FSC Teak Wood Oblong Dining Table For Eight by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Lyora 250 FSC Teak Wood Oblong Dining Table For Eight by SNOC Dimensions: D 110 x W 250 x H 77 cm. Materials: Teak wood. A delicate mid-century style, tempered by contemporary and e...
Teak
Fenestra 240 Dining Room Table in Warm Brown European Oak by Mokko Amsterdam
Located in Geneve, CH
Fenestra 240 Dining Room Table in Warm Brown European Oak by Mokko Amsterdam Dimensions: D 90 x W 240 x H 75 cm. Materials: European oak. Available in different material options an...
Oak
$5,576 / item
Mio Table by Thorup Copenhagen
Located in Geneve, CH
Mio Table by Thorup Copenhagen Dimensions: D 140 x H 73 cm. Materials: Oiled oak. Available in stained oak or oiled oak. Available in D 120cm, D 140cm, or D 160cm. Please contact us...
Oak
$13,149 / item
Across Round Dining Table by Secondome Edizioni
Located in Geneve, CH
Across Round Dining Table by Secondome Edizioni Designer: Claudia Pignatale. Dimensions: Ø 120 x H 72 cm. Materials: Iron. Collection / Production: Secondome. This piece can be cust...
Iron
Black Marble Slate Dining Table with Black Mirror Top Signed by Frederic Saulou
Located in Geneve, CH
Marble slate dining table Signed by Frederic Saulou. Limited edition : 3 / 8. Designer: Frederic Saulou. Title: Fragmenté. Materials: Black Slate, g...
Slate
$1,972 / item
Eclipse Dining Table by Doimo Brasil
Located in Geneve, CH
Eclipse Dining Table by Doimo Brasil Dimensions: D 100 x H 75 cm Materials: Top: Veneer. Also available in D 120, D 140, D 160, D 180. Please contact us. With the intention of pro...
Wood
Minimalist Post-Modern Round White Marble Dining Table + Cylindrical (Italy)
By Mario Bellini, Angelo Mangiarotti, Eero Saarinen, Stone International, Knoll
Located in Round Top, TX
Two quarried solid (approximately 125lbs each) half cylinders abut to each other and form the base of this incredible table. The top is a round 42" Diameter polished marble in a 1" t...
Marble
Pierre Chapo, 'Sfax' T21E, Dining Table, Solid French Elm, 1970's
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
An iconic model designed by French master craftsman Pierre Chapo, the T21E “Sfax” dining table perfectly embodies the designer’s architectural and sculptural approach to furniture. P...
Elm
$29,433 / item
Ghanem Rectangular Dining Table by Daniel Poole
Located in Geneve, CH
Ghanem Rectangular Dining Table by Daniel Poole Dimensions: D 105 x W 250x H 74 cm. Materials: American Black Walnut with 10% matte lacquer. This table ...
Walnut, Lacquer
Picasso Green Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 160/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Picasso green Refined Contemporary Marble dining table 160/75 Dimensions: 160 x 75 cm Materials: Picasso green Angelo is the essence of a round table in natural stone, a sculptural ...
Marble
Massimo Morozzi Painted Beechwood “Tangram” Modular Table for Cassina, 1983
Located in Vicenza, IT
Massimo Morozzi for Cassina, “Tangram” modular table, painted beech, Italy, 1983. The “Tangram” table awakes more than just one association. The design is modular, versatile, play...
Beech
Lyora 190 FSC Teak Wood Oblong Dining Table For Six by SNOC
Located in Geneve, CH
Lyora 190 FSC Teak Wood Oblong Dining Table For Six by SNOC Dimensions: D 100 x W 190 x H 77 cm. Materials: Teak wood. A delicate mid-century style, tempered by contemporary and ecl...
Teak
"Carrara Quarry" dining table by James Wines for Casigliani, Italy, 1989
By James Wines
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
One-of-a-kind dining table from the "Carrara Quarry Table" series, designed by James Wines for Casigliani in 1989. Composed of four Arabescato marble elements assembled into two su...
Marble
Chained Up Dining Table by Barberini & Gunnell, Solid Wood, Italy
Located in Geneve, CH
Chained Up Dining Table by Barberini & Gunnell Limited Edition of 15 Dimensions: D 120 x W 320 x H 76 cm. Materials: Solid wood. The inspiration for this table came from observing t...
Wood
Dining Table Designed by Sawaya & Moroni in Stainless Steel and Lucite
Located in Stamford, CT
Designed by William Sawaya, titled "Girl's Best Friend" table for Sawaya & Moroni Italy, circa 2000. Stainless steel with yellow acrylic beads over the legs. Top is glass with a pie...
Stainless Steel
$4,520 / item
Apollo Dining Table by Chinellato Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Apollo Dining Table by Chinellato Design Dimensions: W 250 x D 120 x H 72 cm Materials: Top: Smooth smoked tempered glass Base: Chabin gold-finished. The base, crafted from worked ...
Glass
$5,424 / item
Layout Oblong Dining Table by Studio Super Sunday
Located in Geneve, CH
Layout Oblong Dining Table by Studio Super Sunday Dimensions: D 91,4 x W 182,9 x H 76,2 cm. Materials: Ash. Available in six different finishes. Available for six and for eight peop...
Ash
Travertino Silver Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 130/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Travertino Silver Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 130/75 Dimensions: 130 x 75 cm Materials: Travertino Silver Angelo is the essenc...
Marble
$4,156 / item
Bridge Walnut Dining Table by Morica Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Bridge Walnut Dining Table, 8 Seats, by Morica Design Dimensions: D 100 x W 220 x H 75 cm. Materials: Canaletto walnut, Champagne metal. Available in 6, 8, or 10 seats. Table with ...
Metal
Vintage Italian cream lacquered dining table by Alf, circa 1975
Located in View Park, CA
A striking unique dining table by Alf Italia, made in Italy circa 1975. From certain appraisers, this table is attributed to Afra and Tobia Scarpa, though it is more likely that the ...
Metal
Jean-Michel Wilmotte “Grand Louvre” Table for Tecno, 1993
By Tecno, Jean-Michel Wilmotte
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Jean-Michel Wilmotte “Grand Louvre” Table for Tecno, wood, brass and glass, Italy, 1993 A striking example of Italian modern design from the early 1990s, the “Grand Louvre” table wa...
Glass, Wood
$29,574 / item
Silvia Large Dining Table by Moure Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Silvia large dining table by Moure Studio Dimensions: D220 x W85 x H80 cm Materials: Travertine Also available in different dimensions. Dining table made of travertine. Silvia...
Travertine
$12,656 / item
Sillage Bois Déchiré Sculptural Table by Meubles Thouret
Located in Geneve, CH
Sillage Bois Déchiré Sculptural Table by Meubles Thouret. Numbered and signed by the artists. Delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity. Dimensions: D 120 x H 80 cm. Materials: Sc...
Resin, Wood
$32,216 / item
Grafite Refined Contemporary Marble Oval Table 210/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Grafite Refined Contemporary Marble Oval Table 210/75 Dimensions: 210 x 135 x 75 cm Materials: Grafite. Angelo is the essence of a round table in natural stone, a sculptural shape i...
Marble
Post Modern Tessellated Stone Leaf Motif Split-Base Dining Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Tessellated Stone, Original Glass Top This sculptural dining table features a striking split-base design crafted from tessellated s...
Stone
$13,724 / item
Barrel Shape Outdoor Table by Philippe Colette
Located in Geneve, CH
Barrel shape outdoor table by Philippe Colette Dimensions: L 240 x W 110 x H 75 cm. Materials: mineral lime plaster. All shapes / sizes can be customized. Wide range of colors. Our...
Organic Material, Plaster
$24,866 / item
Lavish Ibiza Marble Dining Table by Memoir Essence
Located in Geneve, CH
Lavish Ibiza Marble Dining Table by Memoir Essence Dimensions: D 120 x W 240 x H 76 cm. Materials: Brushed brass and Ibiza marble. Lavish dining table is the first of a collection i...
Marble, Brass
Postmodern Spider Dining Table by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll International, Italy
Located in DE KWAKEL, NL
A striking postmodern dining table designed by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll International during the 1980s. Known as the “Spider” table, the design exemplifies Sottsass’ ability to tran...
Metal
Set of 3, Spectrum Green, Kolho Original Dining Chairs & Table by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3, Spectrum Green, Kolho original dining chairs & table by Made By Choice Kolho Collection - MDJ Kuu by Made By Choice with Matthew Day Jackson Dimensions: 75 x 120 (table),...
Laminate, Birch, Plywood
$12,245 / item
Ray Dining Table by DUISTT
Located in Geneve, CH
Ray Dining Table by DUISTT Dimensions: D 145 x H 77 cm Materials: High Gloss Sikomoro Frise and Brass Unlike its primary design, the RAY dining table is presented with a sturdier fi...
Brass
$18,503 / item
Enigma Marble Dining Table by Alter Ego Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Enigma Marble Dining Table by Alter Ego Studio Dimensions: D 132 x W 132 x H 80 cm. Materials: Nero Marquina. Available in other marbles. The products are made from natural stone, ...
Marble
Rare Italian Oval Dining Table Attributed to Paolo Portoghesi
Located in Chicago, IL
This monumental Italian oval dining table, attributed to Paolo Portoghesi, is the kind of piece designers reach for when a room needs a true anchor—something that defines the space r...
Ebony, Mahogany
Travertino Rosso Refined Contemporary Marble Oval Table 210/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Travertino Rosso Refined Contemporary Marble Oval Table 210/75 Dimensions: 210 x 135 x 75 cm Materials: Travertino Rosso. Angelo is the essence of a round table in natural stone, a ...
Marble
Travertino Silver Refined Contemporary Marble Oval Table 210/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Travertino Silver Refined Contemporary Marble Oval Table 210/75 Dimensions: 210 x 135 x 75 cm Materials: Trave...
Marble
Brass Cast Dining Table by Luciano Frigerio, Italy, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Postmodern; Brutalist; Hollywood Regency; brass round dining table by Luciano Frigerio, Italy, 1970s Postmodern sculptural brass cast dining table w...
Brass
Be My Guest Dining Table 180 White Oak Butter Yellow by Warm Nordic
Located in Geneve, CH
Be My Guest dining table 180 White Oak Butter Yellow by Warm Nordic Dimensions: D180 x W100 x H73 cm Material: White oiled solid oak, Butter yellow tiles, Black noir powder coated ...
Steel, Other
$25,089 / item
Grafite Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 160/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Grafite refined contemporary marble dining table 160/75 Dimensions: 160 x 75 cm Materials: Grafite Angelo is the essence of a rou...
Marble
$30,690 / item
Ghanem Oval Dining Table by Daniel Poole
Located in Geneve, CH
Ghanem Rectangular Dining Table by Daniel Poole Dimensions: D 120 x W 300 x H 74 cm. Materials: American Back Walnut with 10% gloss lacquer and stone. T...
Stone
$44,403 / item
Placid Dining Table by Gentner Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Placid dining table by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 304 x W 116 x H 76 cm Materials: walnut, pewter Gentner Design Rooted in a language of sculpture, character defining details, and world renowned craftsmanship, the work is found at the crossroads of design and art. Established in 2011, the namesake furniture label is a rare combination of aesthetic dexterity and mastery of craft resulting in furniture and objects that are expressive, formal, and transcend materiality. The collection is based in metal and incorporates only natural materials such as leather, wood, and glass in unique ways, challenging our assumptions. Christopher Gentner Christopher Gentner, with a BFA in metalsmithing from the Cleveland Institute of Art and apprenticeships under sculptors and jewelers, together with dedication to craft, quickly developed his reputation nationally as a foremost authority of metal fabrication and furniture. One of his crowning achievements was the re-creation and fabrication of the Frank Lloyd Wright...
Pewter
$24,761 / item
Kynos Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 180/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Kynos Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 180/75 Dimensions: 180 x 75 cm Materials: Kynos Marble Angelo is the essence of a round table in natural ston...
Marble
$16,026 / item
Bent Dining Table Medium Black Smoky Grey by Pulpo
Located in Geneve, CH
Bent dining table medium black smoky grey by Pulpo Dimensions: D130 x H74 cm. Materials: casted glass, carrara, black nero or light green marble table top. Also available in dif...
Marble
$13,353 / set
Set of 5 Tabula 'Non' Rasa Tables by Studio Traccia
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 5 Tabula [non] rasa tables by Studio Traccia Dimensions: W 280 x D 140 x H 74 cm Materials: Steel. Different combinations are available The table was designed for our in...
Metal
$32,533 / item
Kyknos Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 250/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Kyknos refined contemporary marble dining table 250/75 Dimensions: 250 x 160 x 75 cm Materials: Kyknos marble. Angelo is the essence of a round table in natural stone, a sculptural ...
Marble
Van Praet & Val Saint Lambert One-of-a-Kind Crystal Gaming Table
By Frans van Praet, Val Saint Lambert
Located in Antwerp, BE
Van Praet & Val Saint lambert One-of-a-Kind crystal gaming table This extraordinary side table, characterized by its geometric and organic shapes and well-considered use of color,...
Crystal
$21,344 / item
Kynos Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 130/75
Located in Geneve, CH
Kynos Refined Contemporary Marble Dining Table 130/75 Dimensions: 130 x 75 cm Materials: Kynos Marble Angelo is the essence of a roun...
Marble
$14,030 / item
Kolho Original Dining Table, Earth by Made By Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Kolho original dining table, earth by Made By Choice with Matthew Day Jackson Kolho Collection Dimensions: 75 x 120 cm Materials: Plywood Also Available: Spectrum Green, Just ...
Birch, Plywood
$5,720Sale Price|20% Off
Pia Manu Dining Table in Marble & Steel, 1990s
By Pia Manu
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pia Manu Dining Table in Marble & Steel, 1990s Belgian post-modern marble sculptural dining table created by Pia Manu in the 1990s. A sculptural design featuring six cylindrical ste...
Marble, Steel
$17,223 / item
Gerard Dining Table by Thai Hua
By Thai Hua
Located in Geneve, CH
Gerard dining table by Thai Hua Dimensions: D 280 x W 122 x H 75 cm Materials: oak wood. Dining table made of natural white oak. Thai Hua is an Industrial designer originally...
Oak
$4,848 / item
Tree Black Large Dining Table by Elisabeth Hertzfeld
Located in Geneve, CH
Tree black large dining table by Elisabeth Hertzfeld Materials: Fenix Laminate, metal Dimensions: D 90 x W 220 x H 74 cm Also available in different colors and sizes The found...
Metal
Postmodern Dining Table with Hand-Blown Glass Top, Italy, 1980s
Located in Antwerp, BE
This striking postmodern coffee table is defined by its bold sculptural base and vivid primary color palette. The geometric structure - composed of interlocking red and blue lacquere...
Metal
$11,693 / item
Tartan Table by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Tartan table by Mingardo Dimensions: D240 x W90 x H72 cm Materials: Varnished black iron with brassed details Weight: 80 kg Also Available in diffe...
Brass, Iron
Postmodern Round Table with Stone Base and Laminated Top
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Round table, stone, laminated wood, chromed metal, Europe, 1960s Made in Europe in the 1970s, this round table features a minimalist design with a strong material presence. The base...
Stone
Dining or Patio Set with Horn Collection and Robert Mallet-Stevens
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Horn Collection, dining tables, restored lacquered polyurethane plastic, Germany, 1970s Created for the Horn collection in the seventies, this well-formed table is made entirely fro...
Plastic
Tribute Dining Table to Carlo De Carli by A. Guerriero and Studio Superego
By Studio Superego, Alessandro Guerriero
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Table made of plexiglas designed by Alessandro Guerriero and Studio Superego for Superego Editions. Tribute to the architect Carlo De Carli for the Redesign collection. Soli e Unici...
Plexiglass
$19,759 / item
Pilar Credenza by INDO-
Located in Geneve, CH
Pilar credenza by INDO- One of a kind Dimensions: D 182.9, W 45.7, H76.2 cm Materials: Oxidized Maple, White Carrara Marble top Different dimensions available. Also available in other materials (Oak/Maple; Hardwood or Stone top) and finishes (solid or ombre). Each piece is carefully handcrafted by our team using natural materials and traditional processes. Slight variations may occur. The Pilar Dining Table...
Carrara Marble