Memphis Themed Furniture

Memphis furniture is not exactly furniture itself and certainly doesn’t refer to the city of the same name. Memphis is actually a group of designers named The Memphis Group. Although they had many different names for their work it is often called Memphis themed furniture. They were much known for their illogical, avant garde, erratic, and anti-establishment look. Bright colors and bad taste were just one part of this look, as it was more loosely described as post modernism by trying to break away from the International trend that was around at that time.

The group composed of Italian designers created highly influential products in the 1980s. Basically, they disagreed with the conformist approach to furniture and wanted to challenge the fact that furniture had to follow a certain shape, color, or texture. In the 1970s, there was a great deal of black and minimalist furniture and they wanted to break the mold by making shocking and vibrant pieces. Although controversial, they were certainly ground breaking at the time.

The Memphis Group drew their inspiration from Art Deco, Pop Art and futuristic themes. The furniture they designed was outrageous to say the least. Very straight lines and geometric designs made the furniture a piece of art. Laminates covered most of the furniture making it uncomfortable to sit on, but beautiful to look at. The material was cheap, making it affordable for people to add a piece to their home, although it rarely matched with anything.

The group considered it their duty to fill the world with furniture like any other. They wanted it to be known as the “ultimate fruit salad” of furniture. Pieces were made without any regard to culture or seriousness. The pieces they produced were whimsical and stark in comparison to “normal” furniture. Pieces such as a book case with almost vertical lines instead of horizontal, and teapots made of freight trains were just the tip of the iceberg with this group. Crazy sideboards and bonker beds were all the rage.

Many designers put the group down saying Memphis furniture would never last. They said that it was a fad that would eventually wear out as any furniture design except for traditional. Furniture makers were right. The Memphis Group dissolved in 1988, but left a huge impact on future furniture designs and graphic designs. Fabrics and furniture alike had been changed forever with more people going with brighter colors, and a more modern appearance. Memphis themed furniture is definite of the take it or leave it variety, but it certainly moved the design world away from the boring International look of the time.