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Space Age Boxes

SPACE AGE STYLE

Vintage Space Age furniture captured post–World War II optimism with swooping shapes, bowed lines and experimentation with new materials including plastic and fiberglass.

From the launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957 to the landing of Apollo 11 astronauts on the moon in 1969, the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States propelled advancements in technology that transformed culture. Space Age design encompassed fashion, architecture, cars, furniture and objects for the home, bringing wonder and hope for the future into everyday life.

Coinciding with Pop art, Space Age style featured bold colors and forms. Eero Aarnio’s Ball chair, which debuted in 1966, used molded fiberglass for a capsule-like space while Verner Panton’s 1959 Panton chair was a single piece of molded plastic for a gravity-defying S shape. Red versions of Olivier Mourgue’s 1964 Djinn chair were futuristic enough to appear on the space station in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Today, Joe Colombo is revered as a master of modern Italian design thanks to the provocative modular furniture pieces he created, such as the Tube chair and the Elda armchair, both of which embody the future-forward spirit of the Space Age.

The Space Age spirit extended to home building too. The futuristic Case Study Houses, which were designed by the likes of Pierre Koenig, Charles and Ray Eames, Richard Neutra and Whitney R. Smith, are considered a high point of modernism and the Southern California lifestyle.

Sometimes the nods to space exploration were more literal, like moon and star motifs or the 1965 Eclisse lamp by Vico Magistretti that saw the mid-century Italian designer integrating a movable inner shade to “eclipse” the light source. Alongside the pioneering moon missions, JVC manufactured the Videosphere portable television reminiscent of the Apollo 11 space helmets.

Although the style faded in the 1970s — with the 1975 joining of the Apollo and Soyuz spacecrafts signaling a new era of cooperation and the global oil crisis impacting the availability of plastics — the era’s innovations influenced designers into the 21st century such as Zaha Hadid and Djivan Schapira.

Find a collection of vintage Space Age seating, tables, lighting and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Space Age
Alessandro Albrizzi Lucite Cube, Italy 1970s
Alessandro Albrizzi Lucite Cube, Italy 1970s

Alessandro Albrizzi Lucite Cube, Italy 1970s

By Alessandro Albrizzi

Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA

Alessandro Albrizzi Lucite Cube, Italy, 1970s This Italian design object is a modular, sculptural acrylic (Lucite) cube composed of two stackable sections. The base is a dark or smok...

Category

20th Century Italian Space Age Boxes

Materials

Lucite

Silver Plated Metal 1960s Bowl & Box by Christofle
Silver Plated Metal 1960s Bowl & Box by Christofle

Silver Plated Metal 1960s Bowl & Box by Christofle

By Christofle

Located in Varese, Lombardia

Set of 2 silver plated metal decorative objects: a "leave" bowl and an "apple" box from the '60s. Pretty good condition: the bowl show light defect on one side as showed in the pictu...

Category

1960s French Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Acrylic Cube Box with Spherical Cavity, Attributed to Albrizzi, 1970s
Acrylic Cube Box with Spherical Cavity, Attributed to Albrizzi, 1970s

Acrylic Cube Box with Spherical Cavity, Attributed to Albrizzi, 1970s

By Alessandro Albrizzi

Located in BARCELONA, ES

Elegant clear acrylic cube with a polished hemispherical cavity, reminiscent of the refined geometric accessories designed by Alessandro Albrizzi during the 1970s. This piece perfect...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Acrylic

Large Ceramic Box - Gabbianelli Production - Italy - 1970s
Large Ceramic Box - Gabbianelli Production - Italy - 1970s

Large Ceramic Box - Gabbianelli Production - Italy - 1970s

By Gabbianelli

Located in Milano, IT

Large orange ceramic storage box, consisting of two containers, one with lid, the other crescent-shaped, open. Produced by Gabbianelli. The object can be combined with a similar one ...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Wood, Red, White & Black enameled 1960s box by Siva
Wood, Red, White & Black enameled 1960s box by Siva

Wood, Red, White & Black enameled 1960s box by Siva

Located in Varese, Lombardia

Decorative box in enameled metal and wood produced by Siva from Poggibonsi, Italy. Good condition: a visible chip at the base.

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Hollywood regency lucite tuxedo set, Guzzini  Italy 1970
Hollywood regency lucite tuxedo set, Guzzini  Italy 1970

Hollywood regency lucite tuxedo set, Guzzini Italy 1970

By Guzzini

Located in Firenze, IT

Smoking Set, ashtray, table lighter and cigars box Italy 1970 Lucite Ashtray: H 14.5 x 14.5 x 4 cm Table Lighter: H 6.5 x 8.5 x 7 cm Cigars box: H 7.5 x 18 x 10.5 cm Label on t...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Lucite

Vintage Italian Nickel Plated Metal & Plastic 1960s Small Box
Vintage Italian Nickel Plated Metal & Plastic 1960s Small Box

Vintage Italian Nickel Plated Metal & Plastic 1960s Small Box

Located in Varese, Lombardia

This metal & plastic box was produced in the 1960s. It is made from nickel plated brass frame and plastic faces. The box shows the engraved logo of a well-known Italian company ( A...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Ceramic Box - Gabbianelli Production - Italy - 1970s
Ceramic Box - Gabbianelli Production - Italy - 1970s

Ceramic Box - Gabbianelli Production - Italy - 1970s

By Gabbianelli

Located in Milano, IT

Small orange ceramic storage box, consisting of two containers, one with lid, the other crescent-shaped, open. Produced by Gabbianelli. The object can be matched with a similar one b...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Related Items
1970s Mid-Century Modern fake Tortoiseshell Lucite Italian Jewelry Box
1970s Mid-Century Modern fake Tortoiseshell Lucite Italian Jewelry Box

1970s Mid-Century Modern fake Tortoiseshell Lucite Italian Jewelry Box

By Guzzini

Located in Aci Castello, IT

This 1970s Mid-Century Modern Italian jewelry box is a beautiful example of the era's design sensibilities, combining elegance, functionality, and high-quality craftsmanship. Here's ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Space Age Boxes

Materials

Lucite

Christofle Silver Plated Metal Box, 60s
Christofle Silver Plated Metal Box, 60s

Christofle Silver Plated Metal Box, 60s

$222Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.12 in W 5.9 in D 5.11 in

Christofle Silver Plated Metal Box, 60s

By Christofle

Located in Catania, IT

Apple” Christofle box in good condition in silver metaL.

Category

1960s French Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Metal

Italian Ceramic Box
Italian Ceramic Box

Italian Ceramic Box

$375

H 2.5 in W 6 in D 4.5 in

Italian Ceramic Box

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful Italian ceramic box with blue and green coloring. Marked Italy on underside. Great stash box and tabletop object.  

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Christofle Silver Plated Decorative Box
Vintage Christofle Silver Plated Decorative Box

Vintage Christofle Silver Plated Decorative Box

$795

H 1.25 in W 6.75 in D 3.5 in

Vintage Christofle Silver Plated Decorative Box

By Christofle

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Signed Vintage Christofle Silver Plated Decorative Box. Nicely cast with beautiful design. This would have held cigarettes or trinkets. In very good...

Category

Mid-20th Century Space Age Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate

Lucite and Chrome Box, Italy, 1970s
Lucite and Chrome Box, Italy, 1970s

Lucite and Chrome Box, Italy, 1970s

$362

H 2.37 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in

Lucite and Chrome Box, Italy, 1970s

Located in Naples, IT

Rare decorative lucite and chrome cube-shaped box. Made in Italy in the 1970s.

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Chrome

Alessandro Albrizzi "Nest of Snakes" Sculpture
Alessandro Albrizzi "Nest of Snakes" Sculpture

Alessandro Albrizzi "Nest of Snakes" Sculpture

By Alessandro Albrizzi

Located in New York, NY

Baron Alessandro Albrizzi grew up in, and later inherited, the family palazzo in Venice, where the French doors that opened onto the garden had hardware embellished with bronze snakes. The memory of them prompted him to create the“nest of snakes” sculptures...

Category

1970s American Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Metal

Vintage Italian Decorative Chrome Box Italy 1960s
Vintage Italian Decorative Chrome Box Italy 1960s

Vintage Italian Decorative Chrome Box Italy 1960s

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This vintage Italian decorative chrome box from the 1960s features an elegant brass top detail, exemplifying mid-century Italian craftsmanship and style.

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s

Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s

$4,597

H 2.37 in W 5.91 in D 4.34 in

Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s

By Mithé Espelt

Located in Paris, FR

Ceramic jewelry box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Stamped clay, enamels in shades of green, gold, blackened wood box Date of creation: around 1955-1960 Bibliography: " Mithé Espelt,...

Category

1960s French Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

French Modernist Silver Plated Cigar Box by Crevillen, Paris c.1960
French Modernist Silver Plated Cigar Box by Crevillen, Paris c.1960

French Modernist Silver Plated Cigar Box by Crevillen, Paris c.1960

Located in Bath, GB

A lovely quality mid-century modern oval cigar box made from silver plate and signed on the underside "Crevillen, Paris". They were famed in the 1960's and 1970's for making quality...

Category

1960s French Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate

Previously Available Items
Italian Metal & Plexiglass Box, 1970s
Italian Metal & Plexiglass Box, 1970s

Italian Metal & Plexiglass Box, 1970s

Sold

H 1.58 in W 6.89 in D 4.14 in

Italian Metal & Plexiglass Box, 1970s

By Nella Longari

Located in Varese, Lombardia

Plexiglass box with metal belt. Pretty good condition: no dents. some few scratches under the base as showed in the picture.

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Metal

Large box in clear & smoked mirror, in the style of Fontana Arte, 1970s
Large box in clear & smoked mirror, in the style of Fontana Arte, 1970s

Large box in clear & smoked mirror, in the style of Fontana Arte, 1970s

By Fontana Arte

Located in STRASBOURG, FR

Large Italian box circa 1970, all in clear and smoked mirror, in the style of productions by Fontana Arte or Crystal Art. In fine condition, with a scratch and a small chip.

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Mirror

Collectible Disc Holder Plastic Container by Olaf von Bohr for Kartell, 1960s
Collectible Disc Holder Plastic Container by Olaf von Bohr for Kartell, 1960s

Collectible Disc Holder Plastic Container by Olaf von Bohr for Kartell, 1960s

By Olaf von Bohr, Kartell

Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT

Lovely and rare plastic disc holder designed by Olaf Von Bohr and produced by Kartell. This rare vintage piece is made of high density plastic. The black color is the perfect match ...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Plastic

Italian Steel & Brass 1970s Decorative Box
Italian Steel & Brass 1970s Decorative Box

Italian Steel & Brass 1970s Decorative Box

Sold

H 1.19 in W 9.45 in D 4.34 in

Italian Steel & Brass 1970s Decorative Box

By Romeo Rega, Nella Longari

Located in Varese, Lombardia

This metal box was produced in the 1970s. It is made from brass, steel and glass and it remains in a good vintage condition: visible oxidation spots on the cover.

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Boxes

Materials

Brass, Steel

Fratelli Toso Murano Apple Green a Pentoni Italian Art Glass Jewelry Powder Box
Fratelli Toso Murano Apple Green a Pentoni Italian Art Glass Jewelry Powder Box

Fratelli Toso Murano Apple Green a Pentoni Italian Art Glass Jewelry Powder Box

By Fratelli Toso, Ermanno Toso

Located in Kissimmee, FL

Beautiful Murano handblown Italian art glass covered powder or jewelry box with green sliced murrines. Documented to Ermanno Toso, for the Fratelli Toso company, in the "A Pentoni" d...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Space Age Boxes

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine, Glass

Space Age boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Space Age boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Space Age boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original boxes, popular names associated with this style include Christofle, Helit Presswerk, Sormani, and Walter Zeischegg. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $509 and tops out at $884 while the average work can sell for $544.