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.

Finding the Right Natural-specimens for You

Natural specimens turn things found in nature, such as rocks, crystals and timber, into art. Sometimes these specimens are hand-carved into sculptures. Other times, antique, new and vintage natural specimens themselves are best displayed in their most untouched state. These pieces range from Victorian-era objects to modern-day designs and include everything from sculptures made from animal horns to works in wood, either as sculptures or merely imposing and provocative chunks of driftwood.

Natural specimens serve as compelling decor in any collection or home. Just as any curious decorative object, such as an ancient scientific instrument or taxidermy mount, will draw attention to your carefully curated home library or mantel, natural specimens can spark interesting discussions about life and art. Whether it’s a piece of ancient pottery formed from natural clay, plants sculpted from metal, sculptures of animals or antique stone, they grant a window into all of nature’s wonders.

Natural specimen sculptures can complement many aesthetics. A rare geode makes a stunning centerpiece in a study or living room. Crystals and rock crystal spheres carved in the 1970s add a sense of etherealness and quiet beauty to any space.

Whatever your taste, the selection of antique, new and vintage natural specimens on 1stDibs includes precisely the right piece for your space.