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.
Bibliothèque étagère modulable style Bauhaus vintage en métal rouge, chrome
Located in BESANÇON, FR
Bibliothèque étagère Bauhaus vintage style Space Age et post-moderniste des années 70, dans le goût de Marc Held, structure en métal rouge et métal chromé, 4 étagères ouvertes en ver...
Metal
Post Modern Space Age Plastic Shelves by Olaf Von Bohr for Kartell c. 1970's
By Kartell, Olaf von Bohr
Located in New York, NY
Space Age, Postmodern plastic shelf unit, designed by Olaf Von Bohr for Kartell, made in Italy circa 1970's. This example is in very good, original, clean and ready to use condition,...
Plastic
DF2000 trolley bar cabinet by Raymond Loewy for the Doubinsky Frères 1968
By Raymond Loewy, Doubinsky Freres
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
After a brief but promising career as a fashion illustrator, French- American designer Raymond Loewy dedicated his talent to the field of graphic and industrial design. Loewy’s creat...
Metal
Set of 5 SPACE-AGE Concrete BOOKCASES by WILLY GUHL for ETERNIT, Swiss 1970
By Willy Guhl
Located in PARIS, FR
A set of 5 (on a total of 20 identical pieces!!!) modular concrete bookcases, Modernist, Free Form, Brutalist, rectangular loop cases with rounded edges, with a great grey patina wit...
Concrete
Chrome Plated & Black Metal Vintage USM Wall Cabinet by Fritz Haller, 1980s
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Small three-module cabinet in black metal with a chrome frame. Adjustable plastic feet. The upper compartment features a drop-down door. The middle and lower compartments feature two...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Mid Century Space Age Style Lowboy Dresser with Mirror
Located in Freehold, NJ
This mid century modern lowboy dresser features hardwood construction, original white lacquer finish, six dovetailed drawers with yellow drawer faces and chrome accented hardware, an...
Mirror, Plastic, Lacquer
$5,280Sale Price / set|40% Off
Peter Marino ex -Barney's Display Pair Side Tables
By Peter Marino
Located in Hanover, MA
BG SUMMER SALE We have TWO pairs available. This listing is for one pair. Pair of custom display stands ex-Barney's New York designed by starchitect Peter Marino meticulously cons...
Stainless Steel
Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell, pair of side cabinets, 1960s - Italy
By Anna Castelli Ferrieri, Kartell
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Pair of vintage side cabinets designed by italian Designer Anna Castelli Ferrieri and produced by Kartell from the 1960s. These handy and light plastic cabinets look great as a pair...
Plastic
Ello Gunmetal Stainless & Smoked Mirror Tall Boy Dresser
Located in Hanover, MA
1970 designed "Moods" tall boy wardrobe designed by O. B. Solie for Ello Furniture Mfg. Co. clad in gunmetal tinted brushed stainless steel and smoked mirror. Post Moden space age v...
Stainless Steel
Set of 3 Space Age Cabinets, Polished Steel & Mirror, Italy, 1970
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Set consisting of three elements, 2 square cabinets and one rectangular cabinet. Inside small glass shelves. Three truly distinctive pieces that are still super relevant today. The c...
Steel
$2,961Sale Price|20% Off
Iconic Michel Dumas Plexiglas Bookcase – 1970s French Space Age Design
By Michel Dumas
Located in Oirlo, LI
This striking bookcase by Michel Dumas is a powerful expression of 1970s French space-age design. Crafted from high-quality Plexiglas, the piece showcases Dumas’s mastery of trans...
Plexiglass
$3,479Sale Price|35% Off
1970s Space Age lacquered wood and fibreglass DBM Italia Dressing Table
Located in IT
A very original Space Age dressing table by DBM Italia from the 1970s in white lacquered wood and fully functional built-in coloured lights. ...
Fiberglass, Wood
Libreria Modulare in Legno Laccato - Carlo De Carli per Fiarm - Italia - Anni 70
Located in Milano, IT
La libreria in foto, attribuita a Carlo De Carli, prodotta da Fiarm negli anni '70 del XX secolo, è composta da due corpi distinti ma offre la possibilità di unirli in un unico eleme...
Bentwood
Bibliothèque étagère italienne style Bauhaus vintage en métal rouge et verre
Located in BESANÇON, FR
Bibliothèque étagère italienne vintage style Bauhaus et post-moderniste des années 70, structure en métal rouge tubulaire et métal noir, petites et grandes étagères, fixations murale...
Metal
1970s 10-stack Red & White Plastic Modular Cabinet Anna Castelli Ferrieri
By Kartell, Anna Castelli Ferrieri
Located in Buffalo, NY
\. SET 10 AVAIL.. *********NOTE PRICED PER UNIT.******* VINTAGE (OLD) Anna Castelli for Kartell. Red and White stacking storage / nightstands or end tables.. sliding plastic doors...
Plastic
Mid-Century Modern German Space Age Yellow SoftLine Wall Unit by Otto Zapf 1960s
By Otto Zapf
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern German Space Age SoftLine Series Wall Unit Shelf System by Otto Zapf for In Design Zapf, 1960s Very rare wall unit system from the SoftLine series by In Design/Zap...
Metal
1970's Mod Pop Desk by Broyhill Premier
By Broyhill
Located in Hanover, MA
Mold injection bright green acrylic drawer panels set in white painted case with white laminate top on pair of painted cast aluminum 'Tulip' style pedestal legs. An homage to Raymond...
Aluminum
Italian Space Age plastic bookcase Dodona 300 by Ernesto Gismondi Artemide, 1970
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age plastic bookcase Dodona 300 by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, 1970s Dodona 300 bookcase with rectangular shape, made entirely of plastic. The rectangular shelves ar...
Plastic
1970s Ron Arad for Kartell Vintage Infinity Rack
1970s stock of Ron Arad's Infinity wine bottle rack for Kartell. Can be assembled in several configurations. From Kartell's website description: Infinity is a colorful and curvilin...
Plastic
$3,571Sale Price|20% Off
1980s Italian Space Age Memphis Corner Cabinet / Copper Doors and Black Corpus
Located in Berlin, DE
This unique and unusual Italian 1980s corner cabinet / cabinet comes with copper doors. It has this Space Age or Memphis look. The cabinet is in good vintage condition. Of course it ...
Metal, Copper
Space Age Modular Three-Tier Storage Unit by Marc Held for Prisunic, 1970's
By Marc Held
Located in Beirut, LB
A rare and highly collectible three-tier modular storage unit designed by the renowned French architect and designer Marc Held for the iconic Prisunic department store circa 1970. ...
Plastic
Monumental Dry Bar Hollywood Regency in the style of Willy Rizzo, Italy 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Argelato, BO
Monumental Dry Bar Hollywood Regency in the style of Willy Rizzo, Italy 1970s
Metal
70s Uten.Silo by Dorothee Maurer-Becker M-Design production in dark brown
By M Design, Ingo Maurer
Located in München, DE
Original Uten.Silo II. Designed by Dorothee Maurer-Becker. For storage in various rooms. Versatile. A beautiful decorative design classic. Original Design-M Munich production from th...
Plastic
Italian Space Age Red Modular Chest of Drawers by Castelli for Kartell, 1970s
By Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age Red plastic Modular chest of drawers by Anna Castelli for Kartell, 1970s Modular chest of drawers with square base and rounded corne...
Plastic
Étagère murale Globo Schall und Raum numérotée 449/800
Located in Rouen, FR
Objet à la croisée du design fonctionnel et de la sculpture murale, cette étagère Globo en plastique thermoformé orange est un module mural unique en son genre. Son design géométriqu...
Plastic
Space Age Vintage Dancing Shelf, circa 1970
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage dancing shelf from tube steel and plexiglass. The dancing shelf features a black lacquered tube steel base and five ( 5 ) plexiglass pl...
Steel
Totem shelve by Valeric Doubroucinskis for Rodier, 1970s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Totem - 1970s - Vintage Measures : 30x44cm H:208cm Material : Fiberglass Knitwear shelves specially manufactured for the Rodier store interiors in the 1970's. Great display for your ...
Fiberglass
Space Age Italian Styled Expanding Bar in the Manner of Joe Colombo
By Joe Colombo
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A unique very well-crafted Space Age expandable bar that opens up like a book into three sections. A center cut out circle handle with aluminum backing revealing the middle having an...
Aluminum
Orba Wall Shelves By Janet Schwietzer For Pace Collection
By Janet Schweitzer, Pace Collection
Located in Hanover, MA
Impressive wall system of extruded polished aluminum incorporating lighting and shelves. Schwietzer's patented design incorporates sophisticated engineering to achieve the appearance of invisible joinery at each cantilevered shelf.
Aluminum
Very Rare, Original 1960s Orange Plastic Washstand by Vidal, Spain
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Plastic
Vintage Patinated Gingerbread Wood Sideboard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This vintage sideboard is a charming celebration of French Country and "gingerbread" architectural details. The piece is defined by its whimsical scalloped apron, featuring delicate ...
Metal
rare space age big cabinet molded plastic - edition Somop 1970s - France
By Somop
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
At a time when plastic was still a new material, French industrialists wanted to show what was possible with plastic. For this purpose, an over-dimensioned wall cabinet was produced ...
Plastic
Space Age Italian Chrome Plated Steel & Smoke Glass Pair of Wall Mounted Shelves
Located in San Diego, CA
Striking quality and simplicity on this pair of chrome plated steel and .5" thick smoke glass, the side poles unscrew to place in the wall and screw back to cover the screws, the bea...
Chrome
Omnia Wall Unit, Vintage Modular Shelf, Black Wood & Metal, 1970s
By Omnia
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Room divider shelf - Wall Unit 1970' Measures : 148x41cm H:209cm An iconic modular storage system from the Space Age style of the 1970s. Style: The contrast between black wood and sh...
Metal
Italian Space Age plastic magazine rack or bookcase by Aramis, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age red, orange and white plastic magazine rack or bookcase by Aramis, 1970s Modular bookcase or magazine rack composed of eight compartments in white, orange and red A...
Plastic
Space Age White Plastic Vintage Storage Trolley Container Joe Colombo 1970 Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage storage trolley container boy from plastic in white color by Joe Colombo for Bieffeplast 1970s Italy. Iconic white vintage ...
Plastic
$2,995Sale Price|38% Off
Pierre Cardin Tall Chest of Drawers Brass & Ivory
Located in Hanover, MA
Unbelievably clean and glam Pierre Cardin for Dillingham Linen Press or chest of drawers in off-white ivory laminate with brass banding
Brass
Italian Space Age Modular Bookcase in White Fiberglass Glass by Astrarte, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age Modular bookcase in white fiberglass and glass by Astrarte, 1970s Modular bookcase with semi-cylinder structure in white fiberglass...
Glass, Fiberglass
1970s Italian Novodur Storage Cube on Wheels by Marcello Siard
By Marcello Siard, Collezioni Longato
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Storage cube with removable lid designed by Marcello Siard for Collezioni Longato in Italy during the 1970s. Known as the DIME model, this piece represents the innovative use of plas...
Plastic
1970, Rare Important Space Age Sideboard
Located in Perpignan, FR
Element decoration - sideboard for music TV Show. removable. Big size 400 x 120x 120 cm Fiberglass and metal.
Fiberglass
Italian Space Age Red Modular Chest of Drawers by Castelli for Kartell, 1970s
By Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age red plastic modular chest of drawers by Anna Castelli for Kartell, 1970s. Modular chest of drawers with square base and rou...
Plastic
$480Sale Price|25% Off
Vintage 1970's Ornapress Modular Wine Rack (4 Elements), Swiss made
Located in Bern, BE
Vintage 1970's Ornapress Modular Wine Rack consisting of four elements. Modules can be assembled vertically or horizontally and added to as required, Swiss made. Contemporary design ...
Acrylic
Italian Space Age plastic bookcase Dodona 300 by Ernesto Gismondi Artemide, 1970
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age plastic bookcase Dodona 300 by Ernesto Gismondi for Artemide, 1970s Dodona 300 bookcase with rectangular base, entirely made of white plastic. The rectangular shelv...
Plastic
$4,450 / set
Vintage Boho Wrought Iron Knot Etagere - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Presenting a captivating pair of vintage wrought iron etageres, exuding an irresistible Boho aesthetic with their distinctive knot detailing. These striking pieces feature robust wro...
Wrought Iron
Italian Space Age orange beige plastic round wardrobe by Gilberto Peguri 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age orange and beige plastic round wardrobe by Gilberto Peguri, 1970s Round-based wardrobe made entirely of plastic. It features two sliding orange plastic doors on two...
Plastic
Pace Collection ORBA System Wall Unit
By Pace Collection, Janet Schweitzer
Located in Hanover, MA
Pace collection ORBA wall system by Janet Schweitzer, 1974. Four extruded highly polished aluminum standards incorporating half inch thick glass s...
Aluminum
Space Age Style Lacquered Wooden Cabinets, 1970s, Set of 2
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Pair of white lacquered cabinets of excellent quality, generously thick carved and shaped wood. Furniture that can be used in bathrooms, offices. The design style is close to Joe Col...
Wood, Lacquer
$14,879
Bernard Govin's desk
Located in Saint Ouen, France
This Bernard Govin desk is the only one currently on the market. Its design is as precise as the other pieces by this designer. The workmanship is of the highest quality. Bernard Go...
Stainless Steel
Aluminum and Glass Etagere with Five Glass Shelves c. 1970’s
Located in New York, NY
Chic, architectural freestanding shelf unit, having an aluminum frame with five glass shelves. This Etagere is reminiscent of the designs of Milo Baughman, Paul Magen etc, it is unsi...
Aluminum
$4,500 / item
Pair Pierre Cardin Tall Wardrobe Chests of Drawers
Located in Hanover, MA
We have a pair of Pierre Cardin tall wardrobe dresser cabinets with double doors which open to reveal 6 pull-out drawers. Produced by Dilingham. White l...
Aluminum
Commode and 2 Tables, 1960, Material, Wood and Chromed Bronze, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Commodes and 2 tables. year: 1960 Material: wood and chromed bronze. Country: Italian. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982.If ...
Chrome
White Wood and Black Skai Samarcanda Chest of Drawers by Magistretti for Poggi
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Wooden structure painted in white polyurethane color. Black skai cover on the top (light defects at some corner). Large chest of drawers: cm 34,5h x 107w x 53,5d Small chest of dra...
Faux Leather, Wood
1970, Rare Important Space Age Sideboard
Located in Perpignan, FR
Element decoration - sideboard for music TV Show. removable. Big size 400 x 120x 120 cm Fiberglass and metal.
Metal
chest-of-drawers-by-marc-held design -for-prisunic producer in years 1970
Desk in Parchment "Leather" and Wood from the 50s, made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Leather, Wood
Desk in Parchment "Leather" and Wood from the 50s, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Wood, Leather
Small 80s bookcase
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Small 1980s bookcase with yellow lacquered metal tubular frame and 5 white laminate shelves. Easily placed in all rooms of the house.
Metal
Postmodern steel etagere with smoked glass shelves (1980s)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage postmodern steel etagere with smoked glass shelves. Bookcase has angular powder coated brown metal frame, leather sides, and dark smoked glass shelves (California, 1980s) H...
Metal
Space Age Atomic Highboy Dresser in Yellow and White or Green and White
Located in Redding, CT
Space Age Five Drawer Dresser in Yellow and White. Or Green and White. Or Green and Yellow! The colored panels are interchangeable. Choose Lime green or lemon yellow. How creative. P...
Metal
Vintage Bottle Holder / Bar Stand by Flair, Netherlands, 1970s
By Flair
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Vintage bottle holder and bar stand designed and produced by Flair in the Netherlands during the 1970s. This elegant space age piece features a white molded plastic structure with a ...
Plastic