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.
Amaizing Marquetry Optical Ball, 1950, France, Material: Wood
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Amaizing Marquetry Material: wood Country: France We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982.If you have any questions we are at your ...
Iron
Amaizing Marquetry Optical Zebras, 1950, France, Material: Wood
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Amaizing Marquetry Material: wood Country: France We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982.If you have any questions we are at your ...
Wood
Unique Artwork Original 'Atomium' Panel World Expo 58 Brussel Belgium 2005
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
This is an original panel from a marvellous piece of architecture build for the 1958 World Expo that was held in Brussel Belgium from 2004 to 2006 a renovation of this landmark started and all the exterior aluminum panels where replaced This panel has been rescued and turned into an artwork by 'Fred & Francine' in 2005 The 58 World Expo was an important event after world war II and all world countries...
Aluminum
Marquetry Optical Ball, 1950, Materials: Wood and iron, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Amaizing Marquetry Materials: wood and iron Country: France We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982.If you have any questions we ar...
Iron
$2,983
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in D 0.6 in
"Recursion I" Marquetry Artwork by Emma Wood of the w o o d p o p Studio
By Emma Wood
Located in Nr Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
This recent artwork from the w o o d p o p studio is an example of the type of modern marquetry that w o o d p o p is becoming synonymous with. Since its inception 10 years ago - ...
Wood
$74 / item
H 23.5 in W 23.5 in D 2 in
Matte White Brutalist Sculptural Collage Artwork, Mural from Upcycled Wood
Located in San Antonio, TX
These MATTE WHITE collage tiles are composed randomly from recycled wood remnants and when installed bathe any space with a warm feeling and texture which...
Wood
$10,600
H 96 in W 96 in D 2.25 in
Custom Mid-Century Style Geometric Wood Room Divider by Adesso Imports
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-century geometric wood room divider. Made in Los Angeles by Adesso Imports. Custom sizing and pricing available upon request.
Mahogany
$2,250
H 25.25 in W 14.5 in D 1.5 in
French 18th Century Louis XVI Carved Wood Panel with Gardener’s Attributes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined French carved wood panel from the Louis XVI period, dating to the late 18th century. Executed in solid oak and retaining its original painted surface, this panel is richly ...
Oak
$7,000 / set
H 21.26 in W 11.82 in D 0.4 in
Set of Four Wood Plaques with Marquetry, "The Four Seasons", Italy, 1950
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Set of four wood plaques with marquetry, "The four seasons". Italy, 1950.
Wood
$325Sale Price|66% Off
H 11.75 in W 15.25 in D 0.75 in
Italian Inlaid Wood(Marquetry) Neapolitan Terrace View Wall Panel
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
2-315 Italian wall panel with various wood inlay depicting a Neapolitan terrace with a view of mount Vesuvius.
Boxwood
$2,603Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 15.75 in D 0.6 in
PIMP #Cwmraeg Marquetry Triptych by Emma Wood of the w o o d p o p Studio
By Emma Wood
Located in Nr Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
This recent triptych from the w o o d p o p studio is an example of the type of modern marquetry that w o o d p o p is becoming synonymous with. Since its inception 10 years ago - the studio has specialised in marquetry and inlay work; meticulous art-forms where pieces of wood veneer are inlaid to create decorative designs or pictures. Emma Wood, who founded the studio 10 years ago in Wales' Black Mountains has gained a reputation for pairing this traditional art-form with contemporary subject matter and its application on to non-traditional surfaces. This triptych is made up of 3 marquetry artworks...
Wood
$2,461 / item
H 19.69 in W 15.75 in D 0.6 in
"ATOMS OF THE UNIVERSE" Marquetry Artwork by Emma Wood - w o o d p o p Studio
By Emma Wood
Located in Nr Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
This "ATOMS OF THE UNIVERSE" marquetry artwork is inspired by the Platonic Solids which The Ancient Greeks called the Atoms of the Universe as they form...
Wood
20th Century Fine Wood Marquetry Decorative Hanging Wall Panel
Located in Germantown, MD
A 20th Century Fine Wood Marquetry Decorative wall panel in great vintage condition. Depict two women with jugs in landscape. Measures 21" in width and ...
Hardwood
Decorative French Painted Tole and Iron Clock Face
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Large rustic French decorative clock face featuring a painted tole face with Roman numerals. This is a decorative non-working clock face only and does n...
Metal, Iron
$3,923
H 8.47 in W 10.83 in D 0.79 in
MITHE ESPELT, Unique sculpted ceramic panel, bird & sun decor, France c. 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in leucate, FR
Unique and large sculpted ceramic wall plaque made by the French ceramic artist Mithé Espelt (1923 - 2000). Matte black background, enameled decor with rooster and sun in turquoise,...
Ceramic
18th Century French Tiles
Located in Stockbridge, GA
18th century French terra cotta tiles, hand-painted.
Terracotta