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.
Vintage Hand Made Wooden Basket
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exceptional antique primitive wood basket is a soulful artifact of late 19th-century utilitarian craftsmanship. Hand-constructed with substantial plank-wood sides, the vessel fe...
Metal
Vintage Hand Made Wooden Basket
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This antique primitive hand-made wooden basket is a soulful example of early utilitarian craft. Constructed with sturdy plank-sides and a robust integrated handle, the vessel feature...
Metal
Midcentury Italian Rattan, Rush and Fabric Work Knitting Basket
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Rush and rattan basket with fabric bag for objects. Ideal for knitting. Very good vintage conditions. Basket height without handle cm 35.
Fabric, Rattan, Rush
Midcentury Knitting Basket, Wicker and Iron, Italian Design, 1950s
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Midcentury wicker knitting basked resting on a metal string stand painted in black. Made with a handle so it is possible to carry.
Iron
$690
H 9 in W 15 in D 15 in
Antique 19th Century Chinese Hand-Carved Wooden Grain Basket with Bamboo Handle
Located in Yonkers, NY
A 19th century Chinese carved wooden grain basket with large handles made of bamboo. This basket is made of a large bowl closed by a lid. The entire varnished basket is carved of woo...
Bamboo, Wood
$889Sale Price / set|33% Off
H 3.55 in W 16.54 in D 8.27 in
Wooden Hand Carved Tropical Fruit Basket 20 Pieces
Located in Den Haag, NL
Fantastic fruit basket. All kind off beautiful hand carved tropical fruit. In all kind off different woods. All together in a Teak wood bowl. Very goo...
Fruitwood
$632Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 9.85 in Dm 13.78 in
Vintage Hawaiian Lauhala Baskets Set, Hand-Woven, Circa 1960
Located in CASTENRAY, NL
Set of tree vintage Hawaiian hand-waven baskets made from 'Lauhala'. 'Lau' means leaf in this case from the 'Hala' tree The hala tree is of great cult...
Braid
$2,282
H 4.14 in W 27.96 in D 11.03 in
Blue Marbled Antique Swedish Wooden Trough, Hand-Made with Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Blue marbled wooden trough and plate from Sweden made during the mid 1800s. This unique antique was made by hand in northern Sweden around 1850. Very unusual to see original blue mar...
Wood
Italian Rattan and Brass Waste Basket or Planter, Italy
Located in Milan, IT
Italian rattan and brass waste basket, or can also be used as a planter.
Brass
$1,287
H 14.57 in Dm 13.78 in
Midcentury Basket Rattan, Wicker and Brass Vivai Del Sud Style, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury wonderful round basket with handles in rattan, wicker and brass in the style of Vivai Del Sud. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Vivai del sud, Gabriella Crespi and Arpex were...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Coastal Woven Basket with Wooden Handles
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Beautiful vintage handmade woven basket. Has wooden handles that are attached with layers of cane secured by nails. This is a vintage piece. Has picked up some beautiful patina and...
Bamboo, Cane
$525 / item
H 8 in W 24.25 in D 16.25 in
Vintage Rectangular Handwoven Rattan Basket with Wooden Side Handles
Located in Yonkers, NY
This vintage rectangular rattan basket is a clean, well-proportioned example of traditional handwoven storage, combining practicality with understated decorative appeal. Crafted from...
Rattan, Wood
Oriental Fisherman Basket with Large Wooden Handle
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Chinese style fisherman or grain basket features the traditional shape with rounded sides and wooden rim and large handle. The strong, flexible wicker or willow strips are skillfully woven into a delicate pattern that emphasizes the rounded form of the basket; prominent solid wood elements juxtapose the fine texture of the weave. The basket is in good vintage condition with beautiful, age-appropriate patina on wood; its convenient size and shape allow it to be used as decorative storage piece, large ikebana basket...
Wicker, Rattan, Bentwood
Vintage Australian Lidded Cork Basket with Wooden Handle, 20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Vintage Lidded Cork Basket with Wooden Handle Provenance: Private Australian Collection. Dimensions: Height: 12cm. Diameter: 18cm.
Wood, Cork
Midcentury Bamboo and Rattan Basket Vivai Del Sud Style, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury wonderful round basket with lid in rattan and bamboo in the style of Vivai Del Sud. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Vivai del sud, Gabriella Crespi and Arpex were the th...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood
Vintage 1960s Round Wicker/Straw Wall Storage Basket
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Large circular wall basket in straw and wicker. Good general condition. Some visible gaps as shown in the photos.
Wicker, Straw
Rohé & Noordwolde, set of 2 wicker display baskets in metal base.
By Rohe Noordwolde, Dirk Van Sliedregt
Located in Herentals, BE
The display baskets were manufactured by Rohé & Noordwolde around 1960 in the Netherlands after a design by Dirk Van Sliedrecht. They are removable from the black metal frames. They ...
Metal
Sold
H 11.82 in W 23.63 in D 16.54 in
Dark Brown Leather & Brass Details 70s Fireplace Carrier in the Style of Scarpa
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Dimensione Fuoco
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Beautiful carrier/basket for fireplace, handcrafted in the 70s by Vanizia luggage. Its design and brass details are reminiscent of the "Borsa Lato" model created by Afra and Tobia S...
Brass