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 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
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 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
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
$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
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
Vintage French Wicker Basket
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Antique French Woven Harvest Basket – Early 20th Century A beautifully aged hand-woven French harvest basket, crafted from natural wicker with a wide, tapering form and sturdy twiste...
Cane
$883Sale 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
Vintage Wicker Basket
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Antique French Woven Harvest Basket – Early 20th Century A beautifully aged hand-woven French harvest basket, crafted from natural wicker with a wide, tapering form and sturdy twiste...
Cane
$627Sale 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
Oblong Wooden Basket
Located in New York, NY
Vintage basket with great shape & short, stout and sturdy handle. The basket was previously painted and has since been used so there is a worn patina of paint and wood. Great for sto...
Wicker, Wood
$112 / item
H 5.52 in W 16.15 in D 16.15 in
FURNA – Minimalist Storage Basket in Natural Wicker Weave, medium
By Eneida Lombe Tavares, João Xará
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Inspired by the artisanal process of basketry from the island of São Miguel, in the Azores, and in collaboration with a local craftsman, three new and original shapes emerge for this object. The characteristics of this volcanic island originate a type of stone whose shape is used to give structure to the wicker. The irregular and organic lines of these baskets result in a contemporary and versatile expression of an ancestral art...
Wicker
Vintage rattan basket, Italy 1960s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Vintage rattan basket, made in Italy in the 1950s. The vintage rattan basket is in good vintage condition. Dimensions: Width: 66 cm / 26 inches Height: 46 cm / 18 inches Depth: 4...
Rattan
Vintage Large American Hand Woven Gathering Buttocks Basket
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage or antique oversized gathering basket features traditional rib or buttocks shape with the bent wood ring rim and handle. The plaited splints are carefully interwoven to carry...
Wicker, Oak
$64Sale Price|20% Off
H 11 in W 110 in D 13 in
Handmade Vintage Wicker Rattan Picnic Basket, Leather Handle, 1960
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Handmade vintage wicker rattan with leather handle and cotton insert picnic basket with two bottles compartments, two glasses and cheese board inside.
Wicker
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
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 Dimensione Fuoco, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
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