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.
Set of 2 Space Age Candleholders made of Aluminium Jorge Pensi Design
By Jorge Pensi
Located in BARCELONA, ES
If you're seeking a unique blend of mid-century modern flair and futuristic design, this set of 2 Space Age candleholders in aluminum is a must-have. Their sleek, sculptural form ins...
Aluminum
large knut hesterberg CANDLE HOLDER candelabra stainless steel and glass 1970s
Located in Mannheim, DE
Very rare large candle holder from the 1970s. It consists of 3 stainless steel tubes which are connected to each other by a round glass disc. For large candles up to 4.3" (11 cm) in ...
Stainless Steel
$460Sale Price|20% Off
Danish Modern Scandinavian Large Enameled Metal Candelabra
Located in San Diego, CA
1970's large white metal enameled swivel candelabra holder, each disk has a 4" diameter, the top part swivels to adjust as desired, a really unique Scandinavian Pop Space-age piece.
Metal
Blue Birds Set of 2 Candleholder
Located in Paris, FR
Candleholder Blue Birds Set of 2 with hand-painted porcelain, with bronze details, for 2 candles, candles not included.
Bronze
$635Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.14 in W 16.15 in D 6.5 in
Scandinavian Candelabra in Brass & Glass, Gunnar Ander Ystad Metal Sweden 50-60s
Located in Brussels, Brussels
A Swedish Modernist candelabra by Gunnar Ander. Produced by Ystad-Metall, located in the town of Ystad in Sweden. Candle-holder for 6 candles in solid, polished brass glass cups in...
Brass
Large Tree Shaped Candle Holder in Hand Forged Steel 1970s
Located in Meer, VAN
Large Tree Shaped Candle Holder in Hand Forged Steel 1970s This well sized hand forged candle holder is wonderfully shaped like a tree, it origins from Europe, 1970s. It is original...
Wrought Iron
Swans Set of 2 Candleholder
Located in Paris, FR
Candleholder Swans Set of 2 with hand-painted porcelain structure and with bronze details for 2 candles, candles not included.
Bronze
$125
H 12.5 in W 4.25 in D 9 in
Vintage Sculptural Candelabra Candle Holder, Black Metal, Sweden, 1970s
Located in San Jose, CA
Vintage sculptural candelabra marked Boda Shop, Sweden, circa 1970s. This unique piece has a black metal finish and holds up to three taper candles.
Metal
Brutalist Candle Holder, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Vintage brutalist torch cut metal candle holder with 6 arms. Beautiful and timeless piece which is very decorative. The Brut design is very attractive. Very good condition ...
Metal
$1,600
H 18.5 in Dm 16 in
Sculptural Brutalist Tree of Life Hand-Forged Candelabra Candle Holder, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful Brutalist tree candle holder / candlestick from the 1970s. Hand-forged from blackened wrought iron and wonderfully shaped like a tree, featuring a base designed as roots,...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Laurids Lønborg, Candelabra, Metal, Rattan, Denmark, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A black-lacquered metal and rattan candelabra designed and produced by Laurids Lønborg, Denmark, 1950s. Holds 0.75” candles
Metal
$2,050 / set
H 12.6 in Dm 9.06 in
Rare Scandinavian Modern Metal Candelabras by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, 1950s
By Studio Ahus, Hans-Agne Jakobsson
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of striking candelabras in a playful design by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, with six arms each. Lacquered red, decorative brass detail. The diameter of the light cuffs varies slightly b...
Metal, Brass
Unavailable|$899
H 18.25 in W 9.5 in D 3.75 in
Contemporary Georg Jensen Polished Stainless Steel Candle Holder or Candelabra
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large double candleholder was designed by the Georg Jensen studio in approximately 1990 and done in an organic Mid Century style. The two towered candelabra is done with a polis...
Stainless Steel
Space Age Vintage Walnut Candleholder, 1960s Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
The tripod candleholder was made of walnut and shows seven holes for small candles. Designed circa 1960. The candleholder is in good condition. approx. measures Diameter 7 cm Height ...
Walnut
Matthew Hilton Zig Zag & Swan aluminium candleholders
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Matthew Hilton Zig Zag & Swan aluminium candleholders Zig Zag dimensions: 30cm Height , 11cm Width, 5,5cm Depth Swan dimensions: 34cm Height , 13cm Width, 8cm Depth
Aluminum
Bengali Elephant Set of 2 Candleholders
Located in Paris, FR
Candleholders Bengali elephant set of 2, in hand painted porcelain in bronze finish. With brass candleholder part on each. Measures: L 28 x D 13 x H 17...
Brass
Danish Brass Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 1960s solid brass Danish candelabra. It fits two difference size candles.
Brass
$352
H 3.54 in W 4.33 in D 3.94 in
Vintage Space Age Orion Stacking Candleholder by Ceasar & Fritz Nagel, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Space Age Orion Stacking Candleholder by Ceasar Stoffi & Fritz Nagel for BMF, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1970 to 1979 have official proof of authenticity such a...
Metal
Set of 3 Space Age Candleholders made of Aluminium
By Jorge Pensi
Located in BARCELONA, ES
If you're seeking a unique blend of mid-century modern flair and futuristic design, this Set of 3 Space Age Candleholders made of aluminum is a must-have. Their sleek, sculptural for...
Aluminum
Sold
H 7.88 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
Liisi Beckmann's 1960s Ceramic Blue Candle Holder by Gabbianelli Made in Italy
By Liisi Meronen Beckmann, Gabbianelli
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Liisi Beckmann’s exquisite ceramic vase/candle holder from the 1960s crafted by Gabbianelli. This vintage ceramic vase feature a calming blue hue, showcases Beckmann’s visionary des...
Ceramic
Sold
H 31.5 in W 47.25 in D 35.44 in
1970s Space Age Malleable Brass Tubo Gas Eight Arms Italian Candelabra
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An amazing eight-arm candelabra, designed and manufactured in Italy in the Seventies. The dimensions indicated are not the maximum dimensions that the candelabra can reach; it can co...
Brass
Set of Nagel and Stoffi Candleholders with Dish, Germany, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
A Classic Nagel candleholder set, with a rare dish. The set holds 4 candle segments and a dish. It can be configured in various number of ways, as well vertically as horizontally by ...
Nickel