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.
Large Modular Set of 12 Nagel S22 Chrome-Plated Candleholders for Stoff, Germany
By Werner Stoff
Located in BORGO, FR
An iconic set of 12 original Nagel S22 modular candleholders, designed for Stoff Nagel in Germany during the 1970s. Recognized as one of the most enduring ic...
Chrome
Silver Plated Metal 1970s Candleholder by Lino Sabattini
By Lino Sabattini, Sabattini Argenteria
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Very good condition. Very high quality. Manifacture's mark on the handle.
Silver Plate
1970s Space Age Yellow Vetrochina Italian Candle Holder by Gabbianelli
By Gabbianelli
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An iconic Italian candle holder or vase designed and manufactured in Italy in the Seventies by Gabbianelli, it's marked and labeled on the bottom. This kind of ceramic named vetrochi...
Ceramic
Set of Three Nagel and Stoffi Candleholders
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Stackable modular candleholders set by BMF Quist Nagel, The candleholders were designed by Ceasar Stoffi and Fritz Nagel and manufactured by BMF (Bayerische ...
Metal
"Germoglio" Lino Sabattini Italian Design 1970s Silver Vase
Located in Brescia, IT
"Germoglio" Vases design Lino Sabattini 1979 Silver metal Excellent condiction.
Metal
$220 / set
H 2.37 in Dm 2.76 in
Contemporary Modern, Kubbe Minimal Candleholders, Silver-Nickel Plated, Set of 2
By DAY Studio
Located in İstanbul, İstanbul
Kubbe collection was designed with inspiration from the domes of the courtyards, shops and workshops of the Grand Bazaar, which has been the center of silver-smiting in Istanbul for ...
Brass, Nickel
$388Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.63 in Dm 1.97 in
Moritz vase, design Lino SABATTINI in silvered metal and glass. Italy, 90s
By Sabattini Argenteria, Lino Sabattini
Located in Torino, IT
Moritz vase, design Lino SABATTINI for Sabattini Silverware, in silver metal and glass base. ORIGIN Italy PERIOD 1990s DESIGNER Lino SABATTINI (1925-2016) was born in Correggio (R...
Metal, Silver Plate
$2,132
H 12.41 in W 4.34 in D 5.12 in
Elegant Mid-Century Modern Candle Holder Flamma by Lino Sabattini Italy 1970s
By Sabattini Argenteria, Lino Sabattini
Located in München, BY
Extremely rare, elegant and highly decorative Mid-Century Modern candle holder / candelabra 'Flamma'. Designed by Lino Sabattini for Sabattini Argenteria, Italy, 1970s. Signed to the...
Metal
$98 / item
H 2.76 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
BMF Nagel Quist Variomaster Brutalist Stockable Modular Candleholder
Located in Vienna, AT
Stackable modular candleholder by BMF Quist Nagel, the candleholders were designed by Ceasar Stoffi and Fritz Nagel and manufactured by BMF (Bayerische Metal...
Brass, Chrome
BMF Nagel Candleholder Stackable Modular
By Fritz Nagel, Bmf Nagel, Caesar Stoffi
Located in Vienna, AT
Stackable modular candleholder by BMF Quist Nagel, The candleholders were designed by Ceasar Stoffi and Fritz Nagel and manufactured by BMF (Bayerische Metal...
Brass, Chrome
Lino Sabattini, candlestick
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Candlestick in silver metal, model Concerto di trombe, by Lino Sabattini for Christofle, Italy circa 1957.
Metal, Silver Plate
$142
H 2.76 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
Rare Gold BMF Nagel Quist Variomaster Brutalist Stockable Modular Candleholder
Located in Vienna, AT
Stackable modular candleholder by BMF Quist Nagel, rare gold edition. The candleholders were designed by Ceasar Stoffi and Fritz Nagel and manufactured by BMF (Bayerische Metallwaren...
Brass, Chrome
$395
H 8.47 in W 2.09 in D 1.19 in
Silver Plated 'Giselle' Soliflor Vase Candlestick by Lino Sabattini. Italy 1970s
By Sabattini Argenteria, Danese Milano, Lino Sabattini, Ettore Sottsass, Christofle
Located in Malmö, SE
Silver plated Mid-Century 'Giselle' soliflor vase or candlestick. Designed by Lino Sabattini and produced by Sabattini in Italy, 1970s. Good original condition, but with some scratc...
Stainless Steel
$1,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 2.38 in Dm 4 in
24 Modern Chrome Candleholders + Ashtray Bowl, Werner Stoff Nagel Germany 1960s
By Caesar Stoffi, Stoff Nagel, Nagel AG, Bmf Nagel
Located in Miami, FL
A set of 24 S-22 model stackable 3-legged chrome modular candleholders plus an S-44 Ashtray/Bowl by two German artists, Hans Nagel (1926-1978) and Werner St...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Candara Bowl by Lino Sabattini, Silver Plate, Italy, 1970
By Lino Sabattini, Sabattini Argenteria
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A bowl with the name Candara with a simplistic and iconic design by renowned italian designer Lino Sabattini from circa 1970. The condition is good albeit with some wear (see picture...
Silver Plate
$1,175 / set
H 4 in W 4 in D 2.38 in
1960s Sculptural - Stackable Candle Holders Stoffi & Nagel for BMF Nagel Germany
Located in St. Louis, MO
Iconic set of 13 playful stackable or modular designed candlesticks by César Stoffi & Fritz Nagel for BMF Nagel - W. Germany. Very 1960s mid-century modern in design, little sculptur...
Metal, Nickel
Sold
H 2.37 in W 2.76 in D 2.76 in
late 60s early 70s SET of a sommerso glass ashtray a candle holder and a lighter
By Seguso
Located in Landshut, BY
late 1960s / early 1970s SET of an ashtray a candle holder and a lighter Sommerso, an Italian term signifying "submerged," is a technique developed by Carlo Scarpa from 1934 onw...
Art Glass
Set of 8 Fritz Nagel stackable candlesticks, West Germany, 1960s
By Bmf Nagel, Fritz Nagel
Located in Lyon, FR
Set of 8 metal modular and stackable candlesticks designed by Caesar Stoffi and Fritz Nagel for BMF Quist Nagel (Bayerische Metallwaren Fabrik), in West Germ...
Metal
Space Age Cauldron Brass Candlesticks, Scandinavian 1950s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Atomic space age candleholders in the shape of cauldrons. They are made from brass during the 1950s Scandinavia and feature patina from the spand of time. They are to be fitted with ...
Brass
Modular Candlesticks in Chromed Steel and Plastic by BMF Nagel, 1970s
By Bmf Nagel
Located in Lille, FR
Modular Candlesticks in Chromed Steel and Plastic by BMF Nagel, 1970s.
Metal, Chrome
Sold
H 11.62 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Sculptural Murano Vase or Candle Holder by Carlo Nason for Mazzega, 1970s
By AVMazzega, Carlo Nason
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare tall sculptural Murano glass vase or candle holder by Carlo Nason for AV Mazzega from the 1970s. The handblown clear and white glass culminates in an organic "vessel" ...
Murano Glass
Salviati Murano Rainbow Colors, Sommerso Italian Art Glass Candlesticks
By Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
FREE Shipping Worldwide! See details below description. Amazing Murano Handblown Sommerso Rainbow Colors Art Glass Candlesticks. Documented to th...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Uranium Glass