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.
$79 / item
BMF Nagel Candleholder Stackable Modular
By Caesar Stoffi, Fritz Nagel, Bmf Nagel
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
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 2 Vintage Candle Holders Stainless Steel Space Age, 1970s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage Candle Holders Set of 2 - Stainless Steel Space Age Design - Italy 1970s - Gift Idea Elegant, Retro Table Decoratio This rare vintage bottle opener from 1960s Italy is a ref...
Stainless Steel
Classic Rosenthal Horizon Lead Crystal Glass Candle Holder Catchall Vide Poche
By Rosenthal
Located in Miami, FL
Striking original Rosenthal Space Age Lead crystal glass horizon pillar candle holder, vide poche, catchall, bowl made in Germany. To me it looks...
Crystal
Natural Rock Crystal Candle Holders by Phoenix
Located in New York, NY
Pair of natural rock crystal candle holders with polish brass stands. Created by Pheonix Gallery, NYC. Custom size and finish upon request.
Rock Crystal
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
$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
Ellipses Handmade Crystal Candle Holder
Located in Glendale, CA
Ellipses is a modern hand-cut crystal candlestick with an exquisite combination of abstract dark gray and clear crystal parts. The black balls around the base make it a stunning and ...
Crystal
Tube Glass Candle Holder
By Casarialto
Located in Milan, IT
Handcrafted in Venice, this candle holder is a signature product by Casarialto. Entirely made of transparent glass, this diaphanous candle holder shaped like a tube strikes for its l...
Glass
$148Sale Price|25% Off
H 8.59 in Dm 2.37 in
Brutalist Steel Vase, BMF Quist Nagel, Mid Century 1970s, Germany
By Bmf Nagel
Located in Andernach, DE
Absolutely funky steel vase (one-of-a-kind) in the Brutalist style of the late 60s - early 70s. Manufacturer BMF (likely for Stoff Nagel), who are not only famous for the design of v...
Stainless Steel
$525 / set
H 2.56 in W 4.73 in D 4.14 in
Vintage Modular Candleholders by Stoffi & Nagel for BMF, 1960s. Set of 8.
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Modular Candleholders by Stoffi & Nagel for BMF, 1960s. Set of 8. Set of eight original vintage metal candle sticks designed by Fritz Nagel and Ceasar Stoffi for BMF Nagel, ...
Metal
$590
H 3 in W 7 in D 7 in
Rosenthal Studio-Line Frosted & Clear Crystal Cube Ashtray or Vide-Poche, 1970s
By Rosenthal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Rosenthal Studio-Line clear and Frosted crystal Cube Ashtray or Vide-Poche, Germany, 1970s This is a striking Rosenthal Studio-Line Lucite and glass ashtray or vide-poche, designed...
Crystal
$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 Nagel AG, Bmf Nagel, Caesar Stoffi, Stoff 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
$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
Vintage Orrefors Sweden Crystal Votive Candle Holder
By Orrefors
Located in New York, NY
1980's Scandinavian modern crystal votive candle holder. Hand crafted in Sweden and signed on bottom, Orrefors.
Crystal
Thirteen Original Nickel-Plated Variomaster Candleholders
Located in Chireno, TX
Thirteen original nickel-plated Variomaster candle holders designed by Caesar Stoffi & Fritz Nagel. Manufactured by Quist/BMF in West Germany during the 1970s. Model: Variomaster...
Metal, Nickel
Marc Brazier Jones Astro Charger Table Candleholder
Located in Hamburg, DE
Decorative candle light holder by Marc Brazier Jones, with engraved glass and blue glass ball as the centre of the eye, wrought iron and bronze, gi...
Bronze, Iron