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.
Original BRAUN HL 1 Table Fan from 1961 by Reinhold Weiss, with Leather Finish
By Braun, Reinhold Weiss
Located in München, DE
A very rare, original BRAUN HL 1 table fan from 1961, featuring a dark blue leather details. Designed by Reinhold Weiss. Made in West Germany. The air outlet is steplessly rotatable,...
Metal
1970s Letter Holder in Black & Transparent Lucite - French Desk Accessory
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
1970s Letter Holder in Black & Transparent Lucite - French Desk Accessory Minimal and chic letter holder, made of lucite. Perfect to place on a desk or in the entryway. Dimens...
Lucite, Plexiglass
Swiss Modern Desk Organizers, Pencil Holders by Pentex, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A red and a black pencil-holder in cast acrylic. 1970s Modern architectural styling. Designed and manufactured by Pentex in Switzerland. Each with 6 cylindrical compartments for uten...
Acrylic
$140Sale Price|20% Off
Space Age Plastic Desk Set Organizer
By Kartell
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice black & white Space Age plastic desk set organizer, circa 1970's great condition 2 pieces set great for envelopes, clips pens, etc.
Plastic
Vintage 1970s Green Plastic Desk Set by Rexite
By Rexite
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Green plastic desk set, manufactured by Rexite in the 1970s; the set includes a “Biki932” jar, an “Atrio 650” ashtray—both designed by Studio Erre—and a “Stadio 920” pen holder desig...
Plastic
Vintage 1970s Yellow Plastic Desk Set by Rexite
By Rexite
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Yellow plastic desk set, manufactured by Rexite in the 1970s; the set includes a “Multiplor 900” storage container, a “Stadio 920” pen holder designed by Rino Piovano, and an “Atrio ...
Plastic
Lubitel 2 Bakelite With LOMO T-22 75/4.5 Taking Lens Manufactured by OMO
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Lubitel 2 Bakelite With LOMO T-22 75/4.5 Taking Lens Manufactured by OMO Manufactured between 1954 and 1980 Ref 7439664 Camera has a waist level finder and focusing rings are mad...
Metal
Vintage platone folding table set by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima castelli
By Anonima Castelli, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Rare foldable side table designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli. Very handy an desirable piece of furniture which adds a nice space age touch to your room. Whats even m...
Chrome
Vintage Wood Pen Holder and Lighter Set, Italian Design, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage wood pen holder and lighter is an original object realized in the 1970s. Original wood and metal. Made in Italy. The set includes: a geometr...
Metal
Vintage Glass Ashtray, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage glass ashtray is an original decorative object realized in the 1970s. Good conditions.
Glass
Marble Desk Pen Holder Organizer
Located in New York, NY
A substantial marble desk pen/pencil/marker holder organizer, in the modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century. Organizer can hold small pieces of paper, ...
Marble
Italian 1970s Metal Dachshund Dog Shaped Desk Pencil Holder
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1970s Metal Dachshund Dog Shaped Desk Pencil Holder
Metal
$375
H 16.54 in W 13 in D 8.67 in
Italian mid-century modern table fan by elettrodomestici San Giorgio, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern table fan by elettrodomestici San Giorgio, 1960s Adjustable table fan with burgundy Bakelite blades and a metal rod cage. The base is also made of burgundy...
Metal
Gucci Vintage Black Leather Desk Set 1970s
By Gucci
Located in Munich, DE
Stunning Gucci desk set made of black leather and brass. Four pieces include: massive desktop blotter or pad, huge letter opener, envelope holder and a leather pen holder with glass ...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Axonometry A4 Tray in Rose Gold Finish
By Ghidini 1961, Elisa Giovannoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...
Copper
$1,145 / item
H 12.6 in W 12.6 in D 14.18 in
Gervasoni Wind Table Fan in Handwoven Dark Pulut by Jasper Startup
By Gervasoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Family of floor or table fans that combine aesthetics and functionality, features that make them a genuine piece of furniture in their own right. Available in two sizes, S or L, they...
Aluminum
Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Pencil Holder in Polished Gold Finish
By Richard Hutten, Ghidini 1961
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pencil holder in stainless steel. When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates ...
Stainless Steel
Ghidini 1961 Bullet Table Lamp in Brass by Studio Job
By Studio Job (Job Smeets & Nynke Tynagel), Ghidini 1961
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Table lamp in brass and metalized glass. Materials: Brass and metallic glass Net weight: 4.8 kg Dimensions: Diameter 17 x 54 height cm.
Brass
Jacques Adnet Leather Wrapped Faux Bamboo Desk Organizer
Located in Stamford, CT
Jacques Adnet desk In/Out tray organizer of stitched leather over steel. France. Circa 1950. Possible to hang on wall or place on desk.
Leather
Vintage Red Swivel Desk Storage Organizer by Rino Pirovano for Art 900
By Rexite
Located in East Quogue, NY
This vintage red swivel desk organizer, designed by Rino Pirovano for Rexite in the mid-1970s, is a celebrated example of Italian design. Made of ABS plastic, it features four rotati...
Plastic
Italian Lucite Pen Pencil Desk Holder By Designer Rede Guzzini
By Rede Guzzini
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Lucite pen, pencil, marker and small paper desk organizer/holder, Postmodern period or Modern style, by designer Rede Guzzini, circa 1980s, Italy. A great desk accessory a...
Lucite
Danish Oak Desk Office Organizer with Shelves
Located in New York, NY
A Danish modern, Scandinavian Modern, Mid-Century Modern style, blonde oak wood desk, office, library, etc., organizer with book space and paper/mail/letter tray holder shelf areas, by Pedersen & Hansen, circa late-20th century, Denmark. Three (3) horizontal and three (3) vertical storage...
Oak
1970’s Italian Hand Made Zebra Hide Desk Organizer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
We acquired this desk accessory along with a wonderful Gucci desk set from a local Palm Springs estate. These desk items were purchased in the 1970’s. The Gucci desk set is available...
Leather, Zebra Hide
Sold
H 2.76 in W 4.93 in D 2.17 in
1970s French Perpetual Calendar in Lemon Yellow Retro Plastic Design
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
An authentic 1970s French perpetual calendar, designed as both a practical office tool and a statement piece of Pop design. Featuring the days and months in French, this desk accesso...
Plastic
Original BRAUN table fan HL-70 Type 4 550 in beige from the 70s
By Braun, Jürgen Greubel
Located in München, DE
Original BRAUN table fan HL 70 Type 4 550 from the 1970s in beige. Original design of the HL1 table fan from 1960 by Reinhold Weiss. This successor, the HL 70, is from the 1970s. Des...
Metal
Space Age Italian Painted Metal Envelope And Ticket Holder
Located in Prato, Tuscany
Please read the entire description carefully, as we are committed to providing detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our items. This elegant and...
Iron
Italian 1970s Space Age PlexiGlass and Steel Balls Pen Holder.
Located in Milan, IT
Unusual Italian 1970s Space Age PlexiGlass and Steel Balls Pen Holder.
Steel
Sold
H 5.91 in W 10.24 in D 7.88 in
Italian space age Table dial telephone Bobo by Sergio Todeschini Telcer, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age Table dial telephone Bobo by Sergio Todeschini for Telcer, 1970s Table dial telephone mod. Bobo made of bright yellow plastic and m...
Metal
Sold
H 1.58 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Space Age 70s Desk Organizer - Vintage Perpetual Calendar Italian Edition
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Charming desk calendar with organizer manufactured by Wing Plastif in the 70s, registered trademark in the UK, produced in Hong Kong at the time when Hong Kong was an English colony....
Plastic
Original BRAUN table fan HL 1 from 1961 by Reinhold Weiss
By Braun, Reinhold Weiss
Located in München, DE
Original BRAUN table fan HL 1 from 1961. Design by Reinhold Weiss. Made in W. Germany Air outlet can be continuously rotated. 2 levels. Wall mounting is also possible, with original ...
Metal
Sold
H 6 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
1970's Space Age Park Sherman Rotating Cork & Chrome Desk Pencil Pen Holder
By Park Sherman
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool rotating pencil pen desk top holder, circa 1970's very clean original condition great for Mid-century, Danish modern Postmodern home decor.
Chrome
Original BRAUN table fan HL 70 from 1971 in rare orange yellow
By Braun, Jürgen Greubel
Located in München, DE
Original BRAUN table fan HL 70 from 1971 in orange yellow. Original design of the HL1 table fan in 1960 by Reinhold Weiss. This successor device, the HL 70, is from 1971. Design by J...
Metal
Atomic Space Age Perpetual Flip Calendar, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Often seen in 1960s-70s American movies this atomic perpetual flip calendar with manually set day and month has become an iconic desk piece amo...
Plastic
Sold
H 1.97 in W 11.42 in D 3.15 in
1972 E. Panzeri Aluminium Extrusion Desk Set Vide-Poche for Sormani Italy
Located in Arosio, IT
Multipurpose desk set in extruded aluminium created for Sormani by Enrico Panzeri in the early Seventies. Sormani had long been researching aluminium extrusion to use it as compone...
Aluminum