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.
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
Multicolored Glass Paperweight by Giusto Toso for Fratelli Toso, 1961, Set of 2
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This set of 2 "Gogi Gogi" Glass Paperweights was designed by Giusto Toso and manufactured by Glassworks Fratelli Toso in 1961. The pieces are made from brown, clear and iridescent wh...
Murano Glass
$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
Steel 1960s Ventotene Desk Organizer, Model 3054A by E. Mari for Danese Milano
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Ventotene desk organizer, model 3054A in polished steel designed by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano in 1964. Good condition: this is a vintage item, not a brand new product. Signs of we...
Steel
Aespi Italian Space Age Green Thermoplastic Oscillating Fan Model 5056 1970s
Located in Lisboa, PT
Italian Space Age thermoplastic oscillating fan by Aespi, model 5056, produced in the 1970s. This sculptural desk accessory exemplifies the bold material experimentation and futurist...
Chrome
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
Ressort Letter Rack by Yonel Lebovici for Distrimex, 1969
By Distrimex, Yonel Lebovici
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This sculptural "Ressort" model letter rack was designed by Yonel Lebovici in 1969 for Edition Distrimex. It is made of chrome-plated steel and it remains in good vintage original co...
Metal, Nickel
Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, and Teal Murano Glass Paperweights, 1970s, Set of 2
By Ken Scott
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This pair of vintage Murano glass paper weight was produced in Italy around the 1970s. They are hand made in multicored glass. Very good con...
Murano Glass
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
$140Sale Price|20% Off
Space Age Lucite and Chrome Catch It All
Located in San Diego, CA
Really nice and unique catch it all, circa 1970s, this piece was never used its in like-new condition.
Chrome
Ico Parisi "Profile of a woman" document holder, Italy, 1970s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Padova, IT
Ico Parisi "Profilo di donna," Woman's profile, document holder, Italy, 1970s. Plexiglass. Cm 34.50 x 36.00 x 15.00. 1970s.
Plexiglass
Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper Brionvega TS52 Radio
By Marco Zanuso, Richard Sapper
Located in Sharon, CT
Important Radio by Sapper and Zanuso in gorgeous red.
Plastic
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
Ice Bucket, 3 Ashtrays White Plastic, Steel, Cini & Nils OPI Studio Italy, 1970s
By Studio O.P.I., Mario Melocchi and Franco Bettonica, Cini & Nils
Located in Arosio, IT
MarCo Melocchi and Franco Bettonica of O.P.I. Design, designed these items in 1974 and 1975. These are original items, bought as they came out on the design scene. One is the famous...
Steel
1970s Paperweight, Ashtray, Vide-Poche, "Nautico" by Cini&Nils, Italy
By Studio O.P.I., Cini & Nils, Mario Melocchi and Franco Bettonica
Located in Arosio, IT
Marco Melocchi and Franco Bettonica designed the Nautico ashtray paperweight vide-poche deskset in 1975. This design is still part of the MOMA collection. Two of these objects are in...
Stainless Steel
Clear Lucite table lighter, Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Clear Lucite table lighter, Italian manufacture 1970s H 13 × 5 × 5 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Lucite
Space age Murano orange glass presse-papier, Italy 1960s
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age Murano blown orange glass presse-papier Italy 1960s 20 H x 12.5 × 8.5 cm Conditions: excellent, consistent with age and use.
Murano Glass, Stained Glass
Paperweight in solid transparent acrylic, 1970s.
Located in Barcelona, ES
Paperweight in solid transparent acrylic, 1970s.
Acrylic
20th Century Italian Big Sterling Silver Magnifying Lens
Located in VALENZA, IT
Large, completely handmade, sterling silver magnifying lens Perfect for a prestigious desk. The lens frame is smooth while the hand is embossed by hand on both sides with scrolls ...
Sterling Silver
$1,304
H 5.79 in W 0.63 in D 0.6 in
Montblanc 75th Anniversary Fountain Pen – “Passion and Soul Since 75”
Located in Vienna, AT
Montblanc 75th Anniversary Fountain Pen – “Passion and Soul Since 75" with leather case. A very special Montblanc 75th Anniversary fountain pen featuring the commemorative engraving ...
Gold, Gold Plate
White 1930s Glamour Bakelite Telephone by Bell Systems
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Vintage white bakelite 1930s glamor telephone made by Bell Systems for the Western Electric company. This phone is present in many Hollywood Glamor fi...
Bakelite
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
$160Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.75 in W 5 in D 2 in
MCM Teak Perpetual Desk Flip Calendar, Security Pacific Bank
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and hard to find MCM teak perpetual desk flip calendar from California's Security Pacific Bank, circa 1970's. The calendar is made of teak wo...
Plastic, Teak
Glass Ashtray, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Glass ashtray is an object realized in 1970s. Art glass, D 15 x 4 cm. Very good conditions!
Art Glass
$180Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.75 in W 3.5 in D 2 in
Mid-Century Modern Solid Green Marble Perpetual Desk Top Calendar
By Enzo Mari
Located in San Diego, CA
Handcrafted unique rare perpetual calendar circa 1970's solid green marble with gold numbers days and months, great design, and craftsmanship some of the l...
Marble
Vintage Glass Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage glass paperweight is an original Contemporary Design Object realized in the 1970s. Original art glass. Made in Italy. Dimensions...
Art Glass
$355
H 18.71 in W 18.71 in D 2.37 in
Italian Postmodern Wall Perpetual Calendar by Della Beffa for Ring a Date, 2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post modern wall perpetual yellow calendar by Giorgio Della Beffa for Ring A Date, 2000-2010s Wall perpetual calendar in yellow plastic. The cale...
Plastic
Space Age Acrylic and Chrome 'Teledome' Rotary Telephone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This futuristic Teledome (model #3005) phone was patented and manufactured in 1972 by Teleconcepts and included internals made by Northern Telecom Inc. Chrome-plate handset with blac...
Chrome
$488Sale Price|24% Off
H 2.5 in Dm 3 in
Fratelli Toso Murano Green White Italian Art Glass Crown Paperweight
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown green and white twisting ribbons Italian art glass paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company. This paperweights are often ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Smoking Set, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Smoking Set is a decorative object realized in the 1970s. A ceramic blue colored smoking set composed by a lighter and an ashtray. Dimensions: Lighter: h.7.5 x 7 cm Ashtray: h. ...
Ceramic
Original BRAUN table fan HL-70 Type 4 550 in beige from the 70s
By Jürgen Greubel, Braun
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 4.73 in Dm 11.82 in
Patrice Dupont, Philips 22GF303 UFO Record Player, 1969, Space Age, Working
By Philips, Patrice Dupont
Located in London, GB
Patrice Dupont (designer) Philips (manufacturer) 22 GF 303 'UFU' portable record player, designed, circa 1969. White/cream plastic case with red plastic lid, dark grey plastic inte...
Plastic
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 4.73 in W 5.91 in D 3.55 in
Desk Fan HL70 by Reinhold Weiss & Jurgen Greubel for Dieter Rams & Braun
By Dieter Rams, Jürgen Greubel, Reinhold Weiss, Braun
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This is a mint and boxed original example of this classic design fan produced under design guru Dieter Rams for Braun. Dimensions listed are without the acrylic stand.
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 Reinhold Weiss, Braun
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
Sold
H 2.56 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in
Multicolored Glass Paperweight by Giusto Toso for Fratelli Toso, 1961, Set of 2
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This set of 2 "Gogi Gogi" Glass Paperweights was designed by Giusto Toso and manufactured by Glassworks Fratelli Toso in 1961. The pieces are made from brown, clear and iridescent wh...
Murano Glass
Original BRAUN table fan HL 70 from 1971 in rare orange yellow
By Jürgen Greubel, Braun
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