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 Italian Round Amber Lucite Photo Frame with 925 Silver Band
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Elegant Italian round photo frame from the 1970s, crafted in amber-toned lucite with a refined 925 silver band surrounding the central photo opening. The piece has a sculptural circu...
Silver
Small Italian nickel plated metal & Velvet 1970s Picture Frame
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This small picture frame is made from nickel-plated metal with brown plastic inserts and brown velvet back. 2 worked brass stops complete the object and allow it to be opened and clo...
Metal, Nickel, Brass
$570
H 8.27 in Dm 8.27 in
Midcentury Rounded Picture Frame Made in Silver Plate and Teak, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer an elegant circular picture frame, almost certainly made in Italy between 1960 and 1970. This vintage round frame is crafted in silver plate with a mahogany-v...
Silver Plate
$1,128
H 13.78 in W 13.78 in D 9.85 in
Midcentury Tommaso Barbi Burl and Chrome Square Picture Frame, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Astonishing midcentury chromed brass and burl square photo frame. This beautiful piece was designed in Italy in the 1970s by Tomaso Barbi and is als...
Metal, Chrome
$890
H 4.73 in Dm 8.86 in
Dior Round Photo Frame in Golden Brass, Lucite and Vienna Straw, Italy, 1970s
By Dior Home
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning round picture frame made of golden brass and Lucite, enriched inside with Vienna straw. This incredibly stylish photo frame is attributed to a Dior Home design and was produ...
Brass
Italian 1970s Small Oval Nickel Bamboo Picture Frame
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1970s Small Oval Nickel Bamboo Picture Frame
Nickel
Italian Malachite and Brass Picture Frame, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Italian picture frame from the 1970s, crafted with a polished malachite veneer and accented by a gilt brass border. The vivid green malachite showcases natural banded pattern...
Malachite
$2,508
H 0.99 in W 3.94 in D 3.15 in
Picture Frame Silver rectangular frame oval photo Enamel 925 silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular frame for oval photo in gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamel on a guilloché pattern with Fabergé Russian Empire style ornaments from the lat...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Photo Frame in Lucite Tortoiseshell, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous photo frame in lucite with a stunning tortoiseshell effect. This elegant piece was produced in Italy in the 1970s. This stunning piece is perfect to enhance a modern studio...
Lucite, Plexiglass
Gucci Green Enamel and Silver-Plated Picture Frame, Italy, 1970s
By Gucci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Distinctive Gucci picture frame from the 1970s, finished in deep green enamel and accented with silver-plated equestrian horsebit details—an iconic signature of the house. The square...
Metal
$265Sale Price|46% Off
H 8.67 in W 6.7 in D 1.19 in
Mascagni 24K Golden Brass Photo Frame, Italian Design, 1970s
Located in Palermo, IT
Mascagni 24K golden brass photo frame, Italian design, 1970s Small signs of aging, good condition. External measurements 22 cm high by 17 cm wide.
Brass
Italian Leather Picture Frame with Gilt Metal Corner Accents, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Refined Italian picture frame from the 1970s, crafted in dark green leather with contrasting brown leather trim and visible saddle-style stitching. Each corner is finished with polis...
Leather
$2,275Sale Price|35% Off
H 7.28 in W 9 in D 3.25 in
Gucci Horsebit Picture Frame, Nickel Plated, Italy, 1975
By Gucci
Located in New York, NY
Gucci Horsebit picture frame, nickel, signed. Stirrup form photo frame in polished nickel. The display opening is 5.63 inches in height by 5.75 inches wide. The four circular feet on...
Brass, Nickel
$600
H 10.63 in W 8.69 in D 1 in
Mid Century Montagnani Walnut Wood and Metal Picture Frame, Italy 1970s
By Montagnani
Located in Atlanta, GA
Montagnani Firenze, Italy, crafted this stunning picture frame in the 1970s. The photo frame Mid-Century modernist design boasts a rectangular shape, with light burl walnut wood geom...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Sold
H 12.41 in W 24.61 in D 1.19 in
70s Design Large Pictures Frame in Orange with Eight Multicolor Inserts
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Rare Pop Art 70s photo frame made in France and bursting with vintage energy. Featuring a vivid orange plastic structure, this eye-catching piece includes...
Plastic
Solid Smoke & Clear Lucite Picture Frame Holder 1970's
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful elegant solid thick lucite frame holder takes pictures 7"x 5" very nice and clean condition we polished the piece smoke lucite that slides in clear thick lucite.
Lucite
Sold
H 8.5 in W 8.5 in D 1 in
Leather and Birchwood Photo Frame for Two Pictures by French Brand Hermès Paris
By Hermès
Located in North Miami, FL
Leather and birchwood photo frame for two pictures by french luxury design house Hermès Paris By: Hermès Paris Material: birch, glass, leather, magnets, thread, wood Technique: embo...
Magnets
Sold
H 22.05 in W 22.05 in D 0.79 in
Italian space age chromed steel frame with optical abstract design print, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age chromed steel frame with optical and abstract design print, 1970s Framework with chromed steel frame and abstract design in shades of blue, white and green, reminis...
Metal
Italian wicker & nickel plated metal 1970s Picture Frame from Tommaso Barbi
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This small picture frame is made from nickel-plated metal and wicker. It remains in very good vintage condition.
Metal, Nickel