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.
Monumental 1970s Italian Fiberglass Male Anatomy Sculpture With Metallic Finish
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Monumental male anatomy fiberglass sculpture with metallic finish made for Italian theatrical productions—1970s. Incredible scale with excellent detail. A showstopper of a conversat...
Fiberglass
1970's Chrome Robot Lamp by Torino Lamps
Located in Hanover, MA
Highly desirable chrome robot standing lamp by Torino Lamps, 1978. Often believed to be of Italian origin this robot and other character lamps were des...
Steel, Chrome
Space Age Red Black Vintage Plastic Television Discoverer by Philips Netherlands
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage red and plastic television named discoverer, which was manufactured by Philips, Netherlands, 1980s. Its outstanding shape makes this design piece so fascinating. T...
Glass, Plastic
Unique Mannequin Pop Art Fashion Sculpture, Schläppi Switzerland 1960's
By Schlappi
Located in Den Haag, NL
Unique Pop Art Fashion mannequin. Made by Schlappi circa 1960's.
Fiberglass
Set of 3 Bill Curry Gold Bronze Finished Cast Iron Jacks Sculptures Atomic Age
By Bill Curry, Bill Curry & Design Line
Located in Miami, FL
Set of 3 Jack Sculptures, Door Stopper, Paperweight or decorative accent pieces, designed by Bill Curry of Design Line, 1967. Features a Mid-Century Modern atomic, geometric shape ma...
Iron
Machine II Big 1967 Space Age Artwork
By Kor Bekker
Located in Weesp, NL
1967 Big Space Age artwork Machine II. This impressive and unique sculpture titled Machine II, was created by the Dutch sculptor Kor Bekker (Rotterda...
Steel
1960's Italian Murano Saturn Glass Sculpture Attributed To Lino Tagliapietra
Located in San Diego, CA
Controlled Bubbles with red ring glass sculpture attributed to Lino Tagliapietra, circa 1960's excellent condition no chips or cracks or scratches , Murano Italy.
Blown Glass
Space Age Mannequin Long Jenny by Prifio Germany Years 70
Located in Biella, IT
Space Age mannequin Long Jenny by Prifio Germany years 70 for inauguration of the Rinascente in Milan Italy. Round base in black metal and hand pink color...
Plastic, Acrylic
1971, Le Temoin by Man Ray, Dino Gavina, Simon, International Ultramobile
By Ultramobile Collection, Dino Gavina
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Upholstery, Faux Leather
Vintage Bronze Flying Angle Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking vintage bronze sculpture depicts an angel in a dynamic, mid-air flight, capturing a profound sense of ethereal movement and grace. The artist employs a modernist, almos...
Marble
"Junkyard" robot sculpture by Steve Heller
By Steve Heller
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Robot sculpture composed of various scrap metal elements, vintage electronic equipment and car parts by Steve Heller. Internally lit head and torso.
Metal
Vintage Boho Copper Spire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Introduce a piece of architectural intrigue and bohemian charm into your space with this Vintage Boho Copper Spire. Crafted from genuine copper, this stri...
Copper
20th Century Astronaut Bronze Sculpture by Italian-Brazilian Artist D. Calabrone
By Domenico Calabrone
Located in North Miami, FL
Mid-20th century astronaut bronze sculpture by italian-brazilian artist Doménico Calabrone By: Doménico Calabrone Material: bronze, copper, metal Technique: cast, hammered, hand-cra...
Bronze, Copper, Metal
Space Age Ceramic Vases and Sculpture by Roberto Rigon, Italy 1970s
Located in San Francisco, US
Three striking and rare Modernist ceramic pieces by Roberto Rigon for Bertoncello, comprising a circular sculptural form with an open center, a softly arched asymmetric vase with a n...
Ceramic
Iconic Mannequin Twiggy Model Head Vintage German, Space Age Design
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Rare hard plastic store display hat stand or model featuring iconic English mannequin Twiggy Lawson. Very Good, used, vintage condition. Lesley Lawson, widely known by the nickname Twiggy, is an English model, actress, and singer. In the mid-1960s, she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging 1960s London...
Plastic
$380
H 14.75 in W 7.5 in D 6.5 in
Iconic Popart Mannequin Twiggy Model Head Vintage German, Space Age Design
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Rare hard plastic store display hat stand or model featuring iconic English mannequin Twiggy Lawson. Very Good, used, vintage condition. Lesley Lawson, widely known by the nickname...
Plastic
Vintage Cast Iron Jack by Bill Curry, Mid-Century Modern, 1967
By Bill Curry, Bill Curry & Design Line
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Large Handmade Iron Jack by Bill Curry paperweight or bookend. Large vintage original handmade cast iron Jack, Jax, designed by Bill Curry of Design Line, 1967. This jack is made of cast iron and is in original condition. Great addition to any decor, Industrial retro Pop Art...
Iron
$890
H 20 in W 20 in D 20 in
Classic Danish Pop 1960s /Space Age Flemming Brylle & Preben Jacobsen Table Lamp
By Flemming Brylle & Preben Jacobsen
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Danish Pop 1960s /Space Age Flemming Brylle & Preben Jacobsen table lamp, 1960s fabulous, plastic, screens with white plastic slats. Lucite, ac...
Plastic, Acrylic
Copper Artwork
Located in Antwerp, BE
Copper wall artwork, 1950s. It could also be from the art nouveau period. Height 75 cm. Width 53 cm.
Copper
Cast Iron Foo Dog Sculpture
Located in Asheville, NC
This cast iron piece features a statuary male Chinese guardian Lion (Foo Dog) proudly balancing both hands atop an embroidered ball, representing supremac...
Iron
Markel Robot Sculpture by Bennett Robot Works
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Custom robot sculpture named Markel by Bennett Robot Works, Brooklyn, NY Bennett Robot Works, robot sculptures created by Gordon Bennett, are comp...
Metal
$3,400
H 27.5 in W 28 in D 35 in
Rare Space Age, Modernist Chromed Steel Lounge Chair by Plato Ginello, Italy
By Plato Design, Davis Furniture
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare Space Age, modernist chromed steel lounge chair by Plato Ginello, Italy. Truly amazing sculptural, architectural design. Superior quality and constr...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Stainless Steel Ball Sculpture - Space Age Decorative
Located in Milano, IT
Decorative Steel Sculpture - Mirror Polished Steel Sphere - Space Age Decorative Unusual, attractive and highly decorative abstract sculpture from the 1980s - a stainless steel ball...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Kong Gorilla XS White Table Lamp, by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. Giovannoni's Kong is, surprisingly, technological and almost human. It shines in front of ...
Plastic
$696Sale Price|30% Off
H 8 in W 11.25 in D 1.25 in
Russian Sarapul Cast Iron Bronze Washed Horse Sculpture Candelabra Mid-Century
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Stylized plated or washed cast metal horse candleholder, weighs 1 lb.
Metal
Sold
H 9.45 in W 8.67 in D 3.94 in
Green Ceramic Horse Figurine - 1970s Handmade Sculpture by Roberto Rigon Italy
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Discover a rare and captivating piece of 1970s art by renowned Italian artist Roberto Rigon. This exquisite green ceramic horse figurine epitomize...
Ceramic
Vintage Glazed Porcelain Space Shuttle Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
This mid-20th century American space-age porcelain sculpture is a striking ode to NASA's space exploration. Depicting a space shuttle in the initial stages of launch, the orbiter and...
Porcelain
Bronze sculpture representing Diana the huntress, XXth c.
Located in Lisboa, PT
Bronze sculpture representing Diana the huntress after HOUDON, XXth. c.
Bronze
The Beatles "Yellow Submarine" Lego Model with Mini Figures
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool small-scale model of the Beatle's "Yellow Submarine" complete with mini figures of John, Paul, George and Ringo made of Legos circa 2016. The set is in very good conditi...
Plastic
1990's Scale Guggenheim Museum Model Lego Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful small-scale model of the Guggenheim Museum made of Legos circa 1990's , original box and manual.
Plastic
Italian Yellow Glazed Space Age Ceramic La Sfera 1970s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Stunning Decorative Ceramic signed LA Sfera, very bright yellow glaze ceramic perfect as in interesting sculptural object to have on the sideboard or a table.
Ceramic
Space Age Metal Rocket Art Sculpture
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Metal space age rocket art sculpture titled VFR Zeta II by J. Bescant dated 10/2000. This extraordinary futuristic piece features a rocket leaving its launc...
Metal
Sold
H 2.96 in Dm 4.73 in
Christmas Tree FUTURO UFO Bas van Beek, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
This Futuro Christmas ball is by Dutch artist Bas van Beek who made this creation from a few of the highlights of the permanent collection of the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam The Netherlands A small series of each collection object has been handcrafted in Poland by a company that is specialized in unique handcrafted glass ornaments for your Christmas tree Offered here is a Christmas Ornament of the prototype of the Futuro house...
Blown Glass
Majestic Agave Lucite Sculpture Signed by Hivo Van Teal
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful solid thick Lucite sculpture by Hivo Van Teal, circa 1970s.
Lucite
Very Rare Squirrel 'Lucite' by Silvio Russo for Guzzini Italy
By Guzzini
Located in MIlano, IT
A very rare Squirrel 'lucite'. Designed by Silvio Russo for Guzzini Italy in the 1970 period The Animal is in clear plexiglass and present part of the lab...
Lucite
Sold
H 5.91 in W 7.88 in D 1.19 in
Very Rare Snake 'Lucite', Designed by Silvio Russo for Guzzini, Italy, 1970
By Guzzini
Located in MIlano, IT
A very rare Snake 'Lucite'. Designed by Silvio Russo for Guzzini Italy in the 1970 period The Animal is in clear plexiglass and present part of the labe...
Lucite
Sold
H 4.73 in W 7.88 in D 1.19 in
Very Rare Lion 'Lucite' Animal by Silvio Russo for Guzzini Italy 1970 Period
By Guzzini
Located in MIlano, IT
A very rare Lion 'Lucite'. Designed by Silvio Russo for Guzzini Italy in the 1970 period The animal is in clear plexiglass and present part of the label of productor 2 little dama...
Lucite