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 1970s National Panasonic flip-number radio alarm clock model RC-6003B
By Panasonic
Located in München, DE
Near mint condition original 1970s National Panasonic flip-digit clock radio, model RC-6003B. 100% original condition with beige plastic casing. Manufacturer: Matsushita Electric Ind...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Space Age IBM System/3 Scale Miniature Model 10, 1960s
By IBM
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare scale model of an IBM System/3 from the late 1960s. This model was probably used as a sales model or was a gift for employees or customers. Such miniature models were use...
Plastic
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
Polished Seymchan Meteorite Sphere with Olivine Crystals in Iron Matrix
Located in London, GB
A magnificent iron sphere carved from the renowned Seymchan pallasite meteorite, discovered in the Hekandue River in the Russian Far East. This sculptural example reveals the distinc...
Iron
4.5 Billion Year Old Sculptural Stone Meteorite - NWA 17936
Located in London, GB
This striking stone meteorite is a rare type of natural sculpture from outer space. Its form and radiating thumb-shaped impressions - known as regmaglypts - are the result of its fie...
Stone
Huge Iron Meteorite Sphere with Crystalline Structure
Located in London, GB
A magnificent, and particularly large meteorite sphere – weighing an impressive 4.5 kg – cut from the famous Aletai meteorite and etched to reveal the shimmering Widmanstätten patter...
Iron
Rare Sculptural Meteorite with Wave-Like Impressions
Located in London, GB
This striking natural sculpture is in fact a meteorite, formed at the creation of our Solar System around 4.5 billion years ago. Journeying across hundreds of millions of miles from ...
Stone
Pair of Unique PopArt Fiberglass Vases, Italy 70s
Located in Lucija, SI
Pair of unique vases made from fiberglas From the space age era Made in Italy by unknown artist
Fiberglass
Cross-Section of the Seymchan Meteorite with Peridot Gems and Crystalised Metal
Located in London, GB
A magnificent cross-section of the famed pallasite meteorite, Seymchan, recovered from the bed of the river Hekandue in the Russian Far East, and revealing the honeycomb-like structu...
Iron
Meteorite Cross Section with Amber-Coloured Peridot Gems and Metal Matrix
Located in London, GB
A magnificent cross-section from the famed pallasite meteorite, Seymchan, recovered in the Russian far east, and revealing the honeycomb-like structure characteristic of pallasites. ...
Iron
Sculptural Iron Fragment from the Sikhote-Alin Meteorite Shower
Located in London, GB
This extraterrestrial sculpture originates from the famed Sikhote-Alin meteorite, which fell to Earth on 12 February 1947, in the largest recorded meteorite fall in history. Entering...
Iron
1990s Space Age Silver Plated Atomes Vase by Richard Hutten for Christofle
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A silver plated and glass vase designed and manufactured in France by Christofle, it has never been used and it came in original box. Richard Hutten, a renowned Dutch designer known for his innovative and playful approach to design, collaborated with Christofle, a prestigious French silverware and luxury goods manufacturer, to create the Atomes Vase...
Silver Plate
Iron Meteorite Sphere with Crystalline Structure Unique to Outer Space
Located in London, GB
This polished extraterrestrial iron sphere is a fascinating display piece, dating back to the formation of the Solar System and from the core of a large asteroid. Carved from the fam...
Iron
Mosaic-like Lunar Meteorite Cross Section
Located in London, GB
This spectacular polished slice of the Lunar meteorite Gadamis 004, reveals a mosaic-like interior, evoking the surface of the Moon as seen by the eye on a clear night. Weighing 149 ...
Stone
1960 Fontana Arte Max Ingrand Italian Design Mid Century Modernist Crystal Bowl
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, IT
Bowl Fontana Arte 1960-1969 Smoked Crystal Ground Crystal on the edge Perfect Condiction
Crystal
Mosaic-Like Lunar Meteorite Specimen with Grey and White Brecchiated Interior
Located in London, GB
This spectacular polished slice of Gadamis 004 reveals the lunar meteorite’s mosaic-like interior, with its matrix of white, grey, and charcoal angular clasts, evoking the surface of...
Stone
$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
Small Sculptural Iron Meteorite Fragment from the 1947 Sikhote-Alin Fall
Located in London, GB
This precious and sculptural fragment originates from the famed Sikhote-Alin meteorite, which fell to Earth on 12 February 1947, in the largest recorded meteorite fall in history. En...
Iron
Meteorite Sphere from the Seymchan Meteorite with Amber-Coloured Olivine Gems
Located in London, GB
A magnificent meteorite sphere, carved and polished from the famed pallasite meteorite, Seymchan, which was formed over 4.5 billion years ago at the beginning of our Solar System. Co...
Iron
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
Original BRAUN HL 1 Table Fan from 1961 by Reinhold Weiss, with Leather Finish
By Reinhold Weiss, Braun
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
Sculptural Oriented Meteorite with Wave-Like Surface
Located in London, GB
Formed during the earliest moments of our Solar System, around 4.5 billion years ago, this meteorite originates from a small rocky parent body that later became part of the asteroid ...
Stone
Sculptural Iron Meteorite Fragment from the Largest Fall in Recorded History
Located in London, GB
A beautifully preserved and sculptural fragment from the famed Sikhote-Alin meteorite, which fell to Earth on 12 February 1947 in the largest recorded meteorite fall in history. En...
Iron
Salviati Murano Orange White Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass 1950s Genie Decanter
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Gorgeous, and rare design, vintage Murano hand blown orange and white stripes, with gold flecks Italian art glass genie bottle decanter. Attributed to designer Alfredo Barbini for th...
Gold Leaf
Translucent Golden-Yellow Desert Glass from Meteorite Impact with Sand Deposits
Located in London, GB
A striking, translucent piece of Libyan Desert Glass, a type of impact glass formed when a meteorite impacted in the eastern Sahara around 29 million years ago. This catastrophic imp...
Glass
XL Space Age Wall Clock in electric blue acrylic by Iskra, Yugoslavia 1970s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a striking extra large Space Age electric clock in electric blue acrylic. The clock was manufactured by Iskra, one of the largest companies in Yugoslavi...
Acrylic
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
Greyish-White Lunar Meteorite Fragment
Located in London, GB
This beautifully polished lunar meteorite fragment is a precious but powerful display piece, offering both extraterrestrial provenance and striking natural beauty. This specimen is f...
Stone
Meteorite Cross Section with Amber-Coloured Peridot Gems and Metal Matrix
Located in London, GB
A magnificent cross-section from the renowned Seymchan meteorite, recovered in the Russian far east, and cut to reveal the honeycomb-like structure characteristic of pallasite meteor...
Iron
Vintage Italian Black and Yellow Lidded Ceramic Jar by Pino Spagnolo for Sicart
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Diminutive Italian Post-Modernist and yellow ceramic jar/box with lid by Pino Spagnolo for Sicart (ca. 1970s). Attractive colors employed and space age form. Very good, vintage condi...
Ceramic
Meteorite Cross-Section with Crystalline Metal and Translucent Orange Olivine G
Located in London, GB
A spectacular meteorite cross-section from the renowned pallasite meteorite, Seymchan, formed over 4.5 billion years ago at the beginning of our Solar System. Comprising only 0.2% of...
Iron
$118Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Fruit Bowl in the Shape of a Leaf Vallauris France
By Vallauris
Located in Poperinge, BE
Vintage dish or vide poche dish in the shape of a leaf, made of multi-coloured glazed ceramic, by Vallauris, France, 1960s-70s. In good but used vintage condition, a chip from the t...
Ceramic
1970s UNIVERSUM Wall Clock with Radio by Adriano Rampoldi for Quelle Versand
Located in München, DE
Original 1970s UNIVERSUM Wall Clock with Radio. Designed by Adriano Rampoldi for Quelle Mail Order (Germany). Made in Italy. Includes the original German instruction manual and invoi...
Metal
Ice Bucket in Chrome in the shape of a bowling ball, France, 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Vintage chrome ice bucket with an iconic spherical design reminiscent of the 1970s. Its perfectly round shape and mirrored finish give it a futuristic aesthetic typical of space age ...
Chrome
Gigantic Rare Heavy Sunburst Mirror Wall Clock from the 1970s
Located in München, DE
Gigantic very rare heavy Sunburst mirror wall clock from the 1970s. Beautiful elaborate high quality design. The clock has a body made of black lacquered wood, at the front there are...
Glass, Mirror, Wood
1960 Scheurich "Lava" Germany Ceramic Enamel Red Horses Vase Umbrella Stand
Located in Brescia, IT
Vase Scheurich Ceramic Germany, 1960 Ceramic Black and Red Lava Perfect Condiction
Ceramic
Silvio Russo, lucite monkey sculpture, Guzzini Italy 1970s
By Team Guzzini
Located in Firenze, IT
Rare lucite monkey sculpture designed by Silvio Russo Team Guzzini, Vedril, Guzzini Italy 1970s H 27 cm x 9 cm x 3 cm Conditions: good, small chip on on side
Lucite
Black-Green Spotted Martian Meteorite
Located in London, GB
This striking meteorite slice is perfectly polished to reveal the mesmerising green-black crystalline interior unique to the Martian surface. This specimen belongs to the rare class ...
Stone
Rare Space Age, Modernist Chromed Steel Lounge Chair by Plato Ginello, Italy
By Davis Furniture, Plato Design
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
Large Cross-Section of Sericho Meteorite with Translucent Olivine Crystals
Located in London, GB
A spectacular monolithic slice of the renowned Sericho meteorite, displaying the characteristic crystalline structure of the pallasite meteorite, with translucent olivine crystals su...
Iron
Seventies Fat Lava Vase by Scheurich Keramik Germany
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Nicely colored Fat Lava vase from the Seventies.
Ceramic
$1,312Sale Price|60% Off
Vintage sculptural & Rare Ceramic Vase in Chrome Finish , with holes 1970's
Located in Milano, IT
Ceramic Vase - Ceramic Sculpture - Italian Ceramic Vase - Rare Object This is an intriguing and rare ceramic vase, coated in a shiny chromed paint coat. Handcrafted in a playful an...
Ceramic
1960's Space Age Electric Wall Clock by General Electric Lime Green Rare
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool beautiful color Lime green plastic case with electric movement General Electric, wall clock in working condition original cord very nice simple design, and beautiful colo...
Plastic
Seventies Fat Lava Vase by Scheurich Keramik Germany
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Nicely colored in orange, brown and black Fat Lava vase from the Seventies.
Ceramic
Studio Opi, White space age mod. Ikebana C ceramic vase, Gabbianelli Italy 1970
By Gabbianelli
Located in Firenze, IT
White modern ceramic / ashtray / vase mod. Ikebana C designed by Studio OPI (F. Bettonica, M. Melocchi) Italy ca. 1970 Marked under the base H 13 cm - 24 × 24 cm Conditions: exce...
Ceramic
Roger Feraud French Mid-Century Modern Iron & Nickel Coat Hat Rack Space Age
By Geo, France 1, Roger Feraud
Located in Miami, FL
Space age coat or hat rack by Roger Feraud for GEO France. Features a black finished iron core, hairpin legs and eight nickel-plated astrolabs. Mid-Century Modern Design from the l...
Iron, Nickel
Small Twisted Meteorite Fragment with Impressions
Located in London, GB
This small, but perfectly formed extraterrestrial sculpture originates from the Sikhote-Alin meteorite, which fell to Earth on 12 February 1947 in the largest recorded fall in histor...
Iron
1970s Brass 5-Piece Sphere/Orb of Stacked Bowls/Ashtrays by Tommaso Barbi, Italy
Located in North Miami, FL
1970s polished brass 5-piece sphere/orb of stacked bowls/ashtrays by Tommaso Barbi, Italy By: Tommaso Barbi Material: copper, brass, metal, zinc Technique: cast, molded, metalwork, ...
Metal, Brass, Copper, Zinc
Deep Purple Botryoidal Fluorite Specimen - Extremely Rare and Sculptural
Located in London, GB
An exceptionally rare, deep purple fluorite specimen from the recently discovered Dongqiyishan Fluorite Mine in Inner Mongolia. With its rich colouration and unusual form, this speci...
Other
Psychedelic Ceramic Wall Art ''The Smile ?'' Karel F.van der Wilk . 1977 Holland
Located in Den Haag, NL
Unique work by the Dutch Artist Karel F.van der Wilk . The work is named by the Artist .The Smile ? 1977 Holland multi colored Ceramic . comes in a a symmetric frame . Space Ac...
Ceramic
Space Age Round Table Clock by Bino Italy 80s
Located in Lucija, SI
Bino Table Clock was made in '70s in Italy. BINO is one of the most known names in Italian clocks industry. The Clock is in excellent, working condition. It is very retro and stylish.
Glass, Fiberglass
Space Age Vanity Set by Makio Hasuike for Gedy, Italy 1970s
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
This Space Age vanity set was designed by Makio Hasuike for Gedy and produced in Italy during the 1970s. It represents a refined example of Italian plastic design, where functionalit...
Glass, Plastic
Vibrant Green ‘Rocket’ Tourmaline with Red Rubelite Stem
Located in London, GB
A rare, vibrant green ‘rocket’ tourmaline, with a red rubellite stem from the celebrated 2001 discovery of the ‘Rocket Pocket’ at the Pederneira Mine in Brazil. Famed among the min...
Other
$689Sale Price|20% Off
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
A.R.D.I.T.I. 1972 Table Lamp Wood Steel Plexiglass "BT" Sormani Nucleo, Italy
By Nucleo, Sormani, Gruppo Arditi and Gianni Gamberini
Located in Arosio, IT
Low-voltage, modular, sculptural triangular table lamp in wood and stainless steel with two lights with magnetic, movable lucite cylinders. The item belongs to Sormani's Nucleo Div...
Stainless Steel, Magnets
Big Scheurich Lava Vase by Designer Scheurich Keramik, 1970s Germany
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Gorgeous big Scheurich Lava vase in excellent condition. This vase is a true piece of modern art Dimensions: diameter 4,72" x 15,74" height inches...
Ceramic
Vintage Terracotta Lion’s Head Urn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking terracotta urn is a masterclass in Classical Italianate design, featuring a prominent, high-relief lion’s head motif on its front face. Hand-crafted with traditional sc...
Terracotta
Pale Blue Aquamarine Crystals on Sparkling White Feldspar Matrix
Located in London, GB
A fine cluster of water-like blue aquamarine crystals on a feldspar matrix. The elongated, prismatic formations of the crystals display crisp, vertical striations and a delicate, pal...
Other
$820 / set
Seventies Fat Lava Vases Germany (3 pcs)
By Scheurich Keramik, Bay Keramik, Carstens Tönnieshof
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Three vibrant colored vases. The highest vase is from Scheurich Keramik and the height is 28 cm The orange vase is from Bay Keramik and its height is 20 cm The triangle vase is fro...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Space Age Blue Bowl from decembre, Finland, 1960s
By Décembre Oy
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Space Age Blue Bowl from decembre, Finland, 1960s
Plastic