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.
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Space Age Rare Wine Cooler by Aurora designs in Anodised Black Aluminum
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple elegant and versatile design, of this rare color wine cooler by Aurora Designs, California designed by the same company that designed the iconic Aurora Clock, circa 1970's nic...
Aluminum
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
Space age red Ice Bucket, Guzzini Italy, ca. 1970s
By Guzzini
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age red plastic Ice Bucket Guzzini Italy, 1970s Manufacture's logo H 18.5 × 17.5 cm diam. Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Plastic
Space age blue plastic Ice Bucket, Studio Opi, Cini & Nils Italy, ca. 1970s
By Cini & Nils
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age blue plastic Ice Bucket designed by Studio Opi Cini & Nils Italy, ca. 1970s Manufacture's logo H 16.5 × 16.5 cm diam. Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Plexiglass
Vintage Space Age Italian Bar Set by Pino Spagnolo for Biesse 1980s Set of 3
By Guzzini, Pino Spagnolo
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible set of barware, in original box by Biesse. This incredible high design set was designed by Pino Spagnolo for Biesse and includes a corkscrew, bottle opener and nut cracke...
Metal
Long Drink Tumbler Glasses & Jug Set in Pale Lilac Bark Glass, Whitefriars Style
By Whitefriars, Geoffrey Baxter
Located in Roma, IT
We propose a splendid mid-century Modernist Jug & Glasses Set for your home bar corner. Made in Italy during the 60s, it is composed of 6 Collins Tumbler glasses and a carafe with a ...
Crystal
Vintage Bottle Holder Stainless Steel Space Age Design Italy, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage bottle holder stainless steel space age design Italy, 1980s This vintage stainless steel bottle holder in a spiral space age design from the 1980s is an elegant table decora...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Bottle Holder Chrome Metal with Spiral Handle Wine Accessory, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage Bottle Holder - Chrome Metal with Spiral Handle - Wine Accessory Space Age Design Italy 1980s - Gift Idea Elegant Table Decoration This striking vintage bottle holder from 1...
Chrome
Ice Bucket, 3 Ashtrays White Plastic, Steel, Cini & Nils OPI Studio Italy, 1970s
By Cini & Nils, Mario Melocchi and Franco Bettonica, Studio O.P.I.
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
"Collezione Cilindrica" Bar Set by Studio Opi for Cini & Nils, 1968
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Brushed and polished metal bar set by Studio Opi. The set is composed by 6 pieces and remains in very good condition. The original box is missed.
Metal
Metal Rosti Melamine Yellow Serving Tray Danish Design, 1970s
Located in Delft, NL
Metal Rosti Melamine yellow serving tray Danish design, 1970s.
Plastic
Long Drink Tumbler Glasses & Jug Set in Pale Lilac Frost Crystal, Space Age Era
Located in Roma, IT
We offer you a splendid Space Age Carafe & Glasses Set for your home bar corner. Made in Italy during the 60s, it is composed of 6 Collins Tumbler glasses and a carafe with a blown g...
Crystal
$276 / set
H 4.73 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in
Vintage Brandy Glasses, France, Set 6 Crystal Drinking Glasses
Located in Bastogne, BE
Vintage Lead Crystal Brandy/Cognac Glasses Set 6 produced in France. Circa 1980s. Embossed Crystal brandy glasses used for serving whiskey, b...
Crystal
English Sheffield Plated Wine Cooler / Table Centerpiece
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 20th century English Sheffield silver plated barware wine cooler / tableware centerpiece. Great vintage condition, minor wear consistent with age / use. Maker's mark undersigne...
Silver Plate, Copper
Space Age Dome Lid Smoke Lucite Ice Bucket
By Guzzini
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and unique Space Age dome ice bucket, with white plastic removable insert for easy cleaning. Sleek and glamorous. Minimal in design and high in style.
Chrome
Royal Crystal Rock Aurea Tumbler Highball Glasses in Box Vintage Set of 6
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of 6 Royal Crystal Rock (RCR) Italy Aurea Line Crystal Highball Tumblers. Vintage RCR Royal Crystal Rock Aurea Pattern Tumbler Highball Glasses in Box. Beautiful set of 6 vintage 1980s crystal tumbler glasses...
Crystal
Bormioli Rocco Matisse Vintage Whisky Glasses Set of 4, 1980s Italy
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Bormioli Rocco Matisse Italian Whisky Glasses Set of 4 heavy with a nice texture molded bottom. Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 in. Made in Italy, circa 1980s. Vintage barware set of 4 whiskey...
Glass
Modernist Bar Copper Wine Cooler by Tom Dixon London
By Tom Dixon
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Modernist bar copper wine cooler or ice bucket by Tom Dixon London. Great modernist design wine cooler will add style in any bar display. Use it with your favorite wine or champagn...
Stainless Steel, Copper
$1,500
H 7.5 in W 9.5 in D 6.5 in
Christian Dior Home , rare set 2 Ice Bucket and Wine bottle cooler silver plate
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful and rare 2 pieces set , ice bucket plus wine cooler . Shows original red sticker label . Made in Italy, Quick not most of the French production of Christian Dior was produc...
Silver Plate
$1,000
H 5.12 in Dm 2.76 in
Clear Glass miniature "People" Decanter by Erik Höglund, Boda, Sweden, 1950s
By Erik Höglund, Boda
Located in Hägersten, SE
"People" decanter designed by Erik Höglund. Rare small size. produced by Boda during the 1950s. Made from hand blown clear glass. Good vintage condition with age related wear and pat...
Blown Glass
$250 / set
H 7.25 in Dm 2.8 in
Bengt Orup Mid Century Art Glass Tumbler Sweden Johansfors Glasses Strikt Series
By Bengt Orup, Johansfors Glasbruk
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Bengt Orup Mid Century Art Glass Tumbler Sweden Johansfors Art Glass Bengt Orup Artist. Bengt Orup designed the Strikt (Strict) series in 1952 for Johansfors. It consists of clear tumbler collins long glass with hand-painted unicolored linear decor, one in pink and one in blue and clear. Mid-Century Art Glass set of 2 Glasses "Strict" by Bengt Orup for Johansfors. 1950s. Vintage art glassware tumbler...
Art Glass, Blown Glass
$1,425 / set
H 8 in Dm 4 in
fferrone Contemporary Czech Minimal Carafe Pitcher with Six Tumbler Glasses Set
Located in Chicago, IL
This contemporary Czech glass set includes one Bessho Carafe Pitcher and six Bessho Tumblers Just as the small town is known for the healing properti...
Glass
Wine cooler for narrow wine bottles (alpaca) vienna around 1920s
Located in Wien, AT
Wine cooler for narrow wine bottles (alpaca) vienna around 1920s Only polished
Alpaca
Cocktail by OPI Milano for Cini & Nils
By Cini & Nils
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A group of six (6) sculptural and superbly executed polished steel cocktail forks.
Stainless Steel
Vintage Silver-Plated Bottle Opener Space Age Design Italy, 1970s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage silver-plated bottle opener Space Age Design Italy, 1970s This silver-plated vintage bottle opener from the 1970s impresses with its simple yet timeless space-age design. It...
Metal
Sold
H 8.27 in W 5.91 in D 7.09 in
1960s Italian Spremita Juicer by Lino Saltini in Teal and Chrome Metal
By Atlantic
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
This rare Spremita Deluxe juicer was designed in the 1960s by Italian designer Lino Saltini and manufactured by Atlantic Milano. Executed in metal with chromed steel components, this...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 10.24 in W 10.24 in D 3.94 in
Vintage Bottle Holder Stainless Steel Spiral - Wine Storage Space Age, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Vintage bottle holder stainless steel spiral - wine storage - space age design Italy 1980s - elegant table decoration, gift idea This vintage steel bottle holder in a spiral space a...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 9.06 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in
Space age lucite large Ice Bucket mod. Bombo, Studio TG, Guzzini Italy, ca. 1970s
By Guzzini
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age lucite Ice Bucket mod. Bumblebee (large model) Studio TG, Guzzini Italy, 1970s Exhibited and included in the MOMA collection H 22 × 22 × 22 cm Labeled Conditions: ver...
Lucite
Mid-Century Orange & Black Serving Tray w/ Ivory Grips, c.1960s–70s
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A bold pop of color for your bar cart or coffee table, this mid-century serving tray features a saturated Hermès-orange field framed by a slim black rim with ivory ribbed handle grip...
Plastic, Masonite, Paint
Sold
H 5.91 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
Space age lucite Ice Bucket mod. Bombo, Studio TG, Guzzini Italy, ca. 1970s
By Guzzini
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age lucite Ice Bucket mod. Bumblebee (Bumblebee) Studio TG, Guzzini Italy, 1970s Exhibited and included in the MOMA collection H 15 × 15 cm Conditions: very good consisten...
Plexiglass
Vintage Mauro Manetti Duck Ice Bucket, Italy, 1970s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage Mauro Manetti Duck Ice Bucket, Italy, 1970s Measures : 30x15cm H:22cm Materials : Metal,Silver Plate Elegant silver plated duck ice bucket by Mauro Manetti, with an metal in...
Metal, Silver Plate
Space age green Ice Bucket, Guzzini Italy, ca. 1970s
By Guzzini
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age green plastic Ice Bucket Guzzini Italy, 1970s Manufacture's logo H 20 × 20 cm diam. Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Plastic
Vintage Juice-O-Mat 'Spremita' Atlantic - MoMA Design, 1960s
By Atlantic
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
"Spremita," a 1960s manual juicer designed by Lino Saltini for Atlantic, exemplifies Italian ingenuity in functional design. Awarded a place in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), this ...
Metal
Sold
H 7.88 in Dm 7.88 in
Italian Space Age Vodka Glasses Set by Sergio Asti for Arnolfo di Cambio, 1960s
By Arnolfo di Cambio, Sergio Asti
Located in Lille, FR
Vodka Set by Sergio Asti for Arnolfo di Cambio Space Age, 1960s 6 glasses and a cooling bowl Very good condition Dimensions: 6 glasses: 16 cm in height Bowl: 20 cm in diameter
Metal
Sold
H 9.85 in Dm 9.85 in
Vintage Bowling Ball Ice Bucket, 1960s Space Age Lamotte Design Guillois Edition
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Vintage Bowling Ball Ice Bucket – 1960s Space Age Design by Lamotte This unique vintage ice bucket from the 1960s is a space-age design masterpie...
Plastic, Acrylic
Space age yellow Ice Bucket, Morgans design, USA ca. 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age yellow Ice Bucket Morgans design, bucket brigade, USA ca. 1970s yellow plastic, transparent plexiglass H 21 cm x diam. 20 cm Label on t...
Plastic, Plexiglass