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.
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
$196Sale Price|20% Off
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.
Chrome
Mid century glass bowl by Walther glass, Germany 1970
Located in Herentals, BE
Beautifully designed bowl made of thick bubble glass.
Glass
Set of 7 Vintage Stainless Steel Bowls Space Age Design, Italy, 1980s
Located in Montecalvoli, IT
Set of 7 vintage stainless steel bowls - Space Age Design Italy 1980s - Fruit, salad, desert bowls - Elegant table decoration, elegant gi...
Stainless Steel
Travertine Bowl With Lid
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Stunning, aesthetic, timeless are words that can be used to describe this elegant and modern travertine bowl from Kiwano. Expertly crafted and finished by hand, our travertine vases ...
Marble
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
Mid-Century Modern Walther Glass Lobster Dish, Germany, 1978
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful large vintage serving dish from Walther Glas from the Siebenstern Collection From the 1970s. Decorated with a frosted glass lobster in relief. ...
Crystal
1980s Lucite Box / Ice Bucket
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1980s Lucite box. Is a cool ice bucket as well. Sliding lid.
Lucite
$552Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 4.53 in Dm 10.44 in
Set of Four Vintage Pyrex Primary Color Mixing Bowls, 1950s
Located in Lisboa, PT
This set of bowls were designed and produced by Pyrex, in USA, during the 1950's. This pretty glassware has ties to Upstate New York. Pyrex was introduced in 1915 by the Corning Glass Works, now known as Corning Incorporated in Corning NY. Chemists at Corning Glass Works created a special borosilicate glass that was resistant expansion and contraction during changes in temperature. This new glass—branded as “Pyrex”—held up under quick, extreme temperature changes, which made it ideal for railroad lamps...
Glass
$382
H 9.85 in Dm 9.85 in
Mid-Century Burgundy Lucite Italian "Napkin" Centerpiece or Serving Bowl, 1980s
By Guzzini
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful centrepiece in an elegant dark vibrant red Lucite with a white base. This amazing item was produced in Recanati, Italy, during the 1980s and is attributed to Guzzini, the m...
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
$405
H 5.71 in W 7.09 in D 2.56 in
1970s Vintage German Textured 'Lemon Segment' Glass Vase by Walther Glas
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Vintage midcentury round textured moulded glass vase by Walther Glas of Germany. Quite a rare form and design. This would work beautifully in a kitchen wi...
Blown Glass
Set of Vintage Franciscan Desert Rose Cereal Bowls
Located in New Orleans, LA
A vintage set of 12 Franciscan Desert Rose pattern, cereal bowls. Created in California circa 1950’s, 1960’s per the back stamps.
Ceramic
Space age lucite conical smoking set, Italy 1970
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age lucite conical smoking set Italy 1970 Ashtray, table lighter, vide poche H 21 cm - diam. 21 cm Conditions: good consistent with age and...
Plexiglass
Vintage Polish Hand Painted Ceramic Bowls - Set of 2
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your everyday dining with this exquisite pair of authentic hand-painted ceramic bowls from the renowned Bolesławiec tradition of Poland. Signed by artist Anna Unikat Jonczyk,...
Ceramic
Space age clear lucite table lighter, Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age clear lucite table lighter, Italian manufacture 1970s H 11 × 11 × 5 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use. In working conditions.
Lucite
$269Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.78 in W 4.53 in D 4.53 in
Vintage Crystal Ashtray by Walther Kristallglas, Germany, 1970s
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Elegant mid-century ashtray by Walther Kristallglas, made in Germany, circa 1970s. This square ashtray displays a sculptural presence thanks to its crisp geometry and the interplay b...
Crystal
Sold
H 3.94 in Dm 7.09 in
Italian Modern White plastic cylindrical bowl by Enzo Mari for Danese, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern space age White plastic cylindrical bowl by Enzo Mari for Danese, 1970s Cylindrical bowl in white fiberglass. On the two sides it has ...
Plastic
Space Age Dome Lid Smoke Lucite Ice Bucket
By Guzzini
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredibly beautiful and mod ice bucket. This vintage piece adds high design to your barware station or becomes a very unique accent in your décor. The smoke lucite bowl holds an inv...
Chrome
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.
Chrome
1960s Space Age Danish Wood Bowl Centerpiece Catchall
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite modernist Space Age Danish carved bowl or centerpiece with wood marquetry. A geometric shape in typical spatial ship design with different w...
Wood, Fruitwood, Mahogany, Rosewood, Teak
Freeform Polished Aluminum Serving Bowl Designed by Neil Cohen
By Neil Cohen
Located in San Diego, CA
Cool shape on this serving dish designed by Neil Cohen for Nambe, circa 2003.
Aluminum
Rare Early Production Salad Bowl with Lid and Plater by Massimo Vignelli
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful set of Salad bowl and plater rare color early production very collectible, designed by Massimo Vignelli for Heller in excellent condition.
Plastic
Alfredo Barbini Murano Oarnge Black Gold Italian Art Glass Melon Cut Bowl
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Free shipping worldwide! See details below description. Striking Murano hand blown black, orange and gold leaf melon cut bowl. Documented to designer Alfredo Barbini. The bowl is ...
Gold Leaf
Sold
H 2.75 in Dm 7.63 in
Ercole Barovier Murano Dorico Corniola Tessere Red Opal Italian Art Glass Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
FREE Shipping Worldwide! See details below description. Rare Murano Cased Red, Dark Amethyst and White Opalescent "Tessere" Window Mirines Art Glass Round Bowl!!! Documented as an...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine