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.
Vintage Boho Bottle Collection - Set of Four
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your interior with this enchanting collection of four vintage Boho green glass bottles, each offering a unique silhouette and undeniable charm. This curated set embodies a re...
Glass
Stelton Service Set by Erik Magnussun, Denmark, 1970s, Red and White Mixed Set
Located in Chicago, IL
Fabulous mixed set of 1970s Danish Erik Magnussen serveware for Danish maker Stelton. Founded in 1960, Stelton had its first success when it established a cooperation with the leadin...
Plastic
Vintage Boho Glazed Ceramic Floral Pitcher
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Invoke the rustic charm of a European countryside cottage with this enchanting vintage ceramic pitcher. Crafted in the Majolica style, this substantial vessel features a deeply relie...
Ceramic
Vintage Boho Etched Bedside Water Pitcher
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Discover the exquisite charm of this vintage Boho etched bedside water pitcher and accompanying cup, a delightful set designed to bring both functionality and artistic flair to your ...
Glass
Vintage Decorative Pitcher by Cloutier Brothers, circa 1970s
Located in London, GB
Decorative ceramic pitcher / vase by the Cloutier brothers (circa 1970s). An outer surface decorated in the Cloutier's trademark soft mauve with an e...
Ceramic
Arne Jacobsen Stelton Cylinda Line Stainless Salad Set, 1970s
By Arne Jacobsen, Stelton
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage Set of Stelton Arne Jacobsen Salad Server Fork and Spoon in Stainless Steel Cylinder. This line of serveware was called "Line 023-1"
Stainless Steel
Sterling Water Pitcher
Located in Brooklyn, NY
There isn’t much in the way of decoration but the shape and style of this water pitcher is fabulous. Notice the curved body juxtaposed against the straight handle. There’s a ribbing pattern along the neck that’s complimented in the lines and curl in the handle. The spout is narrow, which is helpful when pouring. There is an Old English letter L monogram...
Sterling Silver
$1,216Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.82 in W 9.06 in D 8.67 in
Majolica Glazed Ceramic Lemons Pitcher / Jug, Spain 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching realistic Majolica lemons jug / pitcher in multicolor glazed ceramic, Spain, 1950s-1960s. Hand-painted Manises ceramic decorative jug in the sh...
Ceramic, Majolica
Moorish Etched Brass Pitcher/Ewer/Aftaba/Surahi
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Moorish Etched Brass Pitcher Ewer — etched brass vessel with intricate metalwork and sculptural form, ideal for refined interiors with global character. We sell items as acquired...
Brass
Spanish Bull Shaped Glazed Ceramic Pitcher
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching ceramic bull jug / pitcher, Spain, 1960s. Spanish ceramic bull shaped jug with romanesque inspired decorative details in green, white and brown-black. This kind of tradi...
Ceramic, Majolica
Rooster Pitcher in Brown Glazed Ceramic, Spain 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching brown and beige ceramic rooster jug / pitcher, Spain, 1950s-1960s. Ceramic decorative rooster shaped jug in brown color with fat lava decorati...
Ceramic, Majolica, Earthenware
Vintage Sheridan Silver Plated Victorian Style Bulbous Water Pitcher
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Sheridan Silver Plated Victorian Style Bulbous Water Pitcher. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 8" H x 9.25" W x 6.5" D.
Silver Plate
$2,200 / set
H 9 in W 7 in D 4 in
1960’s Stelton Cylinda Stainless Barware Set by Arne Jacobsen Made in Denmark
By Arne Jacobsen, Stelton
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A nice 12 piece bar ware set designed by Arne Jacobsen for Shelton of Denmark. The line is called Cylinda. This set is period, from the 1960’s and the pieces are marked made in Denma...
Stainless Steel
Brass & Wood Italian Water Pitcher Midcentury
By Gio Ponti
Located in San Diego, CA
Polished brass Italian water pitcher circa 1950s, with silver lining and a medallion and a rosewood handle circa 1950s, some patina tall unique a...
Brass
$220 / item
H 8.67 in Dm 4.73 in
Mezcal and Tequila Bottle and two cups. Ceramic Blue and white Tequila bottle.
Located in London, GB
Set includes - 1 bottle and 2 cups Our carafe colection is a tribute to the traditional pitchers of the regions of Tonala´ and Tlaquepaque in Jalisco, these two regions developed ...
Ceramic
$330 / set
H 6.11 in Dm 2.56 in
Elegant Set of Three 1940s Red Glass Bottles with Applied Relief Decoration
Located in PARIS, FR
Discover the charm of this exquisite set of three red glass bottles, each a stunning example of 1940s Bohemian craftsmanship. The tallest bottle stands at 15.5 cm with a diameter of ...
Crystal