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Space Age Platters and Serveware

SPACE AGE STYLE

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.

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Style: Space Age
1980s Italian Guzzini Lab Interlocking Red & White Platter inc Original Box
1980s Italian Guzzini Lab Interlocking Red & White Platter inc Original Box

1980s Italian Guzzini Lab Interlocking Red & White Platter inc Original Box

By Guzzini

Located in London, England

Vintage 1980s Italian Guzzini Lab interlocking dishes or platters. The dishes are two-tone with bright red on the underside and white on the inside of the bowls which can be used sep...

Category

1980s Italian Vintage Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Resin, Acrylic

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Italian Tray with Mirror Lucite and Brass 1970s Made in Italy
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Italian Tray with Mirror Lucite and Brass 1970s Made in Italy

$278Sale Price|57% Off

H 2.37 in W 18.9 in D 12.6 in

Italian Tray with Mirror Lucite and Brass 1970s Made in Italy

Located in Palermo, Sicily

Italian Tray with Mirror Lucite and Brass 1970s Made in Italy

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1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Platters and Serveware

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Luigi Massoni Minimalist Plastic White Bed Tray Element by Guzzini, Italy, 1980s
Luigi Massoni Minimalist Plastic White Bed Tray Element by Guzzini, Italy, 1980s

Luigi Massoni Minimalist Plastic White Bed Tray Element by Guzzini, Italy, 1980s

By Guzzini, Luigi Massoni

Located in Kirchlengern, DE

Article: Plastic tray Design: Luigi Massoni Producer: Guzzini, Italy Decade: 1980s Description: This tray table was designed by Luigi Massoni and produced by Guzzini in Italy in the 1980s. It is made from white-colored plastic and is in very good vintage condition, and would be ideal to serve breakfast in bed. It still features the original Guzzini box...

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Late 20th Century Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

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Dimart Brass Italian Round Tray with Smoked Glass 1980s
Dimart Brass Italian Round Tray with Smoked Glass 1980s

Dimart Brass Italian Round Tray with Smoked Glass 1980s

By Dimart

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Dimart brass Italian circular brass tray with glass, 1980s. Fabulous Post Modern gold-plated tray with smoked glass and brass golden cable rope ...

Category

20th Century Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Gold Plate, Brass

Centerpiece Plate Platters Serveware White Carrara Marble Brass Inlay Italy
Centerpiece Plate Platters Serveware White Carrara Marble Brass Inlay Italy

Centerpiece Plate Platters Serveware White Carrara Marble Brass Inlay Italy

By Pieruga Marble, Barberini & Gunnell

Located in Ancona, Marche

Centerpiece / serving plate in white Carrara marble with polished brass inlay. Dimensions: Medium - L45 W 12 H 1.5 cm Also available: Big - L 45 W 20.5 H 1.5 cm or small - L 26 W 11...

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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

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Marble, Brass

Dior Style Octagonal Tortoiseshell Effect Lucite Serving Tray, Italy, 1970s
Dior Style Octagonal Tortoiseshell Effect Lucite Serving Tray, Italy, 1970s

Dior Style Octagonal Tortoiseshell Effect Lucite Serving Tray, Italy, 1970s

By Guzzini

Located in Roma, IT

Stunning mid-century octagonal serving tray entirely crafted from a single piece of tortoiseshell-effect lucite. This elegant and unique piece was produced in Italy during the 1970s ...

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Late 20th Century Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass

Willy Rizzo Large Tortoiseshell Lucite & Brass Serving Tray, Italy, 1970s
Willy Rizzo Large Tortoiseshell Lucite & Brass Serving Tray, Italy, 1970s

Willy Rizzo Large Tortoiseshell Lucite & Brass Serving Tray, Italy, 1970s

By Christian Dior, Willy Rizzo

Located in Roma, IT

Marvelous large mid-century tray in tortoiseshell lucite and solid brass. This incredibly stylish and unique piece was produced in Italy during the 1970s and is attributed to Willy R...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass

Centerpiece Serveware Platter White Carrara Marble Pink Onyx Flamingo Italy
Centerpiece Serveware Platter White Carrara Marble Pink Onyx Flamingo Italy

Centerpiece Serveware Platter White Carrara Marble Pink Onyx Flamingo Italy

By Barberini & Gunnell, Pieruga Marble

Located in Ancona, Marche

Centerpiece/serving plate in white Carrara marble with inlay in brass and pink onyx. Material: White Carrara marble, pink onyx, brushed brass. Dimen...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Onyx, Marble, Brass

1970s Sensational Rosewood Service Tray
1970s Sensational Rosewood Service Tray

1970s Sensational Rosewood Service Tray

$295

H 0.63 in W 7.75 in D 17 in

1970s Sensational Rosewood Service Tray

Located in Chula Vista, CA

Exotic Rosewood Sleek Service Tray Clean modern lines 17.88 long x 7.75 w x .63 h Preowned vintage Refer to images

Category

Late 20th Century Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

1970s Space Age Graphic Serving Tray Glass Metal Wood Europe
1970s Space Age Graphic Serving Tray Glass Metal Wood Europe

1970s Space Age Graphic Serving Tray Glass Metal Wood Europe

Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT

This European Space Age serving tray from the 1970s combines functional design with a strong graphic identity, reflecting the period’s interest in geometry, contrast, and visual comp...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

Centerpiece Serveware Platters White Marble Blue Azul Macaubas Handmade Italy
Centerpiece Serveware Platters White Marble Blue Azul Macaubas Handmade Italy

Centerpiece Serveware Platters White Marble Blue Azul Macaubas Handmade Italy

By Pieruga Marble, Barberini & Gunnell

Located in Ancona, Marche

Centerpiece / serving plate in white Carrara marble with inlay in semi-precious quartzite Azul Macaubas. Dimensions: L 45, W 12, H 1.5 cm 100% Hand...

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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Marble, Carrara Marble, Brass

Centerpiece Platters Tableware White Carrara Marble Green Ming Collectible Italy
Centerpiece Platters Tableware White Carrara Marble Green Ming Collectible Italy

Centerpiece Platters Tableware White Carrara Marble Green Ming Collectible Italy

By Barberini & Gunnell, Pieruga Marble

Located in Ancona, Marche

Centerpiece / Serving plate in white Carrara marble with green Ming marble inlay. Dimensions: Big L 45, W 20.5, H 1.5 cm Also available: Medium L 45, W 12, H 1.5 cm 100% Hand made ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

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Marble

Rattan and Brass Italian Centerpiece Tray Basket, 1970s
Rattan and Brass Italian Centerpiece Tray Basket, 1970s

Rattan and Brass Italian Centerpiece Tray Basket, 1970s

Located in Barcelona, ES

Mid-Century Modern brass and rattan round tray basket or centerpiece. It has a brass trim covering the top and brass handles at both sides. Handcraft...

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20th Century Italian Space Age Platters and Serveware

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Previously Available Items
1970's Space Age Rare Food Warmer by Brabantia Chauffe-Plats
1970's Space Age Rare Food Warmer by Brabantia Chauffe-Plats

1970's Space Age Rare Food Warmer by Brabantia Chauffe-Plats

By Brabantia

Located in San Diego, CA

Beautiful design on this almost new in a box, food warmer by Brabantia circa 1970s enameled metal with beautiful graphic design and chrome grill, made by Brabantia.

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20th Century Dutch Space Age Platters and Serveware

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Gio Ponti Tableware Complete Set White Blue Orange Ceramica Italiana Pozzi, 1967
Gio Ponti Tableware Complete Set White Blue Orange Ceramica Italiana Pozzi, 1967

Gio Ponti Tableware Complete Set White Blue Orange Ceramica Italiana Pozzi, 1967

By Gio Ponti

Located in Arosio, IT

Complete tableware set original 1967 by Gio Ponti. He designed this series for the Italian ceramic manufacturer Franco Pozzi. A mentor and friend of Luigi Sormani, owner of the Sorma...

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1960s Italian Vintage Space Age Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

Space Age platters and serveware for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Space Age platters and serveware for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage platters and serveware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with chrome, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Space Age platters and serveware made in a specific country, there are Europe, and Netherlands pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original platters and serveware, popular names associated with this style include and Brabantia. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for platters and serveware differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $275 and tops out at $275 while the average work can sell for $275.