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.
Sergio Asti, Mod.4635 Black Ashtray / Catchall, Kartell Italy 1967
By Kartell, Sergio Asti
Located in Firenze, IT
Mod. 4635 black ashtray / catchall. Sergio Asti for Kartell, Italy 1967 Metal, plastic. H 4,8 cm Diam. 25,5 cm Conditions: excellent, no d...
Metal
Italian space age white plastic tableware cups saucers Angelo Mangiarotti 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age white plastic tableware cups and saucers by Angelo Mangiarotti, 1970s White plastic table service, composed by six round-based cups and seventeen round-based saucer...
Plastic
italian brown ceramic 1970s starter dishes by Ambrogio Pozzi, set of 8
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Set of 8 dark brown glazed ceramic dishes for starter designed by Ambrogio Pozzi for Ceramic Franco Pozzi, Gallarate. Some dishes still have the original label. Brand new condition.
Ceramic
White Ceramic Vase by Rosenthal, 1960s
By Rosenthal
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Signature of the manufacture beneath the base. Very good condition.
Ceramic
Victor Vasarely, Space age Op art metal tray, Limited ed. Metalgraf Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age Op art metal tray Victor Vasarely, Metalgraf for Italsider Italy 1970s Limited edition Metal H 2 cm - 45 × 45 cm Conditions: very good consistent with age and use.
Metal
Italian white & orange 1970s ceramic tableware containers, set of 3
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Sculptural table set in painted white ceramic. The set consists of a bottle holder, a napkin holder and a plate container. Ideal for serving an aperitif or a snack in vintage style. ...
Ceramic
Small Brown Ceramic Barbados ashtray by Angelo Mangiarotti for Danese, 1964
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Danese Milano
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Small Barbados ashtray version designed by Angelo Mangiarotti for Danese, Milano 1964. This product is composed by 2 parts. Very good vintage condition.
Ceramic
Studio Opi, space age mod. Ikebana A ceramic ashtray, Gabbianelli Italy 1970s
By Gabbianelli
Located in Firenze, IT
White modern ceramic / ashtray / vase mod. Ikebana A designed by Studio OPI (F. Bettonica, M. Melocchi) Italy ca. 1970 Marked and labeled under the base H 13 cm - 12 × 12 cm Cond...
Ceramic
Clear, White & green glass 1960s vase attributed to Mazzega
By AVMazzega
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Hand made glass vase in light green, clear and white glass attributed to AV Mazzega, Murano. Very good condition.
Glass
Vintage Italian enameled Ashtray from Studio Del Campo, 1970s
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Chrome plated & green enameled metal manufactured by Studio Del Campo in 1970s. Very good condition. Manufacture signature on the base.
Bronze, Enamel
$464Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Stackable Tea Set by Liisi Beckmann for Gabbianelli, 1967
By Gabbianelli, Liisi Meronen Beckmann
Located in BARCELONA, ES
The Vintage Stackable Tea Pot by Liisi Beckmann for Gabbianelli from the 1960s is a truly exceptional piece that embodies the epitome of mid-century modern design innovation. What se...
Ceramic
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
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
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
Mid-century green ceramic ashtray, Sicart Italy 1969
By Sicart
Located in Firenze, IT
Midcentury green ceramic ashtray Sicart 1969s Italy H: 6 cm Diam. 15.5cm Labeled on the base. Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Ceramic
Sergio Asti, mod.4635 red ashtray / catchall, Kartell Italy 1967
By Sergio Asti, Kartell
Located in Firenze, IT
Mod. 4635 red ashtray / catchall. Sergio Asti for Kartell, Italy 1967 Metal, plastic. H 4.8 cm Diam. 25,5 cm Conditions: excellent, no defects
Metal
Giorgio Soavi for Olivetti, "O" Ashtray, 1968
Located in London, GB
Soavi designed this ashtray for Olivetti, a company originally created by Camillo Olivetti in 1908 to produce typewriters. Olivetti became famous for the meticulous attention it paid...
Plastic
Metal Rosti Melamine Yellow Serving Tray Danish Design, 1970s
Located in Delft, NL
Metal Rosti Melamine yellow serving tray Danish design, 1970s.
Plastic
Abstract Vintage 1960s Space Age Ceramic Wall Plate: Red with Bold Blue/Green
Located in Hamburg, DE
Step back in time to the innovative and artistic world of the 1960s Space Age with our Ceramic Wall Plate. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this stunning piece encapsulat...
Ceramic
Space age blue iridescent ceramic ashtray / vide poche, Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Mid-century space age blue iridescent ceramic ashtray Italy 1970s H: 5 cm - 21 × 21 cm Conditions: excellent, no defects
Ceramic
Space age black and white ceramic ashtray / vide poche, Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Space age black and white ceramic ashtray / vide poche Italy 1970s H: 6 cm - 22 × 22 cm Conditions: excellent, no defects
Ceramic
Large Covered Stoneware Pot by Thierry & Chantal Robert, France, 1970s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Large handcrafted covered stoneware pot by French ceramic artists Thierry & Chantal Robert, dating from the 1970s. This striking piece beautifully reflects the couple's organic appro...
Ceramic
Italian Space Age White Vase in Glazed Ceramic by Bitossi 1970s
By Bitossi
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Stunning large Bitossi white vase with drops 1970s A little ware on some of the drops.
Ceramic
$1,650
Murano 1950. Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Murano We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'V...
Murano Glass
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
$1,600
Crystal 1950, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Crystal
$1,325
Murano, 1950, Italian.
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Murano We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'V...
Murano Glass
$2,470
Murano, 1950, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Murano Glass
Vintage Italian Sculptural Ashtray Centerpiece from Studio Del Campo, 1975
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This ashtray comes from a serie "Composizione" produced by Studio Del Campo in 1975. It is made from bronze and enameled silver.
Bronze, Enamel
$1,450
Ashtray Crystal, 1950
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Crystal