Space Age Bookends
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
A Pair of triangular lucite Bookends – France – 1970s
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A striking pair of triangular lucite bookends. Dating from the 1970s, these unique pieces stand out for their exceptional craftsmanship and the natural beauty of lucite, with each ed...
Category
1970s French Vintage Space Age Bookends
Materials
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Pair of Space Age Bookends by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of space gge bookends by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell, circa 1970's.
The set is in very good vintage condition with no cracks and measures 16"W x 8"D x 8"H. Cool and functio...
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Late 20th Century Italian Space Age Bookends
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Born in Venice in 1913. He studied at the Fine Arts Academy of Venice and Bologna, he was a pupil of Virgilio Guidi and Giorgio Morandi. He participated in a number of Biennales.
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1935. He follows Guidi in Bologna. Here he attends the course of engraving techniques held by Giorgio Morandi, with whom he will remain in correspondence for a long time.
1936. Participates in the Rome Quadriennale and the Venice Biennale.
1937. After completing his studies in Bologna, he returns to Venice.
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Space Age bookends for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Space Age bookends for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage bookends created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, plastic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Space Age bookends made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookends, popular names associated with this style include Giotto Stoppino, Jaru, and Kartell. 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 bookends 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 $375 while the average work can sell for $325.