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.
Garden Bench, Model 1000 by Walter Papst for Wilkhahn 1964
By Wilkhahn, Walter Papst
Located in Halle, DE
Garten Bench Model “1000”, so called “Bärenbank”. Organic post-war design from 1964 von Walter Papst for Wilkhahn. Executed in fibreglass / fiberglass. Original surface, not repainte...
Fiberglass
Vintage Boho Wrapped Rattan Hanging Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Discover the allure of this extraordinary vintage Boho wrapped rattan hanging bench, an iconic piece that effortlessly marries comfort with quintessential mid-century design. Expertl...
Rattan
1970s Meritalia Sculptural Space Age Air Loungers Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Extremely rare Fabio Novembre for Meritalia sculptural chairs. The beautiful set in dark and light gray ultra suede is statement piece which is also extremely comfortable and packed with personality! The fabulous chairs of the Air Lounge System...
Ultrasuede
Vintage Atomic Shaped Off White Bench
Located in Seattle, WA
This Space Age Design Bench has Beautiful Lines Throughout. Possibly Metal or other Similar Material. Dimensions. 20 W ; 13 D ; 15 H
Metal
Wrapped Stainless Bench Upholstered in Grey Velvet
By Venfield
Located in New York, NY
Custom stainless steel wrapped bench with seat upholstered in grey velvet. A sleek modern design that is at home in any interior from the traditionally designed to the contemporary. ...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Lucite Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Go retro with this transparent Lucite bench. Its ¾ inch thick Lucite material makes it sturdy, and ideal as a single-seat bench, vanity seat or foot stool.
Lucite
Antique Mixed Wood Children’s L Shaped Corner Bench
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Antique L-shaped School Bench with hardwood slats and pine uprights. The bench with slatted back, center divided support. Dimensions: 31 1/2" H, footprint - 64" x 52" and 13 3/4" H....
Wood
Indoor & Outdoor Low Profile Woven Black Rattan Bench
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
This outdoor low profile woven black rattan bench offers a sleek, modern take on classic woven furniture. Crafted with a sturdy frame and tightly wrapped in black rattan. The elongat...
Rattan, Wood
Teak Wood Framed Bench, with Woven Rattan Seat
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A hand-crafted teak framed & woven rattan strap bench. These benches are crafted by local artisans using a wood joinery technique without the use of nails. They feature a subtle wood...
Teak, Rattan
Antique Limestone Bench - Old Stone Bench - Garden Bench
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
This old Limestone bench was hand carved and installed in a Large Italian countryside home along with several other benches and architectural elements. This piece has been well preserved throughout the years and was recently reclaimed by our team. The natural stone aging process that took place throughout the years is quite apparent all throughout this lovely architectural element, giving it such an amazing distressed texture and color undertone. Centuries of sun, soil, rain and exposure to the elements of nature have given this piece its real character and wonderful patina. This antique limestone bench...
Limestone
$3,615
H 30.32 in W 47.64 in D 21.66 in
Model No. 715/C Bench By Gustav Siegel for J&J Kohn Vienna 1901
Located in Budapest, HU
Designed by Gustav Siegel in Vienna in 1899 and executed by Jacob & Josef Kohn around 1901, this elegant two-seat bench is part of the same celebrated series as the iconic armchair 7...
Beech
$10,529Sale Price|25% Off
H 35.04 in W 71.66 in D 18.12 in
Italian Bench / Settee with Wall Hanging Back, Italy, 1950
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milan, IT
Spectacular Italian bench / settee with wall hanging back, Italy, 1950.
Upholstery, Wood
$1,169 / set
H 28.35 in W 18.12 in D 16.54 in
Italian Space Age Pair of Red Plastic Chairs by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, 1970s
By Kartell, Carlo Bartoli
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age pair of red plastic chairs by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, 1970s Pair of chairs with rounded shapes, in red plastic with removable l...
Plastic
Vintage Style Southwestern Upholstered Boho X Bench
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage-style Upholstered Boho X Bench featuring a comfortable padded seat upholstered in eye-catching Navajo-inspired patterned fabric, paired with a classic X-base design. Rich tex...
Wood
$4,600
H 20.87 in W 38.59 in D 19.69 in
French Reconstruction Solid Oak and Off-White Frey Mohair Bench, France, 1950's
By Rene Gabriel
Located in New York, NY
Solid French oak Reconstruction era bench. In the style of "Sinistrés" furniture designed by René Gabriel. New Pierre Frey "Teddy" mohair upholstery. This bench will ship from Franc...
Mohair, Upholstery, Oak
$4,200
H 30.32 in W 75.99 in D 33.47 in
New Mohair Upholstery Sofa Bed Model 470 By Hans Bellman, Wilkhahn, Germany 1964
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
This sofa/daybed was designed by Hans Bellmann for Wilkhahn, Germany in the 1960s The sofa comes in a beautiful solid Teak wood frame and has been completely restored with new foam ...
Mohair, Velvet, Teak
Sold
H 33 in W 72 in D 72 in
Sintoform bench/planter by Elsie Crawford for Architectural Fiberglass, 1970
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Exceedingly rare Sintoform carousel bench and planter by Elsie Crawford for Architectural Fiberglass. 6 seats surround a planter large enough for a substantial tree. Refinished and i...
Fiberglass
Sold
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 15.75 in
Iconic Carlo De Carli Wooden Bench with Storage by Fiarm, Venice - 1960s
By Carlo di Carli, Fiarm
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Immerse yourself in the iconic era of Space Age Furniture Design with this rare bench seat designed by Carlo De Carli for Fiarm, Venice. Instantly evoking the spirit of the 60s with ...
Wood
Sold
H 33.47 in W 68.12 in D 23.04 in
3 seater bench by Dominque Prevot & Jean-Luch Favriau for Édition France Design
By France Design S. A., Prevost & Favriau, Dominique Prevot
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
this 3-seater bench was designed around 1970 by dominique prevot and jean-luc favriau and produced by edition france design. that’s about all we know about these benches and their de...
Fiberglass
Sold
H 29.14 in W 94.49 in D 31.11 in
Blue Fiberglass Bench by Walter Papst for Wilkhahn, Germany, 1960s
By Walter Papst
Located in Aartselaar, BE
Stunning blue fiberglass bench designed by Walter Papst for Wilkhahn, Germany, 1960s. Walter Papst was one of the first European designers to use fiberglass to fabricate furniture. The design of the bench is naive, almost simplistic since it is made out of 1 piece of molded fiberglass. But nonetheless, it is a very sophisticated item because it was made with beautiful slanted angles, which gives it a very sculptural and architectural look. The stunning bright blue color makes it pure eye candy. The blue color is the original color and could be described as 'modernist blue' or 'le corbusier blue...
Fiberglass
Beautiful 60s/70s Retro Design Pastoe 3-Seater Sofa
Midcentury Bench by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautiful Space Age waiting bench designed by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti. Simple, elegant and timeless design. Very good condition. D...
Metal
Midcentury bench by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautiful Space Age waiting bench designed by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti. Simple, elegant and timeless design. Very good condition...
Metal
Olivier Mourgue Djinn Bench Made by Airborne, France circa 1963
Located in Munster, NRW
An Olivier Morgue Djinn Two Seater Bench for Airborne.