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.
Space Age Tubular 2-Seater Sofa designed by Johan Bertil Haggstrom for IKEA
By IKEA, Johan Bertil Häggström
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a Space Age 2-Seater Sofa designed by Johan Bertil Häggström for IKEA, one of its most iconic pieces. This vintage IKEA sofa f...
Steel
Mid Century Dutch Modern tufted puffy cognac Leather loveseat sofa 1970
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Modern Dutch tufted cognac Leather loveseat 2 seat space age sofa with chrome. Great vintage condition super soft leather and very high quality dense foam cushions. Very ...
Chrome
$2,677Sale Price|25% Off
1960's Carl Straub black oak loveseat with new wool upholstery
By Carl Straub
Located in Liberty, NY
Great mid century 1970's Carl Straub black oak two seater sofa with newly upholstered cushions in a very nice heavyweight textured beige wool with flecks of gold and grey. Modern pro...
Wool, Oak
Mid Century Scandinavian Modern Red Leather tufted low loveseat sofa chrome legs
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Scandinavian Modern Space Age Red Leather tufted loveseat sofa chrome legs. Great low soft leather tufted sofa with tapered chrome legs and casters. Tufted cushions and a...
Chrome
Lovely Petite Hollywood Regency Tufted Loveseat Sofa
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Lovely petite Hollywood Regency tufted loveseat with a down filled lose seat cushion. This piece will definitely need to be re-upholstered but that's what yo...
Upholstery, Wood
Lounge chair by John Bertil Häggström for IKEA, Sweden, 1970s
By IKEA, Johan Bertil Häggström
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Great lounge chair designed by John Bertil Häggström for IKEA, Sweden, during the 1970s. Made in chrome with leather cushions. Whole group available in our store with a three-seate...
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Petite Sofa or Loveseat Attributed to Overman
By Overman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sculptural looking sofa from the 1970s. It features original upholstery and chrome-plated steel legs.
Steel
Danish 1950's 3-seat sofa by To Ole Wanscher
By Ole Wanscher
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful super elegant sofa by Ole Wanscher for Cabinet maker A.J. Iversen ca. mid 1950's. Very elegant design raised on teak legs with stretchers (usually seen in Kaare Klint's fam...
Wool, Teak
1970s Gerard van den Berg “Ringo” Cognac Leather Loveseat
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful leather “Ringo” loveseat designed by Gerard van den Berg, Netherlands, 1970s. Upholstered in its original cognac leather, the loveseat has aged gracefully with natural pa...
Leather
$3,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 85 in D 28 in
Magnificent Space-Age Tubular Chrome 2-Seat Sofa with Table Ingmar Relling Style
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent Space Age chrome tubular 2-seat sofa with attached table in the style of Ingmar Relling. This piece is a bit of a mystery as to designer but by the shear quality and craftsmanship they shout that the designer is someone important. This sofa settee was purchased from a super high end car dealership from the 1970s. The interior of this car dealership was very futuristic in design with many pieces like this and pieces from the fiberglass steelcase floating furniture...
Chrome
Mid-Century Post Modern Loveseat or Sofa Produced by Preview Furniture
By Preview
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sculptural base with floating front sofa made by Preview circa 1992. It features the original tweed fabric in good condition. Could use cleaning before use.
Fabric
$2,823Sale Price|55% Off
H 42 in W 66 in D 32 in
Magnificent 19th Century Giltwood Louis XVI Loveseat with New Upholstery
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Sublimely elegant plush 19th century gilt wood Louis XVI French loveseat having gorgeous scalloped high back, bronzed aged patina, cabriole legs and curvy arms. The new upholstery j...
Mohair, Upholstery, Giltwood
Italian Mid-Century Curved Arm Loveseat Sofa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning vintage modern sofa features unique sculpted armrests and a metal base. A stylish and comfortable design with thick padded seating covered in decorative floral upholste...
Metal
$2,450
H 29 in W 59.5 in D 34 in
Mid-Century Swedish Cream Loveseat Sofa with Tapered Legs and Curved Arms
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An inviting example of Mid-Century Swedish design, this cream loveseat sofa offers comfort and elegant proportions. It features gracefully tapered wooden legs, each accented with a d...
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-Century Sofa by Carl Straub, Germany, 1960s
By Carl Straub
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid-century three seater sofa designed by Carl Straub in black leather and teak. Beautifully shaped metal base. Good overall condition with normal age related wear. No holes or...
Chrome
$3,826
H 30.32 in W 37.8 in D 37.8 in
Johan Bertil Häggström Tubular Lounge Chair for Swed-Form, Sweden, 1970s
By Johan Bertil Häggström, Swed Furn
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A lounge chair by Johan Bertil Häggström for Swed-Form, produced in Sweden in the 1970s. An example of Swedish postmodern design, the piece is built around a tubular chrome frame tha...
Metal
1960’s Sergio Mazza Fiberglass “Mida” Loveseat for Artemide Italy
By Sergio Mazza
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Super rare fiberglass loveseat by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960’s Italy. Very cool well shapes for the cushions allow this to be more comfortable than most sofas without suspensio...
Fabric, Fiberglass
Space Age Rust Chenille Settee by BEKA, Italy 1970s
Located in Chicago, IL
A Space Age settee created by Italian designer BEKA in the 1970s featuring an elegant, curved silhouette with inset rectangular details along the sides. This sculptural settee was re...
Chenille
Djinn sofa by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne
Located in Wien, AT
"Djinn", designed by Olivier Mourgue for Airborne, France 1965. The sofa became a design icon of the 20th century when Stanley Kubrick featured it in his film "2001: Space Odyssey",...
Steel
Olivier Mourgue ‘Djinn’ sofa Airborne, France, 1965
Located in London, GB
Olivier Mourgue (b. 1939) is a French artist and industrial designer best known for his ‘Djinn’ series with Airborne International. Mourgue took inspiration from djinn, Arabian geni...
Bouclé
'Sapporo' Wood Frame Two Seat Sofa by Mario Marenco for Mobil Girgi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A 'Sapporo' two seat sofa designed by Mario Marenco for Mobil Girgi. A solid wood frame holds six removable cushions. Newly reupholstered in a textured cream fabric. Stamped “Mobil G...
Upholstery, Wood
Mod Pod Sofa by Overman in Original Tweed Fabric, circa 1960s - 1970s
By Overman
Located in New York, NY
Classic Overman Pod sofa, in original tweed fabric upholstery, on bright chrome legs. The sofa is in good usable condition, the fabric has some flaws,...
Chrome
Olivier Mourgue Sofa "Djinn" in White Bouclé
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful sofa of the "Djinn" model designed in the 70s by the French designer Olivier Mourgue, fine French manufacture. The sofa is typically Space Age designed for two seats, char...
Bouclé
Pair of Italian Armchairs with Rounded Lines from the 1970s
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of Italian armchairs with rounded lines from the 1970s. This rare model, completely reupholstered in a beige/off-white bouclé fabric, will give your interior a lot of style. These "Love seat...
Bouclé
1970s Meritalia Sculptural Space Age Air Lounger - Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Extremely rare Fabio Novembre for Meritalia sculptural apace age sofa. The beautiful sofa in dark and light gray ultra suede is statement piece which is also extremely comfortable and packed with personality! The set of the Air Lounge System...
Ultrasuede
Guido Faleschini Pace Collection Armchairs for Mariani
By Mariani Interior Design, Guido Faleschini
Located in Milano, IT
Splendid pair of striking Space Age leather armchairs designed by architect Guido Faleschini in the 1970s for the prestigious Mariani manufa...
Leather
Sold
H 35.5 in W 57 in D 28 in
Italian Loveseat by Gastone Rinaldi for Rima in Dedar "Tiger Mountain" Fabric
By Gastone Rinaldi, RIMA
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A mid century Italian loveseat or settee attributed to Gastone Rinaldi for Rima. Newly upholstered in "Tiger Mountain," a patterned velvet by Dedar Mila...
Brass
Sold
H 30.71 in Dm 49.22 in
Pair Italian Desiree Divano Lacoon Swivel Couch Loveseat Lounge Chairs Space Age
By Jai Jalan, Desiree
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Pair comfy Lacoon swivel love seats designed by Jai Jalan and made by Désirée, Italy. Each couch has a metal and solid wood oval frame which swivels effortl...
Metal