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.
$5,549Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of space age "Boomerang" armchairs by Rodolfo Bonetto Flexform 70s
Located in Milano, MI
Designed by Rodolfo Bonetto for Flexform in the late 1960s, the Boomerang armchairs represent one of the most interesting transitions in Italian design toward freer and more experime...
Chrome
Verner Panton ‚Panton’ Cantilever Chair in Black Pu, Germany, 1971
By Rolf Fehlbaum, Verner Panton
Located in Regensburg, DE
Early Space Age Cantilever Chair 'Panton' by Verner Panton in Black, Germany 1970s Design: Verner Panton, 1958-60 Execution Fehlbaum Productions under license from Hermann Mille...
Plastic
Pair of Vintage 70s Brown Leatherette Armchairs
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of armchairs, foam padding, leatherette upholstery (Original of the period). Good conditions.
Plastic
Verner Panton S Chairs
Located in London, GB
Set of 6 Verner Panton chairs in white lacquered molded ABS. Publisher's imprint under the seat. Herman Miller edition for Fehlbaum 1971 (except one from 1973). Bibliography: Peter...
Plastic
Pair of Armchairs, France 70s
Located in VILLERS-SUR-MER, FR
Very elegant and rare paire of italian armchairs, you can use them either outdoor or indoor. They are confortable and very design.
Chrome
70s Rattan Armchair
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rattan armchair with white fabric France circa 1970 Length: 80 cm Width: 70 cm Depth: 80 cm
Rattan
Verner Panton Cone Chair
Located in Highland, IN
A Classic Panton design, the cone chair is petite, sculptural, playful and surprisingly comfortable. This vintage example is newly upholstered in a brick red fabric with a nice weave.
Steel
$1,523Sale Price / set|44% Off
H 32.29 in W 19.69 in D 24.41 in
Set of 2 Verner Panton Fibreglass S Chairs for Herman Miller, W. Germany 1971
Located in London, GB
The Verner Panton fibreglass S chair for Herman Miller, W. Germany 1971 edition. This highly innovative icon of it's time was ground breaking in the process of manufacture and design...
Fiberglass
$3,731Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
1940s, Pair of Swedish Napoleon III-style Club / Armchairs
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Pair of 1940s Swedish Napoleon III–style armchairs, upholstered in rich brick-red (brique) velvet jacquard fabric. These elegant lounge chairs feature a beautifully sculpted backrest...
Velvet, Beech
"Boomerang" Chair by Rodolfo Bonetto for Flexform, Italy, 1960s
Located in Milan, IT
"Boomerang" chair by Rodolfo Bonetto for Flexform. Green velvet padded foam body with steel boomerang-shaped side-frames. Rear backrest features two large pockets to host books.
Velvet, Foam
' Relaxer 2 ' Rocking Chairs by Verner Panton
Located in Brussels, BE
Verner Panton's Relaxe 2 is one of his innovative piece of furniture that embodies mid-century modern design with a playful twist. His width of 100 cm makes the Relaxer 2 even more c...
Fabric, Beech
Malaina Fibreglass Chair by Rodolfo Bonetto for Driade
Located in London, GB
Iconic Malaina fibreglass chair designed by celebrated Italian designer Rodolfo Bonetto for Driade, exemplifying the bold experimental spirit of 1970s Italian modern design. Sculptur...
Fiberglass
430 Chair in Brown Velvet by Verner Panton
By Verpan, Verner Panton
Located in Horsens, DK
Fully upholstered stacking chair with brass finish metal frame and felt feet. It is the Raf Simons designed fabric, Harald from Kvadrat, c...
Metal
Set of 2 Okay armchairs by Adriano Piazzesi, 70s
Located in Buzzò, Emilia-Romagna
Elevate your interior with a pair of armchairs that are as comfortable as they are captivating. The Okay armchairs were designed in the 1970s by the multi-talented designer, painter ...
Metal
Set of 2 Chairs by Jacques Charpentier for Roche Bobois
By Roche Bobois, Jacques Charpentier
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Pair of California-style armchairs in black leather on chrome-plated steel base--detachable and transportable. These are Armchairs made of chrome-plated tubular steel, which can be d...
Steel
Italian Ruched Leather Chair in the Style of De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A space age Italian leather sofa in the style or De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi. Rushed camel leather with removable cushion. Two chairs and one sofa available, sold separately. Sourced i...
Leather
Sold
H 30.5 in W 23 in D 29 in
Matched Pair Space Age Modernist Lounge Chairs, Peter Protzmann/ Herman Miller
By Peter Protzmann, Herman Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual pair low slung slipper lounge chairs attributed to Peter Protzmann for Herman Miller.. Amazing original condition. Superior quality and construction. Retains its original Kno...
Chrome
Slipper Chair S Bouclé Fabric, Italy, 1970s
By Jan Ekselius
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Slipper chair or armchair S design attributed to Jan Ekselius for an Italian edition. Fully new upholstery in large bouclé fabric. Famous design like Paulin, Etienne Henri Martin, Kn...
Metal
Sold
H 22.84 in W 24.41 in D 37.41 in
Pair of S Slipper Chairs Metal and Bouclé Fabric by IFF, Italy, 1970s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of S design slipper chairs or armchairs in metal chrome by the editor IFF. Fully upholstered with a nice editor bouclé fabric. Famous design like Gio Po...
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Paloa Chairs by Emilio Guarnacci for 1P, Italy, 1970s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare pair of slipper chairs armchairs by Emilio Guarnacci for the editor 1P Industria chimica per l'arredamento. New Upholstery with a nice coral red orange fabric. Famous design lik...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Pair of 'Star Trek' Sculpta Swivel Chairs by Chromcraft
By Chromcraft
Located in Hanover, MA
We have a pair of these "Sculpta" chairs by Chromcraft Corp, circa 1966 with distinctive cantilevered V-shaped cast aluminum base, reminiscent of Kagan's Unicorn chairs.. Alas, six...
Aluminum
Sold
H 35.83 in W 23.63 in D 30.71 in
Pair of Concorde Armchairs by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Netherland, 1960s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Concorde lounge slipper chairs or armchairs by Pierre Paulin for the editor Artifort. Original edition from the 1960s.
Metal
Sold
H 25.99 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Pair of Black Leather Soriana Scarpa Cassina Lounge Chairs, Italy, 1970s
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Iconic Soriana armchairs or lounge chairs by Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Original black leather, great patina, original Cassina tag under the chairs. The full living room is available,...
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Lucite Armchairs by Baumann, Germany, 1970s
By Creation Baumann
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Lucite armchairs model sleigh system by the German editor Baumann. Nice brass details on side. The full living room set is available with slipper chairs. Famous design like C...
Brass
Pair of Lucite Slipper Armchairs by Baumann, Germany, 1970s
By Creation Baumann
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of Lucite slipper chairs or armchairs model sleigh system by the German editor Baumann. Nice brass details on side. The full living room set is available. Famous design like Cha...
Brass