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.
Gianfranco Frattini Black Leather Sesann Living Room Set for Cassina, 1972
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Vicenza, IT
Sesann dining room set, designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1970 and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina. It is composed of a two-seater sofa and two armchairs. It features...
Chrome
1971, Le Temoin by Man Ray, Dino Gavina, Simon, International Ultramobile
By Dino Gavina, Ultramobile Collection
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Upholstery, Faux Leather
1970s Czechoslovak Space Age Four-Piece Sculptural Modular Sofa
Located in Praha, CZ
Exceptional four-piece modular sofa produced in Czechoslovakia circa the 1970s, characterized by generous sculptural proportions, deep seating and the soft rounded forms associated w...
Metal
Mario Bellini Red Cotton Camaleonda Modular Sofa for B&B Italia, 1972, Set of 5
Located in Vicenza, IT
“Camaleonda” sofa, in red cotton upholstery, designed by Mario Bellini and manufactured by B&B Italia in 1972. Fully restored and reupholstered in Italy. The sofa is very comfo...
Velvet, Foam, Cotton
$1,376Sale Price|50% Off
Space Age Italian Velvet Modular Sofa, 1970s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Beautiful two-seater sofa in Italian velvet from the 1970s Space Age period. The Italian sofa is made of dark orange textured velvet fabric. Its lines are very rounded with soft and ...
Velvet
$8,350
American Space Age Sofa
Located in Chicago, IL
fully restored in brown pinstripe - excellent condition
Fabric
Set of mid century french style SPACE AGE cocktail sofa and chairs - 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, around 1970s - beautiful space age design - dimensiosn of chairs : height: 80cm, depth: 67, width: 63cm - the set is predestined to be newly upholstered in new tex...
Chrome
$5,147 / set
Modular space age set in blue by Airborne
Located in RIDDERKERK, NL
This modular set from the French brand Airborne consists of two armchairs and a corner element in a blue color. The elements can be placed separately or used together as a sofa by s...
Fabric
Modular Space Age Vintage Blue Velvet Lounge Chair Rhombos Wittmann 1970 Austria
By Wittmann
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage modular element or sofa or lounge chair model Rhombos from stitched velvet fabric in blue color by Wittmann 1970s Austria. A wonderful modular sofa element or loung...
Fabric
Mario Bellini White Velvet Camaleonda Sofa for B&B Italia, 1972, Set Of 2
Located in Vicenza, IT
“Camaleonda” sofa, in white velvet upholstery, designed by Mario Bellini and manufactured by B&B Italia in 1972. Fully restored and reupholstered in Italy. The sofa is very comfort...
Velvet, Foam, Chenille
Sectionnal sofa Poltrona Frau with matching coffee table , model Socrates
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Socrates modular sofa by Poltrona Frau in leather from the 1980s, feather filling for the cushions . An iconic Italian sofa manufactured by Poltrona Frau for a high-end design that w...
Leather, Feathers
Three-seater sofa by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia, 1970s
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Three-seater sofa designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia from the 1970s. The sofa has been completely restored using upholstery that echoes the original tones and features...
Metal