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 Ocher Velvet 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 three-seater sofa and an armchair. It features o...
Chrome
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Light Blue Alcantara Soriana Chaise Lounge for Cassina, 1969
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” chaise longue, Alcantara and metal, Italy, 1969. The Soriana lounge chair is low and soft and invites the sitter to sink in. Its peculiar feature is the...
Chrome
Alessandro Becchi Grey Leather “Anfibio” Three Seater Sofa for Giovannetti, 1972
By Alessandro Becchi, Giovannetti
Located in Vicenza, IT
Anfibio sofa-bed by Alessandro Becchi for Giovannetti, 1972. Fully restored and upholstered with high-quality grey Italian natural leather. Mattress upholstered with soft sheepskin wool. The Anfibio sofa ranks among the most outstanding cult products of Italian design. It is innovative, original, and highly functional; it is a revolutionary sofa-bed, a symbol of high quality and sapient artisanry. It is possible to find it in the permanent collection of 13 museums worldwide, among which the MoMa in New York, since 1972. Alessandro Becchi designed the “Anfibio” sofa for the Italian manufacturer Giovannetti in 1970. It is characterized by generous dimensions and soft, embracing shapes that invite relaxation and comfort. It reminds a floating dinghy thanks to its lack of rigid mechanism. This feature inspired its name, which means amphibious. Furthermore, the sofa presents a rectangular steel structure and padding in non-deformable high-density polyurethane, covered with acrylic thermo-welded fibers and protective fabric. The Anfibio sofa by Giovannetti is available covered in leather or fabric and several colors. This artwork is the ideal convertible solution, the perfect combination of aesthetic research and innovative household living. Alessandro Becchi was born in Florence in 1946. He studied at ISIA in his hometown, and in the late 60s, he began his career as a designer. In 1970 he designed the revolutionary Anfibio sofa for Giovannetti. In 1972, thanks to the success of Anfibio, he was invited to the exhibition “Italy: the New Domestic Landscape” at the Museum of Modern Arts in New York. This date opens in close collaboration with Giovannetti. He designed a series of sofa-beds, such as Only You, Brando, Diletto, and the famous armchairs Le Bugie...
Cotton, Foam, Leather, Sheepskin
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
1971, Le Temoin by Man Ray, Dino Gavina, Simon, International Ultramobile
By Ultramobile Collection, Dino Gavina
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
Gianfranco Frattini Black Leather Sesann Living Room Set for Cassina, 1972
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
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
Verner Panton 123 Lounge sofa Fritz Hansen Denmark 1973
By Verner Panton, Fritz Hansen
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Three seat sofa designed by Verner Panton and manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark 1973. This exceptional piece is part of Verner Panton’s celebrated 123 system, a modular furnitu...
Aluminum
Italian Okay 2-seater sofa designed by Adriano Piazzesi
Located in RIDDERKERK, NL
The Italian Okay 2-seater sofa , designed by Adriano Piazzesi in the 1970s , is an iconic piece of furniture that perfectly reflects his creative approach to design. Piazzesi was ins...
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
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
Space Age Vintage Ivory Vintage Modular Leather Lounge Chairs Wittmann 1970
By Wittmann
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage sectional two lounge chairs with one stool from leather in ivory color tone 1970s by Wittmann Austria. The very comfortable settee model Rhombos features stitched ...
Leather
$5,360 / 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
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