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.
$15,579
Bernard Govin's desk
Located in Saint Ouen, France
This Bernard Govin desk is the only one currently on the market. Its design is as precise as the other pieces by this designer. The workmanship is of the highest quality. Bernard Go...
Stainless Steel
Space Age Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl Directors Igl-Jet Fiberglass Desk, 1970s
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Space Age Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl directors Igl-Jet fiberglass desk, 1970s This design really evokes the ethos of the seventies - a bright and bold era - with the commonly u...
Fiberglass
Italian Desk from the 60s
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Red lacquered wood desk from the 60s, Italian. Desk 1960s Country: Italian Finish: polyurethanic lacquer It is an elegant and sophisticated desk. If you...
Wood
Red Lacquered Wood Desk from the 50s, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Red lacquered wood desk from the 50s, Italian. Desk 1950s Country: Italian Materials: Red lacquered wood Finish: polyurethanic lacquer It is an ...
Wood
Desk in Parchment "Leather" and Wood from the 50s, made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Leather, Wood
Desk in Parchment "Leather" and Wood from the 50s, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Red lacquered wood desk from the 50s, Italian. Desk 1950s Country: France Materials: parchment leather and wood Finish: polyurethanic lacquer It is an elegant and sophisticated des...
Wood, Leather
Italian Desk in Wood from the 50s
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Wood desk from the 50s, Italian. Desk 1950s Country: Italian Finish: polyurethanic lacquer It is an elegant and sophisticated desk. If you have any questions we are at your disposa...
Wood
$495
H 30 in W 60 in D 21 in
Art Deco Machine Age Industrial Desks by Bel Geddes for Simmons Furniture Co.
By Simmons Company Furniture, Norman Bel Geddes
Located in New York, NY
High Style, Art Deco, Machine Age, Industrial design desk(s) by Norman Bel Geddes for Simmons Furniture Company circa 1930's. The desks feature a bank of three drawers which flank th...
Steel
Svend Age Madsen for H.P. Hansen Danish Rosewood Desk and Bookcase
By H.P. Hansen, Svend Åge Madsen
Located in New Windsor, NY
A rosewood desk with bookcase by Svend AgeMAdsen for H.P. Hansen, Denmark. Circa 1960-70. This desk features beautifully and highly figured rosewood veneers, a curved profile, front ...
Birch, Rosewood
$6,750
H 55 in W 55.75 in D 96.25 in
Stewart MacDougall 1970s Room Divider with Desk, Birch, Walnut & Formica
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully conceived room divider with integrated desk from the 1970s, designed by Stewart MacDougall. Crafted in a harmonious blend of birch, warm walnut, vibrant Formica, and sl...
Metal
On Hold|$2,972
H 27.56 in W 37.01 in D 24.41 in
18th Century Italian Louis XV Small Antique Desk in Walnut and Cherry Wood
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this elegant Italian desk in solid walnut and cherry wood, dating back to the 18th century, during the Louis XV period. Characterized by flowing lines and a lack of exces...
Walnut, Cherry
1970s National Mt. Airy Military Campaign Style Executive Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Another good looking campaign style piece for your collection! We are delighted to offer for sale this vintage executive desk hand crafted in the Military Campaign style by Mt. Airy, which is one of the higher quality campaign manufacturers. This well-made desk executed out of oakwood which has a lovely warm patina to it, the cuts of timber are lovely with great proportions from any angle. Supporting a rectangular top with a central drawer flanked on either side by a column cabinet with four drawers each having a top and bottom drawer, two of which are double as a filing drawer in the middle offering plenty of storage space. Solid finished back all standing on a plinth base to make it more stable. The brass inset military handles & brass corner brackets are all original and in brass. Signed "National Mt...
Oak
Modernist Desk in Solid Wood 40s / 50s Bauhaus Style Vintage
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
French desk from the 40s / 50s in modernist Bauhaus style. Structure of the desk in veneered and solid Rio rosewood with a triple tubular base in chromed steel quite rare. The desk i...
Chrome
Italian Wooden Desk from the 60's
Located in bari, IT
Wooden desk from the measurements contained with chest of drawers, Italian, 60s.
Wood
Empil Desk
By Drugeot
Located in Courbevoie, FR
A streamlined side facing a disorganized side, the Empil desk plays with contrasts. A combination of 4 cases that can be set as one wishes. It offers the features of a classic desk. ...
Oak
$9,561 / item
H 29.14 in W 66.93 in D 27.56 in
Little Shanghai Desk in Olive Wood and Black Sycamore Silver Painted Leg
Located in SENLIS, OISE
Little Shanghai desk in olive wood and black sycamore silver painted leg. There are two drawers on each side. The and sides are in olive and black...
Metal
Rare 1970s Gianni Walnut & Lucite Floating Executive Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare and Monumental 1970s Gianni Floating Walnut & Lucite Executive Desk in the style of Vladimir Kagan. Beautiful solid walnut bullnose edging, two smaller drawers on the left side...
Steel
1970s Shaker Style Pine Desk and Hutch with Brass Hardware
Located in Round Top, TX
Charming two-piece, pine desk + hutch with Shaker proportions. Natural, oiled finish with simple brass hardware and two round, white porcelain pulls to glass front doors. Very good o...
Brass
Gianni Moscatelli Desk for Formanova, 1979 Italy
By Gianni Moscatelli, Formanova
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning Formanova desk by Gianni Moscatelli. Original Formanova tag dated and signed 1979, Italy. Newly refinished in a high gloss Ebony polished finish. Right side of desk has a fl...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 28.35 in W 63 in D 31.5 in
Nomos Desk by Sir Norman Foster, Plywood and Aluminum, Modern Design
Located in London, England
The "Nomos" office, designed by the famous architect and designer Norman Foster in 1935, represents a real reference in industrial design, combining robustness and versatility. Altho...
Aluminum
Space Age Design Desk In Wood 1970s Modernism
Located in Taranto, IT
Iconic 1970s Space Age style desk made of wood with lacquered frame in shades of orange, brown and beige plastic details. The bold, geometric design is typical of the futuristic aest...
Wood
Set desk & chair in fiberglass by Patrick Gingembre, 1970s
Located in Brussels, BE
Desk and Chair Set: Space Age French Design, 1970s This brown lacquered fiberglass desk, paired with a matching chair, embodies the iconic Space Age style. Designed by Patrick Gingembre for Paulus...
Fiberglass
Rare wall desk & shelve
Located in Perpignan, FR
Bureau & étagère monobloc murale 1970 anonyme / fibre de verre 80 x 255 x 55 cm / en l’état d’origine Provenance . Hôtel Solazur de Tanger
Resin, Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass
Vintage 1976 Mirrored Executive Desk by Xception
Located in Denver, CO
Made in Canada by Xception, Registered design 1976 (marked inside case) Space Age Solid wood and wood veneer Plexiglass-like mirrored veneer on fronts of doors and drawers and bac...
Mirror, Wood, Oak
Space Age Counter, 1970
Located in Perpignan, FR
Very beautiful and important piece from 1970's. This is unic piece made for a cinema. It's come from the city of Lyon. This piece is very similar of the famous desk...
Granite
Sold
H 77 in W 36.53 in D 15 in
Raymond Loewy Inspired Green Chapter One Desk-Bar Bookcase by Broyhill Premier
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Well it’s 2022, and Broyhill’s Chapter One Collection is officially harder to find and more sought after than the Raymond Loewy orginals. You won'...
Plastic, Hardwood
Sold
H 34.26 in W 35.44 in D 19.69 in
Vintage Space Age Tubular Frame Desk with Adjustable Stool, 1970
Located in Oirlo, LI
Vintage space age Tubular frame desk with adjustable stool, 1970 The Buisframe desk desk is small but nice, sleek in shape and above all functional. A small desk like the tubular ...
Chrome
Space Age, Futuristic Plastic Desk, Italian Design, 1970s
Located in Buffalo, NY
Space Age, futuristic plastic desk, Italian Design, 1970s,, Sleek .simple, modernist, moulded plastic and tubular chrome. Unusual right and left lids for storage, left lid smoke brow...
Chrome
Sold
H 30.12 in W 55.12 in D 33.47 in
Lacquered and Brass Desk Side Box by Jean Claude Mahey, France, 1970s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare black lacquered and brass desk by Jean Claude Mahey. 2 drawers in front and useful side box case. Sign on base. Side box measurements...
Brass
1970, Counter Bernard Schoeller, "Piscine tournesol"
Located in Perpignan, FR
Very rare counter from "piscine tournesol" made by Bernard Schoeller Fiberglass and oakwood.
Fiberglass
Kartell Desk by Simmon Fussell
By Kartell
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Double bank of Kartell stacking drawers designed by Simmon Fussell with white Formica style desk top. Great storage and work surface for any home office...
Plastic, Formica, Wood