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.
Set of Tow Space Age Midcentury Tulip Show Case Drawers with Glass Front, 1970s
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Set of 2 space age midcentury tulip glass fronted display case drawers 1970s. rare chest of drawers with glass front showcase Vintage blue_Yellow body with creamy white tulip base in Space Age design Front and top glass with 4x white drawers...
Glass, Wood
Wood & Glass Vitrine Cabinet or Bookcase LB65 by Marco Zanuso for Poggi, 68
By Succ. Carlo Poggi, Marco Zanuso Jr.
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This bookcase or vitrine cabinet is made from a wooden structure with a grid design front side. It features a unique door with a magnetic closure and 4 thi...
Glass, Wood
$901
H 19.69 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in
Italian Space Age Red Modular Chest of Drawers by Castelli for Kartell, 1970s
By Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age Red plastic Modular chest of drawers by Anna Castelli for Kartell, 1970s Modular chest of drawers with square base and rounded corne...
Plastic
$1,202 / set
H 23.63 in W 11.82 in D 14.57 in
Space Age Style Lacquered Wooden Cabinets, 1970s, Set of 2
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Pair of white lacquered cabinets of excellent quality, generously thick carved and shaped wood. Furniture that can be used in bathrooms, offices. The design style is close to Joe Col...
Wood, Lacquer
French Vitrine Cabinet, Glass Door Walnut, Rosewood with Ormolu Mounts
Located in Toronto, CA
A French vitrine cabinet with glass door and sides, in walnut with rosewood and tulipwood, top with a grey marble top. The ormolu mounts give the cabinet the Louis XV styling tha...
Walnut
$2,590
H 48.42 in W 46.45 in D 11.81 in
French Provincial Plantation Style Walnut Vitrine, Bookcase, 19th Century
Located in Miami, FL
This early (circa 1830) French Provincial plantation style walnut bookcase features an upper part topped by a cornice above two glazed doors opening u...
Walnut
Vintage Iron And Glass Display Cabinet, 1970s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Vintage medicine cabinet from the 1970s, made in Hungary. This cabinet is a real eye-catcher thanks to its industrial design and all-glass walls on all four sides. Made of iron and g...
Iron
$1,557
H 24.81 in W 21.66 in D 11.82 in
Danish Henning Kjærnulf Style Small Curved Carved Chest of Drawers of Oak 1970s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Kurt Østervig
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Small curved and carved front chest of drawers most likely by the danish designer Henning Kjærnulf manufactured in Denmark in the 1970s. A cute piece of furniture, which can be used...
Brass
Brass and Glass Etagere or bookcase . Italy 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Etagere or bookcase .Brass 4 tier . Clear Glass tops . Good quality piece . comes with Just the right amount of patine .
Brass
$2,404
H 41.74 in W 42.52 in D 17.33 in
Danish Henning Kjærnulf Style Cabinet of Solid Oak 2 Glass Doors + Drawers 1970s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Kurt Østervig
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Display cabinet in the style of the danish designer Henning Kjærnulf manufactured by the company Møbelfabrikken Hindsholm in Denmark in the 1970s. The cabinet and vitrine is made b...
Brass
$2,500
H 65.5 in W 30.38 in D 16.88 in
1930s Medical Cabinet - Industrial - Medical Cabinet Glass Display Case Drawers
By A.S. Aloe Company
Located in St. Louis, MO
Authentic vintage 1930s industrial metal medical cabinet to display and store your collectables on castors. Double glass front doors open to adjustable shelving, note the original gl...
Metal
$1,350
H 46 in W 37.25 in D 12 in
Traditional Glass-Front Bookcase with Paneled Doors and Cabriole Legs
Located in Trenton, NJ
This traditional glass-front bookcase features a clean rectangular case elevated on cabriole legs, giving the piece a graceful stance and refined silhouette. The warm wood tone provi...
Wood
$1,779
H 41.34 in W 29.93 in D 14.57 in
Renato Zevi Gilded Brass Italian Bookcase with Glass Shelves, Romeo Rega 1970s
By Zevi & C., Renato Zevi
Located in Roma, IT
Incredible Hollywood Regency bookcase or etagere in gilt brass with four crystal glass shelves. This fantastic piece was designed and signed by Renato Zevi during ??the 1970s in Ital...
Metal, Brass
19thC English Painted Glazed Bookcase / Vitrine / Cabinet
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1880. 19thC English painted glazed bookcase vitrine cabinet Adjustable shelves in the top cabinet. Strong form with a narrow depth making a versatile decorators piece of furn...
Pine
Mod Pop Broyhill Premier Chapter One Sideboard & Hutch
Sold
H 30.32 in W 23.63 in L 30.32 in
Pierangelo Gallotti for Gallotti & Radice Space Age Italian Stereo Rack, 1980s
By Pierangelo Gallotti, Gallotti & Radice
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Stylish glass and steel stereo rack by Gallotti & Radice. Glasses are in perfect conditions, the mirror glass lower part has signs of the age.
Steel
Pair of Space Age Cylindrical Tower Bars
Located in Hanover, MA
Attributed to Pace collection these two six foot tall rolling cylindrical tower bars or liquor cabinets make me think of the cryogenic chambers space travelers use to sleep in suspended animation. Each is constructed of clear rolled plexiglas sheet capped on top and bottom by brushed steel laminate. Each is fitted with Lucite bottle racks and storage holders for glassware and other cocktail mixing accoutrement and is illuminated. In the center is a burl grain laminated surface with a demilune drop leaf...
Stainless Steel
Pair of Illuminated Lucite Etageres by Pace Collection
Located in Hanover, MA
Sleek and modern pair of 1970's illuminated etageres by the Pace Collection. Lucite shelves and supports on white acrylic illuminated base and tops. Shelves are fixed in place. On...