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.
Dining Room Table 1960°, '4/6 People', France, Material, Wood, Bronze Ferrules
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...
Bronze
Mid Century Modern Dining Room Table in Walnut by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff, Dillingham Manufacturing Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A clean line dining table by Arthur Umanoff circa 1960's. It features beautiful walnut wood construction. It comes with one 18 inch leaves not...
Walnut
$11,539Sale Price|70% Off
H 29.53 in W 39.38 in D 157.49 in
Industrial Rustic Dining, Conference Room Wooden Table with Cast Iron Legs
Located in Riga, LV
Dining table ETNA. An industrial, modern interplay of shapes, materials and proportions, this dining table encompasses fine craftsmanship daring to stand out of any design rules. This unique table is handmade from two centuries old solid ash which is seated on huge metal factories cast iron wheel. The table top has natural wooden look that makes a perfect balance with metallic brass finished table legs. Eventually the brass on tables...
Metal, Brass
$5,520Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.5 in W 75.5 in D 42 in
Dunbar Wormley Dining Table in Rosewood Model 936 C 1960's
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Stunning rosewood dining table designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture. The table features a rich and vibrant rosewood veneer top on an architectural pedestal base, with original metal disk...
Rosewood
Mid Century Modern Walnut Extension Dining Room Table
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant black walnut dining table attributed to the Founders Furniture Company. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear, it was well taken care of. Two large leav...
Walnut
$20,212Sale Price|25% Off
H 30.25 in W 53.5 in D 96 in
Cocobolo Dining Table by Don S. Shoemaker, 1960s Modern Design
Located in Chattanooga, TN
An architectural marvel in living form, this Cocobolo rosewood dining table by Don S. Shoemaker for Señal, Mexico, commands attention as both functional object and sculptural stateme...
Cocobolo
$4,500Sale Price|30% Off
H 29.25 in W 62.25 in D 39 in
Exotic Mixed Woods Dining Table by Milo Baughman for Directional, 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This beautifully refinished exotic wood inlay 1960's California Modern dining table by Milo Baughman for Directional features highly grained exotic woods creating contrasting lines s...
Wood
$2,404Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.32 in W 96.86 in D 39.38 in
French Extending Teak Dining Table Mid-century, circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
Dining table, French, circa 1970 Teak wood When folded, the table measures 59.05 in. (150 cm) Very good condition, like new: this table has always been kept and used with a thick tab...
Teak
Italian Boat-Shaped Dining Table in Walnut Wood
Located in Boston, MA
The Manta dining table designed by Giuseppe Bavuso for Rimadesio is a table with an essential and refined look, consistent with the unique Rimadesio philosophy. The modular structure...
Aluminum
$2,195
H 30 in W 42 in D 84 in
Mid Century Modern Teak Parsons Dining Room & Conference Table Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Elegant large teak dining table with brass detail accenting the apron. Table is seven foot long by three and a half wide. Simple design with sq...
Brass
Dining Table Made In Rosewood, Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
The dining table crafted in luxurious rosewood epitomizes the elegance and sophistication of Danish design during the 1960s. Characterized by clean lines, organic shapes, and exquis...
Rosewood
$90,000
H 29.53 in W 94.49 in D 47.25 in
Volante, Contemporary Cast Bronze and Marble Sculptural Dining Table
By Katz Studio
Located in San Jose del Cabo, BCS
The Volante Dining Table transforms the movement of wind swept fabric into a sculptural structure of permanence and weight. Its cast bronze supports rise in flowing folds beneath the...
Marble, Bronze
$33,900
H 31.5 in W 118 in D 37 in
18th Century Italian Antique Tuscan Renaissance Walnut Dining Room Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rectangular, antique very long Tuscan Renaissance dining room table made of hand crafted Walnut, in good condition. The top of the Italian center table has a dark original patina w...
Metal, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 28.75 in W 98.43 in D 39.38 in
Rare Large Hans von Klier Mahogany Table for Skipper Italy 1970s
By Hans Von Klier, Gruppo Skipper
Located in Echt, NL
Impressive dining / conference table by Hans Von Klier in very good condition. Manufactured in the 1970s by Gruppo Skipper, Italy The mahogany top has rounded edges with aluminum i...
Metal