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.
Italian Space Age Cocktail Console by Ken Scott with Original Fabric
By Ken Scott
Located in Milano, IT
Tall Cocktail Console - Design by Ken Scott, ca. 1969 This remarkable tall cocktail console is a vibrant expression of the artistic vision of Ken Scott, a celebrated figure in 20th-c...
Fabric, Wood
Paul Evans Studio Wall Mounted Space Console
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans Studio Wall Mounted Space Console, Paul Evans Studio 1965c. Stainless steel case with leather drawer front. Very few of these were produced. (Craig Ellwood Painting pictur...
Stainless Steel
Unusual American Console in Wood, Bronze and Stone, 1950
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Amaizing console Material: bronze, wood and stone Country: American We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982.If you have any questio...
Stone, Bronze
Consolle Massiccia in Acciaio e Vetro - Italia - Anni '80
Located in Milano, IT
Una consolle unica nel suo genere, un pò industriale, con questa struttura in tubi d'acciaio raccordati con elementi modulari che la rendono solida e pesante, ma al contempo delicata...
Steel
1970s hanging console table
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Hanging console table from the 1970s of Italian manufacture. Lacquered wood frame with glass top and mirror. The console table with its mirror has a very recognizable design with t...
Glass, Mirror, Wood
$1,900
H 9 in W 48 in D 12 in
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Floating Shelf or Console Table Chrome & Brass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design, a cityscape wall shelf designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features Fine heavy construction with brass & chrome clad patchwork design. Includes two L ...
Brass, Chrome
Modern Reclaimed Wood Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern reclaimed wood console table. A truly unique piece crafted from 100-year-old floorboards. The reclaimed top sits on a pine base with a double x design. Dimensions: 93" W...
Wood
Signed Paul Evans 'Cityscape' Patchwork Wall Console
By Paul Evans
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This unique vintage wall mount console makes a unique display shelf in a variety of interiors. Cityscape design makes this patchwork chrome wall shelf...
Chrome
1970s Elephant Sconce Console Table by Chapman
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Discover the 1970s Chapman Elephant Console Table, a blend of coastal elegance and Palm Beach luxury.
Wood
$4,850
H 26.25 in W 60 in D 20 in
Console / Sofa Table in Brass and Glass by Design Institute of America, Signed
Located in Kansas City, MO
Console / Sofa / Hall Table in brass and glass by Design Institute of America (DIA), 1970s. Striking design in which the original glass inserts into the brass frames with a screw on ...
Brass
Paul McCobb Wall-Mounted Floating Console
By Paul McCobb
Located in Culver City, CA
Introducing an extraordinary mid-century wall-mounted floating three-tier console, a sought-after piece designed by the esteemed Paul McCobb for Bryce Originals in the 1950s. With it...
Steel, Cut Steel
Travertine Console Table, Italy 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian Travertine 1970s console table designed by Stone International, Italy. Warm cream and gray stone table top edged in teak. Dimensions:139W x 74H x 57D.Perfect Original Cond...
Travertine
$3,455
H 31.7 in W 22.45 in D 15.36 in
18th Century Danish Rococo Console with Original Italian Marble Top
Located in Kastrup, DK
Rococo console crafted from pine, meticulously stripped by a conservator to reveal its original, beautiful gray-marbled finish with natural patina. The console is topped with its or...
Marble
1970s Chrome and Maple Console Table
Located in North Charleston, SC
Elegant Mid-Century Modern chrome and maple console table, circa 1970s. The sleek rectangular form features a polished chrome frame that encases a warm maple wood top and side insets...
Chrome
$2,200
H 27.5 in W 44 in D 17 in
Unusual Console Table by Lane from the "Copenhagen" Collection ca' 1950's
By Lane Acclaim
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual console by Lane circa 1950s from the "Copenhagen" collection. Original cut out with planter, lower shelf, Danish meets Chinese modern with beautiful woods and patina, tape...
Wood
Modern Glass and Metal Table in the Style of Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An eye-catching table in the style of designer Paul Evans, this rectangular table features a glass top on a geometric, unusual metal base. Please confirm item location with seller (N...
Metal
$6,800 / item
H 35 in W 49.5 in D 15.5 in
Console Table Stainless, Bronze Made in Chicago Any Dimension Optional Finishes
By Old Plank Road
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Custom handmade stainless steel and bronze console table with your choice of tops. Having a custom finish in a mottled charcoal effect shown in images 4, 5, & 6 and handmade to the d...
Bronze, Stainless Steel
Red painted metal sheet and mirror console, 1970s.
Located in Lisboa, PT
Red painted metal sheet and mirror rectangular console. Spain, 1970s.
Metal
Pair of half moon wooden console tables, 1950s.
Located in Lisboa, PT
Pair of half moon wooden console tables resting on three feet supporting two table tops. Portugal, 1950s.
Wood
Sold
H 25.6 in W 70.87 in D 15.75 in
Italian 70s Console Table attributable to Saporiti in Chrome Metal, Smoke Glass
By Saporiti
Located in Roma, IT
A console attributed to the production of the Saporiti brand based on a design by Vitottorio Introini, made in Italy between the 60s and 70s. The structure is in chromed metal, remov...
Chrome
Sold
H 120 in W 63 in D 12 in
Buck Rogers Inspired Wall Mirror & Overlapping Console Table 1980s Memphis Style
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Seemingly straight out of the set of a Buck Rogers episode, this amazing two part wall-mirror and overlapping wall-console are truly stylish time-capsule condition pieces! I purchase...
Aluminum
Fiberglass Coffee Table Manufactured by Brionvega, 1970s
Sold
H 20.48 in W 51.19 in D 18.51 in
Pluto Kids Table/Play Desk by Pierre Colleu for Disney, Manufactured by Starform
Located in Munster, NRW
Pluto‘ kids table / play desk, by pierre colleu for disney, manufactured by starform, france, 1980s, painted resin, laminated wood, plastic. Good original co...
Resin, Plastic, Rubber, Wood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 29.53 in D 7.88 in
1970s Vintage Chromed console and mirror Set in Italian Space Age Style
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
A 1970s vintage chromed entrance set in italian space age style. Set composed by a chromed and bakelite wall mirror and a multilevel Chromed and glass console. In very good condition...
Chrome
Italian Space Age, White Enameled Wood Entrance Consolle, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Space Age, white enameled wood entrance consolle, 1970s Entrance console in white enameled wood on the front and visible sides and base and back in walnut-stained wood, from...
Wood
Sold
H 28.75 in W 35.44 in D 11.82 in
Pair of Console Table Brass and Chrome by Belgo Chrome. Belgium, 1980s
By Belgo Chrome
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of console table full brass and chrome metal, tick glass top by the editor Belgo Chrome. Very quality, rare and complex manufacturing labyrinth model. Famous design like Romeo R...
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Charles Hollis Jones Style Lucite Waterfall Console Table
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Lucite waterfall console table or desk in the style of iconic furniture designer and manufacturer Charles Hollis Jones. With i...
Lucite
J. Wade Beam "Off Beam" Console
By Breutton`, J. Wade Beam
Located in Hanover, MA
"Off Beam" Console Table by J. Wade Beam for Brueton. USA. The chrome polished stainless steel trough with radiused ends and stainless steel connector...
Limestone
Space Age Cantilevered Lacquered Console Table
By Pierre Cardin, Karl Springer
Located in Peabody, MA
Space Age cantilevered console table finished in a high gloss lacquer, ca. early 1980s, in the manner of Karl Springer or Pierre Cardin. 3/4" thick plate glass top.
Wood, Glass