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 Nesting Tables, space age design, Cassina, Italy circa 1970s
Located in leucate, FR
Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina. Set of 3 Interlocking square nesting tables. A classic of space age design. The 3 tables are stackable to create a square block. ( like Tetris )....
Smoked Glass, Wood
Chrome and Thick Glass Set of 3 Nesting Tables, 1970s, Germany
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Chrome and Thick Glass Set of 3 Nesting Tables, 1970s, Germany Measurtements : 55 cm x 55 cm x 45 cm Please do not hesitate to ask us if you have any...
Chrome
Max Sauze Nesting Tables, 1970’s
By Max Sauze
Located in Bern, CH
Set of 1970’s Isocele nesting tables by Max Sauze (set includes 3 tables). Clear glass tabletop with black metal frame. Measurements: Small Table - Height 40cm Width 40cm Depth 40cm...
Metal
$695 / set
Set of Three Stacking Lucite Side Tables
Located in New York, NY
Chic set of three stacking side tables, having square white plastic tops, supported by angled transparent lucite legs, with brushed aluminum joinery. The tables are graduated in s...
Lucite
$1,368Sale Price / set|35% Off
Giotto Stoppino Elco Scorze, 1970s Scagno stacking coffee tables, set of 3
By Giotto Stoppino, Elco
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Set of 3 plastic space age Scagno coffee tables or stools by architect Giotto Stoppino. Made for Elco in Italy in the 1970s The pieces are versatile. You can stack them and use them...
Plastic
Modernist Vintage Lucite Waterfall Nesting Tables Side Tables 1970s Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Modernist vintage nesting table from lucite in beautiful waterfall form 1970s Italy. A wonderful set of three ( 3 ) tables in different sizes - nesting tables or stacking tables - in...
Lucite
$884Sale Price / set|20% Off
Nesting Tables with Grey Smoked Glass, Milo Baughman Style, 1970s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice stylish set off nesting tables .Square chrome metal frame ,comes with a Grey smoked glass top ,. Still completely original . In the style of Milo Baughman 1970s. L H...
Chrome
$2,588 / set
1970s Nesting Tables by Luciano Frigerio
Located in Milan, IT
1970s Stunning nesting tables by Luciano Frigerio.
Wood
1970s Nesting Table in Smoked Glass & Chrome
Located in Torquay, GB
Mid-century set of 3 nesting tables in the manner of Milo Baughman, circa 1970s Consists of slim chromed steel feet with smoked glass tops. Very elegant tables. Will complement most ...
Steel, Chrome
1978 Space Age Nesting Tables in Black Ebonized Wood and Chrome
By Ligne Roset
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice set of nesting table .Black Ebonized wood ,comes with Chrome round Legs . 1970s France .
Chrome
$5,236 / set
H 17.01 in Dm 23.63 in
Gianfranco Frattini Large Version Nesting Tables for Cassina, Italy, 1966
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Milan, IT
Gianfranco Frattini large version nesting tables for Cassina, Italy, 1966. Wood nesting tables with black and white interchangeable tops Original Cassina labels.
Formica, Wood
$1,396 / set
H 19.49 in W 21.66 in D 13.78 in
Set of Three Hand-Crafted Nesting Tables in Travertine, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Set of Three Hand-Crafted Nesting Tables in Travertine, 1970s Beautiful set of three elegant nesting tables of three different sizes in order to be put one below the other. Hand-Cra...
Travertine
Slate Stone Brutalist Nesting Tables, 1970s, France
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Brutalist set of Three nesting tables. Wrought iron comes with a Slate stone top. Very good condition. 1970s.
Slate
$3,025
H 15.56 in W 17.52 in D 15.36 in
Set of 3 Nesting Tables in Lucite Faux Tortoiseshell Christian Dior, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing set of three nesting tables in lucite faux tortoiseshell effect in the style of Christian Dior. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Dimensions: Biggest table: 39.5 H x...
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
$1,305Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 22.25 in W 21.86 in D 13.78 in
Trio of Vintage Nesting Tables, Italian, Gilt Composite, Side Table, Circa 1970
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a trio of vintage nesting tables. An Italian, gilt composite side table, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970. Enthusiastic Rococo revival taste to this distinctive...
Other
$1,163
H 16.34 in Dm 29.53 in
Chrome and Smoked Crystal Round Italian Coffee Table, Giotto Stoppino, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful round coffee or side table in chromed metal with smoked crystal glass top. This stylish coffee table was designed in Italy in the 1970s in the style of Giotto Stoppino. Th...
Crystal, Metal, Chrome
$791
H 14.57 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Chrome and Smoked Glass Round Italian Coffee Table, Giotto Stoppino Style, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful coffee table in chromed metal with smoked glass top. This lovely table was designed in Italy in the 1970s in the style of Giotto Stoppino. This charming round table featur...
Metal, Chrome
1970s smoked glass chrome table by Giotto Stoppino elegant. XX century.
Located in Palermo, IT
table in question features a design reminiscent of the creations of Giotto Stoppino or, alternatively, those of Gastone Rinaldi, both prominent Italian designers of the 20th century....
Iron
$2,210
H 17.92 in W 22.84 in D 22.84 in
Wood and Glass Set of Three Nesting Tables by Gianfranco Frattini, Italy 1970s
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful set of three nesting tables in wood and smoked glass attributed to Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Smoked Glass, Wood
$4,898 / set
H 28.15 in Dm 51.19 in
Dining Room Set with Table and Four Chairs by Giotto Stoppino, Italy 1970s
Located in Hellouw, NL
Very nice dining room set by Giotto Stoppino from the 1970s in Italy. This set consists of a dining table and four matching dining room chairs. The table has a tubular, chrome-plated...
Metal, Chrome
Gianfranco Frattini Nesting Table 1970s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Gianfranco Frattini Nesting Table for Meblo Slovenia 1970s
Glass, Wood
1970s Nesting Tables by Luciano Frigerio
Located in Milan, IT
1970s Stunning nesting tables by Luciano Frigerio.
Wood
Sold
H 15.75 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
1960s Italian Space Age Giotto Stoppino Tables 4905/6/7 for Kartell, Orange Set
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
This rare orange set of three nesting tables, designed by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell in 1968, embodies the futuristic elegance of Italian Space Age design. Models 4905, 4906, and 49...
Plastic
Rosenthal Large Black Fiberglass nesting tables 1970s Germany
By Rosenthal
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stunning set of Three Three Black Fiberglass nesting tables . Manufactured by Rosenthal in the 1970s Germany . Great looking set ,and rare .Space Age in style . Good condition .nor...
Fiberglass
Sold
H 36.23 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Mario Bellini 'Quattro Gatti' Nesting Tables C&B in Mustard Yellow Resin 1960s
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
A rare and collectible example of radical Italian design, this original set of Quattro Gatti nesting tables was designed by Mario Bellini and produced by C&B Italia in the late 1...
Plastic
Sold
H 36.23 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Mario Bellini 'Quattro Gatti' Nesting Tables for C&B in Black Fiberlite, 1960s
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
The ‘Quattro Gatti’ nesting tables, designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Meda Italia in 1967, are an exemplary work of 1960s Space Age furniture...
Plastic
Sold
H 14.97 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
Gae Aulenti Table Model 4894 for Kartell in White Polyurethane, 1970s
By Kartell, Gae Aulenti
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
The Gae Aulenti Table 4894, produced for Kartell in 1974, is an iconic piece in the Space Age and mid-century design movements, bridging functionality and industrial elegance. This...
Resin
Sold
H 36.23 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Mario Bellini 'Quattro Gatti' Nesting Tables for C&B in Orange Fiberlite, 1960s
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
The ‘Quattro Gatti’ nesting tables, designed by Mario Bellini for C&B Meda Italia in 1967, are an exemplary work of 1960s Space Age furniture...
Plastic
Sold
H 8.27 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Vintage Demetrio 45 Stackable Table by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Set of 2
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Elevate your interior with a pair of exquisite Demetrio 45 tables designed by the renowned Vico Magistretti and produced by Artemide in the late 60s...
Resin
1970s Giotto Stoppino for Kartell Italian Modern Nesting Tables Brown Set of 3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1970s Nesting tables By Giotto Stoppino for Kartell, manufactured by Beylerian Three chocolate brown plastic tables in graduated sizes, each with three legs and raised edges. Stamped in relief to underside: Kartell ® - Milano / Designer: Giotto Stoppino Made in U.S.A. by Beylerian Limited - Patent...
Plastic
Set of Three Nesting Tables by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell
Located in LYON, FR
A set of three futuristic or space-age plastic nesting tables by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell. Made in Australia circa 1970's and stam...
Plastic
Large Chrome Nesting tables Eileen Gray Style 1970s
By Eileen Gray
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice and unusual set of nesting table . Round shaped. larger then normal . Chrome Metal frame ,comes with Glass tops . Easy and practical in use . The measurements are for th...
Chrome
Set of Three Nesting Tables by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell Putty Grey, 1970s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of three futuristic or space-age plastic nesting tables by Giotto Stoppino for Kartell. Made in Italy circa 1970s. All three ar...
Plastic
Smoked Lucite Side Tables Michel Dumas, 1970s, France
Located in Den Haag, NL
Two beautiful side tables or nesting tables. Smoked Lucite sides, connecting by Clear Lucite rods comes with cut Glass tops. So stylish this set of 2. 1970s France.
Lucite