DESIGNING FOR THE ATOMIC AGE
Posted by Brenda Kelley Kim on 01/08/2021
When most people think of the “Atomic Age,” they think of Nagasaki, Hiroshima, and a mushroom cloud that ushered in the end of World War II and the beginning of the Space Age. At the time, it was a bit of a disconnect in that while the technology had arguably saved lives that would have been lost in a land war, it also meant that the end of the world was no longer an abstract concept. The joy of the war being over, alongside the schoolhouse “Duck and Cover” drills, is an ironic contrast when looking back at that time in history. The atom bomb had ended the war, but would Armegeddon follow now that the capability to blow the Earth up was available?
Deécor at the time was firmly Mid-Century Modern (MCM), with elements of chrome, Bakelite, and milk glass, but shapes, concepts, and designs based on the science behind the bomb were starting to emerge. The starburst clocks, boomerang patterns, and futuristic designs of home décor were a cross between the post-war Mad Men look, with a precursor of the Jetsons look that would hit television screens in 1962. The elements of design and art that came from this period were the subject of a major exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2001. The exhibit captured the paradox of sleek design and the fear of the apocalypse.
The Glow of Atomic Lighting
Lighting for the home is where you can find some of the best examples of Atomic Age design. With bases in beehive shapes, starburst elements, and fiberglass lampshades, lighting in the 1950s and 1960s might appear dated now, but it was the height of futuristic design back then.
With a base that evokes spinning neutrons and a shade with bursting atoms, this lamp is textbook atomic age.
The Atomic Era was all about the lighting, from desk lamps to ceiling fixtures and everything in between. One of the more well-known elements of lighting design from this period is the pole lamp. Some of them had a heavy base, but others were installed directly into the floor and the ceiling, with directional lamps along the pole. Designed to light up a dark corner or a reading nook, the pole lamps from the 1950s and 60s were almost exclusively in the atomic fashion, with cone-shaped shades of frosted glass. Gerald Thurston, known for MCM lighting design, made several spaceship-like lamps in this period and they are still highly sought after for their minimalist lines and retro look.
This lamp would be perfectly on-trend for a modern mid-century home
Through the Looking Glass
A common accessory in homes at the time were shadow boxes, for displaying small items. Usually, they had shelves and a mirrored back and most homes had one somewhere. Two companies, Turner Manufacturing Company and Illinois Molding Company, made the most popular ones and were also producers of affordable art prints, furniture, and home accessories. Many of the shadowboxes made at the time would hold small collections like salt and pepper shakers or perfume bottles and were a way to make a room look larger.
Mirrored shadow boxes were a popular way of reflecting the surroundings of an atomic age room.
While decidedly low-tech, mirrors were often framed to appear futuristic. To make a room appear more spacious, fisheye mirrors have always been a design go-to, and the atomic age was no exception. Adding wire elements with round spheres at the end echoed the design of Sputnik and made any atomic-designed space complete.
This fisheye mirror has a decidedly atomic age look.
Even when not at home, the atomic flair could go right along in a ladies purse, with a powder compact that was perfect for the time.
Even powdering one’s nose could be done in the atomic theme.
Bottoms Up
No matter what the trend in décor is at a given time, it will show up in the items we use every day. In the atomic age of design, backyard BBQs and cocktail parties were how many families spent time together. Glassware, barware, and dishes were a way to showcase snacks and drinks and still match the living room vibe. While chips and dip might seem like a Superbowl party snack, the fact is that the practice of dipping a chip into a gooey concoction of sour cream and onion began in the atomic age. Enter the “chip and dip,” a popular gift for newlyweds.
With its atomic design, painted in gold on frosted glass in a shape reminiscent of a spacecraft, this chip and dipper is out of this world
While it’s not true that everyone in the 1950s was chugging down highballs on the regular, barware was a staple in every home. Bring on the cocktail shaker caddy sets! Every home bar had to be properly equipped so caddy sets were a good way to showcase atomic design elements and still have all the tools needed for that perfect martini.
If a martini isn’t your regular tipple, no worries. Sets that included glasses, an ice bucket, a pitcher, and a tray could easily be found on patios and picnic tables. While styles today are more eclectic, in design elements, the atomic age was about a cohesive theme where everything matches.
How about a cold drink in a retro pitcher with matching glasses that sold for $99 recently?
While we know now how scary that threat of nuclear war was and how close the country came to it during the Cuban Missile crisis, looking at the living rooms and kitchens of the atomic age shows more of a lust for life than the fallout shelters many homeowners built. Perhaps that’s a good way to look at the era? It was scary, but some good design and art came out of it.
Brenda Kelley Kim lives in the Boston area. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep End of Everywhere and writes a weekly syndicated column for Gannett News/Wicked Local. When not writing or walking her snorty pug Penny, she enjoys yard sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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