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Postal Cabinet

Antique postal sorting desk
Located in Franklin, TN
Antique wooden post office sorting desk with a beautiful, rich brown patina.
Category

Early 20th Century Desks

Materials

Wood

Antique postal sorting desk
Antique postal sorting desk
H 47 in W 42 in D 30 in
Vintage Postal Sorting Desk
Located in Oakville, CT
Antique Post Office Sorting Desk Overall Dimensions: 30" x 48" x 75" high *Please inquire for a ship quote* Materials: Oak & Maple
Category

Mid-20th Century American Desks

Materials

Oak, Maple

Vintage Postal Sorting Desk
Vintage Postal Sorting Desk
H 75 in W 48 in D 30 in
Antique 19th Century Walnut Shenandoah Valley Moravian Plantation / Postal Desk
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique 19th Century American plantation / postal desk, handcrafted by Moravian craftsmen in the
Category

Antique 19th Century American American Craftsman Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

1940s industrial archaeology archive
Located in bari, IT
Postal archive container with twelve open compartments plus one drawer 1940s
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Walnut

1940s industrial archaeology archive
1940s industrial archaeology archive
H 50.01 in W 21.26 in D 15.75 in
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy
By Raymond Lowey, Mengel Furniture Co.
Located in Topeka, KS
office used as a desk, but we also think it would be a great Gentleman’s chest or cabinet. Use the bottom
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Industrial Era Post Office Box Tower
Located in Bridgeport, CT
with two combination locks for security and glass panels. Open backs for the postal clerk to insert the
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

Industrial Era Post Office Box Tower
Industrial Era Post Office Box Tower
H 47.25 in W 9.5 in D 11 in
Mid-Century Modern Mengel Limed & Cerused Oak Telephone Bench by Raymond Lowey
By Raymond Lowey, Mengel Furniture Co.
Located in Topeka, KS
Postal Service. The disappearance of the composite body ended Mengel’s work for Ford and other automobile
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Metal

People Also Browsed

A Stylish and Unique Bauhaus Meets Industrial Desk, Circa 1940's/50's
Located in Hastings, GB
This stylish and highly functional desk was probably a one off commission, its rarity suggests so. It has a built in Bakelite switch that turns on the elegant angle poise light by Ad...
Category

Vintage 1940s French Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Fabulous Rosewood and Chrome Credenza by Ste. Marie and Laurent
By Andre Laurent
Located in Pemberton, NJ
This Ste-Marie and Laurent sideboard has beautiful rosewood grain and a black faux leather top. This Mid-Century credenza floats on a modern chrome cantilever base and is finished on...
Category

Vintage 1960s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Chrome

Antique library table
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Beautiful antique rosewood library table in perfect and completely original condition. Beautiful drawing of the rosewood and impressive table legs. The table can be used for multiple...
Category

Antique 1830s British William IV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Antique library table
Antique library table
H 28.75 in W 53.94 in D 28.35 in
George Nelson Action Office Architect's Roll-Top Desk for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Dallas, TX
Striking black and walnut roll-top architect's desk with three drawers and hidden file storage. Produced in 1964 by the Herman Miller company for the Action Office Series. Retai...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Large Oak Library Table From France
Located in High Point, NC
Immerse yourself in the grandeur of a large antique oak library table, a timeless piece that seamlessly blends sophistication and functionality. Crafted from aged oak, this table exu...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Tables

Materials

Oak

Large Oak Library Table From France
Large Oak Library Table From France
H 30.5 in W 79 in D 39 in
1940's Oak Industrial Chest
Located in Port Chester, NY
An industrial oak chest or cabinet from 1940's England. We believe the grooves on the front and back interior of each drawer, shown in thumbnails, may speak to the piece's past as a...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Credenzas

Materials

Oak

1940's Oak Industrial Chest
1940's Oak Industrial Chest
H 28 in W 58.5 in D 21.75 in
Hans Wegner RY-32 Desk, 1960
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in London, GB
Hans Wegner RY-32 desk, circa 1960. Oak desk from Danish icon Hans Wegner produced by Ry Mobler. The legs, drawers and frame are made from solid, patinated oak whilst the top is o...
Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Hans Wegner RY-32 Desk, 1960
Hans Wegner RY-32 Desk, 1960
H 28.35 in W 39.38 in D 20.48 in
Vintage 1940's Industrial Green Metal Truss Drafting Stool
Located in Lafayette, IN
This great little stool was made by the Angle Steel Stool company and was used in a Pharmacy Dept lab at Purdue University its whole life. Stool features a heavy-duty, riveted, bridg...
Category

Vintage 1940s American Industrial Stools

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Modern Teak Wood Roll Top Secretary Desk by Egon Ostergaard 1960s
By Egon Ostergaard
Located in Hawthorne, CA
Teak wood roll top desk made in Sweden, designed by Egon Ostergaard. Curved top opens upward to reveal divided cubbies and three small drawers (two black pulls on each end and a bras...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood, Teak

19th Century English Victorian Campaign Style Travel Desk Writing Box
Located in Forney, TX
A antique Victorian era English campaign style brass bound mahogany portable lap desk / writing slope with nicely aged patina. circa 1850 Commonly used by military officers in the f...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Low Boy Dresser Vanity
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful scandinavian modern dresser-vanity in teak manufactured in Denmark in the 1960's. This clever piece, recently imported rom Europe to California before its refinis...
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dressers

Materials

Teak

French Provencial Writing Desk by Sligh Furniture
By Sligh Furniture
Located in Pasadena, TX
French Provencial writing desk by Sligh Furniture Vintage leather top half moon desk by Sligh. Walnut and tooled black leather top. Five drawers with brass filigreed pulls and plate...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American French Provincial Desks

Materials

Walnut

1940s Aircraft Airplane Seat Aluminum and Leather Genuine Aviation Chair
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1940s Industrial Aviation Aircraft Genuine Seat Vintage Aviator Aluminum & Leather Airplane Chair Unmarked. Unpolished. 32.25 tall x 17.25 w x 22.5 d Seat 16.75 h Wear consistent wit...
Category

Vintage 1940s American Industrial Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Gothic Revival Hand-Carved Oak Pedestal Desk, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and ultra rare Gothic Revival pedestal desk. Striking Dutch design from the 1900s The craftsmanship of this impressive piece of furniture is outstanding! Executed in so...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Dutch Gothic Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Contemporary Trestle Table "Work" in Solid White Oak by Casey Lurie USA
By Casey Lurie
Located in Chicago, IL
Introduced in 2016, WORK table is a contemporary take on the traditional working tables used by artists and designers for centuries. The table has height adjustable trestles made of...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak

19th C Antique Military Campaign English Traveling Writing Desk Tompson Patent
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique, circa mid 19th Century English Military Campaign traveling writing or lap desk with brass details, a fitted leather and gilt interior, two ink bottles, pen tray and compa...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Desks

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Recent Sales

French Industrial Age Postal Cabinet
Located in Wilton, CT
An outstanding 1930's French steel cabinet. There are 24 drop-doors all having the original copper
Category

Vintage 1930s French Industrial Cabinets

Materials

Steel, Copper, Brass

Vintage Dutch Postal Cubbies
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very cool and highly desirable enameled metal vintage postal sorting unit. In original condition
Category

Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Vintage Dutch Postal Cubbies
Vintage Dutch Postal Cubbies
H 72.25 in W 57.25 in D 11.75 in
French Postal Desk
Located in Wichita, KS
We were delighted to find this charming vintage French postal desk. Desks like these were common in
Category

20th Century Unknown Desks

French Postal Desk
French Postal Desk
H 76 in W 41 in D 29 in
Vintage Dutch Postal Cubbies
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique cresent shaped Dutch postal cubby. Equipped with 24 individual cubby spaces and secured to a
Category

Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal

Vintage Dutch Postal Cubbies
Vintage Dutch Postal Cubbies
H 67 in W 49.5 in D 19.5 in
Antique Wood Postal Sorting Desk
Located in Oakville, CT
Wooden post office sorting desk Overall dimensions: 72" x 26" x 75 1/2" high Top section: 72" x 9 1/2" x 47" high Bottom section: 72" x 26" x 28" high (to desk top) Cubby size: 2...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Cabinets

Materials

Maple, Oak

Antique Wood Postal Sorting Desk
Antique Wood Postal Sorting Desk
H 75.5 in W 72 in D 26 in
Industrial Oak and Steel Postal Desk
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Fantastic industrial desk from an East coast postal office. All original customizable cubbiess for
Category

Mid-20th Century American Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Steel

Industrial Oak and Steel Postal Desk
Industrial Oak and Steel Postal Desk
H 68.5 in W 83 in D 22 in
Vintage Industrial Metal Postal Service Desk
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Vintage metal postal service desk on casters, removable shelf.
Category

20th Century American Industrial Desks

Materials

Metal

Belgian Postal Office Mahogany Pigeon Holes Office Storage
Located in Southampton, GB
Smart set of Belgian postal/office mahogany / pine pigeon holes. With 12 upper pigeon holes above
Category

20th Century Belgian Cupboards

Materials

Pine

Antique Solid Oak Slotted Postal Sorting Desk, circa 1939
Located in San Francisco, CA
About An antique solid oak postal desk with several removable shelves, drawer with brass handle
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Solid Oak Sloted Postal Sorting Desk, circa 1939
Located in San Francisco, CA
About An antique solid oak postal desk with several removable shelves, drawer with brass handle
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Solid Oak Slotted Postal Sorting Desk, circa 1939
Located in San Francisco, CA
About: An antique solid oak postal desk with several removable shelves, drawer with brass handle
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Desks

Materials

Brass

Metal Postal Desk with Attached Filing Unit France Post Office, 1900s
Located in Jersey City, NJ
, by Frances postal service for sorting and filing mail. Some have swing chairs and some are without
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desks

Materials

Metal

Metal Desk with Storage Rack Postal Desk, circa 1920 Made in France
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Metal post office desk with adjustable filing partition finished in red. Five available.
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desks

Post Office Sorting Station
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Polished Steel Desk, used by French Postal Service to sort Mail. 25 Compartments, with Work
Category

Vintage 1950s French Desks

Materials

Steel

Post Office Sorting Station
Post Office Sorting Station
H 70 in W 49 in D 28 in
Danish Pine Filing Shelf 1940s
Located in Valby, 84
Rare Danish solid pine filing shelf made for the danish postal service in the 1940s. This filing
Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Pine

Danish Pine Filing Shelf 1940s
Danish Pine Filing Shelf 1940s
H 31.7 in W 18.51 in D 10.44 in
Industrial Postman Shelf, France, 1950s
Located in Hamburg, DE
This shelf is an old postal delivery or sorting shelf from France from the 1950s. It has been
Category

Vintage 1950s French Industrial Shelves

Materials

Metal

Industrial Postman Shelf, France, 1950s
Industrial Postman Shelf, France, 1950s
H 75.4 in W 49.22 in D 29.53 in
Swedish 19th Century Painted Chest
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Swedish xix painted chest with 3 large and 3 small drawers. There are 7 small postal compartments
Category

Antique 1880s Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Swedish 19th Century Painted Chest
Swedish 19th Century Painted Chest
H 38.5 in W 29.5 in D 19 in
Antique Viennese Thonet Bentwood Canterbury Magazine Rack Early 20th Century
Located in London, GB
Thonet (2 July 1796, Boppard – 3 March 1871, Vienna) was a German-Austrian cabinet maker, known for the
Category

Vintage 1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Magazine Racks and Stands

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Antique British Solid Oak Library or Postal Cabinet
Located in Wilton, CT
Exceptional British antique, solid oak library or postal cabinet in all original condition. Top
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Industrial Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Old French Postal Sorting Cabinet, Vintage Desk, All Metal 1950's
Located in Hoogeveen, NL
Old French postal sorting cabinet. All metal including adjustable original metal seat. Dating from
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Metal

English Postal Bookcase, Early 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Rare English postal bookcase from the beginning of the 19th century Unique piece with its
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Bookcases

Materials

Giltwood

English Postal Bookcase, Early 19th Century
English Postal Bookcase, Early 19th Century
H 44.1 in W 48.82 in D 16.54 in
Antique Standard Furniture Co. Oak Raised Panel Roll Top Desk, circa 1890
By The Standard Furniture Company
Located in Big Flats, NY
, bronze hardware throughout; piece reminiscent of merchant, professor or postal desk, circa 1890
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Desks

Materials

Oak

British Field Marshal's Campaign Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
writing surface, clearly labelled drawers, a working postal scale and numerous filing slots. Also
Category

20th Century English Campaign Desks

Materials

Mahogany

British Field Marshal's Campaign Desk
British Field Marshal's Campaign Desk
H 44.75 in W 28.25 in D 17.5 in
U.S. Post Office Letterbox and Chute by Cutler Mfg, circa 1920s
By Cutler Mail Chute Co.
Located in Surrey, BC
the front of the cabinet. A rare and elegant piece made for the U.S. Mail. Dimensions 37 H” x 21 W” x
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

Office Cabinet Antique Bookcase Antique Mahogany Postal Cabinet
Located in Vancouver, BC
Office cabinet antique bookcase antique mahogany postal cabinet B775 Scotland 1870 Solid
Category

Antique 1870s Scottish Victorian Bookcases

Materials

Mahogany

Modular Stacking Postal Cabinet
Located in Treasure Island, CA
Good looking mega multi-drawer cabinet, perfect for vintage office installation.
Category

Vintage 1940s American Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Modular Stacking Postal Cabinet
Modular Stacking Postal Cabinet
H 57.75 in W 45 in D 13.5 in
Cabinet Used to Slot Mail, US Postal Service, 1957
Located in Madison, WI
Postal cabinet from 1957 used to slot mail. Rock solid wooden structure with dovetail joinery
Category

Vintage 1950s American Industrial Cabinets

Materials

Steel

Postal Filing Cabinet with Numbered Mail Slots
Located in Madison, WI
Postal filing cabinet with numerous numbered mail slots.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Bank of postal pigeon holes and Spice Cabinet
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Bank of postal pigeon holes, $475. Small pine spice cabinet with drawers 12w x 18.5H x 6D $435.00
Category

Antique 19th Century English Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Pine

French Postal Sorter
Located in Houston, TX
vintage postal sorter, top divided section pulls forward on track, lower level has flip down
Category

20th Century French Desks

Materials

Steel

French Postal Sorter
French Postal Sorter
H 75 in W 41 in D 36 in
French Postal Desk
Located in New York, NY
Sorting desk for rue de lafayette arrondisement
Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks

Materials

Metal

French Postal Desk
French Postal Desk
H 72 in W 48 in D 36 in
French Postal Desk
Located in New York, NY
Sorting desk for rue de lafayette arrondisement
Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks

Materials

Metal

French Postal Desk
French Postal Desk
H 72 in W 48 in D 36 in
PIne paneled postal desk
Located in Boston, MA
Pine paneled postal desk with black trim, two drawers and cabinets.
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

Materials

Pine

PIne paneled postal desk
PIne paneled postal desk
H 36 in W 47 in D 28 in
Industrial Postal Desk Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Metal and steel desk in 2 separate parts, top with 2 doors and 2 shelves
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

Materials

Steel, Metal

Industrial Postal Desk Secretaire
Industrial Postal Desk Secretaire
H 67.5 in W 37 in D 25 in
French steel postal sorting desk
Located in Kensington, MD
French brushed steel postal sorting desk with 36-compartment Cartesian grid storage section and
Category

20th Century French Desks

Materials

Steel

French steel postal sorting desk
French steel postal sorting desk
H 76 in W 49.5 in D 28 in
French 1930's Steel Postal Desk
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Steel French postal workers desk with unusual bent steel sides and sliding front shelf. The
Category

20th Century French Desks

French 1930's Steel Postal Desk
French 1930's Steel Postal Desk
H 32 in W 74 in D 29.5 in
French 1930's Steel Postal Desk
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Steel French postal workers desk with unusual bent steel sides and sliding front shelf. The
Category

Vintage 1930s French Desks

French 1930's Steel Postal Desk
French 1930's Steel Postal Desk
H 32 in W 74 in D 29.5 in
Military Field Postal Unit of Canvas Cubbies Framed by Steel Rods
Located in Madison, WI
U.S. Army field postal unit is made of canvas stretched on steel rods with hanging chains. Consists
Category

Mid-20th Century American Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Steel

Steel French Postal Sorting Office Unit with 36 Pigeonholes, circa 1940
Located in Chester, Flintshire
From Morlaix, Western France this vintage postal sorting office desk with its original paint is a
Category

Vintage 1940s French Industrial Bookcases

Materials

Steel

Antique Cabinet, Victorian Carved Oak Hanging Cabinet, Scotland 1880, B1427
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Cabinet, Antique Victorian Carved Oak Hanging Corner Cabinet, Antique Furniture, Scotland
Category

Antique 1880s Scottish Victorian Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Antique Corner Cabinet, Vintage Carved Oak Corner Cabinet, Scotland 1950, B1397
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Corner Cabinet, Vintage Carved Oak Leaded Glass Corner Cabinet, Scotland 1950, Antique
Category

Vintage 1950s Scottish Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Antique Oak Cabinet, Heavily Carved Display Corner Cabinet, Scotland 1870, B1420
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Oak Cabinet, Heavily Carved Corner Cabinet, Antique Display Cabinet, Antique Furniture
Category

Antique 1870s Scottish Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Antique Corner Cabinet, Antique Walnut Georgian Hanging Corner Cabinet, B1342
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Corner Cabinet, Antique Georgian Inlaid Bow Front Hanging Corner Cabinet, Scotland 1800
Category

Antique Early 1800s Scottish Georgian Corner Cupboards

Materials

Walnut

Beautiful 1920's Carved Secretary Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, CA
Striking cabinet with rich, dark finish and ornately carved face; doors open to reveal a pullout
Category

Early 20th Century American Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Beautiful 1920's Carved Secretary Cabinet
Beautiful 1920's Carved Secretary Cabinet
H 52.38 in W 27.75 in D 16.25 in
Antique Walnut Cabinet, Antique Leaded Glass Bookcase, Scotland 1910, B1392
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Walnut Cabinet, Leaded Glass Bookcase, Antique Display Cabinet, Scotland 1910, Antique
Category

Vintage 1910s European Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Postal Sorting Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic vintage postal desk with tall marigold orange sorting cabinet. Unique and seriously cool
Category

Vintage 1930s Industrial and Work Tables

Vintage Postal Sorting Desk
Vintage Postal Sorting Desk
H 74 in W 49 in D 28 in
Pine Pigeon Holes
Located in Llandudno, Conwy
A tall flight of pine pigeon holes. Reclaimed from a French postal sorting office, French
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Industrial Shelves

Materials

Pine

Pine Pigeon Holes
Pine Pigeon Holes
H 61.82 in W 41.34 in D 10.24 in
desk by Jacques Adnet
Located in Newburgh, NY
Custom desk made for the postal services headmaster of Alsace, it has four drawers that open in a
Category

Vintage 1950s French Desks

Materials

Brass

desk by Jacques Adnet
desk by Jacques Adnet
H 29.9 in W 80 in D 37 in
19th Century Antique Open Pigeon Hole Shelving
Located in Lancashire, GB
shoes?, originally from a postal sorting office. Now in Miles Griffiths antiques showrooms in
Category

Antique 19th Century English Industrial Shelves

Materials

Pine

Antique Sideboard, Antique Pine Farmhouse Kitchen Dresser, Scotland 1880, B1459
Located in Vancouver, BC
with your zip or postal code.
Category

Antique 1880s Scottish Sideboards

Materials

Pine

Antique Vanity Desk, Victorian Marble Top Washstand, Scotland 1900, B1437A
Located in Vancouver, BC
would like a firm quote for shipping, please message us with your zip or postal code.
Category

Antique Early 1900s Scottish Victorian Dressers

Materials

Oak

Antique Walnut Dresser, Victorian Carved Armoire/Wardrobe, Scotland 1880, B1386
Located in Vancouver, BC
your zip or postal code.
Category

Antique 1880s Scottish Victorian Wardrobes and Armoires

Materials

Walnut

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Postal Cabinet For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the postal cabinet you’re looking for. A postal cabinet — often made from metal, wood and oak — can elevate any home. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer postal cabinet, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A postal cabinet is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Industrial, Art Nouveau and Mid-Century Modern styles are sought with frequency.

How Much is a Postal Cabinet?

Prices for a postal cabinet can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $895 and can go as high as $4,950, while the average can fetch as much as $2,517.

Finding the Right Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets for You

Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

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