Unique Franco Campo and Carlo Graffi 1960s Large Wall Unit in Walnut
By Franco Campo & Carlo Graffi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Campo and Carlo Graffi for Home, bespoke wall unit, walnut, lacquered wood, Italy, 1960s This wall unit captures a real slice of 1960s Italian modernism.
Wood, Walnut
Unique, Smoked Mina Int 2 Modular Bookcase Library Wall Units by Ultramobili
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique, Smoked Eucalyptus Mina Int 2 Modular Bookcase Library Wall Units by Ultramobili Dimensions: W 240 x D 47.5 x H 194 cm Materials: Smoked Eucalyptus. Modular composition of b...
Wood
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto 'Artona' Wall Unit with Vitrine in Walnut
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Maxalto
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 'Artona' highboard consisting of cabinet with vitrine, walnut, burlwood, lacquered wood, brass, glass, leather, Italy, 1975/1979 This substantia...
Brass
Wall Unit in Matt Lacquer & Wood by David Lopez Quincoces for Lema
By David Lopez Quincoces
Located in Chicago, IL
LT 40 wall unit by David Lopez Quincoces for Lema Modular system with versatile aesthetics and function LT40 is a fully customisable modular system of containers and wall element...
Wood, Lacquer
Modular "Samara" storage wall unit by Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa, 1970s
By Maisa
Located in amstelveen, NL
Modular wooden Samara storage wall unit by Dutch designer Derk Jan de Vries, created in the 1970s. This modular storing unit consists of five volumes and includes shelves and drawers...
Ash
Mid Century Gio Ponti Model 2140 Display Cabinet / Wall Unit for Singer & Sons
By Gio Ponti
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Details Designer: Gio Ponti Model: 2140 Maker: Singer & Sons Material: Italian walnut Configuration: two-piece wall unit with upper display + lower credenza Notable construction:...
Walnut
Wood and metal slatted wall bookcase with shelves and storage unit, 1960
By Mid Century Antiques
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Bookcase with wooden slatted structure with shelves and storage module, 1960. In good condition, with patina consistent with age and use. Origin: Italy
Metal
Modular "Samara" storage wall unit by Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa, 1970s
By Maisa
Located in amstelveen, NL
Modular wooden Samara storage wall unit in ash wood with a black finish. Designed by Dutch designer Derk Jan de Vries, created in the 1970s. This modular storing unit consists of t...
Ash
Modular "Samara" storage wall unit by Derk Jan de Vries for Maisa, 1970s
By Maisa
Located in amstelveen, NL
Modular wooden Samara storage wall unit in cream white painted wood by Dutch designer Derk Jan de Vries, created in the 1970s by Maisa. This modular storage unit consists of 7 module...
Ash
Mid-Century Modern Teak and Bamboo Desk Wall Unit Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Teak and Bamboo Desk Wall Unit Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
Bamboo, Teak
20thC Italian Modular Hardwood Wall Cabinet Attributable To Franco Albini c.1950
By Franco Albini
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An Italian modular wall unit in warm-toned hardwood, attributed to Franco Albini and dating to the late 1950s.
Metal
Sculptural Italian Modular Bookcase in solid Teak and Formica, 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
Ripiani in teak con rivestimento in formica, cabine in teak e formica ChatGPT said: Here is a refined, 1stDibs–appropriate listing text in English, with a professional tone and perio...
Aluminum, Brass
Rare Italian Mid-Century Bookcase with "Spear" Uprights by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi, Dassi Mobili Moderni
Located in Buccinasco, MI
Exceptional and rare Italian modular wall unit by Vittorio Dassi and produced by Dassi Mobili Moderni during the 1950s, representing one of the most iconic examples of high Italian M...
Brass
Modular Bookcase E22, by Osvaldo Borsani and Egenio Gerli: Tecno, Italy 1960
By Eugenio Gerli, Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Renens, CH
The E22 bookcase is a modular system designed by Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli in 1957, produced by Tecno from 1960. As an early Italian self-supporting wall unit, it revolutioni...
Metal
Carla Venosta & Guido Zimmerman for Arflex 'Valiant' Bookcase in Stainless Steel
By Arflex, Carla Venosta, Guido Zimmerman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carla Venosta and Guido Zimmerman for Arflex, 'Valiant' wall unit / room divider, stainless steel, glass, Italy, 1971 The 'Valiant' wall unit that doubles as room divider, designed...
Stainless Steel
751 coffee table by Ico Parisi per Cassina
By Cassina, Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
Ripiani in teak con rivestimento in formica, cabine in teak e formica ChatGPT said: Here is a refined, 1stDibs–appropriate listing text in English, with a professional tone and perio...
Glass, Wood
Metal Room Divider by Salvatore Messina
By Salvatore Messina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Salvatore Messina, room divider or wall unit, aluminum, Italy, 1960s Salvatore Messina (1916–1982) explored the themes of movement and spatial concepts through his innovative metal ...
Aluminum
Continua bookcase by Wettstein for Pallucco
By Pallucco, Hannes Wettstein
Located in Milano, IT
It reflects Hannes Wettstein’s rational yet elegant approach to design and Pallucco’s commitment to high-quality contemporary Italian furniture. Details: Designer: Hannes Wettstein...
Iron
Gianfranco Frattini for Cantieri Carugati Large Library in Walnut
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cantieri Carugati
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianfranco Frattini for Cantiere Carugati, bookcase / wall unit, Italian walnut, metal, Italy, 1958 This library unit is designed by Italian designer Gianfranco Frattini and offers ...
Metal
Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces 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 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. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.
Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, 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.